Space Mountain height and weight question

[IkeandMike]

Here is my question to all of you dare devils.(I have only been on SM one time and that was many, many years ago) My son who will be 8 in two weeks, only weighs 39 pounds and he is about 44 inches. If he is tall enough to ride SM, do you think the safety bar will keep his scrawny little butt in that seat? Or do you think when the ride was designed that the engineers assumed a certain weight when choosing the height level?

Two years ago I took him and his twin sister on BTM and they loved it and there were no issues with him on it. Although I did keep my hand on his lap to make sure he didn't defy any gravity, I chickened out of taking him on Splash because I knew there were no safety belts on that ride and I thought I might pass out from anxiety while either waiting for the ride to start or right before the big drop. This year I promised him we would go on it. But if I know my son and daughter they would love to go on Space Mtn...I do not want to go, but I don't want to hold them back, so I will force myself to go. I would just feel much better if I could stop envisioning him flying out from under that safety bar..lol

 

[huffjoann]

ok, this is prob not the answer you want but I would worry on this,, my DD is about that weight too and narrowly missed the height requirement,, I am SO GLAD,, I had forgotten what space mtn was like since it had been years since I rode it,, since you cannot hold them down I would have been sick with worry on this,, but that is me,, now I took her on splash and had no issues,, DH had a firm grasp on her. We never were able to get on BTM since it was down for issues.

 

[Alesia]

If weight was a factor in setting the safety requirements, then there would be a minimum weight. Disney really doesn't want injured guests -- it's bad for business.

My daughter was 48" and about 45 pounds when she rode it and did fine. Honestly, it never even occurred to me that there would be a problem.

If it makes you feel better, the top speed is only 28 miles an hour.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

The bars on Space are for each individual person, so he will be able to pull the bar down as far as it goes.

 

[r&kmommy]

The bars on Space are for each individual person, so he will be able to pull the bar down as far as it goes.

Yes but even "as far down as it goes" may not be all the way down to touch his lap... my dh is a skinny guy and there are some rides that he has a good amount of room between his lap and the lap bars. (not a problem for me, unfortunately )

Anyway, OP. If you are really concerned maybe you can just tell your ds that you guys will wait in line, and try to go on the ride, but you need to check and make sure it's safe for him before he can ride it. When it's your turn to load into the rocket, tell the cast member you want to make sure the bar goes down far enough before you let him blast off... I'm sure this won't be a problem for them to do this for you.

I wish they had "test seats" like most rides at Universal! That could help avoid a LOT of disappointment!!

 

[OwlDisneyGirl]

I would say I think he'll be fine - because my DS rode at the sae height and weight He is always my fear on a ride, but honestly I think he was less jarred around on SM than he was on BTMRR

 

[Nadjalu]

If I am not mistaken I think the height req is 48 in. Not sure, but there are a few threads currently asking this type of question about Space Mt.

EDIT--- I am mistaken I looked it up and it is 44 in.

 

[disprincessatheart]

The way the SM lap bars are, I cant imagine it being an issue even if he was somehow too small - which doesnt' seem possible (if that was an issue surely it would be a known issue by now). The bars are a T shape with the bar between your legs and across your lap. The part across your lap is larger and padded.

Anohter thing to remember, because the seats are single file, you can sit behind him and either hold his hands or put your hands on his shoulders or the top of his seat.

 

[IkeandMike]

You guys all have some great ideas. I really like the one with "testing" out the seat before he takes off. I usually do try to keep the line going, but I think in this case I'll take the extra time to make sure that he is safe. I really just don't want to make my fears his fears. If you know what I mean. I hate the fact that I am petrified of roller coasters and really don't want to instill this in my children if they are so inclined to like them.

 

[jazz0007]

you can sit behind him and either hold his hands or put your hands on his shoulders or the top of his seat.

This is what I did with my dd when she just touched the 44" mark. She sat in front and I had my hands on her shoulders the whole time! She did fine.

 

[linzbear]

Disney has never had a guest fly out of a ride vehicle, ever.

He will be fine.

 

[kathyell]

My daughter rode it probably eight times in February at 44" and about 43 pounds, and she never came close to coming out. If there was a weight minimum on the ride in order to be a safe rider, Disney would enforce one. If they needed to inforce one and for some reason, they didn't, you'd hear about accidents and fatalities on Space Mountain all the time, and Disney would surely be in court over it in some high-profile way.

Your son will be fine as long as he meets the height requirement.

And for IkeandMike, I think it's really good that you're thinking ahead of time about managing your anxiety so it doesn't get transferred to your child. I really think that if they sense that you are worried, they will take that as a cue from you and develop their own anxiety. That's some hard parenting work you're facing there, trying your hardest not to pass on your roller coaster fears to your kids. I think you can do it.

 

[crewmatt]

The physics of the ride will essentially ensure that as long as he doesnt try to stand up mid ride that he will be fine. Like other posters have said, Disney has a large financial interest in making sure a small child does not die on its ride. For the most part the bar on a rollercoaster is simply there for the riders comfort. The shoulder harnesses on other rides are usually a little more required, but often only if you're in a suspended rollercoaster with your feet dangling

 

[SmallWorld71]

I do understand your anxiety; I was worried the first time my kids rode Space (ages 5,7 and 7, respectively) so I hope this comes out the way it is intended. You have NOTHING to worry about! DS11 was petite when he was younger. He first rode Space at 7 and he was just over 48 inches and 44 lbs. so a little taller and thinner than your son. He has VERY skinny legs. Yes, your son will feel a little lift because the bar will not come down tight on his things (like it does on mine) but there is nowhere for him to go.

Also, my kids started riding Splash as soon as they were tall enough. (around 4) They are all skinny (they get it from their father) and there is nothing to worry about there either. The seats are low so you would have to allow him to stand up on the seat and jump out for there to be a problem on that one. Although, if you are still concerned, you CAN put your arm around them on this one. DD7 always liked for me to put my arm around her on the big drop for her own security.

 

[cmcinc]

Go for it. My DD was 44" and 39 lbs and loved every minute of it her first time.

 

[DebbieB]

When they have empty seats, they push the bar all the way down. I'm pretty sure it goes all the way to the seat so it's not possible to be "too skinny" for the bar.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

When they have empty seats, they push the bar all the way down. I'm pretty sure it goes all the way to the seat so it's not possible to be "too skinny" for the bar.

Alot of these questions have come up lately on here. Is there a skinny convention coming to WDW that I don't know about (and would so NOT be invited to)?