Strict on Height Limit?

[Beth06015]

When DD was just tall enough for Space Mountain they checked her at the entrance and again at the ride car. She wanted to ride it several times and every single time she was checked. I held my breath every time waiting for the rules to change. I am all for safety and she was prepared not to be allowed on but when they do it this way, always rechecking and perhaps having a different CM decide differently is not very "magical" at all and adds stress to the situation. If she's not tall enough, okay, but make a firm decision and stick to it. That's what made me batty that year. I'm so glad she's tall enough for everything now but at the time was a bit disappointed there wasn't a better system in place to make an actual ruling on her height that didn't have the possibility of being revoked by another cast member who felt differently.

I definitely Agree. Have kids check by trained height guides at the front and link it to the magic bands so it is just clear across the board. At our local kiddie park they give over and under 48" wrist bands. Makes it easier on everyone, just as long as the right people are judging at the get go.

 

[mesaboy2]

I definitely Agree. Have kids check by trained height guides at the front and link it to the magic bands so it is just clear across the board. At our local kiddie park they give over and under 48" wrist bands. Makes it easier on everyone, just as long as the right people are judging at the get go.

And the MagicBands are not swapped by less-than-honest guests after they're measured. Not gonna work, sorry.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Years ago my dd was checked at the gate for rock n roller coaster and allowed through...after waiting nearly an hour they re-checked her at the start of the ride and said she was not tall enough. I totally understand the need for safety, but wish that they hadnt let us through that first height check. My dd was crushed

Yes, this happened to my DS on Expedition Everest. First CM said yes, second said no. Many tears ensued & it took some major retail therapy in nearby gift shop to remedy. DS still talks about it. He doesn't know we'll be going again in November but still asks if he'll be tall enough next time we go. Happily, he's grown 4+ inches & should be tall enough for everything at WDW. However, Universal is another matter.

 

[Beth06015]

And the MagicBands are not swapped by less-than-honest guests after they're measured. Not gonna work, sorry.

Ahhhhh that's true. The bands at our park would rip before they come off. Wish it was easier!

 

[DLM1980]

When DD was just tall enough for Space Mountain they checked her at the entrance and again at the ride car. She wanted to ride it several times and every single time she was checked. I held my breath every time waiting for the rules to change. I am all for safety and she was prepared not to be allowed on but when they do it this way, always rechecking and perhaps having a different CM decide differently is not very "magical" at all and adds stress to the situation. If she's not tall enough, okay, but make a firm decision and stick to it. That's what made me batty that year. I'm so glad she's tall enough for everything now but at the time was a bit disappointed there wasn't a better system in place to make an actual ruling on her height that didn't have the possibility of being revoked by another cast member who felt differently.

The height check at the front of the line is usually an estimate, hate to make you wait two hours just to be denied, however since safety is above all, the ride operator has final say, after all if they let them ride and something happened it's their job on the line.

At my home park in the six flags chain you can go to guest relations, be measured and get an ink stamp put on your wrist that says either 36" or 46". This was to ensure your kid wasn't constantly measured. It's better than scanning a band that someone could switch out and swipe someone else's. We were told as ride operators to honor those stamps unless we felt that gravely wrong, then we still could deny boarding. While it may be a bother and a pain, what kind of pain would you be feeling if your kid was hurt, or worse killed over a half inch difference

 

[Accident]

Just in case anyone is thinking about it, if they feel the child is in a shoe that is making them tall enough, they will check with no shoes on.

 

[maxiesmom]

Years ago my dd was checked at the gate for rock n roller coaster and allowed through...after waiting nearly an hour they re-checked her at the start of the ride and said she was not tall enough. I totally understand the need for safety, but wish that they hadnt let us through that first height check. My dd was crushed

Unfortunately they have to check twice, as some people will manage to sneak shorter kids by the first check point. I have seen it happen at Soarin. I was waiting for the rest of my family to ride, so I was hanging out at a little kiosk they had set up near the ride entrance. I saw a family walk up, and mom make a big fuss with the CMs while dad ran by with another child. I'm sure they were caught by the measurement near the ride loading area, but I was also surprised at how easy it was to distract the CMs.

 

[MischaOz]

I would never encourage anyone to take a child on a ride who doesn't meet the height requirement, but I have to say or experience was different... I don't remember ever being checked a second time before getting on a ride, and on or last trip DD was right at 40 inches. They checked before we entered the ride, but I really don't remember ever being checked a 2nd time.

 

[chartle]

Ahhhhh that's true. The bands at our park would rip before they come off.

Disney tried bands like this year's ago and parents wouldn't need to try to remove them by ripping them.

They would use scissors and reattach them to the shorter kid with tape brought in specifically for this purpose.

Wish it was easier!

This comes up on almost all "How strict are they" threads. What usually happens is then someone will bring up hand stamps. Which then someone will point out that they too can easily be transferred so then more and more complex solutions are suggested including things like photo ids and embedded RFID chips (ok maybe not the last one ). But nothing is as sure as measuring the kid before they get on the ride.

 

[disnut8]

But nothing is as sure as measuring the kid before they get on the ride.

Agreed. You have the child right there - the only child that will be measured for his/her height. Adults can and will find ways to get a smaller child on a ride just because "he/she wants to go on it because his/her big sister/brother can ride it!" if things happen in one central location. I have traveled with grandkids who have had to be measured and we told them about the two measurements and what could happen. We ALL were prepared and we ALL knew WHY it had to happen.

 

[MinnieMSue]

At cedar point they measured at rides even if you had a wrist band on when my daughter was young - they said just to be sure. Anyway make sure you measure your kids with normal park shoes on because that might make them tall enough. I would really prep kids that are iffy that they might not get to ride. It is heartbreaking but safety first. When I was a kid at Cedar point a child died on a tame coaster - lap bar was on parents legs and the little one slid right out on a quick turn since the bar didn't reach her legs. Of course times have changed but kids need to learn rules are rules even if you don't like or agree with them. Tough lesson but important in life

 

[bumbershoot]

But nothing is as sure as measuring the kid before they get on the ride.

Exactly.


It's important that kids who are borderline know what to. Stand up straight and tall, do not slouch. No tippytoes, though, either! Parents help them learn how to stand tall (without cheating). They WANT to hit that bar above their head.

DS had a rotten CM at Star Tours at DL remeasure him while pushing down on DS's shoulder. DS was little and thought the CM wanted him to squish down, and DS was little and didn't want to his head on the bar! It all went really fast, according to DH (I wasn't riding), and he was denied the ride. It was sad, BUT it taught us all valuable lessons. DS is 11 and is nearly as tall as me now, and still takes his picture in front of height signs, still wants to make sure on those bigger rides (at Universal), and still stands straight and tall. Ultimately, since he wasn't mature enough to get that he had to stand straight and tall, he wasn't mature enough for the ride. A ride stop might not have gone well (though it was Star Tours, no biggie for a ride evacuation) for a kid not mature enough to know to stand straight and tall. Ultimately I'm glad he had that experience; that WE had that experience.

 

[phillymummer]

They should have a system like Hershey Park in PA where a child can get measured at the entrance and then they get a wristband that basically states their height. It's really not cool to let a child in ay the start of the line then get told, "Nope, sorry" after waiting in line. Hershey's system is really cute. Each height category is named after candy (mini kisses, hershey bar, Reeses, Jolly Rancher). At each ride entrance there is a sign that lists which "candy" can ride with an adult and which can ride alone. With the wrist band there is no debate about whether or not a child is tall enough.

 

[kandb]

I remember a while back reading that a child fell out of the seat at Soarin? Does anyone remember that, I know I read it on here!

 

[Beth06015]

Disney tried bands like this year's ago and parents wouldn't need to try to remove them by ripping them.

They would use scissors and reattach them to the shorter kid with tape brought in specifically for this purpose.



This comes up on almost all "How strict are they" threads. What usually happens is then someone will bring up hand stamps. Which then someone will point out that they too can easily be transferred so then more and more complex solutions are suggested including things like photo ids and embedded RFID chips (ok maybe not the last one ). But nothing is as sure as measuring the kid before they get on the ride.

So turns out Disney is using the best option already. That's how it usually is!

 

[Gracie09]

They should have a system like Hershey Park in PA where a child can get measured at the entrance and then they get a wristband that basically states their height. It's really not cool to let a child in ay the start of the line then get told, "Nope, sorry" after waiting in line. Hershey's system is really cute. Each height category is named after candy (mini kisses, hershey bar, Reeses, Jolly Rancher). At each ride entrance there is a sign that lists which "candy" can ride with an adult and which can ride alone. With the wrist band there is no debate about whether or not a child is tall enough.

It's easy to slip bands off one child and onto a shorter child. Disney did test those a while back. It didn't work. Just like they didn't work when I was in college. A small scissor and piece of tape and anyone can be 21. Same with stamps. There are simple ways to transfer them

 

[Allison]

I remember a while back reading that a child fell out of the seat at Soarin? Does anyone remember that, I know I read it on here!

There has never been an accident like that at Soarin' that I am aware of and I am sure it would be discussed extensively on threads like this.

 

[wilkeliza]

I remember a while back reading that a child fell out of the seat at Soarin? Does anyone remember that, I know I read it on here!

There has never been an accident like that at Soarin' that I am aware of and I am sure it would be discussed extensively on threads like this.

What happened was a father took his daughter out of her seat and somehow wiggled out of his own. This wa dagger safety belt checks and the ride was even about to move up. A CM saw it on the cam and e-stopped the ride but was terrifying that someone thought that was a good idea.

 

[wilkeliza]

Disney double checks because too many parents swapped bands for their kids when they tried it. Same would happen with magic bands.

The thing with the 2 checks is because people have all sorts of tricks to get kids past the first one. They will either run into the line, walk in with a little in the middle where no one can see them, or more times than not try to say the kid is tired so carry them in. The check at the ride vehicle is the only check that actually counts.

Also all CMs at attractions with height requirements are trained and even surprise audited to make sure they can tell what a child under and over their requirement looks like.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Agreed. You have the child right there - the only child that will be measured for his/her height. Adults can and will find ways to get a smaller child on a ride just because "he/she wants to go on it because his/her big sister/brother can ride it!" if things happen in one central location. I have traveled with grandkids who have had to be measured and we told them about the two measurements and what could happen. We ALL were prepared and we ALL knew WHY it had to happen.

We didn't know, had never been before and DS was obviously upset. Funny thing was we really thought it was no biggie because the doctor's office the month before measured DS as 44.5 inches. Second CM said "he's not even close" when I said "What?" He was maybe 1/8 inch below their marker though I don't think he understood to stand up straight, I think he was trying to keep his head away from the bar.