Tips for handling the dissapointed 'short' child

[mommymanda]

My husband and I are taking our three kids on a once in a lifetime trip (well maybe not lifetime, but it will be at least 6years before we go again). They will be 3,5,and 11.

My oldest and DH are already excited for the 'big' rides. She is taller than me already so good to go.

My 5 year old is looking forward to some, but has anxiety over a lot of things so we'll see what he actually gets on. The one ride he does really want to go on is Test Track, but he is only measuring 43".

My 3 year old is free spirited, wild and ready to go on EVERYTHING. I am pretty sure if he could get on Space mountain he would, and he'd love it. What's concerning me is he is an itty bitty little thing only 34".

So how do I handle the disappointment? I'd avoid the rides completely but DD and DH are going to want to go on them as well. I know there is so much to do and distract, but I also know my kids. My youngest especially does not distract or deter well when he wants something.

I've already started chatting with them about it, how they may not get to ride everything for safety... Any other tips I can use to avoid ride day melt downs?

 

[lizard1]

What we did with my 4 year old was to talk about it before we went. Then we would prepare her before we got to the ride that she would be too small, but we would let her measure if she wanted to. I let her get something special or do something her siblings didn't get to do. For instance, we often times looked for those pressed pennies...she LOVES making them and it only costs 51 cents for each one. Sometimes we did a ride that was close by, such as when they went on Primevil Whirl, we did Triceratops Spin. Sometimes we got a a treat like popcorn or ice cream. While she was still disappointed that she didn't get to ride, she didn't cry or make a big deal out of it either.

 

[snuggly duckling]

I'm pretty sure the Test Track requirement is only 40". At 43" there really only a few things they can't do (mountains, RNRC, etc.)

 

[MSSANDRA]

TT is only 40 so your middle child is good for that one. There are just a few rides over 40 so that should not be a big deal. The issue of course is your little guy. Does he even know about most of the rides? Maybe a talk with your older kids about how you guys will need to work together to keep your little guy from being sad on the trip. Reality is, many 3 year old are too small for the 40 inch rides. I would just accept that there will be some separate times in the parks. Make DH and oldest child's FP for the big stuff, including 5 year old on the ones he wants to ride, and make you and little guys for things you can ride while they are on those rides. It may mean older ones missing a few smaller things but that is family compromise.

 

[margaret07013]

you are in a "perfect" situation for your older kids. They will love you once they find out. how and why?

simple: you can use "baby rider swap" to your advantage and get additional paper fast passes for up to 4 people so technically you can do the same ride twice without any wait.

how to handle the disappointment? the way I did is rather simple - we planned ahead a little bit. for example - my older wanted to go on Soarin with my DH and I went on the Living with the Land with my 2.5 yr daugher. in MK - there is a little play area near Splash mountain or you can take the train around MK while others go on SM and BMTR rides.

AK - bone yard area while older kids do the rides.

I have avoided going on to souvenir stores, but was open to "snacks". I looked at little rides that I could go with my daughter while my

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I have two girls and one was smaller and took longer to be tall enough to ride the more exciting ones. I would take her on Buzz again while my older DD and Dad rode Space Mountain. We would ride Pirates while they were on Big Thunder or Splash, etc. I always did something fun with her and made a big deal out of it. "You can't beat me on Buzz!" And of course, I would let her. "It's just us on Jungle Cruise, Daddy and J. are missing it, ha!"

 

[wilkeliza]

I was the youngest and the shortest of my family. My oldest brother is 3 (closer to 4) years my senior. My middle brother is only 11 months older than me and then there is me. My middle brother shot up like a weed and by the time we were going to theme parks both he and my oldest brother were tall enough to ride everything while I was a good 5 to 6 inches to short.

The way my mom handled it was when ever a ride was gone on that I was too short for she would make a deal. If I didn't cry or whine that I was too short I got to pick the next two rides. That way it made up for the one I didn't get to ride as well as kept my turn in our family rotation. Sometimes my mom would also buy me a snack that my brothers didn't get because they were in line waiting for a ride and my mom was back with me chilling. It usually evened out the experience and if mom was letting me do the snack thing I actually came out ahead.

 

[powellrj]

We have a large age gap between my kids, so we always had someone too short to ride. What we always did was split up in the morning and I would ride the bigger rides with the bigger kids and DH would take the younger kids. We would then meet up and have lunch and then spend the rest of the day together.

 

[brymolmom]

If it is truly once in a lifetime - then personally I would wait til all kids are at least 40 inches tall. OR - maybe cut back/ in half on 'once in a lifetime' expenses (shorter trip, less expensive accommodations, etc.) for this trip and just plan a 2nd trip in 2 - 3 years instead of the 6.

Other than that - when my dd was too little and her brother was tall enough - we didn't make a big deal about it. I think the kids will take their cue from you and if YOU'RE worried about it - then they will be too. I did prep her and said 'well, you're going to be big enough for MOST of the rides, but there are probably a few that you won't be able to go on - but don't worry because we'll go on one of your other favorite rides instead'. I also did buy an extra mickey ice cream bar or two for her when we were waiting for her brother and dh to go on rides. Honestly it is not a majority of rides at all that have restrictions - so it wasn't a big deal.

Another option for you if you think it will be a big deal is to separate the adults for an hour or two a day...One of them going with oldest and other one taking the little ones...Another day one adult takes oldest and middle (to go on things middle child is big enough for but littlest isn't).

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I feel the pain, OP. my little guy is 37.4 right now and sees that darn Mine Train commercials and gets all excited when he does. He needs to be 38 for it. Anytime I hint he may not be able to ride he gets really sad (Which is worse as a parent than a tantrum of anger)

 

[pkelly6]

We have tape on the wall to indicate height requirements of WDW. Littlest knows she will be too short to ride a few things.

However, knowing at home and knowing at WDW are different, so we've promised something special for her... this thread is giving me great ideas.

Thanks OP for posting!

 

[wilkeliza]

We have tape on the wall to indicate height requirements of WDW. Littlest knows she will be too short to ride a few things.

However, knowing at home and knowing at WDW are different, so we've promised something special for her... this thread is giving me great ideas.

Thanks OP for posting!

If you think you will be returning some attractions will give a sorry your too short readmit certificate. I don't know how they decide who gets them but I know several times big deals have been made about kids who have returned with the passes and are finally able to ride

 

[Foxhound3857]

Ask him if he's willing to walk around in 6 inch platformers.

...no, don't. But really, the only thing I can suggest is to try and get him engaged in other things when you get there, like meeting his favorite characters, or try to get him excited about other rides that you know his short height wouldn't prevent him from enjoying. Even when I was tall enough to ride the more thrilling coasters like Space Mountain, I still preferred Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain more than anything, and I was able to ride those since the age of 4. Maybe your little guy will find something he likes that he CAN ride, you never know.

Find out what he can ride and talk to him about them, and see if you can get him excited to ride those and keep his mind away from the ones he can't.

 

[mommymanda]

Ask him if he's willing to walk around in 6 inch platformers.

...no, don't. But really, the only thing I can suggest is to try and get him engaged in other things when you get there, like meeting his favorite characters, or try to get him excited about other rides that you know his short height wouldn't prevent him from enjoying. Even when I was tall enough to ride the more thrilling coasters like Space Mountain, I still preferred Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain more than anything, and I was able to ride those since the age of 4. Maybe your little guy will find something he likes that he CAN ride, you never know.

Find out what he can ride and talk to him about them, and see if you can get him excited to ride those and keep his mind away from the ones he can't.

The funny thing is HE would be the one to suggest some sort of shoe to make him taller. He is an interesting little guy and despite his petite size my husband and i are often chatting about how we need to remind ourselves he is not a five year old, but actually barely 3.

We've had a lot of chats already and I am going to bring some extra funds for special treats while the big kids ride. I'm sure it won't work 100% of the time, but it will keep him content for a few rounds.

 

[Foxhound3857]

The funny thing is HE would be the one to suggest some sort of shoe to make him taller. He is an interesting little guy and despite his petite size my husband and i are often chatting about how we need to remind ourselves he is not a five year old, but actually barely 3.

We've had a lot of chats already and I am going to bring some extra funds for special treats while the big kids ride. I'm sure it won't work 100% of the time, but it will keep him content for a few rounds.

If anything, your other kids well be the ones complaining if you go that route. They'll probably get jealous and ask "why does he get all the treats and toys?"

That's a good idea though. Spoil him, and in the meantime, find something else for him to do. Find out if he wants to meet any characters and get an idea of their patrols, general locations, and times when you can find them. It'll give you and your little one something to do while the rest of your family is braving the long lines.

 

[PennockFive]

I have two younger ones, thankfully for me there isn't a problem with them getting upset when their older brother goes on rides. Instead of actually buying them things, I could see that setting a bad precedent, things aren't equal, etc... Maybe get a hidden mickey book and have a competition with the kids of who can find the most. The little ones just get some extra time and some extra help when they aren't riding rides. I know I'm planning on taking advantage of Casey's splash station in MK, the boneyard in AK, and the other little play areas that ds10 will have no desire to do, yet will be so much fun for my littles. Good luck!!!