What has been your experience with traveling with a child approximately 40 inches?

[k_null81]

We went this past May with my twin boys and my one son was probably a little shy of 40 inches but with his sandals it helped a little. I was a nervous wreck the whole time as he was on the line even with shoes on but never had any problems. My boys are small for their age...people loved watching them ride BTMRR with their hands up in the air! It was awesome. Fingers crossed they grow a little more before our next trip so they can experience Everest as they both really wanted to ride that as well this past time.

 

[Hokie2000]

My son was right at 40 inches on our last trip. He was measured a lot but made it on every ride.

This has been my experience with two of my children. Right at the line and measured for every ride (sometimes twice), but always made it.

 

[kelmcg]

Whenever my sons were close to a certain height, I didn't want to chance it. I bought heel inserts for their shoes. The ones I found were very soft and comfortable and added about 1/2 an inch to their height. I found them at our local sporting goods store. (Maybe Dr. Scholls brand?)

 

[disneyfantotheend]

If you traveled with a child approx 40 inches did you ever get turned away at some rides but accepted at others? Or was it pretty consistent?

My daughter, who is now 17, was 3 on her first trip and DID make it onto some 40 inch rides and was turned away on others. That was obviously many years ago, but I would guess it could still happen. Just make sure your child stands up big and tall when being measure.

 

[maxiesmom]

Whenever my sons were close to a certain height, I didn't want to chance it. I bought heel inserts for their shoes. The ones I found were very soft and comfortable and added about 1/2 an inch to their height. I found them at our local sporting goods store. (Maybe Dr. Scholls brand?)

As an fyi it is against the rules of the Dis to post ways to get around Disney's rules. Apart from the fact that bucking a rule that is in place for the safety of Disney's smallest guests is not a good idea to begin with.

 

[ShayBells]

My kid was 44" last time. He hit the bar but did not go over it. He wasn't allowed on SPace. It's touch and go. It depends who you get cause then at Epcot the next day he was allowed on mission space. I was pretty mad about space because he did hit the bar maybe Maybe you could of fit a piece of paper through lol (but my kid slouches when something is above his head and he wouldn't really straighten so there's that too)

 

[cleverdisneyname]

We were just there a couple months ago, DD is right around 40 inches. We found the measuring fairly inconsistent... One day at Epcot at TT we were told she was way too short. Then over at Soarin she was totally fine.

This was our experience at MK in September. No problems riding Thunder Mountain, but turned away at Splash 5 minutes later! He was right at 40".

 

[momto3pirates]

Just to echo what has been said...we were with my niece in November. She is a very small almost 5 year old. At the pedi office before we went she was 40 inches. She was measured over and over at WDW. Some rides she made it, some she did not. She made it on TOT but when we went to Star Tours right after, was turned down. We turned it into a game...let's see if she makes it!!

 

[Quellman]

Can you not get them measured at town hall / guest relations and have them be given a specific color band to make sure they are tall enough if close? This would solve a lot of issues with kids melting down at being able to go on some and not others.

 

[Sleepy425]

Can you not get them measured at town hall / guest relations and have them be given a specific color band to make sure they are tall enough if close? This would solve a lot of issues with kids melting down at being able to go on some and not others.

No because parents will switch bands on kids so they can ride.

 

[HatboxHaint]

Our experience has been that the CM's at Splash Mountain seem to be the biggest party poopers. We have had near 40 inchers denied there on two different trips. But luckily there is a playground under the train tracks and a grandma to watch them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our experience has been that the CM's at Splash Mountain seem to be the biggest party poopers. We have had near 40 inchers denied there on two different trips. But luckily there is a playground under the train tracks and a grandma to watch them.

I highly doubt they enjoy telling kids they are not tall enough to get on any ride. "Near 40 inches" is not 40 inches. Your child either hits the height requirement or they don't. There is no such thing as close enough.

 

[MrInfinity]

Our experience has been that the CM's at Splash Mountain seem to be the biggest party poopers. We have had near 40 inchers denied there on two different trips. But luckily there is a playground under the train tracks and a grandma to watch them.

Pretty funny you should mention this. Splash is the one ride where our DS3 rode the ride, then went to get back in line, passed the line entry measure with a thumbs up, waited thru the standby line, passed the fastpass merge guy, then get turned down at the dock. What a waste one of us just had to go by with him and not ride.

There's no wrist band system, right? Where you can get officially measured and get a band which says you make 40" and not have to deal w human error at each measuring post?

 

[TravelandLeisure]

"Near 40 inches" is not 40 inches. Your child either hits the height requirement or they don't. There is no such thing as close enough.

Well judging from the overwhelming responses about measuring inconsistencies from ride to ride, obviously many CMs do not agree about what constitutes "hitting" the height requirement.

 

[maxiesmom]

Well judging from the overwhelming responses about measuring inconsistencies from ride to ride, obviously many CMs do not agree about what constitutes "hitting" the height requirement.

If a child is a smidge away from the proper height, even the way they are standing could mean the difference between making the ride or not.

 

[maxiesmom]

There's no wrist band system, right? Where you can get officially measured and get a band which says you make 40" and not have to deal w human error at each measuring post?

No. They tried it out quite some time ago. It is too easy to pull a band off of one child and put it on another. As most almost 21 year olds will tell you, where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[taffy]

No. They tried it out quite some time ago. It is too easy to pull a band off of one child and put it on another. As most almost 21 year olds will tell you, where there is a will, there is a way.

Perhaps with the magic bands system they can introduce a way that is linked ti the rfid chip and the childs photo.