Your experiences with height restrictions?

[mi*vida*loca]

DD just turned 3 and is 38" inches. She rode Kali Rapids in AK and the first CM measured her when we first walked in and she JUST fit. When we go to load the CM was really not happy with DD and measured her again even though they stamped her hand at the front. She measured her TWICE and then spoke with another CM.

That made ME nervous and I almost didn't take her on the ride. Next time we go won't be for another 18+ months so I hope she is well over 40. She LOVES The rides. Now DS who is tall enough to ride the big rides....gets afraid sometimes!

 

[pixiefairy]

We had mostly good experiences with the height requirements back in June. My dd was 41 inches when we left, and had no problem. On KRR, she was measured at the beginning of the line and given a wrist band to wear to inform the CM at the loading area that she did, in fact, pass the height requirement. I don't remember them re-measuring her,but they very well could have.

I would not be surprised if the measuring sticks have a cushion built in to be MORE than the height requirement to take into account "tall" shoes. It's for the child's safety. I do understand, however, that it could be upsetting to be measured at the beginning and be measured again at loading and find out your child somehow shrunk while in line.

 

[allyphoe]

On KRR, she was measured at the beginning of the line and given a wrist band to wear to inform the CM at the loading area that she did, in fact, pass the height requirement.

We've gone multiple times with kids who got banded at Kali, and each time, the kid who got banded measured above 38" (the cutoff to ride) and below 42" (the cutoff to ride without the lap bar). The wristband is a quick visual for "this kid needs the special seat" not necessarily "tall enough to ride."

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Why can't they link heights to your KTTW? have a machine at the loading area and bingo, you can/cannot ride. Or, a code you get at Guest Services along with one of those black light makers on the back of the hand?

Not everyone has a KTTW. And kids are not finger-scanned, so there's nothing to tie a child's individual ticket to him/her. I could give my tall 6-yr-old's KTTW to my 3-yr-old or to my nephew or my best friend's child and who would know? There's no way to link the child to it.

I've often thought about the black-light stamps for this purpose, also. They could use a code where a Donald stamp means 40"-44", Mickey stamp means 44"-48", etc, and change it every few days.

But, in this era of cut-backs and reductions, I doubt that Disney is all that concerned about this issue. They are not going to staff additional booths for the convenience of parents, when the current system seems to get the job done, whether or not you agree with the results at times.

I have a tall child who can ride everything in the parks (52" at 6 years old), but I also have a 3-yr-old who I'm hoping makes it to 40" in the next 6 weeks! He was unhappy last year to be left behind when his brother got to ride things he did not. But we'll try and if he makes it, we'll be happy, and if he doesn't, he'll have some company to wait with, as we'll be going with a big group. I know he'd love Splash and Soarin' - I really hope he makes it!

 

[maxiesmom]

There is a simple solution, but I'm sure many families wouldn't like it. Disney only measures children once, at the beginning of the ride queue. But if you have a child who does not measure the correct height, they are not allowed to enter the ride queue.

Trying to implement some sort of height ID card would not only cost all of us more money, it would also mean another line for families to wait in. And I'm sure that line would move at a snail's pace, you would have parents arguing that their child who is a fraction too short be allowed to ride the bigger rides anyway.

I think the system Disney has now inconveniences the least amount of people.

 

[ChuckGA]

I think the system Disney has now inconveniences the least amount of people.

I would have to say it inconvieniences the maximum number of people because it is consistent in its inconsistency. Having a child measured multiple times and getting different results is the worst case.

As I said before, here is an area Disney needs to follow other parks' solutions. Have a "measure once" area that gives out height wristbands plus use a metal ruler with actual measuring marks on it at each ride so there is no possible way to argue about the height measured. If you don't want to wait for a wristband then just go to the ride and get measured there. The reason for the double measuring is people will cheat and sneak a kid too small for the ride into the line at a later point on rides like Splash Mountain. A bit tougher on BTMRR or SM so they should only have to measure once on those.

 

[Tarzan]

I just wanted to share my experiences at Walt Disney World with a child around 40". We measured DD-4 before we went in December and believed she was too short. One day at MGM DH decided to take our older children on Star Tours. DD asked if she could go and we explained it was one of the rides with a height restriction. She wanted to measure herself so we let her and, lo and behold, she was tall enough. After that she managed to get onto every ride and was never turned away for being too short (even though she didn't actually measure up at the Stitch attraction).

I was always really laid back and allowed her to stand under the stick without my 'help'. I can't tell you how many adults got mad at their children for not standing up straight!!

At Soarin' one day I didn't think she'd make it, but the CM told her to take a deep breath and, as she did so, DD made the height requirement and was allowed on.

At the Stitch attraction she wasn't reaching the stick, but the CM looked at her shoes (incredibly flat ballet style shoes that she bought at Disney World) and waved us through.


I hope you have a great holiday

 

[Alesia]

Why doesn't WDW do something like this? I would be EXTREMELY upset if she was measure once and ok , then waited an hour....measured again, and not let on. I would pitch a huge fit...to the point of having management involved. That is absolutely ridiculous to have 2 measurements with just a marked stick....way too subjective.

All that would accomplish would be getting you thrown out of the park.

I think that would be even more disappointing to your child.

 

[shellybaxter]

This double measure system is really unfair.
Mx

I don't think it is meant to be fair - it is meant to be safe. Safe for the people who ride and safe for Disney from a liability stand point.

I've often thought about the black-light stamps for this purpose, also. They could use a code where a Donald stamp means 40"-44", Mickey stamp means 44"-48", etc, and change it every few days.

Can you imagine the chance of error with a system like this? Every cast member working every ride with a height requirement would have to know which stamp was for which height on which day. I would think the chance for mistake would be too big of a risk.

. The reason for the double measuring is people will cheat and sneak a kid too small for the ride into the line at a later point on rides like Splash Mountain. A bit tougher on BTMRR or SM so they should only have to measure once on those.

Just because its a bit tougher doesn't mean it can't be done. Too big of a risk in our litigous society

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

There is a simple solution, but I'm sure many families wouldn't like it. Disney only measures children once, at the beginning of the ride queue. But if you have a child who does not measure the correct height, they are not allowed to enter the ride queue.
Trying to implement some sort of height ID card would not only cost all of us more money, it would also mean another line for families to wait in. And I'm sure that line would move at a snail's pace, you would have parents arguing that their child who is a fraction too short be allowed to ride the bigger rides anyway.

I think the system Disney has now inconveniences the least amount of people.

They already do this. That's the reason for the "child swap" a/k/a "baby swap" a/k/a "rider switch" passes. I cannot take my 40" 3-yr-old into the queue for RNRC, EE or anything else he is not tall enough to ride. Not even an infant, who is obviously not going to ride a roller coaster, is allowed into a ride queue for an attraction with a height requirement.

The bottom line is enterprising and conniving parents will find ways to circumvent any standardized measuring point. Like I said in my previous post, Disney does not seem to have a problem with the current method -- from their perspective, it's working just fine. If they turn away a child at boarding, in their opinion, they've dodged a liability. Of course they don't want a guest to be disappointed, but they're more concerned with safety than disappointment.

 

[JillPTFLA]

Here is my experience with the height requirements. Unfortunately, there is really no way to know whether your child will make the height cutoff for each ride until you actually get there. On our trip when my son was 40" in bare feet for the first time, he was able to ride TOT and BTM. He did not make the cutoff for Soarin, Test Track, star tours Splash mountain. (he was over 41" with shoes on). On our next trip where he was past 40.5" barefoot, he made everything except Soarin. We recently had a similar experience now that he is 44"...he was tall enough for Space mountain but not mission space or everest.
We asked someone at one point (just out of curiosity, we were not arguing). We were told that the measuring sticks are recalibrated every AM. I'm not sure how that is possible. But, I know for a fact that they are not consistent from ride to ride and in our experience, taller than 40". Your miles may vary so good luck!

 

[WDSearcher]

Here is my experience with the height requirements. Unfortunately, there is really no way to know whether your child will make the height cutoff for each ride until you actually get there. On our trip when my son was 40" in bare feet for the first time, he was able to ride TOT and BTM. He did not make the cutoff for Soarin, Test Track, star tours Splash mountain. (he was over 41" with shoes on). On our next trip where he was past 40.5" barefoot, he made everything except Soarin. We recently had a similar experience now that he is 44"...he was tall enough for Space mountain but not mission space or everest.
We asked someone at one point (just out of curiosity, we were not arguing). We were told that the measuring sticks are recalibrated every AM. I'm not sure how that is possible. But, I know for a fact that they are not consistent from ride to ride and in our experience, taller than 40". Your miles may vary so good luck!

Although ... if he rode TOT and BTM in the morning and tried for Soarin, Test Track and Splash in the afternoon, that could certainly add creedence to the "people shrink a little as the day goes on" theory.

 

[shellybaxter]

I really think Disney should stop saying children have to be XX inches tall to ride a certain ride. Instead they should say "you have to be this tall" with a measuring stick that is not marked in inches or any other measurement. That would stop parents from trying to figure out which rides children are tall enough for without taking them to the actual measuring stick

 

[JillPTFLA]

Although ... if he rode TOT and BTM in the morning and tried for Soarin, Test Track and Splash in the afternoon, that could certainly add creedence to the "people shrink a little as the day goes on" theory.

Yeah...it is true that he did shrink as the day went along but Soarin was the first ride that we hit at Epcot on both those trips so I am still convinced that the 40" requirement for Soarin is more like 43"

In fact, we just measured our younger son by the soarin measuring stick on our last trip...he is about 37" barefoot so probably 38" with shoes and he was way far away from the top part of the stick...much more than 2 or 3 inches. No biggie...we make short children! Luckily there are no rides at Disney that are 54"...my kids wouldn't be able to ride until they areover 18!

 

[maxiesmom]

I would have to say it inconvieniences the maximum number of people because it is consistent in its inconsistency. Having a child measured multiple times and getting different results is the worst case.

The vast majority of children who visit Disney are not just on the edge of any height measurment. Therefore the double measuring inconvenience a small number of guests. That is, if you can call measuring to make sure your child is safe an inconvenience.

Wristbands don't work. You can get them off if you really want to. We had bars in our hometown that tried to use them. They didn't use them for long.

 

[carmiedog]

Does WDW have a place to get "officially" measured? Last summer we went to Cedar Point and it was worth it to stop at the office and get and official wristband after being measured. There was no questions at any of the rides, just flasher her wrist and on we went.

Why doesn't WDW do something like this? I would be EXTREMELY upset if she was measure once and ok , then waited an hour....measured again, and not let on. I would pitch a huge fit...to the point of having management involved. That is absolutely ridiculous to have 2 measurements with just a marked stick....way too subjective.

I've asked this question here before, figuring that put on properly, wristbands can't be taken off without ripping them. Guess what I learned - people actually bring scissors/tape into the parks. Go figure. I don't think circumventing a SAFETY rule would be worth the trouble, but apparently it is to some people. I've even read (here or other board???) that people have reproduced the blacklight stamps (not at WDW, but other theme parks). Amazing.

 

[shellybaxter]

I've asked this question here before, figuring that put on properly, wristbands can't be taken off without ripping them. Guess what I learned - people actually bring scissors/tape into the parks. Go figure. I don't think circumventing a SAFETY rule would be worth the trouble, but apparently it is to some people. I've even read (here or other board???) that people have reproduced the blacklight stamps (not at WDW, but other theme parks). Amazing.

My DH and me went to MVMCP during our last trip. When we got back to the room I cut my bracelet off (I hate those things) and went to cut Dh's off and he said no. He wanted to take it off without ruining it "just to see if he could do it". He's like that with everything - wants to see how it works, if he could fix it, etc. He was able to carefully remove his bracelet in a way that it could be put back on with no problem. I was surprised.

 

[summermac]

I still think they should do a measuring station personally. And if a parent takes a kid on a ride by changing out wristbands or the like, GUESS WHAT, the park has no liability. It's in tiny black print on some agreement you sign or something at the measuring station.

I will NOT be happy if we wait in a standby line for an hour only to be told my son is not tall enough. We've done all the tips mentioned here - practiced at home, coached him on how to stand, and we've prepared him for "you just might not get to ride" but honestly you can't tell me that if your child passes the 1st check, you're going to be anything but ticked if he/she doesn't pass a possible second check. That's ludicrous. And again, I understand the reasoning for it, I really, really do but for goodness sake's put yourself in the shoes of the 4-5 year old and his/her family who just waited even one half hour for something and can't get on. I would be so darn upset and will be if this happens. Now I'm not going to be a royal jerk off like that man who had a Full House but I will find it very hard to not say something about it.

So I guess the best idea overall then (since the wristband thing is always shot down here) is to at least have a MARKED measuring stick or a tape measure or something. That's what I use at home and heck just did. My son measured 40.5 without shoes....so here's hoping. LOL!

 

[ChuckGA]

The vast majority of children who visit Disney are not just on the edge of any height measurment. Therefore the double measuring inconvenience a small number of guests. That is, if you can call measuring to make sure your child is safe an inconvenience.

You clearly did not understand my post. The only people than can be affected by any height restriction issue are those on the edge, which obviously is a small percentage of the people. Given Disney's measuring technique, 100% of those on the edge are going to be annoyed because they are allowed/disallowed on a ride capriciously. Contrast that with using a actual ruler so that they are always the same no matter when the child is measured. Consistent results = less irate guests and all the required safety.

Measuring at the start and allowing a child through but then measuring a second time and disallowing the child does not mean more safety. It means completely inconsistent height sticks and procedures; a recipe for less safety not more.