Ever had a kid tall enough not measure up?

[UberPlannerMom]

So, our son is super excited because he is 43 3/4" tall in his bare feet and still has just over 60 days to grow. But I am a little worried that maybe Disney makes the 44" rulers taller than 44" to account for shoes, and if he isn't in tall shoes, won't make up for the difference. You know what I mean? Has anyone had that problem before? I know there are only two rides that are 44" but he is really excited to ride them both. He is a total roller coaster junkie (his words!)

Hopefully that all made sense... I am on Nyquil for a summer cold right now, so if not, well, sorry!:hammer:

 

[blackthidot]

Get him some turf shoes to wear while in Disney World...

 

[Magical Dreamer]

I'm pretty sure Disney would not post a 44" requirement and have the markers at 45" it would make no sense.

Unless of course the sign states "Bare Naked" in the small print.:lol:

 

[BrerFrog]

As far as I know the shoes go into the measurement.

 

[The Mom]

I suppose if your 3 year old showed up wearing 6" stiletto heels, they might ask you to remove the shoes. :lol: Normal kid appropriate footwear? Nah.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

My daughter had a fit one time because she had gone on Primeval Whirl with her brother and then about an hour later she was not allowed because she was too short. Granted she was a hair short, and I mean a hair, but when she came back crying I told her to be glad she made it on once and that it will be there to ride next year.

 

[Mammymouse]

A couple years ago when our granddaughter was 4 we attempted to go on Thunder Mountain RR with her, which we and she had been on once before. But this time the CM at the loading area measured her again and said she wasn't tall enough. She is on the short side for her age and just was a hair under the limit. Immediately my granddaughter burst out crying because it was her favorite ride and had been on it before. The CM was a very nice young lady and politely told us she had to follow the rules. We had to comply and tried to explain it to our 4 year old who was still crying. The CM felt so bad about refusing her to ride that she gave us all a certificate for free Mickey ears ice cream! Now our granddaughter is 6 and has grown enough so height isn't a problem and TMRR is still one of her favorites!

 

[Sarabell]

Haha I haven't been to WDW since 1996. Back then I was the same height I am right now. I'm 26 yeas old and planning to vivit the parks probably in Sept. and sometimes I'm still concerned that I won't make it to some of the rides. I'm 4'8, which is about as tall as a 10 year old. My 23 year old sister calls me Mini me. It's sad to still have to worry about being able to go on the rides at 26 isn't it?

 

[westie]

I forget how young my daughter was at the time. She was a shorty at the time and just not tall enough yet. So we (well my wife did it) pumped our daughters bangs up real big as to give her a "height" advantage and able to do big kid rides. My daughter is now sixteen so the memory is fuzzy but, I still remember her coming out of her seat on the drop of ToT and kinda reaching out and putting her back into her seat in a spacewalk type of way so, in retrospect, maybe its not such a good idea?

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Haha I haven't been to WDW since 1996. Back then I was the same height I am right now. I'm 26 yeas old and planning to vivit the parks probably in Sept. and sometimes I'm still concerned that I won't make it to some of the rides. I'm 4'8, which is about as tall as a 10 year old. My 23 year old sister calls me Mini me. It's sad to still have to worry about being able to go on the rides at 26 isn't it?

Nah, no need to worry, you'll be fine. Highest height requirement is 54 inches to drive alone at the TL Indy Speedway; otherwise, all other Disney thrill rides are 40-48 inches. Since you're 56 inches, you'll be fine. :wave:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I forget how young my daughter was at the time. She was a shorty at the time and just not tall enough yet. So we (well my wife did it) pumped our daughters bangs up real big as to give her a "height" advantage and able to do big kid rides. My daughter is now sixteen so the memory is fuzzy but, I still remember her coming out of her seat on the drop of ToT and kinda reaching out and putting her back into her seat in a spacewalk type of way so, in retrospect, maybe its not such a good idea?

It's sad, but I had thought about that with our older DD who will be 4 when we next go. She is very tiny, but has super curly hair that could easily be fluffed...but then I started thinking of all of the things that might go wrong if she rode a ride when she was really under the height requirement.

As for OP- It's been a long time since my very first trip, but my little brother had height requirement issues (or maybe it was parental concerns) back then and I remember my mom saying something about it including the height of his shoes...b/c I think she was shocked about him being tall enough to ride Space Mountain.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I always feel for the parents who wait thru the long lines with their little ones who passed the height test at the entrance but then are turned away after they reach the load area. I'd be so disappointed if I waited all that time for nothing.

 

[muteki]

Why would the rides take shoe sole thickness into account? Last I checked the kids ride most rides with their shoes on, so the shoes shouldn't factor into the measurement.

 

[ttalovebug]

My little brother always wore Heelys to theme parks to beat the height requirement. They add about three inches. It always worked. :drevil:

 

[miles1]

Somewhat off topic, but does anyone know how Disney handles, um, "little people"? Not kids, but those affected by dwarfism (hope I'm not offending anyone). They may not meet the height requirement, but they are informed consenting adults. Are they still prevented from riding restricted rides?

 

[goonie007]

When we took my daughter (5) she was a hair too short for Everest and was upset. So being the horrible parent that I am, took her to the bathroom and stuck a couple paper towels under her heal and waited 30 min and went back and passed right on through :drevil: they gave her a stamp on her hand showing she met the height req so she wouldn't have to keep getting checked throughout the day (we rode it about 10 more times that day she loves it).

 

[daliseurat]

I hate to be a party pooper, but seriously, trying to beat the height requirement is putting children at risk. Those requirements are there to make certain that the restraint systems do what they are meant to do, keep people in their seat and keep them from getting injured.

My DD got on a ride at a different park where we didn't notice the height restriction and she was slipping through the restraint. We had the ride stopped and the attendant told us he thought she might be to small. I ripped into the guy for not measuring her, and for not telling us he thought she was too small.

I've seen people put their kids in thick soled shoes, add lifts in the shoes and poof the hair. Or get downright obnoxious when told their child couldn't ride. I always tattle. The thought of any child being injured because someone either being careless or trying to beat the system is something I can't stand by and watch.

I know it's a downer when they aren't quite tall enough, and it's likely that they'll be okay, but really, is it worth risking a small child's well-being?

 

[UberPlannerMom]

I hate to be a party pooper, but seriously, trying to beat the height requirement is putting children at risk. Those requirements are there to make certain that the restraint systems do what they are meant to do, keep people in their seat and keep them from getting injured.

My DD got on a ride at a different park where we didn't notice the height restriction and she was slipping through the restraint. We had the ride stopped and the attendant told us he thought she might be to small. I ripped into the guy for not measuring her, and for not telling us he thought she was too small.

I've seen people put their kids in thick soled shoes, add lifts in the shoes and poof the hair. Or get downright obnoxious when told their child couldn't ride. I always tattle. The thought of any child being injured because someone either being careless or trying to beat the system is something I can't stand by and watch.

I know it's a downer when they aren't quite tall enough, and it's likely that they'll be okay, but really, is it worth risking a small child's well-being?

Did you actually read the original post? He isn't too short to ride, I was simply asking if they ever make the rulers for 44" rides measure at 45" to make up for kids shoes, or 40" rulers at 41", etc. I am not trying to boost him up, in fact I was just worrying that if they do that his shoes, which will be his more comfortable shoes as opposed to his tallest shoes, won't be shorter than the extra amount they might have added on. Goodness gracious. My son was less than 1/4" below the 44" in his stocking feet at the end of a long day with two months of growing to go. By then he will probably be about 44 1/4" or more as he is getting a little belly right now which always means a growth spurt is about two weeks away! Chill out and stop assuming people aren't as good a parents as you! Have a nice day!

 

[daliseurat]

Did you actually read the original post? He isn't too short to ride, I was simply asking if they ever make the rulers for 44" rides measure at 45" to make up for kids shoes, or 40" rulers at 41", etc. I am not trying to boost him up, in fact I was just worrying that if they do that his shoes, which will be his more comfortable shoes as opposed to his tallest shoes, won't be shorter than the extra amount they might have added on. Goodness gracious. My son was less than 1/4" below the 44" in his stocking feet at the end of a long day with two months of growing to go. By then he will probably be about 44 1/4" or more as he is getting a little belly right now which always means a growth spurt is about two weeks away! Chill out and stop assuming people aren't as good a parents as you! Have a nice day!

I did read your post. And then was distracted by other posts, which are what I was reacting to. So I did not answer your question. Sorry if you felt I was aiming at you. I wasn't. I wasn't referring to anyone specifically. I take issue with recommendations for boosting kids' height when they aren't tall enough to ride. Any parent who see's their child in jeopardy (as I did) because they are on a ride that they are not tall enough for, is going to be more sensitive to this issue. I don't mean to suggest that I am a superior parent to anyone. I'm just one who has seen what can happen when the height restrictions are not followed by either those running the ride or the parents. It does give me a unique perspective. So I take it seriously. Not that I'm suggesting you or anyone else doesn't.

If your child is at the proper height, you shouldn't have anything to worry about regarding the rulers. When my DD was just tall enough at Disney, and was getting measured, she was always taller than the ruler. If you are really concerned that they may be measuring in an unfair manner, bring your own measuring tape with you to prove them wrong. I know it sounds crazy, but if your child is the proper height, you shouldn't have to contend with his disappointment if they are measuring improperly. And you are not the first person to question Disney's measuring accuracy.

And I am sorry if you felt like I was attacking your post.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

I did read your post. And then was distracted by other posts, which are what I was reacting to. So I did not answer your question. Sorry if you felt I was aiming at you. I wasn't. I wasn't referring to anyone specifically. I take issue with recommendations for boosting kids' height when they aren't tall enough to ride. Any parent who see's their child in jeopardy (as I did) because they are on a ride that they are not tall enough for, is going to be more sensitive to this issue. I don't mean to suggest that I am a superior parent to anyone. I'm just one who has seen what can happen when the height restrictions are not followed by either those running the ride or the parents. It does give me a unique perspective. So I take it seriously. Not that I'm suggesting you or anyone else doesn't.

If your child is at the proper height, you shouldn't have anything to worry about regarding the rulers. When my DD was just tall enough at Disney, and was getting measured, she was always taller than the ruler. If you are really concerned that they may be measuring in an unfair manner, bring your own measuring tape with you to prove them wrong. I know it sounds crazy, but if your child is the proper height, you shouldn't have to contend with his disappointment if they are measuring improperly. And you are not the first person to question Disney's measuring accuracy.

And I am sorry if you felt like I was attacking your post.

Thanks! I was a little worried that somehow my post was misread. I don't want anyone to think I would advocate breaking the rules. I am one of those unfortunate people who get speeding tickets for going 72 in a 70 so I try to always go by the book and I tell others to go by the book so I don't rub off on them! Haha!