Splash Mountain Height Requirement

[Retroman40]

We were going through some old Disney stuff and came upon a "Future Splash Mountaineer" certificate that my son got in 1995. It lists the height requirement at 44 inches. I'm kind of curious - does anyone know when the requirement dropped to 40 inches?

 

[AndyS2992]

I would assume 2011 when the lap bars were added.

 

[ShoalFox]

I would assume 2011 when the lap bars were added.

That's exactly when. I found that out two years ago since at that point I hadn't ridden the ride in a decade and saw the lap bars, so me being me, I did some research.

Here's an article from 2011 talking about the lap bars.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

It's been 40 inches for a long time. I was riding it by the year 1999. I was able to ride Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain on the same trip, whereas I had to wait for Space Mountain, which is 44 inches. I also memorized height requirements for after my brother was born so I would know which rides I still got to ride twice with tbe rider switch pass, and I don't ever remember Splash Mountain being 44. Always 40

Just curious, is the height printed on the certificate or written by a CM?

 

[StarWarsGirl]

That's exactly when. I found that out two years ago since at that point I hadn't ridden the ride in a decade and saw the lap bars, so me being me, I did some research.

Here's an article from 2011 talking about the lap bars.

That article says nothing about a height requirement change with the lap bar addition.

 

[Retroman40]

It's been 40 inches for a long time. I was riding it by the year 1999. I was able to ride Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain on the same trip, whereas I had to wait for Space Mountain, which is 44 inches. I also memorized height requirements for after my brother was born so I would know which rides I still got to ride twice with tbe rider switch pass, and I don't ever remember Splash Mountain being 44. Always 40

Just curious, is the height printed on the certificate or written by a CM?

Printed on the certificate.

 

[World_Showcase_Lover007]

Crazy to think there was a time when a five-story plunge wasn't thought to need lap bars. Honestly although I rode Splash numerous time in the 90's, I can't ever remember there not being lap bars. It would seem odd now just to sit there in a wide-open log flume. I guess that's progress!

 

[Coaster Lover]

Crazy to think there was a time when a five-story plunge wasn't thought to need lap bars. Honestly although I rode Splash numerous time in the 90's, I can't ever remember there not being lap bars. It would seem odd now just to sit there in a wide-open log flume. I guess that's progress!

But there are PLENTY of examples of log flumes operating at theme parks around the country with drops larger than 50 feet with no lap bars (many of which have even shorter height requirements). As an example from one of my favorite amusement parks (outside of Orlando), Knoebels log flume has a 55 foot drop with no lapbars and a minimum height requirement of 36" (with an adult). (http://www.knoebels.com/rides/giant-flume). Now it might be possible that the expectation is that an adult would be holding/restraining anyone under 42" (the minimum height to ride alone) as the seats are toboggan style, but still...

On a side note, by nearly 3 year old daughter is just over 36" now and has ridden a couple log flumes already. We have just over a year until our Disney trip for her to grow about 4 inches, otherwise I know she's going to be disappointed to have to miss Splash Mountain, especially after having been able to ride other log flumes (and loving them) previously!

 

[WDWDreamer4]

I don't know about the height requirement changing since I didn't look at those until I has children (my oldest is 6 so not long). However, we go to Hershey Park locally and we have a log flume called the Coal Cracker. This has a 49 ft drop and I am allowed to take my 23 month old on there. Only restriction is no hand held infants. That has no lap bar as you sit toboggan style. I obviously hold on to her in front of me, but just goes to show there are water flume rides with much less restraints and shorter height requirements. My 4 year old loves that log flume too so I really hope she makes the 40" requirement at Disney this year. I know it will be close!

 

[marni1971]

The limit went from 44" to 40" around 1997.

 

[21stamps]

But there are PLENTY of examples of log flumes operating at theme parks around the country with drops larger than 50 feet with no lap bars (many of which have even shorter height requirements). As an example from one of my favorite amusement parks (outside of Orlando), Knoebels log flume has a 55 foot drop with no lapbars and a minimum height requirement of 36" (with an adult). (http://www.knoebels.com/rides/giant-flume). Now it might be possible that the expectation is that an adult would be holding/restraining anyone under 42" (the minimum height to ride alone) as the seats are toboggan style, but still...

On a side note, by nearly 3 year old daughter is just over 36" now and has ridden a couple log flumes already. We have just over a year until our Disney trip for her to grow about 4 inches, otherwise I know she's going to be disappointed to have to miss Splash Mountain, especially after having been able to ride other log flumes (and loving them) previously!

Our local theme park doesn't have lap bars on the log flume. I'm glad.

Also- Some of the "new" restraints on rides actually make them worse- example- they built higher partitions (between the 2 passengers in one seat and the side) on a lot of roller coasters- so my kid just bangs his head back and forth when the ride turns, sometimes really hard.

Orlando in general seems a little more easy on height requirements than other places. My son could ride the Slingshot at Orlando last year- at 45inches. Could not ride the same attraction at our park until 48". Space Mountain is another one that is great that it has a low requirement!

 

[DisneyWall-E]

I thought the lap bars had nothing to do with the drop and everything to do with bad guests getting up out of the logs and causing the ride to go 101.

 

[marni1971]

I thought the lap bars had nothing to do with the drop and everything to do with bad guests getting up out of the logs and causing the ride to go 101.

Yup.

 

[AndyS2992]

I thought the lap bars had nothing to do with the drop and everything to do with bad guests getting up out of the logs and causing the ride to go 101.

Still happens. I rode it one night in September and the ride stopped at least four times with an annoyed voice coming over the PA asking people to sit down. Our log didn't get evacuated but the work lights did come on and we were stuck there a while so I assume they escorted those guests off the ride wherever they were.

 

[DisneyWall-E]

The perpetrators should have been banned from the parks IMHO

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

I think the height requirement's 40 inches.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Still happens. I rode it one night in September and the ride stopped at least four times with an annoyed voice coming over the PA asking people to sit down. Our log didn't get evacuated but the work lights did come on and we were stuck there a while so I assume they escorted those guests off the ride wherever they were.

It's more of a deterrent. Doesn't stop the problem entirely, but makes it harder for guests to try anything.