Enforcement of Height Restrictions

[andypooh]

Off to WDW in just 6 days!!

DS5 is chicken and won't go on a lot of the rides

DS3 is much more likely to be willing to go on a bunch of the rides, but he is only 39 inches at best with his sneakers on.

A lot of the rides are 40 inches minimum. Any chance he can get on any of these rides (Splash, Soarin, BTMRR) or is it just going to have to wait till next year?

Thanks

[Dopey's Girl]

I was with kids on the verge of 40 inches last in 2010, and the height restrictions were very strictly enforced, and rightly so. If they let a 'shorty' on and heaven forbid they got hurt, Disney would have one heck of a lawsuit to deal with.

[BugeyedMuggy]

Most if not all height restrictions are taken very seriously by the cast members. I have even see some kids get past the outside of the ride just to be turned away where you are just about to get on the ride. If they feel it is close they will measure at that point. The height limits are for the safety of the children as the restraints are dangerous for the shorter ones.

[Ian]

Unless you just happen to find a CM asleep at the wheel, you've got no shot at getting a 39" tall child on a ride with a 40" height restriction.

They're extremely rigid with those rules (as well they should be) and even if the child is close they still may turn them away in the interest of safety.

[DizneyFreak2002]

In October, I witnessed a CM not allowing a little girl on Rock N Roller Coaster because she just barely missed the height cut off... When I say just barely, I truly mean just barely... Best part about it, the girl didn't get upset... The family stood off to the side to decide what to do... I believe the father went on with the son while the mother waited at the exit with the daughter...

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

It is a wait until next time thing.

Disney is very strict with heights, and even kids right at the 40" mark can sometimes have trouble, since you are measured each and every time you ride ... and you have to meet the height every time (no slouching!)

[squad51]

Our youngest was rejected last year from riding Star Tours on our first day. He must have grown in one week because on the last day he was tall enough. Long story short, not tall enough not going on.

[K8screen]

Being too short is not always a bad thing. DD2 was too short for several rides on our first trip, and cried at the time. It was not till MANY years later that she told me they were actually tears of relief, as she didnt want to do the "big scary rides" but was afraid her brother and sister would laugh at her if she said so, so it was great to have an excuse not to ride!

[Mousemates]

I would say there is pretty much a zero chance of her getting on...so I would go ahead and let her know that there will be several rides she will need to wait until next time to ride before she gets there so she will have time to mentally deal with it. I might also go online and show her all the rides she can enjoy and all the things she can do, so she doesn't just focus on the fews things she can't.

[andypooh]

I do not think it will be an issue (at least I hope not). His brother is chicken so probably won't go on many of the rides either so it shouldn't be a problem. I do not even think he will be aware of what he might be missing. We will be going back next year so he will get to go as a 4 year old. By then maybe his brother will go as well.

[RBrooksC]

Last year, my son was at the required height when he was wearing shoes.

He would get measured before entering the ride and get the lanyard to wear to show he was measured.

The only ride where he was checked twice was the ride where he almost six inches taller than he needed for the ride, Kali River Rapids.

But, they would use the crocked stick to check his height and it would always just hit the top of his head. Basically, he was right at the 44" limit for the rides.

Unfortunately, he is only about 46" right now. So, unless he wears 1970's platform shoes, he won't be getting on RNRC, although he says he REALLY wants to ride it.

My daughter is about 37.5" tall. We are hoping her shoes, like for her brother last year, gets her to the 38" required for Kali River Rapids. My daughter is a thrill seeker, even at three. I am pretty sure she would really enjoy riding it as a family.

[andypooh]

My 5 year old son almost certainly won't go on Kali as he hates water falling on him...I hope to get him on Splash but that will be a challenge

The 3 yo enjoys the water stuff and Kali at 38" is the one "thrill" ride he can do so we will definitely try that (and it'll probably be 90+ degrees so it should be fun to get wet).

[joonyer]

We might think that there'd be no harm in a CM allowing a child who was only 1/2 an inch short (say 39&1/2 on a 40 inch ride) to get on board (and maybe there wouldn't be). BUT then they'd get complaints from parents whose child was only a 1/2 inch shorter than that, and so on and so forth. Once you start bending the rule, there's no place to stop, so most every CM I've seen has been pretty strict about the height restrictions. I'd recommend you check out the ride heights in advance and prepare your children before you arrive that they probably won't be able to ride certain things. That way you can avoid "meltdown" at the ride entrance. Then plan another trip next year when they are taller! That builds a lot of anticipation for the next trip.

[Gator]

It'll be next year. My daughter tried to ride Splash Mountain when she was 3. They let her through at the fastpass entrance, but they stopped her at the actual ride. That was pretty upsetting. They will measure all kids to make sure of the height. If he's not 40 inches, even with shoes on, he won't make it. Bummer.

[Main Street Jim]

Oh, I've got some "not tall enough" stories....LOL....if ya wanna hear 'em, I'll post 'em.

[Quadstriker]

Oh, I've got some "not tall enough" stories....LOL....if ya wanna hear 'em, I'll post 'em.

No way. Keep them to yourself please.



OK I lied. Tell us!

[K8screen]

Oh, I've got some "not tall enough" stories....LOL....if ya wanna hear 'em, I'll post 'em.

TELL!!!
I love your stories Jim!

[BrerGnat]

I do believe that height restrictions are something that CM's have absolutely NO leeway on. They are strict as can be, and rightfully so. No one wants to be the CM who let the "just barely tall enough" child onto a ride, who then suffered an injury during an e-stop. I'm sure it's the #1 rule that must never be broken when you are an attraction CM.

Your child will be tall enough, eventually. Until then, "life isn't fair."

[disneynarula]

It is very strict...as it should be. Of course... your home measuring system could be a little off but probably not an inch.

[TinkerbellT421]

I witnessed parents start yelling and screaming at a CM who would not allow their daughter to get on Stitch. And mind you that ride doesn't even move. But she missed the height restriction by literally half an inch and the CM denied them access. The parents literally lost their minds about it. All while I am peering at them wanting to say "She really isn't missing much with this one for you to get all upset about".