I almost hate to post this because I have seen how controversial this subject can be. My 4 year old very petite son is a smidge under the 40 inch mark, and I mean a smidge. You can probably fit a toothpick between the top of his head and the 40 inch mark (with his shoes on). Anyhow, it is so close that I am afraid one of the CM's may not allow him to ride. And my little guy has been preparing for months (by eating all of his veggies) to be able to go on Splash Mountain. I already bought shoes for him with the thickest sole possible. And before anyone wonders, I certainly wouldnt put him at risk by allowing him to ride anything that I didnt feel was safe. I am just talking about Splash Mountain and a difference of a toothpick (lol). Does anyone know if such thing exists? I am looking for inserts, or something that would slide into a size 9 child shoe that will give him just enough of a lift to put him at the 40 inch mark. Any suggestions, please. We leave in about 2 weeks, so eating more veggies isnt going to make a difference at this point. Thanks!!!!

If you are putting thick heeled shoes on and he still does not make it I would not let him ride that means he is too small. And splash mountain is very unsafe under 40 inches.

I have said this before and I am not picking on you as a person but the height requirements are there for a reason. Not to deny your child of riding a ride, or for the cast members to be mean and say no to your child, but for your child's safety.

And yes if they are just a little under they will say "no" DOSH has changed many regulations and if your child does not meet the height requirement and the cast member gets caught letting your child in. They get written up and possibly terminated and the attraction will go down until there is update training.

I know all about vertically challenged kids my daughter was 5 1/2 before she hit 40 inches and we just did other things that were safe for her to ride.

I just knew a lecture would be coming once I posted this question. I understand all about the safety issues. As I said, I knew this was a controversial issue, and I wouldnt put my child at risk.

I'm sorry for both of you........my 18 year old never hit 5'. ;)

Have you tried asking him to stand up big and tall? I've noticed kids dont always use the tallest posture possible, and sometimes that is all it takes to get them up to the line.

How long until your trip? If its more then a couple weeks, I would just hope for a growth spurt!

Try going first thing in the morning before gravity takes its toll. Might help with that extra bit. Also, if he doesn't make it be sure to have some sort of consolation goody for him. It doesn't have to be expensive but just an acknowledgement of his efforts. If he has been very good and eating his veggies, etc. it might help a little with the disappointment.

I just knew a lecture would be coming once I posted this question. I understand all about the safety issues. As I said, I knew this was a controversial issue, and I wouldnt put my child at risk.I don't get it, you are asking for advice on how to get your child to falsely make the height requirement, which can place your child at risk, but then you state you wouldn't put your child at risk.

I wouldn't put soles in, I would make sure he stands up nice and straight. If he doesn't make it, I would just remind him its for his safety. People don't always understand this really is a safety issue.

It's as much an ethical issue as one of safety for me. What are you teaching your child? Better to teach them how to take disappointment bravely than to teach them how to cheat the system.

If the thick soled (properly fitted) shoes and the standing up tall doesn't work, then it's time for a lesson in accepting the situation for what it is. And yes, I've had to give this talk to my very disappointed son when he was just *that* much too short for Indiana Jones. It's not fun, but it's better than teaching them to cheat their way around the rules.

I am just as guilty as you, infact I have a dirty little secret...we have helped our vertically challenged daughter. Like your child, she was so close to the height requirement and we slipped some cardboard into her shoes. It worked, infact they didn't even check her that time. I guess we could have bought some Dr. Scholls. I know I know....shame on me :D

What get's me is how even though she has an inch on the requirements now, they barely check at the entrance to the ride, and then you wait in line for 45 minutes, and they are screwtenize her. I even noticed she was much further over the required height at the entrance, than at the ride. They ought to check there signs.

It's as much an ethical issue as one of safety for me. What are you teaching your child? Better to teach them how to take disappointment bravely than to teach them how to cheat the system.

If the thick soled (properly fitted) shoes and the standing up tall doesn't work, then it's time for a lesson in accepting the situation for what it is. And yes, I've had to give this talk to my very disappointed son when he was just *that* much too short for Indiana Jones. It's not fun, but it's better than teaching them to cheat their way around the rules.

What. She. Said.

It's not just about your child's short-term safety. It's about telling a young child who is still forming his/her reasoning skills that it's ok to try to cheat rules you don't like.

Adrienne

who said anything about teaching my child to break the rules. I was looking for something along the line of Dr. Scholls that I could put in the shoes without him realizing what the purpose was for. I never said I was going to explain to him the reason, and he wouldnt even notice this in the shoes. Please people... I think you are being a little over critical. Again... I was talking about such a small amount of height difference (if any at all based on the Disney size charts as they all vary slightly). Lets move on...

I almost hate to post this because I have seen how controversial this subject can be.
You knew what you were getting into when you first posted. If you didn't want to hear what we had to say, you shouldn't have asked.

Disneymommy - check your PM box.

for most of the rest of you, there is no reason to be rude to her. she came her for assistance, not to be harped on. And just so you know, wearing commercial shoes that are sold in any store is not "cheating", even if they have a higher heel.

Disneymommy - check your PM box.

for most of the rest of you, there is no reason to be rude to her. she came her for assistance, not to be harped on. And just so you know, wearing commercial shoes that are sold in any store is not "cheating", even if they have a higher heel.

No, but slipping inserts into shoes just to make the height requirement is. And that is what she was asking about.

for most of the rest of you, there is no reason to be rude to her. she came her for assistance, not to be harped on. And just so you know, wearing commercial shoes that are sold in any store is not "cheating", even if they have a higher heel.

The only thing I did wrong was use "you" instead of "me".

Otherwise, you're entitled to think it's not sending the wrong message to your child. But explaining why I won't is not rude. You may not think it's sending the wrong message. I do. Just so you know.

Adrienne

Thanks to those of you who have had kind words for me. It is nice to know there are other parents out there like me (even if we are oh so horrible to do such a thing...)

For the rest, it must be tiring to be so perfect.

And just to make it clear. I completely agree that it would be sending the wrong message to my child if the two of us were plotting away each day trying to find a way to get him on the ride. Please understand, this is something that he would have no idea about. If I were able to find a pair of insoles that fit nicely in his shoes, I would slip them in and he wouldnt be any the wiser. He would just be more excited about the fact that eating all his veggies paid off. So if you think that is cheating the system so be it. I think it is getting a bit ridiculous. If my child were female, I could put on a pair of platform sandals and the CM's would allow the child to pass. I guess that would make the ride "safer"????

I think your points have been made. I think the horse is dead already.

For the rest, it must be tiring to be so perfect.

There's no reason to be defensive and turn it into name calling. Like I said, I should've used "me" instead of "you." You have the right to disagree with me. I explained to you why I disagree with your choice. That's not saying I'm perfect. That's explaining my reasoning.

Adrienne

I don't understand how you think a four year old isn't going to even notice you stuck insert into his/her shoes? :confused:

I know the three four year olds with us in August at DL sure the heck would have noticed. Our little guys would have been asking us what we were doing and why?

I don't know what good answer you could give. Not saying there isn't an answer, I just can't think of one I would be able to use. :confused:

For the rest, it must be tiring to be so perfect.

I never once said I was perfect as a parent in fact I have made many mistakes and have learned from them. You asked a question and I gave you my opinion not only as a parent but as a attraction hostess that worked at Disneyland for 10 years.

Like I said I am not perfect but I would never put my child's safety at risk. To me it is not worth it. They are the most precious gift ever given to me and I don't take that for granted.

Like I said if you have a thick soled shoe on your child and he does not make it with the Aid of that DON'T STUFF HIS SHOES!!!! It is not safe!

I could put on a pair of platform sandals and the CM's would allow the child to pass. I guess that would make the ride "safer"????
The last two years I worked there we were permitted to ask guest to remove the shoes of children that had platform shoes if they looked to small or they had to exceed the height requirement by how many inches the shoes were. So this is false

Toursbabe

If my child were female, I could put on a pair of platform sandals and the CM's would allow the child to pass. I guess that would make the ride "safer"????
I consider those who put platform shoes on their little girls to be cheating just as much as those who put inserts into boy's shoes. Worse in fact, because I've seen little girls tripping all over the place in these types of shoes. Not only are they not safe on the ride...they aren't safe walking.
The last two years I worked there we were permitted to ask guest to remove the shoes of children that had platform shoes if they looked to small or they had to exceed the height requirement by how many inches the shoes were.
I am really glad to hear this.

I almost hate to post this because I have seen how controversial this subject can be.....

....my little guy has been preparing for months (by eating all of his veggies) to be able to go on Splash Mountain. I already bought shoes for him with the thickest sole possible. And before anyone wonders, I certainly wouldnt put him at risk by allowing him to ride anything that I didnt feel was safe. I am just talking about Splash Mountain and a difference of a toothpick (lol). Does anyone know if such thing exists? I am looking for inserts, or something that would slide into a size 9 child shoe that will give him just enough of a lift to put him at the 40 inch mark. Any suggestions, please. We leave in about 2 weeks, so eating more veggies isnt going to make a difference at this point. Thanks!!!!
With all the Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald, and with so much of the park dedicated to "little guys", so much so that many say "Disneyland is for kids", one has to wonder where the little guy's obsession with Splash Mountain sprung from.


... I am just talking about Splash Mountain and a difference of a toothpick (lol).....

Why not stick a toothpick in the little guys shoes.

one has to wonder where the little guy's obsession with Splash Mountain sprung from.


Good point! ;)

To me Splash Mountain is one of the more risky rides to take a child on that is under the height requirement because there is no seat belts and at the end of the steep drop there is so much force that my little one who is tall enough has hit the sit in front of her because she was not hanging on properly to the handles. Another Bad one is Thunder because the seat belt gap on the outside part of the seat is so wide a child could slip out.

My daughter was hovering around the 40" mark when we went in '04 - she was prepared for 5 months to be turned away while her older brother would be tall enough for most everything. During our trip, she was measured at every ride and each time had a couple of CMs check her before letting her ride. On Splash Mountain, however, we had 3 (THREE!) CMs check, including the one at loading where we actually had to exit the log to remeasure. The last one let us go but it really was a tough drop for her - I was holding her from behind and she still flopped around a little. It was spooky enough for us not to ride again...
I was, however, supremely annoyed at the 42" requirement for the Tuck & Roll bumper cars - are you kidding? They drive at a snail's pace and hardly graze each other. My daughter was over her sadness in a minute and has no bitter memories (that I know of...! :eek: ) Kids are far more resilient than we give them credit for - I think it's us parents who have the harder time...

I know it's difficult to hear because we want our kids to have the best time ever, but there has to be a line drawn for safety. It gives us something to get more jazzed about for the return trip! (Although my 7yo is not as excited as we are that he hit the California Screamin' mark... ;) ).

If my child were female, I could put on a pair of platform sandals and the CM's would allow the child to pass. I guess that would make the ride "safer"????

I think your points have been made. I think the horse is dead already.Actually, they will ask you to remove the child's platforms and measure the child barefoot. Yes, it is a matter of safety. I know it seems like SM is a safe ride, but is safe because of the safety requirements, and that 1/2 inch does make a difference. I'm sorry if you wanted us to just say "Put in the lifts", but I think you knew we werent going to say that. I didn't allow my kids to ride til they easily made the requirements. Yes, it meant there were times we couldn't go on rides, but safety is first.