I have two questions. First, how strict are the CM's about the height requirements? My 3 yo son is 1/8" shy of 40" which is the requirement for MANY of the rides. I'm sure some CM's are super strict and others more lax, but what are your experiences with this issue?

2nd question. . .if they are strict about 1/8", do you have any tips/tricks to add a bit to my son's height. He'll have on tennis shoes which already have about an inch on the sole. I looked at a store today to see if I could find shoes with a taller sole, but no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks! BTW, we leave on Wednesday...will be at DL on Thurs and Fri. Yippee!!! First time we've taken our three boys there! :D

One thing I can think of is not getting a haircut :geek: :D

Seriously an 1/8th of an inch is very very very small. Some rides he may not get on but some he will. It is just really important that you tell him that there is a chance he may not be able to ride.

As you said, "I'm sure some CM's are super strict and others more lax....." I have seen both of these. But I think in my most recent trips the cast members have been on the stricter side.

One thing I can think of is not getting a haircut :geek: :D

Seriously an 1/8th of an inch is very very very small. Some rides he may not get on but some he will. It is just really important that you tell him that there is a chance he may not be able to ride.

Yes, I will warn him. Hopefully, we won't have a meltdown in DL! Hey, I noticed your countdown. So when will you be there? We might be there at the same time. We'll be at the parks on April 26 & 27.

Here's another trick: do the height requirement rides in the morning. It's a proven fact that everyone is just a bit taller in the a.m. As the day goes on, we get tired, and shrink down a bit.

Is he 1/8 short with shoes on or without? Have him practice standing up big and tall- stretch a bit. I'm not saying stand on his toes or anything like- just big and tall, raise his head a bit.

A few things to be aware of- he might be tall enough to get through the first check point on a ride, and be denied later. He might be big enough for one ride but not another, even if both have the same requirement. He might be tall enough one day and not the next or even one morning and not in the afternoon. It happens when they are close to the requirement and there is nothing that can be done. Its for their safety, so you just have to live with it.

One more thing, some of these rides, he may be tall enough, but is he ready for them? My nieces were tall enough, but one (age 4 and 8 mos) was not ready for Space Mountain. You are the best judge for your child, but the fear periods at this age can really cause problems later. Also, be cautious on Big Thunder. He may be tall enough by the stick, but the bar will be lowered to your body and that can give him too much room to move around.

That is why I prefer to have my two daughters ride together on Big Thunder while I ride behind them. The lap bar comes down a lot further when I'm not in the seat with them!

While 1/8" is not that much, the height requirements are there for a REASON...SAFETY!!! I can't believe you are telling them how to get around the height requirements.

It's people like all of you which piss off the cast members.

YOU: "But my child is only 1/8" short of the height requirement. Why can't he just ride"
CM: "Because the height requirements are set that way for SAFETY reasons (thinking to self: you idiot)"

That is why I prefer to have my two daughters ride together on Big Thunder while I ride behind them. The lap bar comes down a lot further when I'm not in the seat with them!They will require a 3yo to ride with an adult. I don't think I would want a 3yo riding with another child unless that child was at least a teen.

I can't believe you are telling them how to get around the height requirements.

I just reread the whole thread and I'm not seeing where someone, other than the original poster about shoes, was telling how to get around the height requirement. Standing straight and tall is not "getting around" it- it's being the height he is; being taller in the morning than in the late afternoon and riding the rides then, when he's taller, isn't "getting around" the height requirement, it's riding while tall enough.

I would be inclined to strongly consider Malcon10's advice though, in considering whether he is actually ready for these rides (Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Soaring over California, Tower of Terror) that he may be tall enough to safely ride. My five year old daughter was 40" (barely) for the first time on her 5th birthday trip, and that time only rode Jumpin' Jellyfish. For our trip last month, she was excited to try "the runaway train" (Big Thunder) and... yeah, no, that was a huge mistake. She loved (LOVED) Soaring, but I don't think she'd have liked it at age 3.

The height standards are set for the various safety features in the attraction. They are not there to be cruel to the child. Those that think that padding shoes etc is a good thing don't realize that some of the safety features have nothing to do with where their feet sit on the ground.

They will require a 3yo to ride with an adult. I don't think I would want a 3yo riding with another child unless that child was at least a teen.

Mine started riding together on roller coasters at both Legoland and Disneyland when they were 4/7, always with me or DH oir both sitting right behind them. Neither park said boo about it.

I have two questions. First, how strict are the CM's about the height requirements? My 3 yo son is 1/8" shy of 40" which is the requirement for MANY of the rides. I'm sure some CM's are super strict and others more lax, but what are your experiences with this issue?

I think that the best thing to do is to prepare your son that they might not let him ride. If he's tall enough in his shoes, great. Yes, some CMs are stricter than others.

And to echo what Malcon10t said (she and I do that a lot, don't we?) - I am not sure I'd worry too much about a 3-y/o being too short. Many of these rides are very intense for 3-y/o (Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain most immediately come to mind.) My youngest is three and while he may be tall enough, I'm not sure his body is developmentally ready for Space or Thunder - especially considering the aforementioned lap bar issue on Thunder.

He'll be tall enough for Matterhorn (which is rocky enough that my 6 and 8 y/o's aren't too wild about it.) And he's tall enough for Gadget's Go Coaster (which I think is a great little kid ride.

My best suggestion? Don't sweat it. There are SO many other things to do at Disneyland that he's sure to love. Three-y/o's don't necessarily know what they're missing. If you don't make a big deal out if it, he probably won't either.

Adrienne

One more thing, some of these rides, he may be tall enough, but is he ready for them? My nieces were tall enough, but one (age 4 and 8 mos) was not ready for Space Mountain. You are the best judge for your child, but the fear periods at this age can really cause problems later. Also, be cautious on Big Thunder. He may be tall enough by the stick, but the bar will be lowered to your body and that can give him too much room to move around.


You're absolutely correct. What is difficult is that it has been about 10years since I was at DL last so it is hard for me to remember some of the rides and decide if my son is ready for them or not. We only have 2 days there so I'm not sure there will be enough time for me or my DH to ride first and then go back again to let him ride if we decide it is tame enough for him.

Question: i didn't understand you comments about Big Thunder. What do you mean "He may be tall enough by the stick, but the bar will be lowered to your body and that can give him too much room to move around". Sorry, it's been a long time.

While 1/8" is not that much, the height requirements are there for a REASON...SAFETY!!! I can't believe you are telling them how to get around the height requirements.

It's people like all of you which piss off the cast members.

YOU: "But my child is only 1/8" short of the height requirement. Why can't he just ride"
CM: "Because the height requirements are set that way for SAFETY reasons (thinking to self: you idiot)"

Sorry, I had no idea I was starting a contentious thread. But I think you could have stated the above comments in a much more tactful way. In defense of myself for even asking the question, certainly if a CM says 'no', I'm not going to argue with them. And, of course, my son's safety is most important. So if we were talking about even 1/4" difference, I wouldn't push it. But 1/8" is so miniscule I seriously doubt it would make a difference in his safety on a ride.

My best suggestion? Don't sweat it. There are SO many other things to do at Disneyland that he's sure to love. Three-y/o's don't necessarily know what they're missing. If you don't make a big deal out if it, he probably won't either.

Adrienne

Unfortunately, he's already making a big deal of it. For the past few weeks, we've been previewing all the attractions on Disney's website. You know the little video clips they have of some of the rides. Based on those, he really wants to ride matterhorn. When I tell him they might not let him because he's not tall enough, he insists that he is! LOL! It's been so long since I rode it last, I'm not sure if it would be too much for him or not. I'm NOT putting him on Space or Thunder even if I could get by the heigh issue. But I am considering Matterhorn and Star Tours.....unsure about those two.

I HOPE the height thing won't be an issue for Soarin' and Jumping Jellyfish because I think he would enjoy both of those. Thanks for everyone's input.

Question: i didn't understand you comments about Big Thunder. What do you mean "He may be tall enough by the stick, but the bar will be lowered to your body and that can give him too much room to move around". Sorry, it's been a long time.

It's a shared lap bar. So, when it's lowered to your legs it will still be above the level of his legs.

Unfortunately, he's already making a big deal of it. For the past few weeks, we've been previewing all the attractions on Disney's website. You know the little video clips they have of some of the rides. Based on those, he really wants to ride matterhorn. When I tell him they might not let him because he's not tall enough, he insists that he is! LOL! It's been so long since I rode it last, I'm not sure if it would be too much for him or not.

The scariest part of the Matterhorn for most little ones is the abominable snowman. You go by pretty quickly, but it's startling and that image stays with them.

Unfortunately, he's already making a big deal of it. For the past few weeks, we've been previewing all the attractions on Disney's website. You know the little video clips they have of some of the rides. Based on those, he really wants to ride matterhorn. When I tell him they might not let him because he's not tall enough, he insists that he is! LOL!
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Well, just be prepared that if he isn't tall enough he won't get to ride.

Question: i didn't understand you comments about Big Thunder. What do you mean "He may be tall enough by the stick, but the bar will be lowered to your body and that can give him too much room to move around". Sorry, it's been a long time.The lapbar comes down to the top of your legs. This is usually considerably higher than his legs would be. This gives him lots of room to move around during the turns and drops. It can be very scary for a small child, not being firmly secured.

Thanks so much for everybody's input. Yes, the lapbar issue makes sense. Sounds like he wouldn't be secure enough for my liking. Thanks again.

Based on those, he really wants to ride matterhorn. When I tell him they might not let him because he's not tall enough, he insists that he is! LOL! It's been so long since I rode it last, I'm not sure if it would be too much for him or not. I'm NOT putting him on Space or Thunder even if I could get by the heigh issue. But I am considering Matterhorn and Star Tours.....unsure about those two. Like others have said, the scary part of Matterhorn is "Harold". He should be tall enough for Matterhorn (its 35".) Star Tours is just very jerky. Personally, I have quit riding it as it aggravates my back. But, my kids, and nieces and nephews enjoy it.

I HOPE the height thing won't be an issue for Soarin' and Jumping Jellyfish because I think he would enjoy both of those. Thanks for everyone's input.

Ok, be prepared for Jumpin' Jellyfish. That is the most notoriously broken ride in the parks. My son's godmother personally measured the stick - it was at 42". Now, it's possible they changed it since then, but I've heard several reports since then from other children who were turned away - and these weren't "Barely 40"" kids. My friend's daughter was plenty tall enough for the 40" stick at Soarin' but they would NOT let her on Jumpin' Jellyfish.

So be forewarned.

Adrienne

Another thing to consider is that your child may be measured and allowed to enter the queue and then be denied boarding by the staff at the front of the line. This has happened to us multiple times in Disney and in other parks to the point that we don't even get in line if its a close call.