I am planning my first trip to Disneyland in October and hope someone can help me.

My son will be turning 3 in November but he is very tall (could pass off as a 3.5 year old now), Technically speaking, he wouldn't need a ticket to enter the park, but I have read that several attractions have both age AND height restrictions, so will he be allowed on the rides if he is tall enough? Or would it be safer to just get an entrance ticket for him?

I am actually not even sure if he'll want to go on the 'scarier' rides, he's a gentle giant, but I would like to eliminate any possible hiccups before they happen.

Thanks!

I think they all mostly say they must be 3 to ride and whatever height. Its 35 inches for Gadget and Matterhorn. After that it is 40 inches for Space, Thunder, Star Tours and Splash (which I wouldn't do cause of how seating is now). Then 46 inches for Indy.
For DCA its 40 inchs for the Jellyfish and Soarin. 42 inches for Grizzly River Run, Mulholland. 48 inches for Screamin and Orange Stinger. And 52 for Mailboomer.
In order to get him any sort of Fastpasses he would have to have a ticket. But if you don't mind standing in the lines (which depending on when you go in Nov it shouldn't be to bad) then you don't need the ticket. But he may not deal with the rides either. Gadget is a good starter ride for young kids. It gives them a taste of a roller coaster. Also if he is tall enough go get him measured and get the wristband so you don't need to go thru the height checks each ride. Have fun!!

This is incorrect. They used to have age restrictions on two rides: Matterhorn and Gadget's Go-Coaster. These were removed because it wasn't really easy/practical to enforce.

Currently, there are only height restrictions. Jumpin' Jellyfish is a 40" height requirement but SEVERAL people have had the experience of being told that their 40" children are too short to ride it. (For example, children allowed to ride other rides, including Soarin' over California, were turned away at Jumpin' Jellyfish.) My friend Mary measured the stick and found it to be 41" tall, not 40" tall.

CMs claim that the Jumpin' Jellyfish stick is truly 40" tall but Mary measured the stick herself and I've heard this story from many, many people all independently of each other. (Does that make sense?)

Adrienne K, mother of a "very tall boy for his age" :)

Adrienne....Has your friend ever measured the sign at Thunder Mountain? I *know* that one can't be 40". If they would've instituted the wristband measuring system when my son was 41" tall, it would've saved me a lot of arguing. How a child can be so tall he can't walk under the sign at Space or Splash without hitting his head but then, by some strange phenomenon, shrinks as he walks to TM.....:rolleyes:

Actually, her littlest dare-devil hasn't had a problem at Thunder Mountain that I can remember and this is the first incident I've heard. I'll keep my ears open though.

Adrienne K

Originally posted by boomerang
I am planning my first trip to Disneyland in October and hope someone can help me.

My son will be turning 3 in November but he is very tall (could pass off as a 3.5 year old now), Technically speaking, he wouldn't need a ticket to enter the park, but I have read that several attractions have both age AND height restrictions, so will he be allowed on the rides if he is tall enough? Or would it be safer to just get an entrance ticket for him?

I am actually not even sure if he'll want to go on the 'scarier' rides, he's a gentle giant, but I would like to eliminate any possible hiccups before they happen.

Thanks!

I can't speak for anyone else but I wouldn't spend the money on a ticket for a child that is under 3 even if they are tall, once he turns 3 you have a lifetime of paying entrance fees for him......and I've NEVER seen them ask for a gate ticket at an attraction unless you are getting a fast pass.

I forgot to add:

If you have a child too young to need a ticket, he/she does not need a fast pass. Before Matthew was 3, when we went on Autopia with our fast passes, we just brought him along. We've never been asked, "Where's his fast pass?" and if we were, we would've say, "He's not yet three, he didn't have a ticket to get one."

Adrienne K

This is why I am glad they do the height checks and give the wristbands. We went on the Jellyfish 4 times one day and the same person was standing in the front but was to busy talking to another CM to notice most going thru. Of course we got stopped 2 times (I had forgot to get the wristband before that). My son wanted to ride a few times in a row since there was no line and he was an inch to short for Mulholland that time. This was in June. Now when we went a few weeks ago we went over there again and they had let someone that was obviously not 40" go on thru. This isn't the first time I had seen that happen with a ride. This little girl was no where near the height requirement and not once did they check becasue again the CM was to buys talking to another CM. It amazes me how so many get through that shouldn't while the ones that are tall enough get the problems and get measured.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Just another question for Adrienne -
Are you saying that there are no longer age restrcitions on any of the rides, just height restrictions? I'd hate to argue every time about my son's age if we don't get him an entrance ticket. How am I supposed to prove that he is not 3 yet? :confused:

Boom

Originally posted by boomerang
Just another question for Adrienne -
Are you saying that there are no longer age restrcitions on any of the rides, just height restrictions? I'd hate to argue every time about my son's age if we don't get him an entrance ticket. How am I supposed to prove that he is not 3 yet?

That's correct.

You don't need to "prove" that he isn't 3 yet. My son is very tall for his age. He was never questioned about his age until the day before his 3rd birthday when two of his best adult friends took him to DCA for the day. (This was before APs were 2-park APs.)

The ticket taking CM asked if he was three. His friend told her, "No, he turns three tomorrow, that's why he's here today." They did not push it further.

If someone asked me, I would say, "No, his birthday is -------" and leave it at that. If they push, just be a broken record. "No, his birthday is--------." Give them the same answer over and over again. I have never heard of a parent forced to provide a birth certificate to prove that a child is under 3.

Adrienne K

Hey, question for you guys ... you keep talking about the wristband for his height ... where and how do you get these? Sounds like a great time saver while on the rides. My son is right now 51" and I'm hoping it'll shade over to 52" by our trip end of Sept (hey, he's grown 3" since the beginning of Little League, early last spring!!!)

I echo the sentiments of not worrying about people questioning his not being 3. I have the Amazon of all time -- my 3 yr old (my 2nd, who was 10 lbs when born a month early, and never slowed down). He is consistently in the 120+ percentile in height, and I was never questioned when I took him places before he was 3, and I'd say he was 2... That would be TERRIBLE guest relations!

There is an information booth on the north end of Main Street, on the west side of the street. It has a station to distribute wristbands.

Adrienne K

Thanks, Adrienne ... I'll add it to my list!

Keep in mind, even with the wristbands, CM's may still want to measure your child at the entrance of the ride.

This happened to The Boy at Indy.

(I am NOT a fan of the wristbands)

Thanks, Mousey... I'll keep it in mind. Really, since he is 51" now, the only issue will be the 52" requirement to be able to ride Autopia alone. And that isn't a biggee -- we can go together.

Keep in mind, even with the wristbands, CM's may still want to measure your child at the entrance of the ride.

I have thankfully never had this happen or seen it happen. I hope it never does. Its stupid to get the wristband so you can skip that whole measuring at entrance deal then have to deal with it again. I know I love the wristbands myself. Especially since I know the spots at rides can be wrong. Plus my 4 yr old loves getting them. But of course it isn't for everyone and I know that.