40 Inches Seems to Be the Magic Number About This Page:

[disneyfan2000]

We'll be going to DW Nov 30- Dec. 5.
I have a 2.5 yr old and a 4 yr old.
My 4 yr old is over 40 inches, but the 2.5 yr old is still at about 38 inches.

40 inches seems to be the magic number that allows you to ride on pretty much everything. (a few exceptions, but most of those would be too much for him).

Unfortunately under 40 inches really limits toddlers on what they can ride. (No star tours for instance).

[emtpej]

Sorry. It's a safety thing, for the most part. You can do child swap, if you have the person-power... There's always next time!

[Jillybean]

Our youngest, Maddie, just hit the 40 inch mark in September and it was amazing how many more things she could ride. She absolutely loved the new rides, but she also would have been perfectly fine just taking everything in. I think just being in the Disney bubble is enough for her.

Have fun!

Jill

[B.M.]

Yes, 40 inches is a big milestone! My 3 yr old just hit the 40in mark and I'm so excited for all he will be able to ride! He isn't much over 40, so I need to start practicing "standing tall" with him, so he doesn't slump or huntch down while being measured.
However, Disney World is great for all heights! 90% of the rides have no height requirement, so your 2 yr old will still be able to ride most everything. At 38 in she will also be tall enough for Barnstormer and Kali River Rapids. Plus they have the rider swap passes for the few rides she can't ride and that will allow your 4 yr old to ride twice- once with mom and once with dad!
We go to our local Six Flags a lot in the summer (season passes) and even though we have a great time; they only have a few rides that really small kids can ride and the few rides that the little ones can ride- the adults can NOT ride because they have a maximum ht requirement! I love Disney in that most rides are meant for the whole family to ride together, regardless of how big or small! Hope you have a great trip and most likely your 2yr old will be 40 in by the time you go back......

[B.M.]

Yes, 40 inches is a big milestone! My 3 yr old just hit the 40in mark and I'm so excited for all he will be able to ride! He isn't much over 40, so I need to start practicing "standing tall" with him, so he doesn't slump or huntch down while being measured.
However, Disney World is great for all heights! 90% of the rides have no height requirement, so your 2 yr old will still be able to ride most everything. At 38 in she will also be tall enough for Barnstormer and Kali River Rapids. Plus they have the rider swap passes for the few rides she can't ride and that will allow your 4 yr old to ride twice- once with mom and once with dad!
We go to our local Six Flags a lot in the summer (season passes) and even though we have a great time; they only have a few rides that really small kids can ride and the few rides that the little ones can ride- the adults can NOT ride because they have a maximum ht requirement! I love Disney in that most rides are meant for the whole family to ride together, regardless of how big or small! Hope you have a great trip and most likely your 2yr old will be 40 in by the time you go back......

[chezp]

It is a big milestone - and I remember our nephew not being there a couple of years ago on his last Disney visit. Boy, he's going to have a ball on his return visit in 2011! Having said that, he loved Disney without the rides - he still talks about it all the time and seeing Mickey...

[trixiedixie]

It is really cool to take a 3 year old on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! (hes an adventurer) we even came up with a chant to help him learn what it was going to be like.. boom boom, shake shake rattle rattle ahhhhhh!

I measured him yesterday (turns 4 in April) He is already 42.25!!!!!! 44" by May here we come!!!!!!! (the challenge will be to make sure he really understands TOT drops you, exped everest is a train that is SUPERFAST etc!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

DD is 39 inches... and I'm hoping with shoes and standing tall she'll hit 40" on the Disney measuring sticks. I just want to take her on Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain. She would absolutely LOVE Thunder Mountain. I guess we'll see. When I measure her at home, in shoes, it's hit or miss... I'm teaching her to stand tall. But we'll see. If not, we'll be back in Feb and she'll be tall enough then!

[JEB13]

My daughter was close, but over her first visit. After going through the line for Splash Mt, it is dishartening to see a new person measuring when you repeat. But the young Castmember said nicely, "I'm sure she hasn't shrunk since this morning". She did measure her again!