Disney World Planning 101: Know the Height Requirements

Saturday, January 14, 2012 Tricia 3 Comments

Nothing kills a great day at Disney faster than the disappointment when your child realizes he’s not quite tall enough for the one ride he’s been looking forward to. A little planning and some expectations management can prevent ride queue meltdowns. Before you leave home, measure your child. If he is between 38 and 54 inches, prepare him for the fact that he may be too short to ride some attractions, and offer him an equally interesting alternative. Many attractions at Walt Disney World offer a Rider Swap pass that allows one adult to wait with children too small to ride, then swap with another adult in the party without waiting in line twice.

The best way to find out height requirements for a specific ride is to check the Disney website, but here are a few of the most popular attractions and their height requirements:

Magic Kingdom and Disneyland:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40 inches (102 cm)

Space Mountain – 44 inches (112 cm)

Splash Mountain – 40 inches (102 cm)

Tomorrowland Speedway (Magic Kingdom) – 54 inches (137 cm) to ride alone, 32 inches (80 cm) to ride with an adult

EPCOT:

Mission: SPACE – 44 inches (112 cm)

Soarin – 40 inches (102 cm)

Test Track – 40 inches (102 cm)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Tower of Terror – 40 inches (102 cm)

Star Tours – 40 inches (102 cm)

Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – 48 inches (122 cm)

Animal Kingdom:

DINOSAUR – 40 inches (102 cm)

Expedition Everest – 44 inches (112 cm)

Kali River Rapids – 38 inches (97 cm)

Primeval Whirl – 48 inches (122 cm)

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Disney World Planning 101: Know the Height Requirements

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About Tricia

Tricia Ballad has written 11 post on Chip and Co..

Tricia writes about Disney travel for large families and families affected by autism spectrum disorders at Return to Disney.

Posted in: Blogging, Original Articles, Planning, Planning 101, Rides Tags: Autopia, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disney Parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Expedition Everest, Height Requirements, Kali River Rapids, Magic Kingdom, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Splash Mountain, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort

Kadye

I hope this helps those planning trips! The key – never be afraid to ask a Cast Member for help measuring a child. They’re there to help!
Kadye

I wish every parent that ever plans on bringing their child to Disney World would read this. There are measuring sticks at each attraction with a height requirement. Your child’s head must touch the bottom of the bar. Not their hair, but their scalp. If you plan on getting Fast Passes, feel free to ask a Cast Member to measure your child before you get them to help speed along your process. There are no forms to sign that will allow those not tall enough to ride. Be sure to ask about the Child Swap before getting in line. Also, there is more than one check point to check their height; if your child is close, be prepared to have their height checked more than once. Cast Members know about where on their person the height of their attraction is to help them gauge who should be measured.
dawn

you only need to be 40 inches to ride Space Mountain in Disneyland.