The Height Requirement Game

[Yeti Chaser]

Really?

Let's look at the 2005 guide, we have the authors talking about shoe lifts and a reader writes about purchasing "painfully ugly two-inch chunky heeled sandals." Another reader writes, "...she wore elevator shoes and a bun hairstyle to increase height."

Let's not forget the last part (from the authors), "Note that boosting your child's height by a couple of inches with a heel lift or the like will not compromise his safety on the ride."

Please show me where that last part is sarcastic.

As was said in Forrest Gump "Stupid is as stupid gets" Any CM worth their salt sees through most of this. Shoes, out of our control, hair, not part of body height :D: Hopefully, Disney will have "words" with the author about the ride safety part. It would be Disney that gets sued, not the author of the book.

[Coastercameron]

Well, I tend to agree that an inch or so isn't usually a HUGE problem, the point is that you have to draw the line somewhere. There is going to have to be a point where someone is too short to ride.

One of my favorite guests had a kid at this same ride (42" req. again) who was a good 4 or 5 INCHES too short... "Aww come on!!! He is soooo close!"

The biggest reason my park has so many complaints about the hiegths is that we have a lot of lazy operators who don't check very closely and make EVERYONE else's job harder.

[tacoboy]

I do believe that the UG writers were being sarcastic, making a tongue-in-cheek remark that was not meant to be taken seriously Does anybody have a sense of humor anymore??

Caution: Long Rant Ahead
*Gets soapbox, wipes off dust*
Hi there, I do not want to seem rude after responding to your first post on this site ever. ( by the way) I do have to say that the way things are done at disney can not afford to be a laughing matter. Think about Mission Space. That little kid just met the height requirement yet he still died. Of course he did have a heart problem however it took that ride to accelerate what already was happening to his body. Keep in mind that he was also four and that a child's body is very different from an adults. That is why there is an age requirement on many roller coasters in DLR and WDW as well as a height requirement.
Think about this also. The engineers who build and design these rides select a height requirement for a ride specifically because anyone who is shorter could be severly hurt. My example of this is the heartline coaster. (Click here for images)
Engineers desinged the ride so that the center of gravity is aimed at the guest's heart.(hence the title) since everyone on the ride is required to be at least 54" (or whatever it is) the seats are designed in a certain way. If someone even an inch shorter were to ride, it could do some internal damage. (Would YOU want the center of your gravity to be your lung?) or at least they could get hurt by a safety belt that is too big for them.
So yes, a line does need to be drawn and the way engineers draw that line, that line is the shortest a guest can be. Sure, they realize that a guest or two may be dissapointed but it gives all the more reason to come back when they get taller.
So yes, we who value the safety and well-being of all the little children who enter our parks have lost our sense of humor when it comes to writers who decide to throw caution to the wind and endanger their reader's children just so they could get on a ride. (There are hundreds more in the resort that do not have a height requiremetn that affects little kids). We cast members are just making sure that everyone is safe and leave the park in one piece.
*Soap box breaks from length of rant, tacoboy runs off to Ikea to purchase a chic new one for the posters to use*

[tiadalma]

I am terribly sorry that I did not make myself more clear (possibly by using a quote) but what I was referring to was the ridiculous notion that someone should stick a Mickey ICE CREAM bar in a kid's shoe.

Touchy much?

[tacoboy]

oh believe me....it has happened at least once
my example

[leftcoaster]

I am terribly sorry that I did not make myself more clear (possibly by using a quote) but what I was referring to was the ridiculous notion that someone should stick a Mickey ICE CREAM bar in a kid's shoe.

Touchy much?

I never said that you were not clear. I was trying to explain that that suggestion, as well as many others, are indeed in many WDW tour books. Books where many guests take things seriously, especially when it comes to their children. In fact, the Unofficial Guide itself does not appear to be facetious at all. While you and us here, may realize that it is totally ridiculous idea to put Mickey Ice Cream bars in a kids shoes, demanding parents may not.

Also realize that this is a text only message board, except for various smilies, which connotate emotion or specify what you are thinking. Since you did not add any smilies to your original post, it could only be determined that you are literal in your post.

Read message boards much ?

[tiadalma]

In fact, the Unofficial Guide itself does not appear to be facetious at all. While you and us here, may realize that it is totally ridiculous idea to put Mickey Ice Cream bars in a kids shoes, demanding parents may not.

I think the UG is very facetious, lots of irreverence and humor. Of course there are idiots who won't understand anything unless it is completely literal, hence the need for a message board titled "Stupid Guest Tricks".

Also realize that this is a text only message board, except for various smilies, which connotate emotion or specify what you are thinking. Since you did not add any smilies to your original post, it could only be determined that you are literal in your post.

Read message boards much?

Yes, I read message boards. Several for about 5 years. I know that people need not use smilies for every post, also. I really do think that the UG was kidding when it mentioned putting ice cream in a kid's shoes. I don't need a smilie to say that.

That's all.

[leftcoaster]

That's all.

Why don't you call Len Testa on the phone and ask him ?

You may not need a smile to say that, but for us to figure out if you think the UG is kidding, you might have thought about adding something. ;)

With that, another one added to the ignore list.

[june1st1997]

What is the matter with these people that they will endanger their children?

It's not that I don't believe it happens... I just can't believe that people do that.

I can't think of any ride that means that much to me.

Perhaps these parents should be thunked on the head.

[Main Streeter]

(no coment MS).

NO! Not after I've worked 4 12 hr shifts. Damn, you ask alot from me darph. ]