Before we answer, “Does Disney height include shoes?” here’s some relevant information. Walt Disney World designs its attractions to be as child-friendly as possible. However, there are height restrictions on certain rides for safety reasons.
The company strictly enforces height restrictions. Therefore, cast members will always check your child’s height at the gate and again before they board the ride.
Whenever the topic of height restrictions comes up, parents want to know whether Walt Disney World Resorts includes shoes in the measurement. This post answers that question before listing height-restricted rides and explaining what you can do if your child is too short.
So Does Disney height include shoes?
Disney measures the height of children with shoes on. Therefore, shoes count towards the total – helpful for children close to the height requirement.
However, high-heeled shoes or overly chunky shoes do not count toward the total height measurement. Therefore, cast members will ask children (or anyone who might not be tall enough) to take these off before measuring them to get an accurate reading.
Cast members are not lenient. For example, they will reject a child or short person for a ride if a credit card can fit between the top of their head and the measuring pole. They’re not being mean – height requirements are directly related to the ability of a ride’s safety restraint systems being able to keep your child securely fastened inside the ride vehicle while it’s in motion.
Walt Disney World height requirements for Disney rides?
To avoid disappointment on your Walt Disney World vacation, check the height requirement for rides before you arrive at the Disney Parks. Then compare them to your child’s height to avoid queuing unnecessarily or raising their expectations.
Disney applies different height restrictions across its rides, so you’ll need to do some homework. Please see the list below:
Magic Kingdom Height Requirements
- Space Mountain (44″)
- Big Thunder Mountain (40″)
- Seven Dwarves Mine Train (38″)
- The Barnstormer (35″)
- Tomorrowland Speedway (54″ to ride solo)
- TRON Lightcycle Run (48″)
Epcot Height Requirements
- Mission Space Orange (44″)
- Mission Space Green (40″)
- Test Track (40″)
- Soarin’ (40″)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (42″)
Animal Kingdom Height Requirements
- Avatar Flight of Passage (44″)
- Expedition Everest (44″)
- Dinosaur (40″)
- Kali River Rapids (38″)
Hollywood Studios Height Requirements
- Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster (48″)
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (40″)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (40″)
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (40″)
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (38″)
- Slinky Dog Dash (38″)
- Alien Swirling Saucers (32″)
What to do if your child is too short to ride an attraction at the theme parks?
Queuing for an hour to find out your child is too short to ride an attraction is an unpleasant prospect. However, Disney is helpful in this regard. While it enforces a strict height limit policy, it also offers a convenient Rider Switch service to let adults continue to enjoy the ride even if their child can’t join them.
The way this policy works is simple. If your child is too short for a ride, approach a cast member and ask them for a Rider Switch. They will then split your group into two. Party 1 will immediately board the ride while party two will wait with the child. Then, when party 1 finishes the ride, they stay with the non-rider and party two boards immediately without having to queue again.
