Height Requirements - How to Measure

[mycroft16]

Not my idea mind you... but I found a patent application by Disney for a device to measure height much more accurately (shoe height notwithstanding, though they have come up with a fairly decent solution for this as well).

There are several designs for the different lands as well. It's pretty cool and I hope to see it in use someday around the parks.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=JIG...psra=1#PPA1,M1

[Dopey's Girl]

Dang! I reached most of my adult height by stretching to reach the "You Must Be This Tall" mark!

[Craigroy8287]

This would be pretty cool. I would like to see how creative they could get with these.

[DisneyMouse]

These would be great! Thanks for posting this!

[Eric5675]

Oh, that would suck! I'm sorry, but think about it...

You have to wait in yet another line just to get measured, along with tickets and entrance.

You have to wear a wristband. Is this Disney or the local carnival?

The technology is great, but most of us unless you have kids don't have to deal with a height marker anyway. Why would you want to go through with that anyway? Another line.

Technology = good. Idea = Stupid.

[Wally]

I believe at one point Disney tried the wristband thing once before (different colors coded for different heights). The problem was, folks would switch the wristbands around to get what they wanted. Plus, if anything looked fishy, the attractions cast members would measure them again anyways, completely invalidating the purpose of the wristband.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by Wally

I believe at one point Disney tried the wristband thing once before (different colors coded for different heights). The problem was, folks would switch the wristbands around to get what they wanted. Plus, if anything looked fishy, the attractions cast members would measure them again anyways, completely invalidating the purpose of the wristband.

Yes, they did actually. This would be the early 00's after DCA opened.

It didn't actually work because, per Disney policy, the people at the individual rides had the final say if anybody didn't meet the requirement. And if you were close to the line, the CM's at the attraction would always measure them anyway.

It happened to us more than once that our child was 40" according to the height checker, got the 40" wrist-band, but was unable to ride certain rides because they didn't reach the line (which aren't always accurate).

It was a good idea in theory, but the execution wasn't great.

[mycroft16]

Originally Posted by Eric5675

Oh, that would suck! I'm sorry, but think about it...

You have to wait in yet another line just to get measured, along with tickets and entrance.

You have to wear a wristband. Is this Disney or the local carnival?

The technology is great, but most of us unless you have kids don't have to deal with a height marker anyway. Why would you want to go through with that anyway? Another line.

Technology = good. Idea = Stupid.

The wristbands are only a part of the patent. Since they decided against using them back in the 80s they would not bring them back. Especially with increased attendance and lines now.

Ideally, rides with height requirements would have these installed where the height checker currently is. If they have a question about a person, they just pull them over and stand them under the scanner. Since it is pulsed ultrasonics it can read a height in far less than a second and flash either a green or red light. Very simple, very fast and very accurate since it would take 6 samples and average them. Sitting the person down further eliminates the ability to "fake" height by wearing thick soled shoes. Proper implementation of this patent would be amazing.

As with all patents, you can't take everything in the text as gospel. That was simply the idea they patented, they can then use it any way they want from then on out.

[Sy-]

This reminds me of that story about how NASA spent millions inventing a pen that could write in zeor gravity. While the Russians used a pencil. Disney would have to be pretty stupid to invest $$$ in something that they can accomplish with a $2 stick.

[techskip]

Mycroft... not sure if you noticed the publishing date but it was 2003. Also I should inform you that many beat Disney to the punch on this machine, including the Kid's Discovery Center down the street from Disneyland. Currently I think they have the Clifford display upstairs (we let our passes expire because we didn't use them as much as we had planned). The machine used to be upstairs, and would give your height in exactly the same manner Disney describes (from a standing position, they did not have a sittng model).

The other issue is that if this thing breaks you are back to the stick. The easiest way to ensure the accuracy of this machine is to have a pressure sensor that you stand on to ensure the weight of an individual is evenly distributed (not excessive weight on the front of the foot which would indicate tip toeing).

[dl_appurtenant]

The filing date is in 2002. It sounds like they did try this idea (or at least part of it) for a little bit and it didn't work out.

This really is a good idea but the whole wristband thing doesn't seem realistic. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to wear a wristband around the park all day. I mean, I get a wristband when I go to my city pool to show that I've paid.

[mycroft16]

Originally Posted by techskip

Mycroft... not sure if you noticed the publishing date but it was 2003.

I did notice that, but below on the left is the filing date of Dec 4 2002. And below that is the provisional filing date (which is when they first alerted the patent office to the idea to block and future filings of similar ideas while they hammered out all the kinks) is Dec 4, 2001.

I agree, there are issues with the technology, but it could be made multiply redundant fairly simply. Pulsed ultrasonics are not a new technology at all as they have been used in ultrasounds for decades. They are pretty reliable. Especially in such a stable platform (not being moved around and stretched and pointed at all. I think they could work out any issues... but yes, there are valid concerns.

[techskip]

Originally Posted by mycroft16

I did notice that, but below on the left is the filing date of Dec 4 2002. And below that is the provisional filing date (which is when they first alerted the patent office to the idea to block and future filings of similar ideas while they hammered out all the kinks) is Dec 4, 2001.

I agree, there are issues with the technology, but it could be made multiply redundant fairly simply. Pulsed ultrasonics are not a new technology at all as they have been used in ultrasounds for decades. They are pretty reliable. Especially in such a stable platform (not being moved around and stretched and pointed at all. I think they could work out any issues... but yes, there are valid concerns.

The technology for this is readily available... as I said they used to have one in the Kid's Discovery Center... also they did try the whole mass measuring concept at City Hall and it had 2 very specific issues.

#1 Some of those trained did not know how to properly measure the child, so a "close enough" type rule was instituted. When said party would then arrive at the attraction the child would be properly measured and determined to be too small. The band would show no indication of tampering, and the manager would then have to explain how the kid magically shrank on the walk over. It was pretty easy to tell when the CM's were not measuring correctly. Instead of 1 or 2 kids that were too small in a couple hours... we would have 15 or so in 1 hour.

#2 Dishonesty among parents. I have seen stretch marks, tape, band aids, gum, several times it was a "oh [insert name here]'s band broke off" End result is kid would be too small and parents would talk to a manager who would send them back to City Hall and in some cases personally escort them.

I also do not see the practicality of having one in every land, or one on every attraction. I see it the same way others have stated... millions for a zero gravity pen when the competition just uses a pencil.

[akfandisney]

Only I have to say that people have same boby parts.

My upper body is longer but I have short leg, So most my height is in upper body.

so I'm tall if I sit down.
there is body sizes that are long leg but short upper body.

So that unit will not work well went you are sitting in it.

Disney have try it here at disneyland and also at WDW and did not work as well then hope.

[Karnever]

Ahh the ultra sonic height checker.... I remember when I was a Trainero n that thing. I loved it but as others said the attractions had final say and ruined the system..