Hey there Samantha, and welcome back to planDisney!
As a Not-So-Tall Mouseketeer back in the day, I vividly remember the feeling of my first Theme Park experience when I didn't meet the
height requirements for certain rides or attractions. Luckily at the time, the Cast Members presented my family with a special return certificate and informed them that we'd be able to redeem them on a return trip when I was older (and hopefully taller). I've seen folks online talking about this on social media and went on a little Princely research roam across the Theme Parks to find the answers you seek!
Upon my journey I was able to ask a mix of Cast Members and the ones who had been around for longer recall handing out these printed index card-sized certificates for rides like
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,
DINOSAUR,
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and
Test Track, just to name a few. At the time, these were often provided to younger guests who didn't quite measure up as a method of guest recovery to ease the sting I so often felt when I was in that position; each of these cards had a prominently printed space that says "I was tall enough to ride on _____ " allowing the Cast Members to write in the date upon their taller, triumphant return trip. When these were more common, they could be redeemed for expedited entry onto the attraction through what is now called
a Lightning Lane entrance and it would be at the discretion of the Cast Member as to whether they'd be able to make a little magical moment to mark the occasion.
It's important to note that these were never guaranteed and many of the newer Cast Members may not be aware of them if presented directly at the Lightning Lane entrance to a ride or attraction. (You might be fortunate enough to be able to request one if they happened to still have any around, but they also let me know that these are currently very rare occurrences that see a spike in questions whenever they get shared on social media.) For families that still have these in their possession from past trips, the best recommendation is to head over to Guest Relations or the
Guest Experience Team stationed around the Theme Parks to politely and nicely inquire about whether they can still be redeemed; while policies and offerings are always subject to change without prior notice and can never be guaranteed, there's still a chance that they may be able to help you out!
Be sure to check out our
planDisney Guide to Attractions for Little Ones at Walt Disney World Resort, featuring my pal
LeAndra who would be happy to answer any more questions you have about riding with a smaller set of companions in tow!
Perhaps it's not always a Small World after all!
Prince