Hi Darin!
Thanks so much for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question. I'm excited to hear you have a Walt Disney World Resort vacation right around the corner!
I remember the days when my girls were little, wishing they were just a
little bit taller so they would meet the height requirements for the Walt Disney World Resort attractions they were excited to experience. Luckily, for my thrill-seeking youngest child, she grew like a weed and was soon riding all the "big" rides throughout the parks!
It sounds like your little one is cutting it close to the 40-inch mark for many of the theme park attractions. While most rides and attractions (100+) are "any height", there are a few in each park with height restrictions. To see which rides have height requirements, simply visit the
Walt Disney World Attractions and Rides page and use the drop-down menu under "Height" to filter your results.
If your daughter is 40" tall with her shoes on, she should be able to ride the attractions with a 40" height requirement, as they won't ask her to remove her shoes when they measure her at the entrance. My advice would be to check her height measurement with a Cast Member
before entering the queue for any rides with a height restriction, to make sure she's tall enough to safely experience the attraction. It's never fun to get turned away at a checkpoint farther down the ride queue, after waiting in line.
My fingers are crossed that the pixie-dust (or a growth spurt) falls your way, and your daughter will be able to experience all the attractions she has her heart set on. Have a magical day! - Diane W.