Originally Posted By monorailblue Is is being reported that Autopia has now implemented the new height restrictions: 32" to ride (previously, only restriction was 1 year of age, though expectant mothers and Guests with physical conditions that could be aggravated by the Attraction were "encourage" not to ride) 54" to drive sole (previously 52" since like 1965) Thoughts: (1) They should call these heights what they really are--2-foot-8 and 4-foot-6. That is funnier. I would love to go back and start spieling, "Guests must be two feet eight inches tall to board." Hilarity! (2) The 32" height is, I believe, a change that is made to look good on paper only (like station gates). Like Matterhorn, Autopia had no minimum height for more than about 5 decades, and that caused no noticeable problem whatsoever. However, on paper, having a minimum height looks like a great advance for safety. Station gates are the same thing--as far as I've been able to study, Disney has never had a major accident in an Attraction station--on any Attraction, ever. But in the safety rush that once saw wide yellow stripes circling a drinking fountain in Fantasyland, station gates were seized upon as a flashy and physical "enhancement" to solve a problem that didn't exist. (3) The 54" height should help reduce the number of children who, driving solo, can't make it around the course. This was a problem when I was on Autopia (1997-1999), but has been worse since the 2000 re-do. I understand from my "inside sources" (*cough* Bob Iger *cough*) that this is due to both the new cars themselves, the new boarding and dispatching (which separates the cars more--who knew that bumping was so helpful?), and lengthening the actual path that each track takes. Taller kids are, presumably, bigger and stronger, so this should help. (4) Why on earth did I write so much about this subject? That's what you do on a Monday morning!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 monorailblue, may I say that I enjoyed reading your entire post Background and detail are always appreciated. I feel for the CM's who are going to have to enforce the new rules after decades of pretty much letting everyone, other than babes in arms, go on.
Originally Posted By Dznygrl I'm 51" so I've never been allowed my own Autopia car (not that I really care, don't much like the ride anyway). I've always found it funny that I am able to have a real driver's license and drive a real car, but am not allowed to drive an Autopia car without my mommy!
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne Hmm new and somewhat pointless rules.. does seem a little like they are there for the sake of being there.. It's a little off topic but I was amazed at the number of people who demanded their own car.. I waited longer in the line here than anywhere else in the park because of the number of adults who insisted in being the driver.. I can see how it's fun for little kids who otherwise can't drive but two adults splitting up because neither can be the passenger? It just really surprised me and it sure slowed things up.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins With seven kids, I haven't been able to drive an Autopia car myself in about 20 years. With seven kids, I'm not a fan of height requirements either, but I do like this increase. My kids at 52 inches were barely able to reach, but they certainly couldn't maintain the pressure required for holding the pedal down through the whole ride. And anyone who has been behind someone who can't keep the pedal down knows that it's no fun.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins Oh my, I just read my post and I see that I left an opportunity for the safety preachers to jump on me. Let me clarify before they do: I mean I'm not a fan of dealing with disappointed kids, especially when a requirement is not a serious safety issue. I certainly don't want a kid slipping off a ride.
