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Ride Access Pass and Disabled Access - 2024 Discussion

- The existing one you select your ride within the app rather than having to physically visit the attraction entrance to join the "virtual queue". Again this is unclear from the explanation but seems particularly problematic at a park the size of AT. People have mobility issues. Facilities are limited in some areas. If you have a 90 minute time out for example then you might need the sensory room but have to spend 30 minutes trekking in the opposite direction if you want to join a queue first? It's going to add a lot more planning to some peoples visits and result in a sizeable decrease in the number of attractions they can use in a day.

Facilitating ride closures and additional queue times are excellent new features though, as is the digital identification.

I expect some people will argue it's unfair under the existing system that "travel" time between rides is included in the time out but personally i think this is a reasonable accommodation for people who typically spend most of their lives facing disadvantages and obviously not something that could realistically only be allocated to specific RAP users.
I don't think it was explained perfectly, so from my understanding there is no Virtual queue and it works more like the current paper tickets but instead of a person writing the time you scan a QR code and the app will time you out.

so you walk up to the wickerman scan the QR code, then ride the wickerman and then a timer pops up to show you have (e.g) 20 mins left of your time out, then go to the other ride.

I think it is much better than the paper as you are including the time it takes to queue for RAP (which is another problem) I am not too sure which is better (a virtual queue or this time out system) but they both seem quite similar and means you only have to visit a ride once when you want to ride it.
 
It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. I was having WiFi issues all day today, that's going to be the biggest issue, and having to trek across the park to scan in - although I'm not a digital RAP fan, the Chessington/Legoland system was good as you could select your ride from wherever you were in the park - closer to the system Disney use.

On another note, did a day without RAP today - impromptu visit and no hope of getting one. £40 later friend and I had fast tracks so we could do Nemesis and Galactica, our favourites. I initially applied for my RAP for visual impairment, but also included some info on some sensory issues (currently on very long waiting lists for ADHD and autism assessments) and today made me realise that yes, I actually do need it. There was no way I could've done the main queues. To be honest though, today was more about enjoying the Scarefest VIBES than the rides, but it reinforced how lucky I am as a local passholder, that I can always try another day, do shorter visits etc.
 
I don’t understand the reference to trekking across the park, as far as I can tell the QR code just replaces your card being written on. So it’s QR code > ride > wait, rather than QR code > wait > ride … you’d only go to the QR code when your previous countdown has finished
 
I feel the potential issue with that is the typical Alton issue of trekking halfway across the to find that the ride you were planning to get on is broken. Mobility issues making Towers far more challenging in the planning side of things.

Though is likely more being used to the capability of booking into rides on other side of park at Lego and Chessie.

Until it gets implemented in full the descriptions will be based upon decent reporting from those using it. Which is often hit and miss at best of times.
 
From the description on the previous page it does sound like you have to scan the QR code to join the virtual queue prior to riding, which seems like an unnecessary step, especially at a park as large as Towers.

[Edit - after another look I'm not convinced the photos match the written description of how it works. The text in the app says you have to be near a ride to select it but we might have to wait for a few more reviews to be sure]

An electronic system is the logical way to improve on what they have now though. It allows them to control the rate of people arriving at each ride to avoid long queues at merge whilst ensuring consistency and fairness on time-outs.
 
I don’t understand the reference to trekking across the park, as far as I can tell the QR code just replaces your card being written on. So it’s QR code > ride > wait, rather than QR code > wait > ride … you’d only go to the QR code when your previous countdown has finished

I think you’re right, I’ve reread it a few times and the updated comments.

- Arrive at ride and scan code to get current wait time added in background.
- Immediately enter ride and host validates code.
- Upon exiting ride, confirm you have ridden and remaining wait time is displayed.

I think that’s it. The ride validation is a little unclear. It seems to suggest if there’s a delay or breakdown after this point it will registered, not sure how.

So in theory much better than initially suggested.
 
I think you’re right, I’ve reread it a few times and the updated comments.

- Arrive at ride and scan code to get current wait time added in background.
- Immediately enter ride and host validates code.
- Upon exiting ride, confirm you have ridden and remaining wait time is displayed.

I think that’s it. The ride validation is a little unclear. It seems to suggest if there’s a delay or breakdown after this point it will registered, not sure how.

So in theory much better than initially suggested.
That’s spot on. It’s so your countdown starts at the RAP queue entrance (where the QR code is)

If the ride closes / breaks before boarding you will be able to cancel the countdown and go to another ride straight away. The difficulty will come with things like Wickerman where there’s a significant gap between merge and boarding, but that’s what testing is for. I imagine they will train staff to be able to manually cancel a countdown in those instances
 
I think you’re right, I’ve reread it a few times and the updated comments.

- Arrive at ride and scan code to get current wait time added in background.
- Immediately enter ride and host validates code.
- Upon exiting ride, confirm you have ridden and remaining wait time is displayed.

I think that’s it. The ride validation is a little unclear. It seems to suggest if there’s a delay or breakdown after this point it will registered, not sure how.

So in theory much better than initially suggested.
So to confirm:

You scan the QR code confirm whatever details and then the countdown/wait time starts
You enter the rap queue and the member of staff confirms the code/booking (whatever they call it)
You then ride and confirm you have done the ride. You then go to the next ride and start the same process

If this is right, couple of things spring to mind:

What's the point of confirming you have done the ride, does the wait time not actually start until you have done that? Can you not just tap to say you have done the ride as soon as you are past the member of staff?
If a ride closes after you have scanned the QR code I wonder what the process is with regards to going to another ride, maybe it shows in the app that the ride closed and you can go straight onto another one?
There is no running down part of the wait time by walking between rides with this system.

I wonder if this system is coming to Thorpe as well as I am convinced I saw one of the QR codes near the entrance to one of the rides a few days ago - can't for the life of me remember which one it was.
 
What's the point of confirming you have done the ride, does the wait time not actually start until you have done that? Can you not just tap to say you have done the ride as soon as you are past the member of staff?
If a ride closes after you have scanned the QR code I wonder what the process is with regards to going to another ride, maybe it shows in the app that the ride closed and you can go straight onto another one?
There is no running down part of the wait time by walking between rides with this system.

My understanding is the time is going down in the background regardless so preemptively saying you have ridden has no benefit and is a negative if the ride breaks.

If it does break I expect a staff member will have to reset your timer. From what we can see I’d guess you say you haven’t ridden and a new QR appears which staff scan to reset.
 
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My understanding is the time is going down in the background regardless so preemptively saying you have ridden has no benefit and is a negative if the ride breaks.

If it does break I expect a staff member will have to reset your timer. From what we can see I’d guess you say you haven’t ridden and a new QR appears which staff scan to reset.
It's a wait and see I suppose.
 
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