Ride Access Pass and Disabled Access - 2026 Discussion

[Benjsh]

Five times last year, no pass this season.
Behind the times mate.
Some go five times a week.

People who go multiple times a week

I mean we all love theme parks and coasters but come on......get a life guys. I'd get bored of a park very quickly if I went every single week even just once.

I guess there's a line between hobby/enthusiast and being obsessed. I definitely dont fall into the latter having never been a MAP holder or PB season pass holder once in my life.

 

[Qwerty123]

I think that the problem is people who do not live with these conditions do not understand the whole concept. The inability to deal with crowds doesn't mean that being in close sudden contact with a dozen people leads to a meltdown, it's way more complex than that. Being in a busy area where it's outdoors, people are moving and for relatively short periods of time is totally different to being in a restricted, slow moving space for long periods of time. At Alton Towers and other theme parks, they are such huge spaces that other than areas immediately outside big rides it's rarely shoulder to shoulder.

I received the Merlin survey email on RAP this morning, I notice their remedy choices for neurodiverse families to choose from do not include 'leave it as it is' as a choice. They seem determined to fix the problems with quiet spaces and more information for guests which I think means that they fundamentally do not understand the conditions they're dealing with. From the press statements they have made it is clear that they have in their heads that only those persons with a physical impairment can be considered disabled, which is a very activist view promoted by a minority. They need to look at the criteria around ability to queue, not this new presumption that everyone with Autism just needs to wear headphones and given a timeout space to be OK. Their rules always used to have that as the primary requirement but their own staff used to ignore them which has allowed RAP to get out of control...

I think expecting “leave it as it is” as an option for the future means you fundamentally do not understand the problems with the current system and why things are having to change.
With the current eligibility requirements they have a choice between allowing far more RAP holders into the park than they physically have capacity for or restricting access to RAP holders in a way that does not apply to others. Both of these options are unacceptable as they either make the RAP queues inaccessible to those who need them the most due to excessive waiting time or prevent many of the most profoundly disabled from ever accessing the park as their disabilities make them unable to plan with the level of notice that is required to get a RAP slot.
Unfortunately this means there does have to be a reduction in the eligibility criteria for this particular adjustment in order to successfully meet the needs of those who need it the most as otherwise they are discriminating against such people despite having adjustments on paper (as in practice the adjustment does not meet the needs of such people).

 

[Bowser]

I don’t buy this narrative you sell that there are always 60+ minute queues across the board on any day other than an off-peak weekday. On most regular weekends or holiday days, I would say multiple queues above 60 minutes is a rare occurrence. October half term is an outlier rather than the normal experience as you’re trying to make out.

Well i did say "especially Halloween" suggesting that was the worst of peak rather than representative of the average peak.

Otherwise i think we'll have to agree to disagree! I'm glad you had one good visit to Alton Towers in the summer. Summer is arguably the least "peak" season because visits are spread over 6 weeks and the weather is more favourable.

We cumulatively probably visited the other three Merlin parks perhaps 10 times last year and i can assure you that 60+ minute queues were present on every occasion from Easter until Halloween. I know this because we always have to factor our RAP time-outs around this. If we were getting 20-30 minutes we'd basically be going from ride to ride and that's not how the days ever pan out. Perhaps we are unlucky. It's certainly not across ALL rides but each park has multiple rides that are almost always in that range.

Anyway i fear we are straying from the thread subject and mod wrath is imminent but my point is if most people were experiencing the parks how you describe i don't think there would be as much RAP usage as there is. My opinion remains the drive towards reliance, be it genuine or fraudulent is due to the queue lengths people experience. It's precisely why it's not reflected at Paultons.

 

[rob666]

When did sixty minute queues become the accepted norm exactly?
My old experiences generally were an hour or so for the new rides, with everything else less than half an hour, often only ten minutes or so.
Off peak meant walk on for most rides, but an hour for the recent big new ride.

The combination of rap "fashion" and cheap passes ruined my personal experience of the park, and now any visit other than very off peak would be impossible for me physically.

 

[fearnwood]

I think expecting “leave it as it is” as an option for the future means you fundamentally do not understand the problems with the current system and why things are having to change.
With the current eligibility requirements they have a choice between allowing far more RAP holders into the park than they physically have capacity for or restricting access to RAP holders in a way that does not apply to others. Both of these options are unacceptable as they either make the RAP queues inaccessible to those who need them the most due to excessive waiting time or prevent many of the most profoundly disabled from ever accessing the park as their disabilities make them unable to plan with the level of notice that is required to get a RAP slot.
Unfortunately this means there does have to be a reduction in the eligibility criteria for this particular adjustment in order to successfully meet the needs of those who need it the most as otherwise they are discriminating against such people despite having adjustments on paper (as in practice the adjustment does not meet the needs of such people).

There's been a couple of replies along these lines and it needs to be addressed. 'leave it as it is' implied with the new progress Merlin had made with their staggered release of RAP slots, last minute availability and the virtual queuing. This blunt response that RAP isn't working so lets stick the boot into those that don't look disabled is a very poor response. There is nothing at all to stop Merlin changing the daily allocation of RAP or proportionally allocating it across categories.

The real underlying issue seems to me is that Merlin have massively increased the number of visitors per day to the parks, and if I am being blunt, the RAP users are getting in the way of them carrying on with that policy. I used to visit AT in the 90's before I had kids with RAP needs, and the queues for Oblivion or Nemesis might have been 60 minutes or so, but all the other rides were very short queues. I recall I used to come off Oblivion and almost go straight onto Black Hole with virtually no wait at all. The truth is that the 120-150 minute wait for Smiler or Wicker Man these days isn't the fault of RAP, it is down to there being way more people in the park than their rides have capacity for. The problem for Merlin is given how heavily indebted they are they need as many paying guests in their parks as they can legally get in. If they get rid of these RAP users it means they'll just seel proportionally even more tickets and you won't notice any improvement in queuing time at all.

 

[Bowser]

The real underlying issue seems to me is that Merlin have massively increased the number of visitors per day to the parks, and if I am being blunt, the RAP users are getting in the way of them carrying on with that policy.

I'm not sure that's the case. We don't have official attendance figures but from estimates there's nothing that suggests a massive increase.

The 1990s remains the peak attendance for Alton Towers and Chessington. Thorpe Park the early 2010's. Only Legoland seems to be increasing now.

The difference of course is that Fast Track didn't exist then and RAP only in tiny numbers till a relative explosion in the last 5 years approximately. Fewer people attending but longer queue times as a result.

it is down to there being way more people in the park than their rides have capacity for.

This is true though. So by that logic, if they don't want to remove Fast Track (they don't) and can only limit RAP so much, the quick solution is to increase entry prices and limit capacity.

The question is would people pay more to have a better experience at Merlin parks? I certainly would but i suspect the majority would not.

 

[Hid]

When did RAP and Fastrack come in uswd to thought it was Single Rider and Main Queue only

 

[Matt N]

When did RAP and Fastrack come in uswd to thought it was Single Rider and Main Queue only

Someone who was around in the era and/or has better understanding than me will probably be along to correct me, but if I’m remembering rightly, Disney-style free Fastrack was introduced in around 1998 (?), and paid Fastrack as we know it today was introduced in 2005. Don’t quote me on the exact years, as I wasn’t born until 2003, but if I remember correctly, free Fastrack was introduced in the late 90s or perhaps early 2000s and paid Fastrack was introduced in around the mid 2000s.

The introduction date of RAP is harder to put a pin on. I think it’s existed for a number of years; I know I certainly used it on my first visit in 2009, back when I was a younger child and my autism was less well managed, and I seem to remember hearing stories about people walking up the exit with disabilities even in the “golden era” of the park in the 90s. However, I think the explosion to what it is today/was until very recently has occurred within the last decade. I certainly don’t remember it becoming an issue that got much airtime around these parts until the latter part of the 2010s, and on the one occasion my family used it in 2009, my parents implied that we were some of the only ones using it and got lots of very judgemental looks from other guests as a result!
EDIT - I decided to scour the forums, and the first time I can see RAP mentioned in an even slightly negative light implying it was a problem was in 2017: https://towersstreet.com/talk/threads/2017-general-discussion.4286/page-40#post-188267

 

[Dave]

There's been a couple of replies along these lines and it needs to be addressed. 'leave it as it is' implied with the new progress Merlin had made with their staggered release of RAP slots, last minute availability and the virtual queuing. This blunt response that RAP isn't working so lets stick the boot into those that don't look disabled is a very poor response. There is nothing at all to stop Merlin changing the daily allocation of RAP or proportionally allocating it across categories.

The real underlying issue seems to me is that Merlin have massively increased the number of visitors per day to the parks, and if I am being blunt, the RAP users are getting in the way of them carrying on with that policy. I used to visit AT in the 90's before I had kids with RAP needs, and the queues for Oblivion or Nemesis might have been 60 minutes or so, but all the other rides were very short queues. I recall I used to come off Oblivion and almost go straight onto Black Hole with virtually no wait at all. The truth is that the 120-150 minute wait for Smiler or Wicker Man these days isn't the fault of RAP, it is down to there being way more people in the park than their rides have capacity for. The problem for Merlin is given how heavily indebted they are they need as many paying guests in their parks as they can legally get in. If they get rid of these RAP users it means they'll just seel proportionally even more tickets and you won't notice any improvement in queuing time at all.

Daily attendance is down from the 90’s, 20,000 guests wasn’t uncommon at Towers in the past, now 13,000 is a busy day.

You are right that ride capacity is lower, but there is also a massive increase in RAP numbers (in the same period you quote you really only got disabled assistance if you had a physical disability).

So yes Merlin should boost ride capacity but you can’t have unlimited RAP usage in a time when more people qualify. The system doesn’t work for genuine RAP users which is why I won’t take my sister-in-law as she can’t physically queue and the RAP queues got silly and all the more annoying when you saw people bragging on park and on Facebook that they were double queueing using their RAP and then joining a queue, a minority maybe but a sizeable one.

 

[DiogoJ42]

I think that the problem is people who do not live with these conditions do not understand the whole concept.

No offence intended to you, or anyone else, but I think the problem is that people who do live with these conditions seem to be under the impression that the rest of us somehow like spending hours standing in a queue. We hate it just as much as you do. And the more people get to skip the main queue, the worse it gets for those of us who have no choice but to "deal with it".

One queue. One queue only. That is the only fair solution at this point.

 

[Poisson]

One queue. One queue only. That is the only fair solution at this point.

With RAP going to physical only, they're on that route. FT will never leave though. Capped FT, a level access queue and main queue would be a stepping stone. Then have the ratios held at 95% in favour of main queue.

 

[rob666]

Double the cost of fasttrack, and halve the numbers available.
Same profit, slightly better queues.
And more accessible queues would be lovely.
The countryside hilly ramble that is compulsory to ride nemesis and wickerman, even on quiet days, is not the best way to support the less mobile punter generally.

 

[Smiley]

FT is already expensive enough. Double the entry cost if you want shorter queues and a better experience. Whilst I am sometimes a FT user, the costs are still high compared to the knock-down entry price.

I'm glad Merlin have come back and said "So what do you want?". It's a smart move, because they have all the data on what would work and what wouldn't. And that's the crux. Merlin have made changes as a RESULT of crunching the data and concluding the current system isn't sustainable. The RAP queue should be 5 mins MAX (after you've waited the virtual queue) but the overwhelming demand means it isn't - and so falls at the first hurdle.

As someone who is eligible for RAP but has never even considered it, if the current system stays and overloads the standard queuing model it would test my moral compass somewhat... (note: I wouldn't be eligible for RAP under the new system, but in any case if I'm not in a theme park "mental mood" I just cancel the trip - sometimes at considerable cost).

 

[DiogoJ42]

FT is already expensive enough. Double the entry cost if you want shorter queues and a better experience.

Spoken like a true paid-queue-jumper.

 

[Benzin]

Daily attendance is down from the 90’s, 20,000 guests wasn’t uncommon at Towers in the past, now 13,000 is a busy day.

13k was a busy day at Chessie late 00s. That's the true downfall of the parks.


Think the only "accessible" big ride queue is Oblivion (granted the Fastrack/Ambulant RAP queue starts with steps, the main queue is accessible). Tower's location doesn't particularly lend itself to having accessible queues of the required length. Thirteen and Rita closest elsewhere but still require steps, maybe Air but even then that queue can go off on a hillside jolly.

On the other side, look what happened when they made Duel's queue accessible removing the tilted room. Outrage over the removal of the tilted room. No pleasing some people.

 

[Bowser]

The RAP queue should be 5 mins MAX (after you've waited the virtual queue) but the overwhelming demand means it isn't - and so falls at the first hurdle.

As i keep saying, i think the majority of people have formed their opinions on RAP based on the Alton and Thorpe card based systems, which are no more.

The Chessington system in 2025 absolutely was 5 minutes or less for all rides with the very rare exception on our multiple visits. There is no reason to believe Alton and Thorpe won't be the same in 2026 now they're using a digital model. The queue either won't allow more people to join if it's longer than however they set it or will stagger times accordingly.

 

[Smiley]

Spoken like a true paid-queue-jumper.

Or someone who wants a better experience and is prepared to pay more for it.... I visit UK theme parks very rarely now (and always on quiet days) because the experience is poor due to excessive queuing. And FT is insanely expensive. I go to a theme park to ride, not queue. I'd rather go once - and enjoy it - than twice and have a lacklustre time. When you take into account a day off work (x2), travel, accommodation, F&B, etc the ticket cost becomes a small part of the whole (YMMV).

It's not irrelevant to the RAP discussion - queue times affect all, and the longer the main queue the longer the RAP queue/wait. The FT queue subsidises everyone else, just like Biz/First passengers on a plane. Get rid of those and that revenue has to come from elsewhere. A lot of complainers seem to forget that Merlin is a FOR-PROFIT company, not a charity - their first responsibility is to their shareholders not their guests.

But forget all that. Someone bring along a SOLUTION to the problem, not complain about Merlin's changes.

 

[DiogoJ42]

It shouldn't be a case of "how do I skip the horrible queue?" in the first place, though. The queue should not need to be skipped. And if there is just the one queue, it will move faster for everyone.

 

[rob666]

...The FT queue subsidises everyone else...

And I have been getting it wrong all these years.
Fasttrack is our salvation, not the pain in the bum I thought it was.

 

[Craig]

A reminder this is discussion about Ride Access Pass and Disabled Access. Fastrack discussion can take place elsewhere, this isn’t the place to debate your opinions for or against it. Thanks.