• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Fastrack passes for Scarefest 2014.

towerslover101 said:
I walk with 2 crutches, im very slow but I can just about navigate stairs
Click to expand...

I really doubt they are suitable. Because the whole group walks in a conga line, hands on the shoulders of the person in front.

Makes me wonder if they could do a disabled walk through that you pre-book so there are people going around to help keep the groups together.

It's hard enough sometimes to stay together when you're being spooked and people tend to walk off quicker or get left behind. Because of their locale, I think it's extremely difficult.

I would like to see them somehow run special time slots for disabled guests who are ambulant but maybe a little slower.

The terrain inside though is uneven and difficult due to the towers inherent nature, I hope you'd get to experience them, but you may find it difficult and they may not let you - Twitter again I'd say for more info.
 
As far as I'm aware staff can cater the maze for a disabled guest, as long as you or your carer request the staff for assistance (or let them know that you're disabled) prior to entry.

I remember someone on here (think it was Meat Pie?) complained last year as staff refused to assist their father with going through the maze, or something like that.

Someone will have to clarify though as I'm not 100% sure.
 
Both mazes are in the Towers, and involve uneven floors and steep stairs. There is usually a low tunnel in TotT that you have to duck down to get through. So my instinct would be to say that neither maze is very accessable. I also doubt they would let someone take crutches in, as anything that could be used to hit an actor with has to be left outside.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
Both mazes are in the Towers, and involve uneven floors and steep stairs. There is usually a low tunnel in TotT that you have to duck down to get through. So my instinct would be to say that neither maze is very accessable. I also doubt they would let someone take crutches in, as anything that could be used to hit an actor with has to be left outside.
Click to expand...

IIRC that was the issue Meaty had, that his father was asked to leave his crutches outside the maze?
 
Just dug around for Meat Pie's posts (which are below). Seems to be no Merlin policies against entering the mazes if you require a stick. I'd assume the same would be for crutches too. I would expect them to have ways around these things anyway. Obviously if you're unable to move your body at all then enterting the mazes will be a no go, but if you can manage then I see no reason why they should refuse you for having a minor disability.

Meat Pie said:
I've never been quite so disgusted by the actions of a Theme Park than I have tonight. Despite there being no reference on any signage anywhere about restricted access to Scaremazes for those who rely on a walking stick, once myself and my family had waited through the entire queue, we were rudely told that my Dad, a disabled man who whilst is able to move around, has to rely on a walking stick to steady himself, would not be allowed into the Sanctuary. Despite us repeatedly explaining the situation to the bratty staff, they still inisisted that he would have to leave it at the entrance, almost with the attitude that he was being unreasonable and unecessarily clingining to his stick!. The most ridiculous claim being he would beat someone with it! He would dare not try had he wished to because of the fear of falling! My father can not walk any significant distance without his stick, so we were told that we would have to leave. We were lead out back through the crowded queue line in a highly embarassing and humiliating manner.

Whomever took the discriminatory decision to exclude users of walking sticks should be ashamed. It is disability discrimination at it's most ludicrous and unfair.

Those girls operating the maze tonight should be ashamed of their attitude toward a disabled man who received nothing but contempt.

Alton Towers should be ashamed that they ruined the day of a disabled but seasoned scare maze visitor and his family.

This is an absolute disgrace that I intend to take further with Merlin managment to ensure nothing quite so awfully discriminatory happens again at their attractions. Hell, it felt more like a fecking ATOS assessment rather than a fun family day out!
Click to expand...

Meat Pie said:
Just an update to this previous post: http://www.towersstreet.com/talk/general-discussion/scarefest-2013/msg89328/#msg89328

We have been in contact with the Product Excellence Manager at Merlin who has apologised for my father's treatment. They said that it was not Merlin's policy to restrict access to those who rely on walking sticks and that the staff operating the maze were wrong to just eject us from the attraction. He went on to say that what should have been done was to send our party through separately with the actors and being pre-informed of what was happening. They say they have launched an investigation and hopefully this will never happen again to anyone at a Merlin attraction.

As an act of goodwill because of the hurt caused we have been offered free entry to Alton Towers and the Scaremazes at the next year's Scarefest.

It doesn't of course completely heal the bitterness I feel, but I am content with end outcome.
Click to expand...
 
I wouldnt recommend the mazes with a stick or crutches due to the uneven floors, the darkness and of course, the sections where you have to stoop down, or push yourself through inflatable walls!
 
God knows how you'd get to walk through a Scare Maze with a walking stick though - must take an age and can't be a pleasant experience for those who require them!

I'd say they're not disabled friendly, and to just not try it really. Scare zones are pretty cool though :)
 
I would disagree and suggest that with care, and planning, there is no reason you cannot experience these mazes so long as you understand your own limitations and are prepared for the terrain ahead.

So what if it takes ages to get through? Obviously Merlin agree on this point.

I think if they could open the mazes a little earlier specifically for disabled guests so they don't have to battle through queues or awkward entrances, and before the actors are in full flow so don't have to switch in and out of modes, it could work rather well.

Kudos to Merlin on that one, I don't recall the response they gave to Meat Pie and I can only applaud their dedication to allowing as many people to experience it as possible.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
Never thought I'd say this, but... I kinda miss the guy.
Click to expand...

*cue elaborate entrance sequence with full fire and brimstone effects*

Now who wants to get embroiled in an unnecessarily heated socio-economic discussion with a tenuous at best link to theme parks? ;)

Anywho, to towerslover1, having had the experience we had at Alton Towers, I would make an effort to contact the park before your visit to ensure that they can do a separate run-through to cater to your situation, and to ensure that you will not face any issues upon arriving at the front of the queue.
 
I wouldn't know exactly, but given it's a Saturday, and very close to Halloween, I would say very busy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top