Oblivion can dispatch 32 people at once, it's capacity is fine. The Smiler was designed with a baggage hold for a reason, there are only 16 people per train. The queues for it have been ridiculous this season, it has been rare to see trains reach the top of each lift at the same time which was fairly standard in 2017. Awfully high fastrack allocation has not helped either.
Add RAP into the mix of fast track and lack of baggage holds and the main queues grow ever more woeful. The RAP situation needs to be dealt with next year as a priority. No other theme parks in other countries have the same issue, it only appears to be prominent in our Merlin parks.
I think they should limit RAP to wheelchair users only. That would solve the problem of too many RAP users. (Bear in mind that I wouldn't get it if that happened)
The issue you then have is that people will be up in arms calling discrimination, as is such with today's modern snowflake society. It's ridiculous as every man and his dog seems to be able to get RAP's just by having a scratch on the knee.
I think they need to 1) scrap Fastrack, and 2) limit the disabled queues to only physically disabled people; the queue would simply be used for easier access for those that need it. With less people using the dedicated disabled queue, and no Fastrack users, the main queue should move quickly enough so that those with less visible disabilities should be able to queue without too many problems. There will always be people who complain about discrimination, it happens even with the current system, but there has to be a cut off at some point, so to maximise the experience for all guests. As it is, the RAP queues themselves don’t even move that quickly anyway.
Just because it's less visible doesn't mean it's less problematic. It's entirely unfair to discriminate in that manner. If you want to stop RAP being used as fast track, make rap a virtual queue. Use either an app or a card to log into a queue, then return when the posted queue time is up. People with a disability can then use a ride with no queue, use a cafe, enjoy the gardens, play the carnival games or otherwise entertain themselves while virtually queuing. It won't slow down the main queue, and won't force people unable to stand in a crowd for long periods to do so.
FYI: I am partially sighted but I don't use RAP Here's the "you're only disabled if I can see your disability" BS again. It IS discriminatory. As a disabled person myself I know how it feels. Theme parks are for forgetting the struggles of daily life and I want them to be as inclusive as possible. Call me a snowflake all you like I don't care.
That’s how it already works. Just in reverse. Ride first, can’t go on next ride until the regular queue length time has passed.
Oh! Sorry I don't use (or know anyone who uses) the disabled RAP. Well then if they've waited out the queue, they have waited their turn and can use it fairly. I always assumed that someone using a disabled rap got straight on, without waiting, and got their card signed so they got on everything once. Edit: I see you've clarified the quoted post - thanks. Seems a fair system to me, if you've got to wait the queue time you aren't pushing in, before or after is just making it technically easier I guess)
So once again we come back to the same situation as with SRQ. If the staff were trained to do their jobs properly the queues could be much better managed.
Maybe put a barcode on the RAP card and scan it then, like they do for Fastrack(?). No excuse for staff not to do it then as it's straightforward and automated and doesn't require them to have a pen!
Sorry, I did not mean for that to sound so discriminatory, that is totally not what I meant. By all means, all those who genuinely need to use the RAP queue for accessibility to the rides should be entitled to use the system. I did say “those with less visible disabilities”, and I do apologise, as that’s not quite what I meant and was an admittedly bad choice of words. What I mean is, if the disabled queues were used by less people, and if the main queues were to move faster as a result of that (and the removal of Fastrack and more efficient operations), some of the people who currently do need the use of the disabled queue might find they would actually be able to use the main queue instead, which would hopefully benefit people all round.
I don't believe RAP holders are permitted to use the normal queue? It's important that the operators know how many disabled persons are on the train and where they are in case of an evacuation.
Oh look it took all of five minutes into off season for this type of horse$hit to be bought up, we are bored aren't we? Firstly getting RAP is not easy, ask the big lady at Chessington in the RBO how much abuse she had to endure this year from people who didn't qualify and were refused RAP. Secondly, beeing disabled is nothing to do with being a snowflake. That's correct, I've seen people removed from the main queue and even removed from the ride after seating if a ride op spots a RAP wristband.
Oh look, the misquoting has equally begun as well. At no point am I calling anyone with a disability a snowflake; it's the people who get offended at the drop of the hat which is exactly what this society is turning into as you've just demonstrated so perfectly well. My point (which you seem to have missed) is that other theme parks in other countries seem to cope just fine, yet over here the RAP system is a burden on the main queue, seemingly only in Merlin parks. I've seen countless posts on social media during this season, particularly within the respective Annual Passholder groups and their associated comments just "how it easy it is" to obtain a RAP. I have no issue with legitimate mental or physical disabilities from being able to benefit from such a system, but it seems to get handed out left right and centre like a free fast track. The system has grown increasingly abused over the past two years or so, becoming even more apparent this year. It needs addressing.
No problem First of all totally agree on Fastrack, that needs to go. It's just unfair. I was more taken back by @Danny "calling discrimination, as is such with today's modern snowflake society". I'm a snowflake for wanting equal access and rights for everybody? Sorry for being so serious here but this attitude needs to stop. It sounds like the staff are mishandling RAP passes, Merlin needs to work on that. Also while I do say take all the help you can get, if you have absolutely no problem waiting in line and are taking your family through the RAP entrance, then you need to reconsider that as it's giving other RAP users (who really nees it) a bad name. Feel like this comes up a lot on this forum.... and I always say never judge someone based on their looks, you don't know what struggles they face
I have no issues with wanting equal rights and access for everybody, as do I. My issue is with the growing number of people in society attempting to benefit by whinging and labelling discrimination when in reality, they're just looking to cheat the system or cut corners at the expense of people who really need said system.
I just thought that I point out we do have a RAP topic thread here https://towersstreet.com/talk/threads/ride-access-pass-systems-and-disabled-access.4711/page-8 I will post a reply on there a little later
