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Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)

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speedy said:
I think you would know better than me! I've only heard of the system at Merlin parks though
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I've actually not used it at non Merlin parks.
From what I gather Drayton manor has a similar system to what Chessington had. (10 slots once gone they are gone-but no time outs)

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Paultons has a one shot system on every ride...

Mingo and Lightwater just go up the exit (but their numbers don't really need much more than that)....

Blackpool's is also up the exit... But is a 1:1 ratio...
 
ITT: "Ew, the dirty disabled people are getting in the way of my rides. They should be shunned and only allowed to visit when I can't see them".

In the spirit of reforming the system, I wonder how legal it would be for the park to require the RAP user to be in receipt of PIP/DLA, with proof of the number of points awarded during assessment?

Going back to the penalising families by having a 1:1 system, I still think the way round is to have the family wait in the main queue, then give the batcher the rap card and then the disabled guest can wait at the exit and get on with their family. This would also help with RAP taking seats other guests have queued for.
 
Dar said:
ITT: "Ew, the dirty disabled people are getting in the way of my rides. They should be shunned and only allowed to visit when I can't see them".

In the spirit of reforming the system, I wonder how legal it would be for the park to require the RAP user to be in receipt of PIP/DLA, with proof of the number of points awarded during assessment?

Going back to the penalising families by having a 1:1 system, I still think the way round is to have the family wait in the main queue, then give the batcher the rap card and then the disabled guest can wait at the exit and get on with their family. This would also help with RAP taking seats other guests have queued for.
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It would probably be legal assuming they didn't retain the data but I don't think it would be of any use.

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Well not everybody on PIP/DLA has had an assessment, but they do already require proof of being in receipt of said benefit for a carer pass.
 
IanSR said:
Well not everybody on PIP/DLA has had an assessment, but they do already require proof of being in receipt of said benefit for a carer pass.
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When I was at Chessington the other day they were saying to people who didn't have high rate DLA/pip printed on their assessment to just being a doctors letter instead.... The whole point of this change as far as I was aware was to restrict RAP to people who really need it and staff encouraging people to bypass it in order to save complaints.

My partner is autistic and though she doesn't enjoy queuing we have noise cancling headphones, books etc to help distract her in some of the more overwhelming que environments (sat underneath the wicker man lift hill particularly comes to mind).

Having autism/ADHD etc doesn't automatically mean you can't que normally meaning you need a RAP (and plenty of RAP users use the main que when they are on time out) so i fully support the parks restricting this to high rate DLA recipients
 
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In principle I don't disagree with you, however I have experienced life from the point of view of a severely mentally disabled young lad (my nephew) and he was awarded only middle rate on both, which would exclude him from RAP/Carer under your terms and without wanting to sound horrible, but you don't want to be stuck in a cattlepen for two hours with this kid.

What it needs is a better implemented and run system.
 
Dar said:
ITT: "Ew, the dirty disabled people are getting in the way of my rides. They should be shunned and only allowed to visit when I can't see them".
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I take it that you were joking. We hear comments like these every day (as highlighted in bold). Not nice to hear and totally inappropriate.

Doublethink said:
(and plenty of RAP users use the main que when they are on time out)
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This is where the system gets abused. I feel that anyone found abusing the system should have their RAP taken away and banned from using the RAP for life. If you are using the normal queue lines, then you clearly don't need to use RAP.

IanSR said:
Well not everybody on PIP/DLA has had an assessment, but they do already require proof of being in receipt of said benefit for a carer pass.
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That's right. Only those of working age are usually assessed as the government are so obsessed with getting people into work. The assessments have nothing to do with whether they qualify for PIP/DLA or not, it is an assessment to see if the disable person is fit for work. Plus the government prefers people to be on PIP/DLA as oppose to unemployment benefits as it makes their unemployment figures look great ;)
 
skyscraper said:
That's not true as not every RAP user has a physical disability.
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My comment was directed at all regardless of disability. Especially if you are flittering alternatively between the RAP and main queue lines to maximise your day.

I mentioned on here last year that I was asked to move from the rear seats of Thirteen to swap seats with some RAP users. Despite the fact that the main queue line was more than 30 minutes wait, for what other reason other than to cheat the system, the RAP users has chosen to join the main queue and manage to queue in the main queue line. Obviously this undermines the system.

The discussion on this thread over the last few weeks have been about people abusing the system as oppose to who can and can't use the RAP and why regardless of the nature of disability. The RAP should be a life line for those that need it and not for people to pick and choose which queue line to use when it suites them to up their ride counts.
 
RoyJess said:
My comment was directed at all regardless of disability. Especially if you are flittering alternatively between the RAP and main queue lines to maximise your day.

I mentioned on here last year that I was asked to move from the rear seats of Thirteen to swap seats with some RAP users. Despite the fact that the main queue line was more than 30 minutes wait, for what other reason other than to cheat the system, the RAP users has chosen to join the main queue and manage to queue in the main queue line. Obviously this undermines the system.

The discussion on this thread over the last few weeks have been about people abusing the system as oppose to who can and can't use the RAP and why regardless of the nature of disability. The RAP should be a life line for those that need it and not for people to pick and choose which queue line to use when it suites them to up their ride counts.
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Excactly RAP is to alow people who are "UNABLE TO QUE " (quoted directly from Alton Towers website) to still be able to access and enjoy the rides. Its not a free fast pass system or a bonus and should offer a comparable experience to a standard guest.

In my opinion Quing in the main line if you are a RAP user is abuse of the system and if you can manage to waitiyou should not have a ride access pass.
 
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I'm at loggerheads at the moment because I don't think I need to use the RAP anymore as I can use stairs and have got better with queueing, and generally just don't like using it, but my parents still want me to use it as I'm entitled to it because they don't want to queue for ages. Any advice?
 
skyscraper said:
I'm at loggerheads at the moment because I don't think I need to use the RAP anymore as I can use stairs and have got better with queueing, and generally just don't like using it, but my parents still want me to use it as I'm entitled to it because they don't want to queue for ages. Any advice?
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Go with someone, register for rap and get a band and try main queue?

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ihaveaspergers said:
Go with someone, register for rap and get a band and try main queue?

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Even if the queue is just 15 mins they'll insist that I use the band.

I still remember last year when my dad had a right old go and walked off because I wanted to wait 25 mins for Thirteen, even though it was shaded in line (hot day). It paid off as I got the front row (which made my day).
 
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