-
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.
Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)
- Thread starter Skyscraper
- Start date
- Status
Dave
TS Founding Member
It really was pretty efficient, I could run down to a ride entrance get a return time for the group (there is no limit on group size within reason) then you just head back at the return time and swipe into the queue. They take a picture of the person with the accessibility rights at City Hall which flashes up (discretely) when you enter the disabled entrance so staff can check that the person with the pass is in the group.
imanautie
TS Member
It's a good concept but there are flaws, namely for myself with Asperger's (not that that wasn't obvious) Galactica and nemesis do get bad and with the smiler being self merge with main queue....Awesome! Partly from curisosity and partly because I believe my sister will likely need the services in the future, its good to see the Merlin parks are well implemented
Dave, that's a much better phrasing of what I was trying to say
On rides like wicker man*, TH13TEEN it works pretty well.
*I've not used rap on wickerman but by observing it is say I personally would be comfortable with it.
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
imanautie
TS Member
I suppose unless people know the trick spinball mentioned it means it less "they aren't disabled" as some people have had
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
speedy
TS Member
What would everyone's perfect system be? Clearly it needs some improvement.
I think phone app/magic band solution sounds good, where you are given a time to return. Therefore you avoid the queues, but guests can't repeatedly re-ride while skipping the queue. However as I said earlier I don't use a pass (at least not at the moment).
The people who need help seem to fall into two categories: those with physical conditions who can't stand/wheelchair can't fit and those who can't tolerate the wait for whatever reason.
EDIT: If anyone's wondering why I bothered posting in this thread, I'm both partially sighted and autistic. I don't mind queues, but some other things are more difficult.
I think phone app/magic band solution sounds good, where you are given a time to return. Therefore you avoid the queues, but guests can't repeatedly re-ride while skipping the queue. However as I said earlier I don't use a pass (at least not at the moment).
The people who need help seem to fall into two categories: those with physical conditions who can't stand/wheelchair can't fit and those who can't tolerate the wait for whatever reason.
EDIT: If anyone's wondering why I bothered posting in this thread, I'm both partially sighted and autistic. I don't mind queues, but some other things are more difficult.
Last edited:
DiogoJ42
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Metropolitan Line
Surely the ideal solution would be to 1) design queues to be wheelchair friendly (thus creating a queuejumper's paradise with nice wide paths), and 2) run all rides at maximum possible throughput at all times with no form of "legal queue skipping" at all... especially fastrack...?
imanautie
TS Member
Not really useful for Asperger's or autism the queue would still get bad at times.
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
imanautie
TS Member
Galactica has a ramp to the rap platform (it's the path that says no entrance)
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
speedy
TS Member
I guess why bother when wheelchair users would be using the RAP entrance anyway.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
If you shift people out of the FT queue, they end up in the standby queue. A ride still moves 1000pph regardless of the make up of the throughput. If the split is currently 750/200/50 (standby, FT, RAP), removal of FT means the split would be 950/50, but those 200 FT riders will end up in a standby queue making them longer.
What I find most interesting about the RAP discussion is that the Merlin parks are seemingly lightyears ahead of many parks in terms of their RAP offering. If someone who uses the RAP system at a Merlin park goes to a park that doesn't offer the service, how does that affect their day - or do they not go?
You will still need to be able to negotiate the entrance, air gates and lift the chair across from one side of the platform to the other. Saying that, all rides at Legoland have level access for wheelchairs, so it is possible.
I do wonder how some of you get on with the RAP queuelines, they may be short, but the waiting times do seem to be just as long as the main queue line. The Smiler RAP seems to be quiet overwhelming and claustrophobic too. I've myself don't have a disability, but I myself can find the main queue lines overwhelming on busy days.
imanautie
TS Member
The smiler is one that I have frequently passed on, when they had downstairs manned it took 10 minutes max from entrance to ride, now its bad enough when I go in a group as rap I plan on buying single shot fastrack.
As I've said previously nemesis and Galactica are problematic for both fastrack and rap.
Personally I can stand some queuing just not when it's sardine like.
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
I feel that its bad that the Smiler is no longer manned at the merge point. I can see it causing a lot of problems with the RAP users and the normal queue line guest. Just seems like nowadays you have to pay for fast track to make visiting Alton more bearable, not just for us non RAP users.
Same here
imanautie
TS Member
It's kind of sad that there are even people like me who have got a VIP pass because the queues aren't just long but unbearable
Sent from my Swift 2 X using Tapatalk
Benzin
TS Member
Based upon what I've seen with the German parks (surprisingly their laws have gone backwards to reduce these things, so I think you have to be really broken to get anything), the best option is unfortunately Fastrack...
Port Aventura seems to lack one as well, or at least one for those who aren't really broken but can't physically endure the ridiculous queues there... I think there is an issue with parks having stuff available for those who aren't wheelchair bound (or can wander around happily without one) but need to use a system because of their disability...
Walibi's offering is weirdly backwards too; where it's there, it's a thing, but the user has to wait the queuetime at the exit without any real provisions for it? So you turn up at say Goliath with a 45 minute queue and they make you wait at the exit for that long? I guess it's fair but without any designated area (i.e. seating) for this it kinda defeats the point of the pass...
Efteling have a very mixed around system but it does work well, most of the disabled queues are very retro-fitted but it's very efficiently run with plenty of seating at every single attraction it's used on... Only downside there is a lack of Dreamflight but they've done the random VR thing to counteract that...
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Unless you go to EP, then you're royally screwed! Wheelchair on Silver Star? Roland says no!
- Status