imanautie
TS Member
Interesting. So Disney's focus on accessible queueing is kind of the opposite to UK parks?
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Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)
- Thread starter Skyscraper
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Orange Ribena
I remember going to Disney/Universal back in the 1990s before everyone and their mother caught on to the fact that having a "condition" would get you easier access to the ride. On a trip my gran hired a scooter as she injured her leg. We went to the disabled access entrance and got in after a short wait. I remember once my granfather waiting outside Kong with his walking stick and he said one of the people working there went over to show him to the disabled entrance to get on the ride even though he wasn't in line and didn't want to go on the ride.
At no point did they need any access card. I guess there wasn't lots of kids having "meltdowns" in queue or people fake hiring wheelchairs/scooters in those days.
At no point did they need any access card. I guess there wasn't lots of kids having "meltdowns" in queue or people fake hiring wheelchairs/scooters in those days.
Benzin
TS Member
DLP have two tiers, which are basically a "temporary" and a "permanent" disability (temporary tends to lean towards those in casts).
I can't speak much for the American ones, but DLP has a few wheelchair entrances for their rides (BTM especially has a weird one up the exit and waits on one platform), whilst the newer stuff like Tower and Ratatouille use the Fastpass entrances.
California seemed to be a mix (mostly as the older attractions would need retrofit queues), however most of their advice was that you could use Fastpass as well as DAS (which is really playing the game when you can pay extra to book Fastpass on your phone, which I would've done purely because trying to get wheelchairs to Fastpass distribution points is a nightmare).
Dunno if Disney have done to stop the abuse that was fairly prevalent a few years ago. But other parks don't have a time system at all and yet don't seem to struggle with long queues. It could be a culture thing.
I can't speak much for the American ones, but DLP has a few wheelchair entrances for their rides (BTM especially has a weird one up the exit and waits on one platform), whilst the newer stuff like Tower and Ratatouille use the Fastpass entrances.
California seemed to be a mix (mostly as the older attractions would need retrofit queues), however most of their advice was that you could use Fastpass as well as DAS (which is really playing the game when you can pay extra to book Fastpass on your phone, which I would've done purely because trying to get wheelchairs to Fastpass distribution points is a nightmare).
Dunno if Disney have done to stop the abuse that was fairly prevalent a few years ago. But other parks don't have a time system at all and yet don't seem to struggle with long queues. It could be a culture thing.
Swarm Chris
TS Member
Disneyland certainly went on a clamp down on people who were playing the access system, but they did have a small economy starting of people hiring out their services. Last time I went there was essentially a holding pen in a shaded area underneath Space Mountain where those with mobility issues would wait the stated queue time.
At Disney World, practically all queues are wide enough to accept a motorised chair.
At Disney World, practically all queues are wide enough to accept a motorised chair.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
I think that’s true if it's done in a way that makes it particularly obvious and therefore potentially problematic.
There are a ton of ways you can subtly manage a queue so that people are unaware where others have 'come from'. Merlin aren't great at this - particularly where RAP/Fastrack has been implemented post opening. The best example is probably Wicker Man - when you're in the pre-show you've no understanding which route people have taken, whether it be RAP, FT or Standby.
The way Merlin don't enforce their own rules and the numbers of people using the current RAP system, it is essentially free Fastrack for a not insignificant number of guests.
jon81uk
TS Member
Not sure what you mean.
But in the US they can't ask for proof of disability, so they ask what accommodations are needed. If the issue is someone can't stand up for long, then they can rent a wheelchair or scooter and use most lines as normal, although some rides have seperate ramped access. As far as I know no pass is required as the entrance host can see the wheelchair/scooter etc.
If the issue is someone cannot cope with being in a queue (usually due to autism related issues) they get a pass (on the Disneyworld App) that gets scanned at ride entrances so they can return after the queue time has elapsed (or if the wait is under 10 minutes ride immediately) via the Fastpass entrance. This can be used with the pre-booked Fastpass system.
The system was changed about five years ago or longer to this timed as there was widespread abuse with people hiring people to get quicker access to rides
Here is some info from when the new system launched https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/disa...2013-disability-access-service-(das)-card.htm
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Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Bump!
In Towers' recent TLC post they state that a few accessibility changes have been made recently.
Firstly, Guest Services has moved from the Box Office building to No1 Towers Street.
Secondly, a new accessible toilet block has been built in Gloomy wood.
And last but not least, a new accessible ramp has been built in front of Duel. I assume this so wheelchairs can access the main entrance, as last season there was no RAP access as the exit was one way due to social distancing.
Source: https://www.altontowers.com/about-alton-towers/blog/towers-loving-care-update/
In Towers' recent TLC post they state that a few accessibility changes have been made recently.
Firstly, Guest Services has moved from the Box Office building to No1 Towers Street.
Secondly, a new accessible toilet block has been built in Gloomy wood.
And last but not least, a new accessible ramp has been built in front of Duel. I assume this so wheelchairs can access the main entrance, as last season there was no RAP access as the exit was one way due to social distancing.
Source: https://www.altontowers.com/about-alton-towers/blog/towers-loving-care-update/
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imanautie
TS Member
Also of note is a few merlin UK parks are reportedly not using bands this year.Bump!
In Towers' recent TLC post they state that a few accessibility changes have been made recently.
Firstly, Guest Services has moved from the Box Office building to No1 Towers Street.
Secondly, a new accessible toilet block has been built in Gloomy wood.
And last but not least, a new accessible ramp has been built in front of Duel. I assume this so wheelchairs can access the main entrance, as last season there was no RAP access as the exit was one way due to social distancing.
Source: https://www.altontowers.com/about-alton-towers/blog/towers-loving-care-update/
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
That's interesting, what are they doing instead?
imanautie
TS Member
Supposedly just showing the I'd card, which makes sense as it says the color on the pass (first line is YELLOW #123457 for example) so what's the point of the band
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
If that's the case then that's a great decision. Do you know if Towers themselves are doing that?
imanautie
TS Member
I don't know for sure if any of the parks are doing it, but with multiple people reporting having been told the same thing and with Chessington last year making bands optional I get the feeling they might be.
It's one step closer to not needing to visit guest services on every single visit.
Skyscraper
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Towers have updated the accessibility page on the website, and by golly it's so confusing! Not a fan of the new layout at all. Lots of clicking around to find what you need. I'd much prefer an updated PDF doc eith everything in one place, which was what I was expecting.
https://www.altontowers.com/plan-your-visit/before-you-visit/accessibility/
https://www.altontowers.com/plan-your-visit/before-you-visit/accessibility/
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Thameslink Rail
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Smiler
Whilst I like the overall idea, it's just rather poorly executed. I don't see the point in putting everything in drop down boxes when it could just be put in plain text (perhaps with links at the top to help you find which part you want).
Then the pages aren't linked well, there are pages for the areas which mention the rides but don't have links to them.
pluk
TS Member
No change to how RAP (doesn't) work for this season it seems.
"For clarity, the Ride Access Pass places guests in a ‘virtual queue’ – they do not allow immediate and unrestricted access to rides. The mechanic is such that once you have completed your first ride, your card will be marked with a time at which you can go on your second ride. The time will represent the current queue length from your first ride; this process will be repeated at each of the rides as you visit them. Once your card is completed, you can return to Guest Services for a new card. "
So still open to massive abuse, making it attractive to the many, destroying its usefulness to the few who genuinely need it.
"For clarity, the Ride Access Pass places guests in a ‘virtual queue’ – they do not allow immediate and unrestricted access to rides. The mechanic is such that once you have completed your first ride, your card will be marked with a time at which you can go on your second ride. The time will represent the current queue length from your first ride; this process will be repeated at each of the rides as you visit them. Once your card is completed, you can return to Guest Services for a new card. "
So still open to massive abuse, making it attractive to the many, destroying its usefulness to the few who genuinely need it.
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imanautie
TS Member
Some parents of legitimate rap users (and even some users themselfs) don't exactly help by demanding instant access!
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
Entitlement is a big part of it but more so the fact you have a reasonable system implemented horribly.
I've been in a position where friends of mine who use RAP have ridden Oblivion and Smiler in the time it's taken for me to get a drink from the kiosk above Rehydrator. At that point, the system is utterly broken (RAP, not F&B ...).
I am hopeful this has been addressed for 2021, but pretty certain it won't have been. Merlin might suggest it's almost impossible to reset the expectation at this point and they're right, it's very difficult ... but they made it so!
pluk
TS Member
While I understand the thinking and predicament, I think the whole thing is so massively broken now that it'd actually be pretty easy to market changes as a positive for those who need the service. A simple acknowledgement of abuse of the system that has happened, that those abusing it are preventing those needing it from gaining the access they require, an explanation that the changes stop the opportunity for abuse to free up capacity for those who need. It could be a really positive bit of PR if done in the right way.
The key is not to restrict who is entitled, which would certainly bring out the pitchforks, but to run a system that bares no benefit over queuing so there's nothing worth abusing the system for.
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