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Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)

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The argument is (and I don't agree with it) that the individual disabled rider has a right to a full family and private life...that means they have the (presumed) right to go on the rides with all their family...so no one or two carers rule please, as that would be discrimination.
Just make the main queues accessible to all.
 
Yalnix said:
To me, after visiting the clear problem is not RAP. I love that towers are inclusive to everyone especially with the disabilities they accept.

The problem, is when each person seems to have almost 5-6 others with them. Now, I appreciate they should absolutely have a carer or maybe two depending on the severity of the disability but when there's a whole family, and a second family of I assume further relatives or friends also standing in the queue (Something I saw at least 5-6 occurences of in my two rides) it becomes a little bit of a joke.

It's difficult to address the issue without being insensative, and I understand you don't want to not queue with your entire party and split up. However Towers needs to consider ALL guests, and yes that includes the fast track queue and the normal queue. RAP should provide equity, not advantage.
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Again, staff implementing the current system correctly would solve this problem almost immediately.

However since some of the guests who abuse the system are awful human beings; odds are it's not worth the hassle the staff would receive as a 16 year old outnumbered by shouty people.

As always, implement the current system as it is would alleviate some of the issues. Beyond that change it to maximum 1 carer.

I don't know if the Legoland one is any good as never used it. It does get a lot of complaints on the Facebook pages but can't say for certain if it's any better. Removing the human element would help mind.
 
Benzin said:
I don't know if the Legoland one is any good as never used it. It does get a lot of complaints on the Facebook pages but can't say for certain if it's any better. Removing the human element would help mind.
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I think it’s fair to say that many of the complaints thrown at the Legoland system are due to some people not being able to game the system like the other systems can be


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rob666 said:
The argument is (and I don't agree with it) that the individual disabled rider has a right to a full family and private life...that means they have the (presumed) right to go on the rides with all their family...so no one or two carers rule please, as that would be discrimination.
Just make the main queues accessible to all.
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The only answer to that i can think of is a card that splits in two. One goes with the RAP user. The other with the rest of the group. When the group in the main queue arrives at gate area they show the card and the rap user is allowed entry onto the ride.

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delta79 said:
The only answer to that i can think of is a card that splits in two. One goes with the RAP user. The other with the rest of the group. When the group in the main queue arrives at gate area they show the card and the rap user is allowed entry onto the ride.

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Some parks do use a system like that actually, and I think something like that at Towers would be a good idea. Like any new system though, implementing and policing it would be difficult.
 
pluk said:
This is undoubtedly a huge improvement on AT but, and it is a big but, if you were able could you not also queue up in the regular queue while you wait for your slot? So be in 2 queues at once and get pretty much twice as much done in a day over someone using regular queues?

I suspect so, and that is surely still enough of an enticement to encourage plenty of abuse?
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That is true for every park worldwide that offers some form of alternative queue access for those with autism spectrum conditions and other reasons they are ambulant but cannot wait for long times. I don't think there is any park in the world that actively stops guests joining the main queue.
If someone would have a meltdown (for example) waiting two hours in a queue line to ride something, they may well have a meltdown just waiting sat on the grass for it two hours. But going on another attraction with a five minute wait which they can cope with (as many activities like supermarket shopping involve short waits) will distract them enough that they can wait the two hours without an issue.

The problem comes with large group using it and people claiming they or their child cannot wait in queues so need the pass, only to use it for a two hour wait then join a one hour wait in the main queue, that person is unlikely to need it at all if they can handle the one hour waits. But having someone at the entrance to a ride, checking for hidden disabilities and refusing them to join the main queue would look awful.

I think the honest answer is there are many families with people on the autistic spectrum who probably can handle reasonable waits, just using it as fast track for their large group. But its really hard to enforce as the evidence is that they just have some form of condition.

The best solution right now is to move to digital enforcement of the wait time. Then if people do get in other queues at the same time that is up to them.
 
Skyscraper said:
Would have to be 2 as some disabled people do genuinely require two carers.
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Depends on the requirements and whether a person who may require 2 carers would be deemed able to safely evacuate an attraction. I'm not entirely sure what disabilities would require 2 carers tbh though.

Another issue with that is that it also messes up family groups where one of the adults is disabled. As the kids would not qualify as a carer in that situation. I'll be interested to find out in the future at the parks that do have a max limit (like Blackpool) how this would work for child friendly attractions.
 
With Towers potentially trialling virtual queueing in the near future, maybe they should start by introducing a virtual RAP system for certain rides? Then if it works it could be modified to cover general queues for a couple of popular rides, and finally rolled out fully if it was shown to work well.
Thoughts?
 
Skyscraper said:
With Towers potentially trialling virtual queueing in the near future, maybe they should start by introducing a virtual RAP system for certain rides? Then if it works it could be modified to cover general queues for a couple of popular rides, and finally rolled out fully if it was shown to work well.
Thoughts?
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There is no evidence of virtual queing being used unless social distancing comes back resulting in longer queues than the pens can hold.

As already mentioned Legoland are using an online Q-bot RAP system and that would definitely be an improvement.
 
As I mentioned in the Thirteen thread, my RAP card was only marked 4 times on Monday, and two of those were Thirteen. Staff not marking the cards properly is one reason why the system gets abused and taken advantage of.

Also, as I mentioned previously in the Duel thread, Towers MUST add a merge host at the front door next season as non-RAP guests could easily use the ramp to bypass the bulk of the queue because there's no one to check RAP cards. Plus it's difficult for RAP guests to find a gap to merge onto the porch. Cutting both lines at the porch and a host letting a few people at a time into the building would help a lot.
 
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Danscott22 said:
Ours was only marked on Thirteen, Spinball Whizzer and Wicker Man x2 - a total of four times throughout a 10-9 day.
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Can't remember the other two rides mine was marked on. Only other big coasters we did were Oblivion, Nemesis and Wicker Man.
 
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Cards being marked is rare, but cards being marked with the appropriate time slot is almost unheard of.

@Skyscraper @Danscott22 how long was the card blocked out for vs. the advertised queue time?
 
Just reading on the Chessington website how this is going to work and it says:
From March 17th 2022, the Chessington Ride Access Pass will operate as an online virtual queuing system on a smartphone. To access the online portal click here.

Guests simply select the ride they wish to go on and make their way straight to the ride using the Ride Access Pass entrance where a member of team will scan the QR code generated by the phone. While guests enjoy the ride, the QR code triggers a countdown clock which is the same wait time as the standard queue time of that ride at that current moment. Once the countdown clock reaches zero, guests can select the next ride to head to.
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So this should eliminate the issue of time cards not being filled in which meant RAP could be used like an unlimited fastrack.

Also, looking at the accepted documentation for issuing a RAP it also seems that the option to show a note from a doctor has been removed? If this is the case that should help with cutting down people faking documents to obtain the passes.

We will accept the following documentation as proof of eligibility:

Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance award letter (dated within the last 24 months) showing that you receive the higher rate mobility component.
Personal Independence Payment letter (dated within the last 24 months) showing that you receive enhanced mobility component.
A current and valid Blue Badge.
A current and valid Access Card including the queuing logo on it. These cards are available here.
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I hope they really fix it and not just transpose the dreadful analogue service to an app.

I guess the acid test is that if the posted queue time is 90 minutes, the scanning of the barcode will trigger a 90 minute countdown.
 
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