• 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)

Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
It's interesting though with back row for disabled as it makes them last to be evacuated, but with the shortest walk down any stairs.
 
Alsty said:
Disabled guests have always sat in the back row of Nemesis for over twenty years. This is to make evacuations easier, especially non-ambulant guests. This was before the system was oversubscribed like it is now with RAP. It's not something that was introduced to "make the RAP queues worse"

I don't know why other rides have different requirements but this is presumably set through risk assessment.
Click to expand...
Thought you had to be able to walk down the steps unaided?
 
Rules might have changed since I worked on it but you could have guests with three limbs. Security and medical would be available to help them if required.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ash
Even smiler which historically had rear row only seating appears to have given it up, even for guests where it's super obvious they are rap,which is a plus for capacity, just got to wait for other rides to relax it a bit.
 
imanautie said:
Even smiler which historically had rear row only seating appears to have given it up, even for guests where it's super obvious they are rap,which is a plus for capacity, just got to wait for other rides to relax it a bit.
Click to expand...
It helps that wristbands are no more. Can't stand them as they draw attention to the fact that someone has additional needs.
 
Last edited:
Rick said:
Another way is to look for people who are having the best time because they've been on three times as many rides as anyone else.
Click to expand...
Trust me, using the RAP is not stress-free. Last Scarefest was hell. That's why I'm going to refuse to use it this year and just cope with the main queues as best as I can.
 
Skyscraper said:
Trust me, using the RAP is not stress-free. Last Scarefest was hell. That's why I'm going to refuse to use it this year and just cope with the main queues as best as I can.
Click to expand...
It's a bit disappointing it's come to that for you @Skyscraper. How well can you cope with queues, out of interest?
 
zeock said:
It's a bit disappointing it's come to that for you @Skyscraper. How well can you cope with queues, out of interest?
Click to expand...
I'm a lot better than I used to be, but as long as I've got people to talk to or my phone I can stay calm. It's usually if something goes wrong that I can get distressed, although I'm getting better with dealing with that as well. It also depends on my mood, as if I'm happy I'll cope better than if I was stressed.
 
Skyscraper said:
Trust me, using the RAP is not stress-free. Last Scarefest was hell. That's why I'm going to refuse to use it this year and just cope with the main queues as best as I can.
Click to expand...

So… someone who potentially finds queuing difficult, now finds using the main queue less stressful and problematic than the RAP queue?

Ok. That’s a new low.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Also goes to prove that giving people exposure and coping techniques actually works.

I appreciate this isn’t the case with Skyscraper but there seems to be an increase in parents using their children’s neurodivergence to get stuff they want (more rides in a theme park) rather then support their children in managing their disability.
 
Dave said:
Also goes to prove that giving people exposure and coping techniques actually works.

I appreciate this isn’t the case with Skyscraper but there seems to be an increase in parents using their children’s neurodivergence to get stuff they want (more rides in a theme park) rather then support their children in managing their disability.
Click to expand...

I could go on a very very long rant about exposure therapy for Autistics, but I will keep it brief and say if an accessibility thing is useful they should use it.
 
imanautie said:
I could go on a very very long rant about exposure therapy for Autistics, but I will keep it brief and say if an accessibility thing is useful they should use it.
Click to expand...

It isn’t suitable for everyone (that would be like saying people in a wheel chair just need to try harder, which would be both insulting and stupid).

It is the right course of action for some neurodivergent conditions yet isn’t always the options people take.
 
imanautie said:
I could go on a very very long rant about exposure therapy for Autistics, but I will keep it brief and say if an accessibility thing is useful they should use it.
Click to expand...
I don't think @Dave was referring to exposure therapy here - which can be very stressful and damaging especially of you're talking about 'therapies' such as applied behavioural analysis. I understood this to mean developing healthy coping strategies which you aren't going to do if you're constantly shielded from the things you find stressful. Not all stressful situations in life can be avoided. I'm neurodivergent and although I've never really struggled in theme parks I find supermarkets extremely challenging. Unfortunately I do have to buy food, so I've had to develop coping strategies so I can go in, get what I need and leave without becoming overwhelmed. That might be going but when it's quiet, or having only a very short list organised by ailse, or having music on. It's not going on a Saturday morning and making myself stand by the fish counter until I lose it.

The point is, giving today's ND kids RAP passes is denying them the opportunity to develop those coping mechanisms. I'll concede that there are - of course - many ND children and adults who just wouldn't be able to queue, and I'm not saying they shouldn't have RAP passes. But it's estimated that up to 8% of the population have ASD or ADHD and it really isn't practical to give all of those people and their families free fast tracks.
 
One shot on popular rides is the way forward. At Chessington today RAP queue looked much shorter and was cleared to the odd one or two coming down the queues for the last couple of hours.

Allowed the main queue to move nicely. There was one instance a woman in the RAP line went to the ops cabin to complain they couldn’t have a second ride, she help up the ride for 10 minutes. The main queue at the point she was complaining was 17……. With no stairs……

I am afraid that’s the way forward to allow everyone a fair chance at it from that queue. It also allowed us to get back row twice which we’ve never been able to do for obvious reasons.
 
You know RAP is a problem when Alton Towers have to build a new exit path for Thirteen so that the existing exit path can be used exclusively as an RAP queue. Couldn't quite believe it when I saw it on Saturday!

Also why does RAP at Towers now have its own fancy logo? It's as if they are actively promoting it as a product like Fastrack!
 
Rob said:
Also why does RAP at Towers now have its own fancy logo? It's as if they are actively promoting it as a product like Fastrack!
Click to expand...
I think it’s been like that for a couple of years now. I imagine it could be to make the RAP entrances a little easier to notice.
 
Status
This topic has been locked. No further replies can be posted.
Top