Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)

[RoyJess]

but my parents still want me to use it as I'm entitled to it because they don't want to queue for ages.

That's been the crux of the debate on here. That's the difference between using the RAP as you are unable to use the normal queue and using RAP for the propose of a free fast track.

What I would say to you @skyscraper is that the RAP is there for your benefit and not that of your parents. You are over the age of 18, so you are now your own person, so the decision should be with you and not your parents whether you are able to use the main queue line or not. Like you say, using the RAP also have it down sides, especially if you like to sit in a different seat to those allocated to RAP users as well as missing out any theme-ing or part of the attraction that a RAP user might bypass.

 

[imanautie]

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).

I don't know your specific circumstances, however if you honestly feel you are ready to how without rap try doing so for a day to see how you cope.
People change, what they cope with does as well.

Sent from my Swift 2 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Dar]

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.

Yeah, I was being sarcastic, I forget it doesn't work well via text!

I was passing comment on some posts that seemed to tread awfully close to the opinion that disabled people aren't welcome if they can't damned well pull themselves together and act normal.

I don't think disabled people should be excluded from any activity, as far as reasonably possible. And saying people should just go on a quiet day is disgusting and just shows how selfish our society has become.

 

[RoyJess]

Yeah, I was being sarcastic, I forget it doesn't work well via text!

I was passing comment on some posts that seemed to tread awfully close to the opinion that disabled people aren't welcome if they can't damned well pull themselves together and act normal.

I don't think disabled people should be excluded from any activity, as far as reasonably possible. And saying people should just go on a quiet day is disgusting and just shows how selfish our society has become.

Yeah! I did read between the lines and took it as you being sarcastic. But as a carer for my wife, it's quiet common that we here comments like this every time we are out and people can be really nasty with it too. As my wife is a wheelchair user, she is a sitting duck when it comes to abuse, people do see it as an invite to come over say what they like. What people don't realise, is that we have herd it all 100 times before and it does get very predictable after a while.

I agree, no one should be telling anyone, disable or not whether they should act normal or not, when and where they can go out. No one should be excluded from any activity.

This is why I also am against RAP having a 1 + 1 carer approach. If you are going to have a restriction on how many people can ride with you, then this also need to limit the non disable people to 2 riders in your group per ride too to make it fair under the equality act. Not every one visiting Alton are in groups of 2.

However I'm also against people exploiting the system, especially one that has been put in place for the vulnerable in our society.

 

[Skyscraper]

Like you say, using the RAP also have it down sides, especially if you like to sit in a different seat to those allocated to RAP users as well as missing out any theme-ing or part of the attraction that a RAP user might bypass.

Yeah, for me part of it is that I like to follow one-way systems and I like to get the full experience. I also don't want to sit in the back seat for every damn ride.

 

[IanSR]

Fun fact for the Day: In the early days of the Internet, we used to use pink text to convey sarcasm, a trend that has been long been forgotten since, and even if you did use it, only old farts would know its significance while others would think you were being homophobic (got accused of that last year for typing with pink text).

So, now back to your regular scheduled discussion....

 

[DiogoJ42]

I remember those days. Seemed to only be American forums that bothered with it though. They needed extra help spotting humour. I've always thought that pointing out sarcasm spoils the fun.

 

[Skyscraper]

On my first TS meet last year I managed to wait 1 hour for Wicker Man with the group. It helped that I had lots of people to talk to.

 

[rob666]

Fun fact for the Day: In the early days of the Internet, we used to use pink text to convey sarcasm, a trend that has been long been forgotten since, and even if you did use it, only old farts would know its significance while others would think you were being homophobic (got accused of that last year for typing with pink text).

So, now back to your regular scheduled discussion....

But some of us only had a huge clunky black and white monitor.
I remember sending my sister messages through the joint academic network...Janet.

 

[Skyscraper]

Back on topic, last year I went as a volunteer on a trip to Lightwater Valley that an organisation I volunteer with put on for our teenage members. It gave me the chance to be a carer for the day and experience what it's like. I think they are doing it this year too.

 

[delta79]

But some of us only had a huge clunky black and white monitor.
I remember sending my sister messages through the joint academic network...Janet.

It was black and green for me.

Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk

 

[RoyJess]

Continuing from the Merlin VIP Annual Pass thread

Towers have know about this since the VIP pass was introduced and the pass holders kept telling them what was happening, 5 years later nothing has changed.
word gets around, pay your doctor £50 for a letter and get a RAP and its free fastrack all day
Everyone looses out

Merlin dont care

I don't think that there is any denial that the RAP is being abused and used as a free fastrack.

The RAP is not fit for purpose. Especially if RAP users are prepared to pay £700+ per year for a VIP to meet their ride access needs.

I presume that the time card is not marked due to the fact that the RAP queue line is just as long in waiting time as the main queue. Being only allocated certain seats also means a short RAP queue can also be just a long as the main queue line in waiting time.

The real losers here are those in genuine need of the RAP.

 

[bluesonichd]

Continuing from the Merlin VIP Annual Pass thread



I don't think that there is any denial that the RAP is being abused and used as a free fastrack.

The RAP is not fit for purpose. Especially if RAP users are prepared to pay £700+ per year for a VIP to meet their ride access needs.

I presume that the time card is not marked due to the fact that the RAP queue line is just as long in waiting time as the main queue. Being only allocated certain seats also means a short RAP queue can also be just a long as the main queue line in waiting time.

The real losers here are those in genuine need of the RAP.

last week, Nemmy had a 40 min q, 3 RAP plus me got on , they had card signed., they got off and back on the next train again

Ride host in CBeebies.. oh I dont like signing the card as dont like to make them wait for the next ride (GSG with a 40+ min q)
I could go on and on

it may be harsh but they need to be more strict with what conditions qualify for RAP

"Oh my son is allergenic to peanuts, he cant q in the main q"

I think this has all been said before on here, I havent been following this topic, its too depressing

 

[Dave]

The risk here is the classic “blame the disabled” rather than “blame the system”. It’s up to Merlin to make a fair system and enforce it.

 

[bluesonichd]

The risk here is the classic “blame the disabled” rather than “blame the system”. It’s up to Merlin to make a fair system and enforce it.

its both,

when you have the mentality to think a peanut allergy is a genuine excuse not to be able to q

and when Merlin accept that as an excuse

 

[Skyscraper]

Don't forget that the VIP Annual Pass is being discontinued indefinitely. Not sure if that will be good or bad for the RAP and it's genuine users.

 

[bluesonichd]

the only upside for the parks and discontinuing the fastrak pass, is the abundant abuse of the RAP system will go largely unnoticed again, and they wont have to deal with it

 

[RoyJess]

last week, Nemmy had a 40 min q, 3 RAP plus me got on , they had card signed., they got off and back on the next train again

Ride host in CBeebies.. oh I dont like signing the card as dont like to make them wait for the next ride (GSG with a 40+ min q)
I could go on and on

it may be harsh but they need to be more strict with what conditions qualify for RAP

"Oh my son is allergenic to peanuts, he cant q in the main q"

I think this has all been said before on here, I havent been following this topic, its too depressing

I'm 100% behind what you are saying with regards to the abuse of the system. I feel exactly the same as so do a majority of people on here.

My main concern (and what I was trying to get my point across on the VIP thread) is that we shouldn't penalise and tarnish all RAP users with the same brush just because of those that are abusing the system.

The problem is that Merlin and it's parks are not qualified medical specialist. We all are aware of the most common medical conditions out there. But the facts are, there are more people with rare conditions than compared to the common ones that we have all heard off. My wife Jess don't do the rides, so the RAP are of no concern to us as we don't use the RAP. But let say for example that we did. If we were to turn up with Jessica's medical notes which we always carry around with us and clearly stated the name of Jessica's rare medical conditions, the park staff wouldn't have a clue what her condition entailed. I can't let alone pronounce the names of her medical conditions, let alone spell them.

Also the same medical condition affect people in different ways. The problem is that the parks runs a one size fits all approach when it comes to the RAP, and we know that disability is a lot more diverse and complex than that.

The current RAP system allows those that don't need it to abuse it while it penalise those that are in genuine need of it.

Away from the parks, the working age disable people normally have assessments Atos or Capita. These are professional Doctors and yet you often hear in the news about them being criticised for wrongly signing people off as fit for work. So if these professionals with medical background are in the firing line for getting it wrong, then what hope do the parks have with no qualifications in getting it right with who can and can't use the RAP. As mentioned in an earlier post, just by having high level PIP/DLA or blue badge should be the bare minimum to obtain a RAP.

Don't forget that the VIP Annual Pass is being discontinued indefinitely. Not sure if that will be good or bad for the RAP and it's genuine users.

The VIP Annual Pass is a completely different issue to RAP. It's the abuse of the RAP system that is bad for those that are in genuine need and not the VIP pass

 

[Dave]

its both,

when you have the mentality to think a peanut allergy is a genuine excuse not to be able to q

and when Merlin accept that as an excuse

It’s not really

Someone who suggests a peanut allergy means they can’t queue is cheating the system. As said it is up to Merlin to create an enforceable system.

In every situation in life there will be humans who take advantage, why should the genuine disabled suffer for the “Cee U Next TuesdayS” of the world.

Not to be over political but Merlin do what the Tory’s do, deflect the problem onto those without a voice rather than accepting their own responsibility.

 

[bluesonichd]

and the VIP pass holders have been telling Merlin for years that the RAP system does not work and what happens..
do they fix the problem,
no the take the pass from them

easier than trying to fix the system, that I dont believe can be fixed now, as some will just cry discrimination