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Ride Access Pass Systems and Disabled Access (pre 2024)

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Skyscraper

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Nemesis
Ok, so we don't keep spamming the 2018 general Discussion thread I thought I would open a topic for this.

(could the mods please move this into the Rest of the World forum? Posted it here by mistake)
 
Usually they won't issue raps if documentation is not presented.

A guy got banned a few years ago for abusing the system- the park only found out when he bragged about it on social media.

That was the guy at Thorpe right who boasted about getting it with a letter he knocked up on Word? Yeah, not doing RAP users any favours.

I'd be interested to know too if @MakoMania got a RAP reference or just got it for the day, they (all the parks) have been really strict this year, there were many people refused RAP at Chessington for not having correct docs and there is a mistake on our computer record that causes problems whenever a park accesses it and has resulted in us being refused RAP on the day several times before it normally gets sorted, so like others I am surprised they handed it out without asking for proof, that is just really poor.

RAP, when operated correctly, is a good system, contrary to popular belief it's not free fast track, not queue jumping or anything like that and can work against you sometimes, there is an aparant ill conceived attitude and assumptions made about every RAP user is fucking you over, yeah like people who drive without car insurance, some are, but not everybody is so please consider that when assuming we're all cheating.

On the other hand the system can be abused (and is and that really pisses me off whenever I see some arsehole mouthing off in a RAP queue about how many rides they've done that day) and is often not operated correctly, that is not mine or @ihaveaspergers fault is it, it's the arsehole in the queue mouthing off (which could just as easily be bullshit, but because you have a preconceived notion that it isn't you believe it without question) or the park for not training their staff correctly, I'm not usually too bothered but even I was embarrassed at the number of goes we got on the Smiler on Friday because the guy on the entrance didn't know to mark the card.
 
That was the guy at Thorpe right who boasted about getting it with a letter he knocked up on Word? Yeah, not doing RAP users any favours.

I'd be interested to know too if @MakoMania got a RAP reference or just got it for the day, they (all the parks) have been really strict this year, there were many people refused RAP at Chessington for not having correct docs and there is a mistake on our computer record that causes problems whenever a park accesses it and has resulted in us being refused RAP on the day several times before it normally gets sorted, so like others I am surprised they handed it out without asking for proof, that is just really poor.

RAP, when operated correctly, is a good system, contrary to popular belief it's not free fast track, not queue jumping or anything like that and can work against you sometimes, there is an aparant ill conceived attitude and assumptions made about every RAP user is ****ing you over, yeah like people who drive without car insurance, some are, but not everybody is so please consider that when assuming we're all cheating.

On the other hand the system can be abused (and is and that really ****es me off whenever I see some arsehole mouthing off in a RAP queue about how many rides they've done that day) and is often not operated correctly, that is not mine or @ihaveaspergers fault is it, it's the arsehole in the queue mouthing off (which could just as easily be bull****, but because you have a preconceived notion that it isn't you believe it without question) or the park for not training their staff correctly, I'm not usually too bothered but even I was embarrassed at the number of goes we got on the Smiler on Friday because the guy on the entrance didn't know to mark the card.
Last year I even had to tell them how to mark it!

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I've never had to go that far, but I have had to remind them there is someone waiting to be batched, our biggest problem is the computer records are in my wife's name, but the card my sons, so whenever we pick up RAP they sometimes question where we got our card, and Alton last year phoned Chessington to make sure we hadn't printed the card at home lol.

If I were in charge I'd make substantial changes to the system.
 
I have no insight into this, only having observed it from a distance (seemingly becoming much better known and popular over the past few years!).
  • Do Merlin use the same process at all their parks?
  • If you have access to RAP at one park, is it easier to use it at another?
  • What is the criteria for having access to RAP?
 
I have no insight into this, only having observed it from a distance (seemingly becoming much better known and popular over the past few years!).
  • Do Merlin use the same process at all their parks?
  • If you have access to RAP at one park, is it easier to use it at another?
  • What is the criteria for having access to RAP?
Alton towers,Chessington and thrope park have rap shared, Legoland Windsor is different and has to be applied for sepetatly.

For rap at AT and co you need (one of)
* Higher rate mobility pip or dla
* Blue badge
* GP letter explicitly stating the inability to queue.

All proof is supposed to be dated within last 12 months.

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....and you'd be forgiven for questioning just who the RAP user is based on some of the parents behavour sometimes.
I'm sure we have all seen parents decide that they (refering to the parents) aren't waiting for the rbo queue.

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I'm sure we have all seen parents decide that they (refering to the parents) aren't waiting for the rbo queue.

What we do if the queue is long is my son and wife stand outside and he runs around and when I get to the counter I say to the nice young person "can I collect a RAP for my son please" and point to him and hand over his card, by this time my Mrs has usually seen me at the front and bought him discreetly to the VIP counter area (at Towers) and normally they becon him over to put on the wristband and saves one hell of a lot of hassle (you also don't get anybody yelling at you either).

I see it often, parents in queue with multiple kids, one having a meltdown while being wound up by the others who are bored waiting, and often wonder why they don't come better prepared, if you're registered for RAP then you should be aware of the process and plan your day around it, it's not rocket science.

I'd even go as far as saying most RAP users are annual pass holders, so knowing the RAP queue is huge for the first few hours, why not just arrive later and avoid it? You can always come back the next day if you don't get everything done. That's what we do, I made a point on Saturday at Thorpe when Inferior broke down of saying to my son not to worry, we'll just come back later in the week and ride it, while the person next to us was kicking off about it, in reality it should have been him getting upset, but no it was some standard annual passholder parent of another RAP user mouthing off to the staff. I don't know how we've got to this point, but the sense of entitlement by some people has got beyond crazy now, and as much as I may object to the views of people like BarryZola, I can appreciate why and how they've formed them, some people do RAP users no favours at all with their behavour on park, and most of the time it's not the person with the wristband kicking or mouthing off.
 
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I'm please do see that we have a thread for the RAP so it no longer get blended in with the Fast track subjects.

I just hope that this thread is helpful to our RAP users as well as making awareness to our non disable members on what day to day difficulties that we face. I hope that this thread can have a positives input as oppose to people criticising the disable without knowing their medical history.

As a carer of my wife who is severely disable with complex and extensive care needs, being full time wheelchair user (non weight-bearing whatsoever) two of our main day to day difficulties that we face is gaining access to facilities that most people take for granted, even just the simple things of finding a disable toilet that is large enough for my wife's specialised wheelchair as well as fitting me in as a carer. Please bear the above in mind next time you go to use a disable facility that wasn't designed for you to use. Please keep them free for those that really rely on them and not for your own personal selfish gain.

The second thing that we face each day is abuse (hate crime) from other people. I will say that a majority of people are good and kind, but it only takes the one person to ruin your day. People can be really nasty at times. Even though it something that we have faced a lot over the past decade, it's still something that you don't get used to. Please be kind to those that are disable, we don't choose to have a disability and remember that not all disability are visible. Please don't poke fun at us, do not stare or invade our personal space. As a wheelchair user, people do think it's an invite to come over and commit some sort of abuse/harassment, this dose happen to us several times throughout the day on a typical day out.

If you see a wheelchair coming your way, please give us extra space to manoeuvre and please remember that we don't have brakes for stopping (there are just for parking) so don't suddenly walk in front of us or suddenly stop (unless you want us to ram into the back of you,not on purpose though), plus we don't have the means to shuffle sideways. So please be considerate and step aside to allow us through next time you see us coming your way. Especially if we are going up or down a hill, we need to keep up our momentum as well as if the ground is uneven, we may need to avoid any pot holes in the ground to prevent our wheelchair from tipping over. Also try not block any pathways/drop kerbs, ramps or any other facilities that may be used by a wheelchair user.

I would like to hear from other disable people on here to learn how you deal with certain difficult situation, especially on the receiving end of abuse or when people don't give you space or feel that they have the right to touch you without your consent. It would be great to hear how you deal with other people and lack of accessibility, even if it via PM, (however I'm not interested in what is wrong with your or what meds you are on as this is private business between you and your Dr.s)

Roy :)
 
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I'm please do see that we have a thread for the RAP so it no longer get blended in with the Fast track subjects.

I just hope that this thread is helpful to our RAP users as well as making awareness to our non disable members on what day to day difficulties that we face. I hope that this thread can have a positives input as oppose to people criticising the disable without knowing their medical history.

As a carer of my wife who is severely disable with complex and extensive care needs, being full time wheelchair user (non weight-bearing whatsoever) two of our main day to day difficulties that we face is gaining access to facilities that most people take for granted, even just the simple things of finding a disable toilet that is large enough for my wife's specialised wheelchair as well as fitting me in as a carer. Please bear the above in mind next time you go to use a disable facility that wasn't designed for you to use. Please keep them free for those that really rely on them and not for your own personal selfish gain.

The second thing that we face each day is abuse (hate crime) from other people. I will say that a majority of people are good and kind, but it only takes the one person to ruin your day. People can be really nasty at times. Even though it something that we have faced a lot over the past decade, it's still something that you don't get used to. Please be kind to those that are disable, we don't choose to have a disability and remember that not all disability are visible. Please don't poke fun at us, do not stare or invade our personal space. As a wheelchair user, people do think it's an invite to come over and commit some sort of abuse/harassment, this dose happen to us several times throughout the day on a typical day out.

If you see a wheelchair coming your way, please give us extra space to manoeuvre and please remember that we don't have brakes for stopping (there are just for parking) so don't suddenly walk in front of us or suddenly stop (unless you want us to ram into the back of you,not on purpose though), plus we don't have the means to shuffle sideways. So please be considerate and step aside to allow us through next time you see us coming your way. Especially if we are going up or down a hill, we need to keep up our momentum as well as if the ground is uneven, we may need to avoid any pot holes in the ground to prevent our wheelchair from tipping over. Also try not block any pathways/drop kerbs, ramps or any other facilities that may be used by a wheelchair user.

I would like to hear from other disable people on here to learn how you deal with certain difficult situation, especially on the receiving end of abuse or when people don't give you space or feel that they have the right to touch you without your consent. It would be great to hear how you deal with other people and lack of accessibility, even if it via PM, (however I'm not interested in what is wrong with your or what meds you are on as this is private business between you and your Dr.s)

Roy :)
It's so sad to hear that even today you both face abuse. It's not acceptable. Hopefully people are becoming more aware (and more tolerant) of disability. I work in a restaurant and we get a lot of disabled customers, I'd like to think I treat all my customers with dignity - so the same as anybody else but if I think I can help I will ask.

I am partially sighted and have aspergers. Luckily this doesn't affect me too much. Just means I can't drive, and have to sit at the front at uni. Also I have trouble recognising other people.I haven't received abuse, just sometimes signs are needlessly small. Any restaurant with the menu on the wall, I'll ask the waiter to read it all out.

I don't use a RAP, queues don't bother me too much. If anyone reading this thinks they need one though, get one. Take everything you can get if it helps you enjoy your day. If anyone confronted me about it, I'd ask them if they'd like to take my disability for the rest of their life, just to wait in a shorter line!
 
Genuine query/question now, not meant to offend. Over the past year or two I've noticed RAP's queues getting longer and longer - why is this? Is it because more genuine people are becoming aware of such service, or is it because more people are abusing the system to get access to a RAP? What did people do before such services were mainstream? Did people just put up with queuing or did they just not go Theme Parks?

I do mean my question with respect, please don't take it as if I'm being Devil's advocate because I don't want it to come across like that.
 
Genuine query/question now, not meant to offend. Over the past year or two I've noticed RAP's queues getting longer and longer - why is this? Is it because more genuine people are becoming aware of such service, or is it because more people are abusing the system to get access to a RAP? What did people do before such services were mainstream? Did people just put up with queuing or did they just not go Theme Parks?

I do mean my question with respect, please don't take it as if I'm being Devil's advocate because I don't want it to come across like that.
Honestly as a rap user id say a fair bit the latter

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My wife gave that exact answer (well a bit more detailed and to the point) to some moron the other week, you've never seen a queue go silent so fast.
That's great to hear, hopefully she gave them something to think about!
Honestly as a rap user id say a fair bit the latter

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I wonder how lenient they are handing them out? My eyesight means I'm eligible for a disabled badge (even though I don't drive), is that enough to get a RAP? Even though being partially sighted doesn't affect my ability to queue. Or if I told them I was autistic, but again while slow moving queues are frustrating I have no problem holding myself together. Maybe now more people are aware of the RAP so more applied for it?

I haven't been to Towers since 2014, and only saw a few people using the pass back then.
 
That's great to hear, hopefully she gave them something to think about!

I wonder how lenient they are handing them out? My eyesight means I'm eligible for a disabled badge (even though I don't drive), is that enough to get a RAP? Even though being partially sighted doesn't affect my ability to queue. Or if I told them I was autistic, but again while slow moving queues are frustrating I have no problem holding myself together. Maybe now more people are aware of the RAP so more applied for it?

I haven't been to Towers since 2014, and only saw a few people using the pass back then.
A blue badge is eligible by itself.

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