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Original poster

Parents using their children’s disabilities to skip the queues at Disneyland

206 replies

satsumaqueen · 04/02/2025 09:14

I know the title will probably infuriate some people, and I just want to say from the outset that I am not writing this thread to cause offence. I’m writing because I don’t have much experience with having children that have disabilities such as Autism and ADHD and I am genuinely curious and want to understand more.

I’ve been planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and have joined some groups on social media to get some tips etc. I’ve been really surprised at the amount of posts asking how to get a special pass from Disney so their children can skip the lines on all the rides.

I know there are some conditions which very obviously make it physically impossible to stand for a hour, however a lot of these posts are from parents whose children have ADHD or Autism. I also know there are varying levels of autism (my cousin is severely autistic), and I know there are numerous things that people with autism have to deal with like sensory overload etc, but there are also many forms of autism where people can function like every other person, and would have no issue in standing in a queue with everyone else.

ADHD I really have no experience with so can’t comment on it, but isn’t our job as parents to teach our children how to cope in society? Things like queues are part of every day life. Why does having ADHD excuse you from waiting like everyone else?

I know there will be many genuine requests for those passes, but I also feel because of the sheer volume of them, that a lot are trying to claim them because the parents can’t be bothered to wait in line and are using their child as a free way to skip the queues? This then impacts everyone else’s experience who then have to wait even longer in queues to accommodate all of the people skipping.

Shouldn't these passes be reserved for the people who really do need them?

I have young children, so believe me when I say I know what it’s like to stand in line for long periods of time with children who find it difficult to stand still/stand for long periods of time. I’m just struggling to understand why parents with toddlers have any less of a difficult time in the queues than those with children who have ADHD as a example, but they are expected to stand in line for a hour with no option to skip. - I will just add I’m not expecting parents with young children to skip the queue, I just don’t understand why a child with ADHD or mild autism (sorry if this is the incorrect terminology) couldn’t wait in the same queue as everyone else?

OP posts:
Original poster
satsumaqueen · 04/02/2025 09:42

Octopies · 04/02/2025 09:24

In reality are that many people using the pass? It's been many years since I went to Disney, but I don't remember noticing people skipping the queues. Perhaps some parents will get the pass but see how their child copes with the queues on the day rather than rushing to use it.

I have no idea how many are used, I just noticed that there seemed to be hundreds of people enquiring about one on this particular group so I would imagine across everyone visiting somewhere like Disney and all the different countries that people come from, there could be thousands being used each day.

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 04/02/2025 09:41

TickingAlongNicely · 04/02/2025 09:34

I thought those passes gave a time to go back to the ride? So if the queue is 1hr long, they go to the exit 1hr later?

I think they have changed to this certainly in some of the parks.

I know they are being more restrictive with passes and looking for specific information on the challenges of queueing rather than just a diagnosis of a condition.

BruisedNeckMeat · 04/02/2025 09:40

stayathomer · 04/02/2025 09:32

Honest honest question why does it matter to you? I’ve seen children waiting in queues for an hour and a half (as in we were behind/ in front of them), and my god I really wished an employee had come over and said they’d fast track them through, I’d guess the parents didn’t think they were severe enough/ maybe wanted them to live everyone else’s experiences, but I could only guess the kids snf parents would have been EXHAUSTED by the end of the day (from someone who found it tough enough with a mixture of happy and moaning children 😅)

Mostly people complain about this because it makes the standby line go much slower. They make similar complaints about people being able to pay for fast track entry to rides.

I’m not supporting this view, just answering your question.

I know Disney in Orlando have clamped down tightly on DAS due to apparent abuse of the system. This means people who really do need it are now being denied passes.

Magnastorm · 04/02/2025 09:39

Firstly, you can't just get the cards on a whim. You have to present evidence that you are entitled to them.

Secondly, they don't allow people to just skip to the head of the queue. You still have to wait between rides - typically once you get on a ride you have a restriction on returning for the equivalent length of the current queue. It just means you don't have to physically stand in the q.

ItTook9Years · 04/02/2025 09:39

festivemouse · 04/02/2025 09:36

You don't get to skip the queue - you get access to the faster queue (lightening lane / fast pass lane) without having to purchase a fast pass. You will get given a return time for the ride and then access to the ride - you still wait, just not in a close quarters stressful situation with other people. So if the ride is a 60 min queue, you will get a return time in an hour, wander about for an hour then go back and use the fast pass (or equivalent) queue which is often a walk on or few minute wait. You can normally only do this for one ride at a time, so they're still holding a place in the queue - you just can't see them physically in the queue.

It's a great way to make situations accessible.

That’s not how it works at DLP.

Dasmeespresso · 04/02/2025 09:39

Very brave of you OP.

Reality is for every 9 people who genuinely need to be able to fast track queues there will be 1 who does just because they can, doesn't feel fair to revoke it though due to a small %. Lots of places seem to be moving to timed sessions etc instead of quicker queues because they have so much usage lots had to wait ages which defeated the purpose.

Philthefridge · 04/02/2025 09:38

I believe by the way that Disney has seriously restricted use of its Access card recently. I've seen quite a lot of criticism of them for it.

The Nimbus/Access card is also quite hard to get, and local parents have shared how much of a challenge it's been in terms of evidence required (and in some cases refused). So it's not remotely the case that a parent can just announce their child has ASD and is very special and needs to jump the line.

FranticFrankie · 04/02/2025 09:38

I’m sure parents of disabled children like mine would rather swap their disabilities for a longer wait in a queue
Anything that makes life easier for children with disabilities (and their parents) is very welcome

Original poster
satsumaqueen · 04/02/2025 09:38

Catza · 04/02/2025 09:21

ADHD I really have no experience with so can’t comment on it, but isn’t our job as parents to teach our children how to cope in society?

Yes, but there are limits on what can be taught. If there wasn't, we wouldn't have any autistic people. No amount of teaching will make me cope with being exposed to loud noises or crowds. I simply don't go to places where I know I won't have respite or put myself in situations where I can't limit exposure. That's me coping. Outside of that, I am a fully functional adult and don't consider myself to be disabled.
Now, I am not suggesting that every person with ADHD or autism needs a disability pass but some do. You say "Shouldn't these passes be reserved for the people who really do need them?". Yes but who is better to decide if these passes are needed if not a parent of a disabled child or a disabled person themselves? People with invisible disabilities have enough of a hard time without having to prove their need to a private individual or a business.

@Catza From what I’ve seen on the posts, Disney do have a criteria where you have to prove something before you get one. What I mean is as you have eluded too in your reply is two people with autism will have very different issues affecting them, just the same as two people with ADHD will also be impacted differently. Having ADHD or autism, doesn’t automatically mean you can’t queue up and wait like everyone else so why would you need a pass to skip the line?

OP posts:
Ghosttofu99 · 04/02/2025 09:38

mummyofhyperDD · 04/02/2025 09:19

I used to feel like you - My DD is autistic and has ADHD - high functioning though. Having discussed this with several of the professionals involved with DD they have unanimously recommended we make use of the ability to skip the queues to prevent sensory overload and meltdowns and told me there are plenty of opportunities in everyday life for DD to learn to queue, so I'll go with the professional opinion in future and allow her to skip the queue.

This^

There is a big difference between queuing in a shop and at a theme park filled with 1000s of people.

Even if I was in a long queue in a shop and a person with a non-visible disability was there, I’d have no problem with them going ahead. It’s really not the end of the world.

Ariela · 04/02/2025 09:37

If you know your child will struggle with queues then why not go on days where it is or is forecast to chuck down with rain? Start with a local attraction and progress. Always took toddlers to Legoland on wet days out of season especially till they grasped the idea of queuing.

festivemouse · 04/02/2025 09:36

You don't get to skip the queue - you get access to the faster queue (lightening lane / fast pass lane) without having to purchase a fast pass. You will get given a return time for the ride and then access to the ride - you still wait, just not in a close quarters stressful situation with other people. So if the ride is a 60 min queue, you will get a return time in an hour, wander about for an hour then go back and use the fast pass (or equivalent) queue which is often a walk on or few minute wait. You can normally only do this for one ride at a time, so they're still holding a place in the queue - you just can't see them physically in the queue.

It's a great way to make situations accessible.

FoxtonFoxton · 04/02/2025 09:36

Disney have recently changed the eligibility for DAS so it isn't as easy to get anymore. This was caused by abuse of the system. DS actually would be eligible for DAS on paper, but is capable of queuing, so we don't use it.

YoungGunsHavingSomeFunCrazyLadiesKeepEmOnTheRun · 04/02/2025 09:35

satsumaqueen · 04/02/2025 09:28

Its on!! Fully aware some people will go mad, but it’s a genuine question that I would like to understand more on, so i’m only going to reply to people who actually want to have a civilised conversation about it and have read my post, not those that saw the title and resorted to insults. My cousin is the same as your child.

Your nieces situation is what I’m referring to. I used ADHD and autism as a example as that’s what most of the comments and posts on the social media group were for but I just don’t understand why someone in your nieces situation would need to skip a queue.

Show quote history

That's not really what you asked though.

You said that the parents should be teaching their disabled children how to cope in society.

Clearly you don't realise that things like this mean our children are able to do things they never could before.

These are reasonable adjustments for disabilities, so we are teaching our children to cope with reasonable adjustments they need.

It's society that needs to catch up so everywhere has reasonable adjustments.

Cremeeggtime · 04/02/2025 09:35

ROFL if you think the queues will just be an hour long.

StMarie4me · 04/02/2025 09:35

Ableist and nasty.
Reported.

ItTook9Years · 04/02/2025 09:35

TickingAlongNicely · 04/02/2025 09:34

I thought those passes gave a time to go back to the ride? So if the queue is 1hr long, they go to the exit 1hr later?

No. You either go in a separate queue or join the queue part way through, depending on the ride.

stayathomer · 04/02/2025 09:35

And yes Disney is exhausting but personally even as an adult i think it is one of those mind blowing making memories places that is worth the tantrums, headwrecking moaning, exhaustion, we talk fondly about it and laugh about how it all (including the awful moments!!)

ItTook9Years · 04/02/2025 09:34

satsumaqueen · 04/02/2025 09:32

@mummyofhyperDD using Disney as a example is it just the queuing that creates the sensory overload? Or it is Disney in general? From my perspective with having no experience of it, to me the whole idea of taking a child with sensory overload to somewhere like Disney would be the worst place you could possibly go, I think most people are exhausted after a day at Disney let alone those who suffer with sensory overload.

Show quote history

It’s one of my daughter’s favourite places in the whole world. Of course, we didn’t know she was AuDHD (read up on that one - it will blow your mind) when we first went at 3. Not being clairvoyant and all.

CharlotteRumpling · 04/02/2025 09:34

This is clearly a goady thread. Let's not rise to it.

TickingAlongNicely · 04/02/2025 09:34

I thought those passes gave a time to go back to the ride? So if the queue is 1hr long, they go to the exit 1hr later?

waterrat · 04/02/2025 09:34

life is harder when your child has additional needs. sometimes these small things like a queue pass just make the day go easier and mean the trip can be managed.

Bottomofthebed · 04/02/2025 09:33

If you are genuinely interested why have you titled the thread 'parents using their DCs disability' and used inflammatory language such as expecting parents to parent their DCs out of their disability. Do you think parents of wheelchair users should have done a better job? Why do you only believe in things visible to you, do you believe the earth is flat?

Illjusthavethebreadsticks · 04/02/2025 09:33

I’m writing because I don’t have much experience with having children that have disabilities such as Autism and ADHD and I am genuinely curious and want to understand more.

Lucky you.

ItTook9Years · 04/02/2025 09:33

sesquipedalian · 04/02/2025 09:31

I have never been to Disneyland, and nor have any of my DC or DGC. If my child were unable to cope with the queues, might it not be better simply not to go?

Edited

You’d actively make the world smaller for them rather than level the playing field with a tiny adjustment? Wow.

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