AIBU to think Merlin Ride Access passes are unfairly judged?

DD wouldn't go to a theme park if you paid her! She hates crowds, has POTS, anxiety, and other issues. So she actively avoids any situation likely to cause issues. She is not disabled, just a bit challenged. I think too many people DO milk the systems in place for access things put in place for genuinely physically disabled.

She did try the sunflower badge for airports and undergrounds, but gave up, as noone gives a shit anyway. C'est la vie. You have to learn to get on with it, she has to commute, so it is, what it is.

It is enough. I know people who have done it specially for theme parks!

It's not hard to know what to say to get a diagnosis of anxiety.

💕some people are just nasty.

your DS shouldn't have to wait 1.5x the length of the main queue xx

Absolutely- any diagnosis from a dr will be genuine. You just pay to get it sooner.

To be honest I think this is the answer and we have a RAP

It definitely benefits those with conditions like ADHD more not to have to stand in a physical queue, as they basically can’t do this. But kids with this condition are massively drawn to places with rides as they have this dopamide deficiency which means they really crave this kind of excitement.

However it would shut up the moaners and make the whole experience better for everyone if they just rolled it out universally- I can’t see why this wouldn’t be possible.

They don’t do it because they make money from fast passes of course

You're right in that you have no idea.

Private doctors cannot tell blatant lies no matter how much they charge for a letter.

Oh look, it's @Sirzy with a balanced view. 🤗💕

I think that’s part of the issue.

I really struggle with being in crowds and it triggers a lot of panic for me and it’s not nice. But I would never dream of applying for a RAP.

For DS he can’t cope with crowds at all and it would lead to self harm and massive meltdowns. As much as I know he would love the rides even with the RAP as it is it would be pointless for him.

i don’t know what the answers are but a lot of people who really need it are exculded by the system as it is

Behave. I am allowed to comment on the shitty system without you taking it as a personal attack, which it obviously wasn't.

Yeah. This..why can't you log into a ride, it tells you the length of time then it either issues you a time slot, and/or texts you X minutes before your slot so you can go queue. If you're not there in time then you get bumped back to the end. Or you have to re-log into that ride.

@TeenagersAngstthey just need to let fewer people into parks so they are not so ridiculously crowded.

👏 As someone who attended Legoland Windsor yesterday (hottest April day for 80 years) I absolutely couldn’t agree more! It was totally outrageous and extremely stressful (tho I suspect I’m autistic).

Bigger picture tho: in November 2019, a consortium comprising Blackstone, KIRKBI (the Lego family's investment vehicle), and CPP Investments acquired Merlin Entertainments. I suppose, by this stage, we should be accustomed to private equity firms exploiting us all (see also veterinary practices and the parlous state of the UK’s water industry). #latestagecapitalism, amirite?

I have no idea, I haven't tried but I was looking into it when I needed a letter for my son and his GP was being slow. Fortunately, I got one off his GP in the end but I was considering just paying online. They do talk to you for a few minutes I think. My children all have diagnoses so it's not been an issue for me but as I said, I taught them to queue and to cope with life as best they can. Sometimes you just have to get on with things and you are doing them a disservice not teaching coping mechanisms and patience.

If you say you have trouble with crowds then what test can they do? They will just report it in the letter. Tbh, it will probably say 'patient reports...' but that would probably be enough.

But surely they're not going to put in the letter that you have a diagnosis, when you don't actually have one?

You can pay online for a GP letter. £50

Going to the bathroom (yet again, before I pee my pants), eating very boring, required food & taking medication, sitting down (before I fall down) ....

Yeah fucking fantastic, I'd happily swap any 'advantage/discount' or fast pass for my life prior becoming disabled & being able to stand in a queue.

There are 4 "needs" for the RAP.

• Difficulty Standing
• Level Access
• Urgent Toilet Needs
• Difficulty with Crowds

The last one is the issue. It is the vast majority of RAP holders who have this down as their reason for needing one which is why they tried to remove it to make the lines shorter for those with physical disabilities (I'm not condoning this by the way).

If you're willing to pay a private nurse or GP to write you a letter saying you have ADHD or anxiety, that's all you need. It's not exactly a thorough PiP assessment.

My ds is a wheelchair user. He has no issue suing apart from the fact their own design makes it impossible for him to access the ride via the main queue.

So he gets a RAP. He waits as long as it takes at the 1 lift per ride. Then has to wait as long as the queue line until he can access the next ride. So often waits 1.5 hours between rides instead of the 1hr the people in the main queue - he cannot access through the parks design - wait.

But your answer is he shouldn’t go if he can’t queue.

should he also not leave the house because he needs a ramp to get onto the train? Or the bus step lowered so he can wheel on? Because this all takes longer than those who can walk and also means they have to wait.

These ablist attitudes stink.

There are too many people getting the passes. I say that as a parent of three disabled boys. We used to go to smaller parks on quiet days and just taught them to queue like everyone else. You are not always helping them by teaching them they don't need to even try.

The passes are easy to get. I had evidence and all that but tbh, they could wait. Sometimes, we would go to places with a charity and they would get us passes for the whole bus, whether we needed them or not.

You'll get some kid like my youngest who is diagnosed autistic but pretty much as functional as anyone getting a pass and then taking their whole family and friends through to the ride with them. It's not really fair is it?

I think it does need a complete overhaul.

Yanbu op, but your post will bring out all the usual ableist nonsense. See also: you're getting a diagnosis so you can claim DLA.

I say this as a parent to an adhd teenager who gets bored queueing like everyone but doesn't need a RAP and hasn't got one - his main symptom is inattentiveness and disorganisation rather than hyperactivity. I also have an autistic dd who probably would benefit from a RAP, but I can't be bothered with the disapproving looks so just won't take her.

The RAP provides equity for those who are otherwise disadvantaged and excluded. I'm fine with that.

I think that the bar is set way too low, and unless you have RAP, it's a terrible day out. I can totally understand people being annoyed at the two tier system. The two experiences are like chalk and cheese.