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Original poster

Legoland ride access pass

18 replies

Cffee · 06/08/2022 20:56

Has anyone used this recently and how does it work?
I registered with merlin a while ago and sent of DLA letter etc and added it to my ticket order today, but i didn't get an email confirmation if my ticket order so all I could do was screenshot the day tickets.
I had an email about reserve and ride which I guess is what you use for the virtual queue but so we need to go to guest services to get an ID card? Or is that not necessary any more. It made me upload a photo DS when I bought the tickets. I'm so confused!

OP posts:
user1468105798 · 09/08/2022 15:20

Funnily enough I've just been through this rigmarole for my grandsons pass and although we gave 7 days notice the ride access pass didn't get a email response in time for our day out. The staff onsite cannot actually issue the pass if you haven't recieved the code to do the photo bit online so we had to postpone for a week and they changed date on our tickets. Going this Friday instead of last Friday and yes we still have to go to the information desk when we arrive. It does last until end of 2023 season I believe

BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 15:24

When you go on a ride you then get "timed out" for the time the queue would have been. So if the queue is 2hours, you can go on the ride, but then can't access another ride for 2 hours.

In the middle of August I would still think twice about going due to only going on a few rides and lots of hanging around (unless yours are okay with that/mini land/play area etc)

You'll need to get go to customer services to get the reserve and ride activated on your phone. We used to arrive way before opening as queuing for this would be difficult for us. Take a spare phone battery charger thing!

juniorcakeoff · 09/08/2022 15:24

Yeah you do have to go to the desk to collect your pass. Get there early (gates open at 930), when we went there was a massive queue to pick up passes! Once that was done the whole thing was brilliant, no real wait for any ride, but that first queue was a pain.

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BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 15:27

Although you may not need to wait for the ride you are then timed out for the ride queue length which is easily over an hour in summer. You can look on the app (say download it now and look for current times).

Also some rides mege the access so you can end up waiting 20mins or so which was tricky for us (qnd then timed out after!)

We loved legoland but cant really manage summer times unless going knowing pnly doing a few rides.

BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 15:30

Or this link means you dont have to download the app queue-times.com/parks/27/queue_times

Its not that bad actually (3.30pm) - the big rides are are 45mins to 75 but the smaller ones are shorter.

Lindy2 · 09/08/2022 16:01

I read recently that you need to apply for an Access Card that costs £15 to get the disability passes at Merlin locations now.

I've looked at the Access Card site but frankly it all seems a bit woolly in terms of how your needs are accessed and it strikes me as a money making operation rather than being there to help people with disabilities. I haven't applied yet as I'm uncertain about revealing such personal details about DD's condition to a business when obviously I've already given all that information to receive DLA.

Does anyone have any experience of Access Card? Merlin seems to be their main big client.

juniorcakeoff · 09/08/2022 16:46

We didn't need to have access pass, went at the start of the holidays, only proof we used was blue badge. Otherwise ask your community nurse or similar to write a letter specifically explaining why you can't queue. We honestly hardly waited for anything, for the popular rides just book yourself in the queue while you are doing something else e.g miniland, water splash bit, on the playground bit. Some really good rides have no queue e.g submarine.

BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 17:32

Access card has been fantastic here. Because they look at the dla/docomunets it means you get a card you can show places wothout having to take the original documents. We've used it at lots of places and feels easier than having to show real diagnosis/dla documents with identifying data on. A one and done type thing.

We've used it for Blackpool pleasure beach and theatres recently for free companion tickets and will be using it for disney land paris. Its much nicer just showing a card than having to show medical letters.

BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 17:34

We had merlin passes for 2 years which were fantastic - would have continued too if prices hadn't gone up. However we did So Much Merlin in those 2 years 😁

LargeLegoHaul · 09/08/2022 17:42

Lindy2 · 09/08/2022 16:01

I read recently that you need to apply for an Access Card that costs £15 to get the disability passes at Merlin locations now.

I've looked at the Access Card site but frankly it all seems a bit woolly in terms of how your needs are accessed and it strikes me as a money making operation rather than being there to help people with disabilities. I haven't applied yet as I'm uncertain about revealing such personal details about DD's condition to a business when obviously I've already given all that information to receive DLA.

Does anyone have any experience of Access Card? Merlin seems to be their main big client.

An access card isn’t the only way of qualifying for a ride access pass at Merlin. High rate mobility or high rate care DLA, enhanced daily living or enhanced mobility PIP or a blue badge are the other ways.

LargeLegoHaul · 09/08/2022 17:43

juniorcakeoff · 09/08/2022 16:46

We didn't need to have access pass, went at the start of the holidays, only proof we used was blue badge. Otherwise ask your community nurse or similar to write a letter specifically explaining why you can't queue. We honestly hardly waited for anything, for the popular rides just book yourself in the queue while you are doing something else e.g miniland, water splash bit, on the playground bit. Some really good rides have no queue e.g submarine.

A letter alone isn’t enough now for Merlin.

iRun2eatCake · 09/08/2022 17:51

DS ride access pass expires this year but due to Merlin changing the qualifying conditions my son wouldn't be able to get another pass. He gets PIP but at the lower rate.

Only way l could get another one is to apply for the Access Card and pay £15. He was approved.

As his current Ride Access Card is valid when we go, we can log into the app and start booking on the rides once we get there

Lindy2 · 09/08/2022 17:51

LargeLegoHaul · 09/08/2022 17:42

An access card isn’t the only way of qualifying for a ride access pass at Merlin. High rate mobility or high rate care DLA, enhanced daily living or enhanced mobility PIP or a blue badge are the other ways.

Show quote history

DD receives middle rate care and low rate mobility so I think an Access card would be needed for us.

Her medical appointments seem to have ground to a complete halt since Covid. I'm assuming as her condition is fairly well managed and there's nothing more they can do, other more urgent cases are being seen rather than us. Because of that though a medical letter probably would be quite a hassle to get.

Lindy2 · 09/08/2022 17:53

BugsInTheBed · 09/08/2022 17:32

Access card has been fantastic here. Because they look at the dla/docomunets it means you get a card you can show places wothout having to take the original documents. We've used it at lots of places and feels easier than having to show real diagnosis/dla documents with identifying data on. A one and done type thing.

We've used it for Blackpool pleasure beach and theatres recently for free companion tickets and will be using it for disney land paris. Its much nicer just showing a card than having to show medical letters.

That's good to know. I think I feel a little more confident making an application now.

I'm currently carrying around a plastic wallet of papers so I can see a card would be easier.

iRun2eatCake · 10/08/2022 11:02

I went through each section on the Access Card application form and used examples from my DS reports. Eg "xxx is unable to stand in a queue for a length of time due to his low muscle tone ...as is documented in his OT report on page 5.

I then said I'd email the reports over separately, but they weren't asked for

Original poster
Cffee · 11/08/2022 02:24

They were able to print him off the card at the help desk when we got there and then we just used the reserve and ride website.
it went really well and was the first time we've managed a theme park without anyone crying! Managed to fit lots of rides in, and could take ds to the play areas or for food etc whilst waiting between rides.

OP posts:
BugsInTheBed · 11/08/2022 09:25

Yay! So glad you had a good day. Its a real game changer when you have kids with SEN issues isn't it?

juniorcakeoff · 11/08/2022 15:17

Fantastic news OP

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