Alton Towers to remove disability pass for people with ADHD and anxiety

[AnitaRita]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gwgj4xreo
Too many people wanting to join the "Fast pass queue" so you actually end up with two queues rather than one queue and a fast entry! Got to agree with them - if you're too anxious to queue then a white knuckle ride is probably not for you!

Totally agree. Happy to ride the giant rollercoasters but too anxious to stand in a queue. Wtf?

I think this falls in the bucket “you can’t please all of the people all of the time”

Obviously it makes sense. So someone can be too anxious and uncomfortable to wait in a queue, but is fine being hurtled through the air upside down? Nonsense.

queuing and being on a ride are totally different things.
It honestly sounds like you think anyone with "genuine anxiety" should not leave the house.

Why can’t everyone just have a virtual queuing system?

But as I was told not so long ago, it's easy for people in wheelchairs to queue. After all they are sitting down already.

I thought they did this anyway? I know some rides did when I last went to Alton Towers.

That is different. Wheelchair users may need special attachments or support to access the ride.

I agree with it.

Can’t say I disagree.

So many people have anxiety these days that it’s just not feasible to make these exceptions for them or everybody will be in that queue.

of course a child with adhd and/or autism might be able to enjoy a rollercoaster but not able to stand in a queue for hours. Not to mention that it wasn't a queue jump but rather a virtual queueing system, so they were never skipping the queue in the first place. Just being able to wait somewhere else.
my 12 year old loves rollercoasters but no way he'd be able to stand in a queue for hours, he's doesn't understand waiting and he would get overwhelmed and have a meltdown and we would have to leave.

This seems like common sense, especially given that at the end of the queue you'll be hurtling along upside down and dropping many feet while belted into in a contraption with the same people you were too anxious to stand in a queue with - and with no means of escape if your anxiety becomes too much 🤷‍♀️

Agree!

My son is autistic and with some preparation he is able to join the main queue (I realise how fortunate I am in this). I think too many parents see disability passes as a 'perk' of having a child with SEND and will apply whether their children need it or not without realising they are making the queue longer for people who genuinely cannot queue. People should have only applied for help if they really needed it because now far too many people have applied which means the system doesn't work as it should.

I think this is one of those things where to many people have claimed it because it makes things a bit easier rather than because of an actual need. Having anything blanket on the diagnosis is open to being abused.

its over 10 years since I have taken DS to Lego land and even then the RAP queue was long and meant he didn’t actually benefit from it in the way he needed so we had to leave.

I don’t know what the answer is but I do agree with them trying to restrict it more to ensure those who need it do get the benefit

I’ve not been fur a few years but last time we went the virtual queues seemed to be for people that had paid extra for a fast pass.

our dc were pretty good at queueing but that part was tricky - they’d seen that the ride fitted, say 20 people on and there were 30 people ahead of us, so we ought to be on the second next ride. Then right at the end of the queue a load of virtual queuers were slotted onto each ride making our wait longer (think we were on the 4th one). It was frustrating and the only explanation I could give them was that these people had paid more than us. Some might have had additional needs I guess. I’ll never know for certain

My child also has AUdhd and we join the regular queue as DS is fine with queueing (as much as any 7yo is!) He would qualify for the fast queue but I dont use it so it stays available for those that do. It's a shame it's being revoked.

Just a quick piece of education for those above, the anxiety of the queue is the people, the uncertainty of how long it will be etc, rollercoasters are actually great for many ND kids as they get a lot of sensory feedback from the big drops. My child loves them although sadly it makes me want to throw up 🤣🤣

We know they’re different things 😂
One is objectively more anxiety inducing than the other.
Guess which one? Hint, it’s not standing in the queue waiting to go on the giant rollercoaster.

Maybe they could not overfill theme parks so that people aren't paying £100 odd to stand in a queue for most of the day.
maybe they could stop selling fast passes and virtual queueing systems which mean that disabled visitors have to wait longer because people can pay to have the same accommodations.
maybe they just want to sell more fast passes and make money off people who now otherwise won't be able to go...

It sounds reasonable.

Fast passes are limited anyway. They can and do sell out.
I have always used them as I find it madness to stand in a queue for up to 4 hours for something that lasts about 45 seconds.

Does it? Because now autistic people with complex and profound learning difficulties don't qualify for a ride access pass.. does that seem right to you?

Tell me you have no understanding of neurodiversity without saying you have no understanding of neurodiversity ...

Anxiety does not mean someone is anxious about everything.
Some has already explained the difference between queuing and going on a ride already.

Sigh. The privilege of those who don't understand anxiety or neurodiversity.

I agree it shouldn't be abused, but it's a shame to take this away from those who really need it