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!

Again, that is correct but what annoys me is that their model is based on providing a crap service by default so people pay well over the odds for a 'premium' service, but in fact the premium service is only what the paying customer would be entitled to expect as standard. It isn't as if basic entry were cheap.

I don't like this model so I no longer visit theme parks, but I'm middle aged - I've been there and done all that, it's no loss to me. It's a shame that children nowadays are being priced out of what should be a healthy, active family day out.

It all adds to the 'two tier' Britain we live in. There will always be and always have been people who can afford more or better 'stuff' in their lives than others, but the gap is getting wider and wider. It leads to segments of society becoming increasingly disenfranchised, it leads to crime because people want their slice of a pie that working hard in an ordinary job just isn't going to buy them anymore.

That's why it isn't as simple as it's a business, it's fine for it to make a profit in whatever way it wants.

I'm not sure the gap is getting wider. Social media makes everyone think people are out doing stuff all the time, when really they aren't.

Families have always had choices over how to spend money. As a child I went to one theme park as a treat from my grandparents. I wasn't unusual in my friendship group. It wasn't normal to be out at paid entertainment every weekend.

We spent a lot of time entertaining ourselves.

If you want a healthy family day out go to the forest, ride bikes, go to the park. No one needs to spend £300 on it.

If ND customers vote with their feet, I'm sure merlin will change their pricing structure.

You're missing the point. Of course there are other options but if little Jimmy hears others going on about theme parks and sees adverts popping up everywhere for amazing-looking rides, and his family can never afford to go, and he's been on so many walks in the forest he's utterly bored with it, he's going to feel hard done by, and over the years, that kind of thing happening time and time again gets people down and breeds resentment.

As was ever thus. Literally wasn't an issue in the 90s, theme parks existed, I knew they did, yet we could only afford it once ever.

There are so many more activities now than ever. What happened to accepting being bored?

I agree. Theme parks are not compulsory, no-one 'needs' to go to them. They're a nice to have, if that's your bag, but we've become so brainwashed into thinking that everyone has a right to an activity that costs hundreds of pounds. We don't - and there are far better ways to spend your money and time anyway.

I agree with this. Theme parks are a huge treat imo not something you do every month or not even every year for us. I don’t feel resentful about it either.

The issue is if a huge proportion of theme park visitors are using these passes then soon enough there won’t be a benefit to it.

You're missing the point. Of course there are other options but if little Jimmy hears others going on about theme parks and sees adverts popping up everywhere for amazing-looking rides, and his family can never afford to go, and he's been on so many walks in the forest he's utterly bored with it, he's going to feel hard done by, and over the years, that kind of thing happening time and time again gets people down and breeds resentment.

But that's parenting for you. Unlike a lot of DD's friends, she didn't go abroad until she was 17 and that was on a college trip. We always went camping or Travel lodges. Kids have to learn that they can't have everything they want in life. She's only ever been to Alton Towers once with school! So shoot me.

But it all comes down to .... that's just life isn't it?
Want the premium, pay extra. It's always been this way... Forever no doubt.
People just seem to think they're all entitled to everything these days, they normalise getting everything they want,and will go into debt to have, have, have. People live their loves comparing to everyone on social media etc. seeing them taking their kids out here, there and everywhere. They then start thinking this is normal. Back in the 90s things like theme park visits were rare, maybe once every 3 years or whatever. Days out were a big deal..now people fret their kids "only" went to soft play, a café for lunch and the fairground this weekend...

Companies owe people nothing, certainly not theme parks. If people are willing to hand over £300+ for a day out for 4 people, to a theme park with peak operative efficiency of 5000 people, but accepts 10,000. Then why wouldn't they charge that much? Same for concerts and shows. People will pay £££ for some singer to sing to them in a stadium. There'll be 50,000 tickets and 800,000 people will try and get tickets.... The ones who do buy moan about it, but still hand over the money.

That's why it isn't as simple as it's a business, it's fine for it to make a profit in whatever way it wants
But it really is that simple, however little you like it.
They’re running a business purely to make a profit, not to fulfill a social need.

DS18, autistic, has bladder problems, has degenerative knee issues when standing for too long, he’s gets anxiety around people. He loves rollercoasters. The Ride access pass has been a godsend. I think people are are slightly confused about how it actually works. You don’t just hop from ride to ride and get on when you please. They put a time , which is however long the ride wait time is, on your Ride access pass and your not allowed disabled access again until that time. I agree some people are abusing the system and ruining it for others. Which means maybe they should tighten the requirements.
I can see a lot of people cancelling Merlin memberships over these because a majority that have them are disabled or SN customers. Although to actually get a rap access ticket these days is like gold dust. We tried about 20 times last year and they were all sold out. 3 times we managed.

My eldest is autistic and the ride access pass enabled her to go to theme parks. We cancelled our passes the same day it was announced (they backtracked and added the trial bit after). She won’t cope. My other child (with ADHD) doesn’t have a RAP as she can queue. They’re all different and this is pure discrimination. Something needed to change (and many sensible options have been suggested) but they chose the one to directly discriminate against ND customers and the level of hate seen as a response in the media towards ND people (and, to an extent, here) makes me realise how many people have ZERO idea of the impact these conditions can have on some peoples lives and I totally despair of society. Depressing.

It’s difficult isn’t it? Do we strive to make everything as accessible as possible for everyone even if it hugely compromises the masses?

Im autistic. Highly anxious (one psychiatrist said he had never seen anyone as bad as me, I shake in public, scratch my arms, faint, cannot tolerate sounds and temperatures. I hallucinate).

Obviously a theme park would never be an option for me. Putting my bins out is horrendous for me. I can’t go to a shop for a loaf of bread. I cannot go to the optician, drive my car, go out in the garden, visit friends or family, go for a meal or to the e on, attend a cinema or the theatre.

But that’s my issue. I don’t expect adaptations for me. Because I’m unusual. And businesses need to make money.

This sounds very difficult.

But I think you (and many others on this post) need to be directing your anger at people who have abused this…. Most of all of whom will be ND or have claimed some special access need to get it.

NT people are not the reason it was withdrawn… unless they’re all pretending…?

Where do the 'insects' go when the SEN child gets on the ride?

Also the ride is actually very noisy with kids squealing. If they can't cope with noise, how does that work?

I don’t know if there are any easy answers tbh. If there’s are too many people with entitlements meaning that the system doesn’t work as it should then it makes sense to restrict it so the people with the most profound need can still benefit. On the other hand some people will be unable to go due to the changes and that doesn’t seem fair either.

Another SEN bashing thread highlighting how much ignorance and hostility there is for SEN kids. Makes me feel depressed in all honesty as if you don't have a child with SEN you really have no idea. My son is AUDHD and he looks fine but it is completely debilitating and we do try to do normal things so we can feel like a normal family but another door has been shut. He can't queue. But I know he would love to go on some of those rides.
We couldn't even queue up to see Santa at Christmas so we haven't been since he was 3. He struggled with the noise, expectation, waiting - was poorly organised so some people were spending a long time taking a million pictures with Santa. In the end we gave up and left.
It's a huge step back in an already hostile and isolating world for SEN kids. You only have to look at that poor family in Australia who ended up committing suicide because they had their funding removed and lacked the support they needed. If only people could show some empathy and kindness to others but that's sadly not the world we are living in these days.

I understand your son has challenges. I can't help but wonder what his life would look like if he was born over 30 years ago. When you were a child how did similar children cope? What happen when they reached adulthood?

that is rubbish - they are just sharing information

Yes unfortunately it is just so selective isn't it, the boring part that we all hate causes such distress yet the exciting part that you'd think would be overwhelming, overstimulating and terrify people doesn't.

I wonder if those who have used the system for disabled people who aren't in wheelchairs or have complicated problems reread this and see how it looks to everyone?

Similar in this household. I have adhd but and dc auAdhd. But we can manage queuing. It is harsh because some people with he same diagnosis would struggle.

Sadly people take the piss.

He would.likely be like my friend's brother. Terribly bullied by pupils and teachers.
Now lives as a recluse in a council flat. Never going out.

This is what my childs life would have looked like if he'd been born in that time, and it's also the reason you didn't see autistic children when you were a child.

There are degrees. All the queue jumpers are not experiencing the same symptoms as above. If they were there is no way they could go on a ride. They would be a danger risk.

You aren’t able to see those are not the same experience? If I throw a bucket of ice water on you, or you choose to go swimming in the pool, you are getting wet either way - do you find it the same sensory experience?