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!

A ticket system with a 5 minute window, no exceptions. If you miss your slot, you go and book a new slot. A bit like meat and deli counters back in the day

Of course you bloody can, people are doing it every single day in this country, online meeting with a nurse assistant, complete paperwork for a quiet life, diagnosis signed off by a multi disciplinary team for ££££ people aren’t paying for a no diagnosis found are they? It’s a sham and hats off to merlin for facing the selfish fuckers head on

If you are cognitively in line with your peers you can wait with everyone else, get the message!

@shade78 the cognition really isn’t relevant. Many autistic kids are really able but severely impaired. We have two special schools in our county specifically for able autistic kids who melt down daily often multiple times and require really small classes because of having to leave mainstream settings.

And if you aren't in a wheelchair but can't stand for long periods in line because of disability, or say because you're recovering from cancer or something? Or if you are in a wheelchair but the queues have steps, or are narrow? Tough luck?

I agree with the decision - but perhaps an alternative would be to have SEN days that are off-season where they only sell 1/3 of the tickets and there is some sort of ride-rotation so the queues go down in a faster and more predictable way (and if everyone is in the same boat then you can make a rule where you stand 2m apart to help with anyone who needs to move around more or doesn't like crowds?). With the ride rotation, you go around in set small groups and move from one ride to the next in a set pattern, but also people have a chance to go on say three times before they move to the next ride?

They do nudist days (or used to) so I'm sure this is feasible..?

With this as well, if you're allocated your group's shifts in advance, then you can prep beforehand knowing exactly what times and when you arrive and leave each ride.

People absolutely can! My nephew has paid for this-he’s no more neurodivergent than I am! Just answered a few questions from a private doctor, paid his fee and Bob’s your uncle.

Well I mean there was that Panorama documentary…

I have 3 ND children and I am lucky enough that we can usually do queues, and if we can’t, we don’t go on them. Maybe they could do days suited to people who may struggle usually?

So physical disability means nothing then ? Stupid, ignorant post

Lots of people commenting here who doesn’t have faintest clue, but think they do.

My child wouldn’t go on a scary rollercoaster in a million years - she is nearly a teenager but loves CBeebies and Peppa Pig so those are the queues that we would be in. And she cannot do queues. She adores theme parks but equally finds the whole experience quite overwhelming. But she manages, because she loves them. However queuing is a step too far for her. All those people in close proximity, the inability to move about. She will literally lie down in the queue, or get upset and have to leave the queue (try squeezing past the queue to get back out with a deeply upset child) or lash out at me, which upsets her further as she doesn’t mean to hurt, or impulsively shout at small children in the queue and scare the daylights out of them.

She mentions going to theme parks at least once a week and loves the anticipation of eventually going once or twice a year. But we just won’t be able to go to the Merlin parks.

It makes me so sad for her.

in the old system we’d still have to wait an allocated amount of time, just not in the actual queue. It worked for us.

That is obviously physical need! Not an excuse to avoid winding your neck in and putting up with inconveniences like queuing as you have a fake bullshit bought pass £££ and not a single thought to all the fed up bothered kids who also don’t like queuing either, selfish behaviour, I know dozen’s trying it on

It's OK, it was already obvious you've got no clue what you're talking about.

I'd give anything for my child not to enjoy the 'benefits' you seem to think her 'condition' gives her, for no other reason than to allow her a life that's not affected by the ignorance of people like you.

perhaps teach your child to wait their turn/listen/concentrate/focus before getting a shitty private diagnosis no one takes seriously, like I say the last case I saw was a proper charmer, tried coercive control on at least 4 of his female classmates, school were too frightened of mum to stand up for the girls, he physically attacked them, school couldn’t get him off you tube, had to carry you tube around or he’d kick off, he was getting his ride access pass, calmly standing on tables kicking pencil pots off, whole class had to be moved, after some time now everyone is sick of his shitty behaviour and he’s got no friends, no sympathy whatsoever

Just wondering how you do this as a parent, one of your children has anxiety but your other children are absolutely fine and so is the little cousin you invited for the day.

Why didn't we all think of that?. Telling our ND child to listen/concentrate/focus. Wow I think you've actually found a cure for autism and ADHD. I think you might even win a Nobel prize for this. Absolutely groundbreaking

The report says it’s a trial in February half term and will be reviewed. Hopefully experience and feedback will help shape a more acceptable system.
Parents are saying their ND children can’t queue, but the report says others have complained that the current system, which was designed to help them, is no longer fit for purpose. It does look like something needs to be done.
I am not sure how everyone’s needs can be accommodated when Theme Parks seem synonymous with queuing.
I do sympathise with anyone who feels they can no longer enjoy something which previously brought them happiness.
I had to give up going to Disneyland Paris as I could not physically stand in 2+ hours queues, and the Fast Passes were expensive and all booked up early in the day for popular rides.

In the years before I had children, one of whom is autistic, I can honestly say I never looked at the children in the disabled queue and thought how dare they push in. I always thought thank god I don’t need to stand in that queue. Now I do need to stand in that queue and honestly cannot believe how many people begrudge that. How many ignorant people there are really does show on this post, so much so it has made me cry reading some of the nasty uninformed comments. Let’s hope none of the posters find themselves in a position with children or grandchildren who have special needs.

Totally agree. Never skipped the queue in my life but my children can’t wait. We would just end up going home and not ever enjoying anything. They both have Autism and ADHD. Crowds and queues are a nightmare for us and don’t see why we should spend our lives at home because some people simply just don’t get it.

Those with autism aren’t being excluded?

Just seems a little nasty to me
I guess it’s the privilege of not knowing what a child with send can and not cope with
count your blessings that you think having anxiety for queuing means therefore they can’t be genuine or wouldn’t be able to enjoy a full throttle roller coaster

@Lollipop81 exactly this

None of them would have the balls to say it to your face. 💐