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!

I’m a bit confused on what’s this means, I received an email from Merlin updating me but didn’t realise it was going to be that hard now. My son has an access card with the symbols on for standing and queuing and urgent toilet needs. Does anyone no if this can still be used? It’s in date until 2028. I was looking to go to chessington in April but I won’t bother if there’s no virtual Que as a normal Que won’t happen with my him.

I suspect (again I’m very cynical), that they looked at the numbers and they expect that any shortfall for this will be covered by extra fast passes being bought/overnight stays plus increased footfall from all the people going thinking queuing will be shorter due to all the “chancers” being sent away which will last quite a while. By getting rid of a lot of RAP people, it will increase capacity for more fast track tickets to be bought. There will be no significant change to queuing times for either queue. It will take years for people to notice though.

How is that disabled person supposed to make their way to the front of the massive queue quickly enough for that ?

Portals?😬

It used to be differentiated, but they no longer use Asperger’s syndrome as a diagnosis which is basically what high functioning is. There does seem to be some sort of grading though as there is such a wide spectrum

Ahh yes, maybe there could be a new symbol for this ?!

This change means my daughter will be unable to go to theme parks. She's 17, AuDHD, gets overwhelmed easily. She LOVES the rides, but the queuing is so intense she becomes overwhelmed very quickly and can't cope (especially in parks where they try and build tension in the queue by blasting music and sometimes smells etc at you). With the pass you still have to wait for however long the queue is but she could do that somewhere quiet and calm, not in a queue with music blaring at you for 45 minutes. The bit in Alton Towers by Smiler/Oblivion is SO loud, there's absolutely no way she could spend more than a few minutes there. With the pass she can do the waiting in a quiet bit away from the rides, then ride when it's her turn. I'm absolutely gutted.

If she can ride alone , Alton Towers has quite a few big rides with single rider queues. That might help.

But breaking your leg and being in plaster isn’t remotely the same as living your life as a disabled person. The point of disability concessions like this is so that disabled people aren’t left out, and efforts are made to ensure that they are included if at all possible.

There are so many send children at the moment their queue would probably be longer 🤪

Why do you think this is though ? What’s your theory on why send is on the rise ?

It's being trialled at Feb half term - she can still go at other times. It will only be implemented once they've reviewed it.

Absolutely. I worked with someone who is ND and some days had to WFH to manage their anxiety, had self-diagnosed ADHD. They were absolutely up for exploiting their pass to get to the front of the queue for theme parks, concerts, theatre.

Better understanding/diagnosis of conditions, lower infant mortality rates, better survival odds for afflicted children, not being shut away /sent away to asylums , that aunt in the countryside etc., genetics .

Isn’t it different kinds of anxiety though ? I’m quite happy to ride rollercoasters for the thrill of it, a I have no problems joining a queue. For me meeting new people/small talk/talking on the phone/talking in front of people? No thanks! That shit does make me anxious and I worry endlessly and tie myself up in knots. You need to open your mind and think why someone might be anxious and become overwhelmed and overstimulated in a loud, compact environment

I’m the opposite!! Fairground rides terrify me and I’m fine queuing. Anxiety is very interesting.

I think it’s air pollution and there’s some evidence for that. Also possibly easier to meet more similar (more ND) people through OLD and that is meaning more of a genetic load to inherit.

As to why people in wheelchairs can like rides, we have a dc in extended family who has hydrocephalus and severe epilepsy. This dc is in a special school and is non verbal and not mobile (wheelchair user). This little person loves rides and the spinning and swooping sensation just like they love lights and water. It is a sensory thing for so many children with SEND.

I absolutely do understand there are different kinds of anxiety, I have some myself.

however, this person was absolutely open about exploiting their pass.

I do think increased diagnosis is part of it though. Whether that's justified is another matter entirely. I tick most boxes for ADHD as an adult, and very much did as kid. I've largely learned to manage and whilst I'm always one step away from disaster through chaos, I manage, got a good carer, marriage, kids etc.

I have many other friends the same, it meant their were things we had to work on, but we've found our place in the world, many very successfully. Yes we are obviously on the milder end, but still the type that would be picked up today.

My eldest is very similar to me and is undergoing screening stuff. Parenting her can be tricky but she doesn't need to learn to skip queues, she needs to learn strategies.

IMO we need these passes to include those who are incapable of learning strategies to cope, but exclude the ones who can.

Believe me I know some people take the piss, somebody very close to me along with her mum has openly admitted to lying and exaggerating adhd symptoms for benefits. It really winds me up.
But there are genuine people out there who do struggle daily, snd with things like queues so my post was more to the poster who made the comment about having anxiety but still being able to ride a rollercoaster.

Rise in SEND is very well documented. Latest DfE figures show that in 2024 there were 1,673,205 pupils in school with SEND, this represents 1/5 of the school population. There are a further 400,000 awaiting diagnosis of ADHD and/or autism.

Yes, my 17 year old DS was diagnosed with Asperger’s when he was very young. The grading system doesn’t appear to be widely used in UK, certainly my DS is now referred to as “ ASD” by his Consultant.

My DBIL ( Italian) asked my twin ( they live in France) which “ Level” my DS ASD my DS is- his colleague (Dutch)had been discussing his “ Level 2 DD”… So, I don’t know whether it’s a widely used term in Italy/France/ Netherlands….🤷‍♀️, certainly the “ umbrella” of ASD is just used here in my experience (DS also has epilepsy and ADHD, and all his medical terms just use it).

Cash incentives. When this didn't exist parents muddled along and kept quiet regarding the health of their child.

they must have had confirmation though