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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use a disabled access pass at Legoland.

91 replies

MarioandLuigi · 28/04/2011 13:39

Having read a big debate on another forum where they are vilified and any able bodied (albeit still disabled) person shouldnt use them.

We are off to Legoland in July having being given tickets by a charity. We went last year and used an exit pass. My DS2 has ASD and is 4.

According to the other fourm, as long as you should stand you shouldnt have the privelage of using one, however using one last year made the day out much less stressful and we actually enjoyed a day out for once. I know they have tightened the rules on them but I dont have a problem with the new conditions.

AIBU to use the service again?

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 28/04/2011 13:41

If you are eligible to use one, then use one if it is help. Nobody elses business really and disability is not always visible.

StealthyKissBeartrayal · 28/04/2011 13:41

no yanbu

QuelleLeJeff · 28/04/2011 13:42

Don't be daft - the people pissing and moaning about someone getting on a fucking RIDE at a theme park before them because they're disabled are actual cunts.

HTH

Mumwithadragontattoo · 28/04/2011 13:42

If your daughter is entitled to use the pass then you should do so and not feel bad about it. They are there to make the lives of disabled people easier. Playing a sort of disability top trumps doesn't seem very helpful.

HarrietSchulenberg · 28/04/2011 13:43

If you are entitled to a pass then use it.

MadHairbaaadonroyalweddingDay · 28/04/2011 13:44

YANBU at all

I used one for Alton Towers recently, I have chronic lung disease and can walk (sometimes) but certainly can't stand for long, we hired a wheelchair for the day so I could keep going (no way I could without) and used the pass for getting on rides - was fine, no looks (at least non I saw) and meant I could go out for dd's birthday. Disabilities can not be visible, but sometimes prevent people from being able to do normal stuff nonetheless - it will make a day out for your family doable, and enjoyable. Hope you have a good day :)

miniwedge · 28/04/2011 13:45

Your son is disabled so why shouldn't you use the pass?

YANBU to use the service, YABU to worry about other peoples small minded opinions. Smile

Suchffun · 28/04/2011 13:45

YANBU

Use it and have a great day out! 'The other forum' view is ridiculous. I have no disability and just think myself lucky and would never begrudge someone getting on a ride sooner than me.

pozzled · 28/04/2011 13:46

I think if you are entitled to one, then why not use it? Think about how much difference it will make to your family, with your son's needs. It sounds like without the pass the day would be much more difficult, why should you have to struggle if there is no need to?

HauntedLittleLunatic · 28/04/2011 13:48

If you are eligible then use it. Not your problem. And anyone else that has a problem shoudl take it up with those that write the terms and conditions not the users (not that I am saying there is any probleme there either...just that they are directing their anger and opinions at the wrong audience).

Also agree that just because a disability isn't obvious, just because you are not wheelchair bound doesn't mean you don't need the additional benefits that a disabled access pass will bring.

silverfrog · 28/04/2011 13:48

YAdefinitelyNBU. No way.

We have Merlin annual pases, and have dd1's ASD status listed on her pass, so that we can get an exit pass whenever we visit.

It is the only way a day out can be enjoyed, tbh. We do not abuse it - if we are queuing for somehting which has a moderate, well spaced queue, and dd1 is able to manage - we giv it a try. but we have occasionally bailed and used the exit pass.

other times, we go straight for the exit/disabled entrance.

days out are supposed to be enjoyable. and it woudl not be fun for anyone if dd1 was made to queue when this is not possible for her.

we have just got back ffrom Disney Florida, and used hteir equivalent system - same deal. it was a holiday, to be enjoyed by all - including dd1.

use the service whenever you are entitled to, and need to. that is why the system exists

WhereYouLeftIt · 28/04/2011 13:49

If you are entitled to a pass, why would you not? Ignore those who think to be disabled you must be confined to a wheelchair. You said it yourself, it made a difference last year. Have a nice time.

Bonkerz · 28/04/2011 13:50

YANBU to use it. We got tickets last year for legoland for my DS and nephew who have autism. When we arrived we were in a group of 11 people and the staff gave us exit passes (STAMPS) for all the children and for 3 carers. Our day was fab and whilst we did get some comments when 3 adults and 7 children were passing through the exit a quick comment about how they were more than welcome to have DS and DN in the queue with THEM and maybe they would have more of an appreciation for autism generally shut up the judegmental idiots!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 28/04/2011 13:53

YANBU

You are entitled to it, so use it! ignore the miseries, if they don't want to queue they can pay the extra and get the q-bot thingy, that's what we did.

Hope you have a good day.

Original poster
MarioandLuigi · 28/04/2011 13:54

I think the main arguement on the other forums was that children like my DS need to learn to queue, as its an everyday thing that they will have to get used to. I can understand that view, but we go for a day out to have fun, not be stressed trying to learn lessons.

You have all made me feel a bit better :)

OP posts:
deaconblue · 28/04/2011 13:56

We have used that system at Legoland for our ds who has AS and is just 5. I think if your ds is unable to enjoy the experience without that extra help you should go for it. However, we went last week, I forgot his doctor's letter so we didn't get a pass and ds coped perfectly well with queueing etc so we won't use it again as clearly he no longer needs it.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 28/04/2011 13:57

Help to learn to queue Hmm...

straight in with a 2hr quese is really going to help Hmm

silverfrog · 28/04/2011 13:57

hmm, well, yuo could also argue that my dd1 needs ot learn to read - another essential life skill - and to be able ot talk to people too.

knowing these things are essential, and wanting them to happen does nt mean they ARE goign to happen.

we work on waiting with dd1, all the time.

she can now wait for up to 10 minutes nicely, and up to 20 minutes with a bit of aggro.

that's not goign to get her very far at Legoland, is it?

hopefully it will continue to improve.

and we do try her on the (moderate) queues when we go out of season etc.

but other than that - well, that's what exit passes are for Smile

ignore them - enjoy your day.

Oakmaiden · 28/04/2011 14:01

Mario - I have heard the "well, they need to learn" arguement, but frankly I personally don't think that a family treat day out is the place to be teaching them. A family treat day out should be as much of a pleasure for a child with ASD as for any other child, and not turned into some sort of exercise in testing the limits of the child's frustration.

The time to teach about turn taking and queuing is in the school lunch queue or waiting for your turn on a swing. Places where the wait is not so hugely long and the situation not so highly charged.

So you are definitely not being unreasonable to use the passes.

ChippingInLovesEasterEggs · 28/04/2011 14:02

M&L - you are entitled to it, so use it!

Some people probably will look a bit Hmm because they wont know why you are getting to go ahead of them, they wont know it's because DS is 'disabled' , he will just look like a child getting to queue jump - if you see what I mean. They aren't judging his level of disability, in fact, disability probably wont even occur to them. Does that make sense?

As for the main arguement on the other forum, what a lot of shite. There are plenty of opportunities in life for him to learn to queue (post office, supermarket, school etc) you do not need to be 'teaching' this on a day out! FFS what a bunch of fuck muppets!

EightiesChick · 28/04/2011 14:05

YANBU at all.

deaconblue · 28/04/2011 14:10

p.s I had always assumed when we used the exit pass for ds that people would think we had just paid for a QBOT pass - perhaps the looks are just from people who wish they had paid for QBOT too?

MaryBS · 28/04/2011 14:13

YANBU. Have just been on the phone to Legoland myself, to clarify the new rules. There was a huge debate on moneysavingexpert - is that what you saw? Some of the comments on there were really crass and hurtful!

LetThereBeRock · 28/04/2011 14:16

YADNBU.The passes make the park accessible for your ds. There's nothing wrong with using them.

As for needing to learn to queue,well that's true,though some children with SN will never learn to queue,but even if your ds does need to learn to queue,to an extent,this isn't the occasion to work on those skills.

It should be a fun day for you all,and it won't be if you don't make full use of the pass. Use it,enjoy the day and don't worry about what others think.

Original poster
MarioandLuigi · 28/04/2011 14:19

Yes that was it. I only found it after I did a google search for the new rules. There is alot of ignorance on there regarding ASD. By the time I had read through the whole thread I was doubting myself.

OP posts: