To think Chessington needs to get the police involved...

[halfwayupthehill]

Today one ride, Bubbleworks was brought to a halt when a customer decided to get out the boat during the ride. This meant lots of people were stuck on the water ride. Security escorted him off the ride but not off the premises afaik. Apparently this has happened before.
Later two women put their toosmall children on sea storm by barging past the attendant. Security were called, a standoff ensued for at least 15 mins, the women got their way. They had earlier been seen queuejumping.
I would have closed the ride, given every in the queue fastpasses to an attraction of their choice and called the police.

Not sure about the police but they should have been chucked out the park. They sound awful. I hate it when people feel rules don't apply to them and are rude to staff in places.

Not sure I understand you - how would the police be involved? Queue jumping isn't a crime (although very rude & ignorant). Do you mean for endangering their children?

Happens alot it not worth risking the staff's safety.

Eek, all sounds very stressful. Shame when it should be about kids having safe fun.

Feel sorry for the staff if they're not backed up in enforcing the rules.

Some of the adult visitors do seem to lose the plot a bit from time to time.

Maybe they had SN and found they couldn't cope with the ride?

Yes, i guess chucked out the park would be best but these people just wouldn't have gone unless the police showed up.

In london every time a customer gets in an argument about fare or whatever, the driver justs cuts the engine and calls the police. So basically, if you are endangering your kids and refusing to leave the ride/park, the they should call the police.

How would you stop a teenager with SN exiting the ride, OP?

Bubbleworks is supposed to be a very calm one comparatively but as the mother of a child with autism, the sensory overload is enormous and my DS aged four couldn't cope. We could contain him as he went round absolutely terrified without inconveniencing anyone else, traumatised and in tears because he was four. In many respects I wish he had made the ride stop and exited it. He can never enjoy theme parks again.

I hope the two minor incidents you posted about didn't spoil your day out too much. If you are still annoyed, how about imagining yourself in the position of the people who have to care for the children who disrupted your lovely outing for a few minutes, all day and ALL NIGHT?

Life isn't much fun for the person with SN either.

Well, perhaps taking a child with sensory issues to a theme park wasn't the best idea. There are millions of other things to do with children that don't involve theme parks.

I thought places like that generally had security guards? (I've not been to a theme park in several years so not really sure TBH)

So have we established that the person who got off the ride and the people who pushed in were children with special needs? I didn't get that from the original post.

No we haven't established that bit it is a possibility and would explain why they weren't made to leave the park.

But DA, those people who have special needs trying to have a nice day out, how they dare they when they may inconvenience others

Seriously cocktail they have every bloody right to go to a theme park and there is often plenty of stuff they will enjoy, any child can get upset on a ride not just those with special needs, shall we just ban all children just in case? Or only those with special needs who might cause disruption? How dare you tell them what they should and shouldn't do, listen to yourself ffs

CocktailQueen can you please list the million other things to do with children who have sensory issues bearing in mind that my DS is high functioning and it is impossible to tell whether something will upset him or not. Even as parents.

As it happens he went on the train at Chessington to the detriment of nobody. Over and over again. Should he not be allowed to even try to do normal things?

Actually five hundred thousand ideas would suffice. You sound like an expert so I'll let you choose half of your bank of approved activities for disabled people.

I can't wait to read them.

Am I missing something? Do we know this person who got off the ride had SN?? It's possible.

I was there last week. Trust me some people think the rules don't apply to them.

With regards to the police it's not going to happen unless something serious kicks off.

Bella I don't think the list of cocktail approved activities for children with special needs will materialize!

Glad he enjoyed the train :)

Oh. I don't think I am going to get any ideas, let alone a million of them.

I took DS to the Harry Potter Studio tour and there were no ride-access passes for people to be jealous of but in the queue for the broomstick ride photographs he started to get distressed by the crowds. The staff were amazing and said that if we couldn't bear the sneers and judging any longer that we would be moved quietly to the front because they knew that people would be even more unpleasant if they thought we were queue-jumping.

How sad it that?

As if happens, DS rose to the challenge and I will continue to educate him about crowds and queues. Sometimes that might mean that someone has to experience a small fraction of life with DS but they can't have it both ways complaining that he gets a ride-access pass or shouldn't be there at all!

I'm eagerly awaiting the list too! I've got two dc with ASD who love theme parks but find it difficult to cope sometimes. I've perfected the art of managing to never meet any onlookers eye. If I don't see them your nasty looks and judgement simply do not exist

DS went back to school today and when asked what the best thing about it was, he said, "I could run and run, very fast - like Sonic!"

He is six and has not been let off his backpack with a lead-rein for six weeks because he has no sense of danger and not one park or sporting ground is enclosed enough to stop him running straight onto the duel carriageway, and no, in our forties we are not fast enough to chase and protect him.

Not everyone that behaves in a disruptive manner is SN, some people are just twats. My impression from the OP is that it is the latter in this case.

Sparklysilversequins I wish I could do what you do.

Now where is this list of a million things to do with autistic children?

And yes, the library and theatre are right out mainly due to judgy and sneersome people.

It's quite easy, you just grip hold of your child in case they make a run for it then gaze straight above people's heads as you move to a quieter area. Honestly I don't notice it anymore. I hold my head up high, after five years of it, other people's opinions mean nothing to me. You'll get there, I promise .

Also did you get fast tracked while you were there? If you take your diagnosis letter they will do this so you won't have to queue. Legoland is good for this too.

Oh and quite a few cinemas showings for those with autism as well. Vue are quite good for this. Also if you go to Kids AM on a Saturday morning it's really cheap and ALL the kids are making a bit of a racket so it's fine.

We did get fast-tracked but DS refused to go on any ride other than the train and Bubbleworks which was the only ride I thought he would handle. Sadly not and it spoiled the whole affair.

We had even paid to stay in the hotel and had to come home early as with so many short holidays not having access to the magic million things to do with autistic children which work every time

Still - at least no neurotypical people other than us and his sister were harmed during our visit.

Sparklysilversequins thank you but DS is terrified of surround sound so we can't take advantage of the Vue screenings.

I love the idea of West End shows which are autism-friendly though! Would love to take him to see The Lion King which is, but he loathes London and we'd have to leave the car too far for a quick getaway...

The customer was an adult with no sn