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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Advice on taking Autistic child to theme park

16 replies

MrsSeanBean1 · 28/05/2014 15:35

I am planning on taking a child with autism to Alton Towers overnight with a stop in the hotel there. 1 day doing the theme park and another at the water park there.....not my cup of tea really but it is the reward that she has chosen for 3 terms of excellent behaviour.

Can anyone give me any advice regarding Alton Towers (apart from don't go obviously :-) )

The doctor has said that if I draft a letter he will sign it and it can be used to get some sort of pass to bypass any really crowded areas. Can anyone give me some idea of what the letter should contain?

Any help would be much appreciated to make a little girl very happy Smile

OP posts:
sunshinecity17 · 28/05/2014 15:45

my ds1 has a holiday job in a theme park and nobody is allowed to queue jump, although wheelchair users wait as long but in a separate area as in the past people have been hurt by wheelchairs in the queue.

Leeds2 · 28/05/2014 15:46

My friend got queue jumper passes (don't know what the official name is, but that was their main benefit!) for Thorpe Park for her autistic children. I don't remember her having to get a doctor's letter though. I would ring up AT and ask them.

Parietal · 28/05/2014 15:47

go straight to customer services with your letter. they should be able to give you an exit pass so you can go in the exit of every ride and skip the queue.

I went several times with mencap groups many years ago and we never needed special letters (but our group had mencap t-shirts and wheelchairs). I think they have got stricter, so a letter would be good but i'm not sure on the best wording.

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 28/05/2014 15:51

Alton towers had a wristband system for disabled guests, read their publication on it, sounds like your GP letter will be useful.

www.altontowers.com/uploadedFiles/Page_Content/Events_and_Info/Useful_Information/disability-leaflet-2014.pdf

Although the rides are busy, AT has large open spaces too so your daughter can have some quiet time if the crowds get too much. Hope you have a nice time, my daughters lover it.

CommunistLegoBloc · 28/05/2014 15:52

Ring customer services. I have taken children with various disabilities, but mostly autism, to theme parks and they have always been super helpful. IME they give you special passes and you get to queue jump. Autism + waiting don't often go well together.

Floralnomad · 28/05/2014 15:54

Check on the website what you need to take as proof of disability as they have cracked down a bit over the last few years . Last time we used the disabled pass system at Thorpe Park ( assume its the same as all Merlin) it did save on standing in queues but there was a virtual queue system so it made it fairer.

ElevensesTime · 28/05/2014 15:55

I haven't done AT but other theme parks have just accepted my DD's diagnosis letter to get queue jump passes. My GP charges for letters so it would be expensive to get a new letter for each theme park visit! Also ask if they do free entry for carers, this is quite common and they might ask for a DLA letter so worth bringing that along.

karalime · 28/05/2014 15:56

I worked with children with SEN one summer and took them to Thorpe Park. We were allowed to skip queues but they would give us a time - eg. you go on one ride and then we would not be allowed on another for say 45 minutes but once the time passed we could turn up at a different ride. So technically we had to wait for the same amount of time as everyone else but not in the queue.

Iirc we had a special pass that the ride operators would write on once we finished one ride and we would then go in a separate queue once it got to the new time. There were a lot of other people with similar passes so I assume they are not impossible to get. Perhaps contact the park and ask what you need?

PleaseJustShootMeNow · 28/05/2014 16:03

my ds1 has a holiday job in a theme park and nobody is allowed to queue jump, although wheelchair users wait as long but in a separate area as in the past people have been hurt by wheelchairs in the queue.

Sounds like they are engaging in a bit of disability discrimination there. I wouldn't like to be in their shoes when someone with a limited capacity for queueing wants their legal right to a reasonable adjustment enforced.

CwtchesAndCuddles · 28/05/2014 16:16

Have a great time! We have taken ds who has autism to legoland,Chessington and Alton Towers and the ride access pass has been a godsend, we couldn't go without it!

If you look at the Alton Towers website there is a lot of information for guests with disabilities. I always go free as ds carer.This is the ride access pass information.

RIDE ACCESS PASS
We offer the Ride Access Pass to guests who:
•
Are permanently non-ambulant (i.e. wheelchair users)
•
Do not understand the concept of queuing
•
Have difficulties with everyday social interaction
•
Have a limited capacity to follow instructions or to
understand others
‘
emotional feelings or expressions
•
May become agitated or distressed having to wait an
extended period of time
Please note that having a registered disability does not
automatically qualify guests to receive a Ride Access
Pass.
Each time a guest wants to apply for a Ride Access
Pass, photographic identification will be requested,
e.g. photo driving licence, Council issued disabled
registration card. Other documentation required can
include a letter from a consultant or GP detailing
the condition that may warrant the provision of a
Ride Access Pass, and/or Blue Badge. Please note
we no longer accept DWP/DLA letters as acceptable
documentation.
Ride Access Passes are no longer offered to guests with
other disabilities, i.e. hearing or visual impairment, as
this does not affect their ability to queue. However,
these guests should still ensure they go to Guest
Services on arrival to obtain a white wristband which
will ensure that staff can identify their needs and
offer them full support, particularly in the case of an
emergency.
The Ride Access Pass mechanic is such that once you
have completed your first ride (the pass includes The
Smiler, Nemesis, Air, Rita, TH13TEEN, Oblivion and
Sonic Spinball
), your card will be marked with a time
at
which you can go on your second ride; this process will
be repeated at each of the rides as you visit them. Once
your card is completed you can return to Guest Services
for a new card. Rides that are not specifically covered by
the pass may still be used and access will be via the exit.
HELPERS
For safety reasons, the number of disabled people
permitted on certain rides at any one time may be
limited. Therefore you may be asked to divide your
party into smaller groups, and possibly experience a
wait before you board.
I
n certain situations (such as extreme weather
conditions, mechanical problems or power
interruptions), it may be necessary for guests to be
evacuated from the rides, possibly from the highest
point.
For safety reasons, guests with disabilities are
required to have at least one helper over the age of
14 accompany them onto the rides. Helpers will not
be issued with a wristband but must be present at
Guest Services with the disabled guest when the red
wristband and Ride Access Pass is issued.
F
or guests who are unable to walk unaided, rides
that involve a complex evacuation procedure have an
additional requirement that up to a maximum of three
helpers over the age of 14 accompany them onto the
ride.
Helpers accompanying guests with disabilities onto the
rides are required to sit in the same carriage, boat, seat
or row as the disabled guest they are assisting.
Helpers must be able to assist disabled guests with
loading and offloading (including their transfer from
wheelchairs). Our rides hosts will give full instructions,
but for everyone
‘
s safety, we will leave all lifting to the
helpers.
Helpers must also be able to communicate any
safety restrictions and messages, and assist with any
emergency or evacuation procedures, which may
involve the lifting and transfer of the disabled guest
from the ride carriage into an evacuation chair at high

judypoops · 28/05/2014 16:21

What Pleasejustshootmenow said

squirrel996 · 29/05/2014 18:19

At Chessington last year I went to the customer service bit and asked if I could have a pass as I was disabled and couldn't stand in the queue. The very nice young man there gave me 6 fast track passes and didn't even ask to see anything, I had my blue badge with me but he didn't seem fussed :)
I assume because they are all owned by the Merlin Group it would be the same everywhere.

AgaPanthers · 29/05/2014 18:23

I think you have posted this in the wrong forum.

Try 'Special Needs', it should be more helpful.

ChickenFajitasAndNachos · 29/05/2014 19:08

take the letter and you will be given an access pass. If you go on a ride at for example 11 o'clock that has a 30 minute queue time you will have a small card and a time of 11.30 will be written on it. You wont be allowed on a 'big' ride until that time. The system works well. You need a letter saying the child finds queuing stressful of difficult to understand.

JJXM · 29/05/2014 21:09

You need to take a copy of her diagnosis (paediatrician letter or Statement of Educational Needs) as they no longer accept DLA forms. They will provide an exit pass where you go to the exit of the ride and show your wristband. These are issued at Guest Services. It feels really uncomfortable at first as some people in the queue start muttering at you but we soon got over that when our DS through himself to the floor growling at a 45 minute wait.

For some of the more popular rides your card is marked with the time that you can next go on the ride. This was due to some people abusing the system and repeatedly riding on things like Nemesis. You can take a certain amount of people with you on the ride through the exit pass system (e.g. all four us (2 adults and 2 children) could all queue jump.

Also note that as her carer (i.e. she would not be able to attend without your help) you are entitled to free entry to the park.

We took DS (then aged 3) to Drayton Manor last summer and stayed in the hotel overnight. This was the last week of August and so it was heaving. DS found it very difficult queuing and it was then we used the exit passes. It was very noisy and we had to take him to an indoor play area to calm down. But despite being one of the busiest weeks of the year, we had a really good, if exhausting time.

Good luck.

Autisticadultfemale · 26/06/2023 12:46

I know this has not been posted on in a while.... But, I went here last week as I hadn't been to a theam park in years and i remember a bad time as a child! I wanted to create a good memory this time!! I went with my daughter!! And some friends. My daughter isn't autistic. But is ADHD. My friends drove. We got there and I was met with a train.. what the hell. I freaked out. Normally you get to a park and you walk in and you ride rides.. I'm in one heck of a qu.. I'm now quite overwhelmed. I'm dealing. I've got a sensory toy in hand.. argh. Friends ask.. you okay? I lie.. on the train. They talk. I cannot respond. They try again. She ain't talking. It's woblly. I'm actually quite overwhelmed and shut down at this point. I can't deal.. when the doors open I'm so overwhelmed I'm now hype ventalite ting and I meltdown. Friends try and calm me down. Man comes off the train in Alton towers uniform and asks if I'm disabled, need a quiet space? Etc? and asks if I have a card to help with ride access while in the park. Everyone looks confused and says no.. and says we all payed weeks in advance. Full priced. He adviced we go straight to customer services and explain what's just happened to go get sorted with ride access. Say you usually have to sort this out a week in advance with proof of disability. Asked if I do. (I had calmed down at this point) I do as well I have an email of confirmation of my autism dianoses. That's all what was needed. They took a photo. Had me sign something. I was struggling to verbalise. No matter. I don't have to speak. I can sign. And write. Got a card. And they didn't even really bother with putting me in the virtual qué most of the time. They just let me on rides in the exist gate with others. They let me on the smiler twice in a row when I asked but told me I wouldn't be able to ride again for at least an hour if rode twice in a row then. That's fine. I was grateful. I really did like it. It was a massive sensory for me that I liked so much so it's now my hyperfocus.. The park got too much for me. There are quiet places for autistics. I needed this throughout the day. You can try out the ride seats for the rides too. They are set up in the park. They let 4 people come on the ride with me at all times. And I needed the people that came on with me to do my restraints for the rides as I can't do them myself. I stimmed so much. I also needs them to do the ride acces things and read things and explain the times for next rides. I don't realise how much help I actually need till I need it. The day couldn't have been done without the access card. And I didn't realise I someone could have payed as a carer. I hope this helps anyone going with an adult autistic who may benefit from this? I'd definitely be using it if I ever took my younger autistic child. Or go again myself. Right now I don't think I would considering my overwhelming reaction throughout the day. I really struggled with the card. I can only imagine how much harder I would have found without it.

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