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Original poster

To think the Merlin RAP queues are overused

152 replies

NameChanger207 · 27/08/2023 23:05

….which means the main queue moves much more slowly on rides with limited capacity, especially when it’s really busy and there’s also lots of fast track riders. Is it really fair that every ride access pass holder has about 3 people accompanying them?! Surely there should be just one carer per RAP user?

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChanger207 · 27/08/2023 23:55

Flopsythebunny · 27/08/2023 23:44

Don't believe you.
If they were, you would understand why families use them

Show quote history

Type 1 Diabetes - it’s a disability, believe me or not.

OP posts:
Starlightstarbright2 · 27/08/2023 23:58

Honestly your post sucks … Raps are not given to everyone with a disability .

secondly why aren’t you posting limit/ reduce the amount of fast track tickets sold 🙄.. why are you not condemning theme parks overselling tickets ?

nope just disabled families you want to have a pop at ?

BungleandGeorge · 27/08/2023 23:58

Lots of people have disabilities, most of them like diabetes don’t affect queuing. Honestly I’m more annoyed by Merlin overselling admissions, selling expensive fast passes and hiring cheap and inexperienced staff so that the turnaround on rides is cripplingly slow. When you go to Disney they are so much more efficient. Having spent all day queuing for 2 rides we just vote with our feet and don’t go anymore

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 27/08/2023 23:58

Dwappy · 27/08/2023 23:48

Isn't that just similar to any event selling out? Its a shame but if they want to keep wait times down for those with passes they have to do something. If on one particular day everyone with an access pass wanted to go then the RAP queues would be horrendous. Then everyone would be complaining about that. The point of them is that those using them don't need to queue. If the queues are as long as the general queue then they become pointless. People already say they should limit the amount of people in theme parks generally. So if that happens non disabled children will also miss out. It's a shame. But if you want a place like that running efficiently with hardly any queues then yes they need to limit numbers.

Show quote history

Yes, it would be nice to limit it. As if the number of RAP in a queue is too high then it defeats the purpose. It would be much nicer for those who cannot queue if they didn’t have to.

OP posts:
JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 27/08/2023 23:59

It derives on if the disability affects the ability to queue. Does type 1 diabetes affect the ability to queue?

BlairWaldorfOG · 28/08/2023 00:00

Starlightstarbright2 · 27/08/2023 23:58

Honestly your post sucks … Raps are not given to everyone with a disability .

secondly why aren’t you posting limit/ reduce the amount of fast track tickets sold 🙄.. why are you not condemning theme parks overselling tickets ?

nope just disabled families you want to have a pop at ?

These were my thoughts.

Post covid there were number restrictions at big theme parks, there were still some queues but nowhere near the excessive ones we see at the moment. The overselling of tickets in general is an issue and buying your way to the front a far bigger one than a person with a disability being allowed to enjoy a ride with more than one friend/ family member.

BlairWaldorfOG · 28/08/2023 00:03

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 27/08/2023 23:59

It derives on if the disability affects the ability to queue. Does type 1 diabetes affect the ability to queue?

My friend's daughter has a RAP because of her T1. Her Diabetes isn't well managed at the moment it's a recent diagnosis and a big adjustment, her blood glucose can dip rapidly so queuing for long periods particularly in warm weather is problematic for her. Not sure about OP's child but if so I'd recommend that OP looks at implementing the appropriate support such as using a RAP and that which it is designed for.

WhateverMate · 28/08/2023 00:04

NameChanger207 · 27/08/2023 23:38

Fancy being jealous of a family looking after a disabled member.

my DC is also disabled, we just don’t have a RAP

You don't have a RAP because your kid doesn't need one, otherwise you'd get one.

Yet for someone who doesn't need one, you seem to be bumping your gums an awful lot about families who do.

DyslexicPoster · 28/08/2023 00:06

Op with the ride access pass you still queue, just not physically. It would be no faster for you if I was physically standing in the queue. But if my disabled son was queuing in front of you I can assure you you would be extremely pissed off by us.

SwingingGentlyUnderTheMoon · 28/08/2023 00:07

The fast track is way more of a problem IMO. That’s what they should be cutting back on, not the RAP.

helpddgrow · 28/08/2023 00:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:13

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 27/08/2023 23:59

It derives on if the disability affects the ability to queue. Does type 1 diabetes affect the ability to queue?

Potentially, yes it could be dangerous if stuck in a queue.

OP posts:
inloveandmarried · 28/08/2023 00:13

It's very difficult to visit theme parks with a disabled child or young person.

It's also difficult to get the pass. You need to have been awarded PIP or DLA. So it's not given out randomly.

By your logic it would mean the disabled child is not able to go on rides with friend or siblings. This is discrimination yet again. Singled out (as they normally are) by having to go on with a just their carer. How upsetting that is and how much further disadvantaged that young person would be.

Please think about the wider implications of your initial post. These children and young people don't get the opportunities more able people do.

It's the theme park levelling things for them just for a few hours. It's helping it to be possible for them to feel part of things. Included in family moments.

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 28/08/2023 00:16

@NameChanger207 then apply for an access pass 🤷🏼‍♀️

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:23

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 28/08/2023 00:16

@NameChanger207 then apply for an access pass 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve been thinking about it….but i wanted to check if people thought there were already too many RAP users (and is it right that they have so many people accompanying them), and the queues are so long, sometimes longer than main queue…

OP posts:
NameChangedForThis195206644 · 28/08/2023 00:27

inloveandmarried · 28/08/2023 00:13

It's very difficult to visit theme parks with a disabled child or young person.

It's also difficult to get the pass. You need to have been awarded PIP or DLA. So it's not given out randomly.

By your logic it would mean the disabled child is not able to go on rides with friend or siblings. This is discrimination yet again. Singled out (as they normally are) by having to go on with a just their carer. How upsetting that is and how much further disadvantaged that young person would be.

Please think about the wider implications of your initial post. These children and young people don't get the opportunities more able people do.

It's the theme park levelling things for them just for a few hours. It's helping it to be possible for them to feel part of things. Included in family moments.

Completely agree with this

VivX · 28/08/2023 00:31

Having type 1 or type 2 diabetes does not automatically entitle a person to a RAP.

The doctor's letter also has to say the person is unable to queue and why.

Not everyone with diabetes is unable to queue.

Seems really odd to complain about disability RAPs rather than fast access passes. Surely there are much more of the latter contributing to queue issues.

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:32

inloveandmarried · 28/08/2023 00:13

It's very difficult to visit theme parks with a disabled child or young person.

It's also difficult to get the pass. You need to have been awarded PIP or DLA. So it's not given out randomly.

By your logic it would mean the disabled child is not able to go on rides with friend or siblings. This is discrimination yet again. Singled out (as they normally are) by having to go on with a just their carer. How upsetting that is and how much further disadvantaged that young person would be.

Please think about the wider implications of your initial post. These children and young people don't get the opportunities more able people do.

It's the theme park levelling things for them just for a few hours. It's helping it to be possible for them to feel part of things. Included in family moments.

So how do theme parks reduce the long RAP queues so that it’s actually fit for purpose? And also allowing the main queue to move?

OP posts:
sunflowerdaisyrose · 28/08/2023 00:36

@NameChanger207 the queues haven't been longer the times we have used it. We've been unable to reserve some of the bigger rides at Chessington as queues have been full for RAP sometimes though. In August the longest physical queue was 15 mins but timed out for 90 mins as the main queue was so long.

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:38

I have mixed views on the fast track passes. Agreed they also don’t help the situation but I do think there are more guests of RAP users than fast trackers. And the fast tracks probably keep the entry prices down for the rest of us.

OP posts:
BlueBlubbaWhale · 28/08/2023 00:39

Presumably op won't want a rap as that will just add to the exact problem she perceives to exist.

Original poster
NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:53

BlueBlubbaWhale · 28/08/2023 00:39

Presumably op won't want a rap as that will just add to the exact problem she perceives to exist.

Well there are times I certainly would feel guilty blocking a RAP queue with 5 of us, when there are others who really can’t queue behind us. I don’t think everyone in the RAP ( whose are with someone whose condition is variable and they are having a good day ) feel that way about those struggling to stand behind them.

OP posts:
Neuronamechange · 28/08/2023 00:57

I’m a wheelchair using disabled parent. A RAP meant we could attend as a 2 adult, 2 child family. I make no apologies for the fact we used it as a family. Without it we simply couldn’t attend.

We actually let our membership lapse as the previous system of queuing to get a RAP each visit along with long waits, ride breakdowns and limited accessible rides made it not worth the long drives to get to the parks.

Unicorn2022 · 28/08/2023 00:58

We were at Alton Towers last week and I must admit I was shocked at the length of most of the RAP queues. On the Smiler the RAP queue was an hour wait, which was only 20 mins more than the normal queue. I think anyone in receipt of DLA can get a pass, which is a huge amount of kids. I'm still grateful to have a pass for DS as it would not be possible to go otherwise, but wouldn't rush back to Alton Towers again.

VivienneDelacroix · 28/08/2023 01:19

NameChanger207 · 28/08/2023 00:53

Well there are times I certainly would feel guilty blocking a RAP queue with 5 of us, when there are others who really can’t queue behind us. I don’t think everyone in the RAP ( whose are with someone whose condition is variable and they are having a good day ) feel that way about those struggling to stand behind them.

Show quote history

But you personally believe that one carer is enough, so you would split up and let the other three members of your family queue separately, wouldn't you? So 5 of you "blocking" the queue isn't a possibility for your family. So don't worry about it- get the pass for your child who is entitled and use it in a way that you are happy to.

Two of my children have had RAP passes in the past, but we left early in the day as actually theme parks are too stressful for them, pass or no pass, so we don't go. I'm sure they'd like the rides, but the noise, the unpredictableness, the crowds, etc just make it impossible.