Parents using their children’s disabilities to skip the queues at Disneyland

[satsumaqueen]

I know the title will probably infuriate some people, and I just want to say from the outset that I am not writing this thread to cause offence. I’m writing because I don’t have much experience with having children that have disabilities such as Autism and ADHD and I am genuinely curious and want to understand more.

I’ve been planning a trip to Disneyland Paris and have joined some groups on social media to get some tips etc. I’ve been really surprised at the amount of posts asking how to get a special pass from Disney so their children can skip the lines on all the rides.

I know there are some conditions which very obviously make it physically impossible to stand for a hour, however a lot of these posts are from parents whose children have ADHD or Autism. I also know there are varying levels of autism (my cousin is severely autistic), and I know there are numerous things that people with autism have to deal with like sensory overload etc, but there are also many forms of autism where people can function like every other person, and would have no issue in standing in a queue with everyone else.

ADHD I really have no experience with so can’t comment on it, but isn’t our job as parents to teach our children how to cope in society? Things like queues are part of every day life. Why does having ADHD excuse you from waiting like everyone else?

I know there will be many genuine requests for those passes, but I also feel because of the sheer volume of them, that a lot are trying to claim them because the parents can’t be bothered to wait in line and are using their child as a free way to skip the queues? This then impacts everyone else’s experience who then have to wait even longer in queues to accommodate all of the people skipping.

Shouldn't these passes be reserved for the people who really do need them?

I have young children, so believe me when I say I know what it’s like to stand in line for long periods of time with children who find it difficult to stand still/stand for long periods of time. I’m just struggling to understand why parents with toddlers have any less of a difficult time in the queues than those with children who have ADHD as a example, but they are expected to stand in line for a hour with no option to skip. - I will just add I’m not expecting parents with young children to skip the queue, I just don’t understand why a child with ADHD or mild autism (sorry if this is the incorrect terminology) couldn’t wait in the same queue as everyone else?

Very brave of you OP.

Reality is for every 9 people who genuinely need to be able to fast track queues there will be 1 who does just because they can, doesn't feel fair to revoke it though due to a small %. Lots of places seem to be moving to timed sessions etc instead of quicker queues because they have so much usage lots had to wait ages which defeated the purpose.

That’s not how it works at DLP.

Firstly, you can't just get the cards on a whim. You have to present evidence that you are entitled to them.

Secondly, they don't allow people to just skip to the head of the queue. You still have to wait between rides - typically once you get on a ride you have a restriction on returning for the equivalent length of the current queue. It just means you don't have to physically stand in the q.

Mostly people complain about this because it makes the standby line go much slower. They make similar complaints about people being able to pay for fast track entry to rides.

I’m not supporting this view, just answering your question.

I know Disney in Orlando have clamped down tightly on DAS due to apparent abuse of the system. This means people who really do need it are now being denied passes.

I think they have changed to this certainly in some of the parks.

I know they are being more restrictive with passes and looking for specific information on the challenges of queueing rather than just a diagnosis of a condition.

I have no idea how many are used, I just noticed that there seemed to be hundreds of people enquiring about one on this particular group so I would imagine across everyone visiting somewhere like Disney and all the different countries that people come from, there could be thousands being used each day.

Well you're right, it isn't "automatic". Not Disney, but Universal have a system where you apply online, someone from there phones you back to discuss accommodations needed, and if agreed then on the day you get a pass that you show at the queue and get given a time to return at - so say the regular queue is 90 mins, you still have to wait 90 mins but can walk around somewhere else instead of standing inside in packed line of people.

Are you suggesting you can "teach" people out of their disabilities? Awful.

Why should these children miss out?

Honest honest question why does it matter to you?

I'm sure you can guess why- it makes the regular queue take longer.

It would be great if the big theme parks made a point of catering for special needs children regularly on one day of the week.
They could ship in extra toilets and staff and have free snacks in waiting lines etc. and free lemonade for parents.

Impatient people could choose not to attend on those days.

On all other days it's dog eat dog, wait your turn and rough and tumble treatment for very resilient types whose parents have to buy their own lemonade.

I’m sure parents of disabled children like mine would rather swap their disabilities for a longer wait in a queue

^^THIS.

I'd lose a limb, maybe even two; if it meant my DS could live a life free of autism, nevermind a fucking fast track pass or whatever the hell it is.

What a pleasant way to educate someone who is asking a question because they don’t understand.

But it's the sale of fast passes that has the biggest impact on queuing time. Hmm, should OP be more annoyed with people having more money than others or with people having a neuro diverse child?

My step child is perfectly able to queue as long as they have noise cancelling headphones on. So we've never jumped the queue even though they have additional needs and a disability that means they need other concessions such as to park close to shops in case needed to be bundled into the car during a meltdown. I agree it's for every parent or carer to make their own judgement of what is appropriate.

This is correct. Disney have processes in place to establish need (actually, they don't need to establish the need, they just need to see proof that this need has already been established elsewhere). My comment was addressing the fact that you are making assumptions about someone's need based on nothing but people enquiring about passes on a Facebook group. I don't feel as though you have access to full information or any right to determine whether someone has a genuine need. I am fairly certain that the vast majority of parents are not claiming these passes just because they cant be arsed to queue.
I also commented because I take issue with "out job to teach children to cope". You wouldn't expect an amputee to "just try harder" to learn how to walk without legs. And this is a fundamental difference between people with visible and invisible disabilities. If the public can't see it, they just assume we are faking.

@poorbuthappy1 with your grandson, are his meltdowns something that impact him or the people around him physically and emotionally? I’m really just trying to understand autism more because as I mentioned I have toddlers, so they would also have what I would consider to be a meltdown if they had to wait for long periods of time. I’m just trying to understand the difference between someone with autism having a meltdown and a neurotypical child?

That’s not the case with the priority card in DLP - there is either a separate queue or you skip a big chunk of the main queue. Autism and ADHD generally covered by that.

There is a different card (easy access) which uses the ‘wait elsewhere’ system. That covers other health conditions.

do you honestly think the OP's motives are as pure as that?

Yep, I agree with your questioning OP.

Obviously there are people who genuinely need the passes due to conditions they can’t control.

But as per usual there are some people who take the piss and use passes when they don’t really need them. It’s always the same.

Similar with blue badges - some people really need a blue badge as they are physically unable in many ways. Then there are others with a blue badge who can easily walk run jump and hop their way around.

Sadly I don’t think there’s an answer, people that need them need them, which means that some who don’t need them, get them too.

I have 2 children with adhd and autism and a third with adhd. I also have adhd. To those that say if you can’t handle queues don’t go - should our family miss out on days out at theme parks due to disability? There are other things to experience at Legoland than queues but because our children can’t handle queues we have to not have those experiences?

When we do go to theme parks we never know how long we will manage. We might get all day if we’re lucky or there might be an incident that leads to a meltdown within the first couple of hours. Meltdowns aren’t always recoverable, my middle children’s meltdowns were described by our gp as “psychotic”. If there’s one of them coming there is absolutely no way to manage that in public.

queueing is hard for them, they have limited concept of time, the sensory overload from queueing with other people is horrendous.

parenting autistic children is fucking relentless, the constant fight for healthcare and education, the constant managing of your child is relentless and a day out in a theme park, where you might get to join a shorter queue is a tiny glimmer of sunshine in a world of very black humour.

just be fucking grateful you don’t need the accommodation.

And for the poster who’s nieces daughter has well controlled diabetes but mum claims all sorts. Ffs it’s only down to mums hard work that it’s well controlled you bloody judgemental moron!

What an intolerant post lacking in compassion or understanding. Yes, let's confine disabled children in their homes and exclude them from the childhood experiences their friends enjoy because they occasionally make the queue slightly longer and that's clearly soooo unfair to me. Grow up and be grateful for your life and the life chances of your children..

I wouldn't call a queue at Disneyland 'coping with real life'. Regardless, ADHD and autism are processing disorders, no matter what the severity of outward symptoms.

honeycuresstuff how do you think people with no need for a blue badge pass the assessments for them then?

You know what, if a family get a pass and make use of it good luck to them hope they have a great day

just the process of getting a diagnosis is soul destroying never mind raising a child with SEND and if there are then “perks” to help make life easier , good for them !

in the same way I say a prayer of gratitude I don’t need a disabled parking spot ( despite desperately driving around and around looking a space ) just be grateful OP you are not in THAT queue with your kid