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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Theme park queue jumping for DLP

262 replies

RichSherl · 23/04/2025 14:20

Probably the wrong place to ask this but...

My DP wants us to employ a theme park queue jumper for when we go to Disneyland Paris in October.

I didn't even know these things existed?!?!?! 🤐

I've not been to DLP for a number of years but apparently it's a thing that people go with their disabled parents just so they can skip queues for rides and to see characters etc?

Can anyone corroborate this? It seems mad to me and beyond unethical.

Anyway, AIBU or should we really use someone like this to help us skip queues?

OP posts:
AdditionalCharacter · 23/04/2025 16:28

Where do you draw the line though? Hire a nurse to help you get in to the NHS cheap day at Alton Towers? Borrow a friend's child for 'mums eat free' offers at Mother's Day? Ridiculous.

My adult child is disabled and loves theme parks. I can quite see him being asked to go to a theme park by people only wanting him there for his access pass. Not sure they'd enjoy going on the same two rides over and over again though.

Side note, we went to DLP when he was younger, and the amount of eye rolls we got off staff for using access passes for hidden disabilities was constant. We've not returned because of this.

thevassal · 23/04/2025 16:29

doodleschnoodle · 23/04/2025 14:52

This is really bizarre! So you just have to go around the whole day with this random dude, Mike? It feels really awkward, I would rather queue than have to make small talk with Mike all day?!

this is such British reasoning it made me laugh, but I completely agree

I have so many questions. He refers to skipping the queue at "restaurants" and takeaway kiosks, but how many disney theme parks even have queues for their restaurants? I thought they were so popular you had to book literally everything weeks/months in advance.
Then he says he brings his own packed lunch, so having blagged you in, does he sit there eating his dry sarnies while you all chow down on burgers all around him?

I think I'd die of cringe pushing in in front of a queue of kids to get an icecream five minutes faster, tbh.

If your DH has no moral qualms, from a legal standpoint, how does he know that "Mick" is legit? Presumably he will want paying upfront, he's not just going to drive all the way to the park if he's not sure your family will turn up, so what do you do if you send your £100 and he's not there? It's not like you can claim it back on your credit card or report it to the police, "Oh I paid some disabled bloke a hundred quid to pretend to be part of my family for the day so we could get on more rides at the theme park..."

By the time you pay his £100, park entrance fee (another, what, £25-50 depending on if you have any deals), and his "travel costs" (he doesn't even say where he lives, if he's charging 45p a mile it could be another £50 or more), you'd be better off just paying for q jump!

mrsconradfisher · 23/04/2025 16:35

By the time you’ve paid the £100 plus his park tickets etc, you might as well just buy a days fast pass. My own DS has ASD and cannot cope with queuing. He doesn’t qualify for the pass so we are buying a days fast pass for the one day we are going in the summer.

LovelyCupOfTeaThankYou · 23/04/2025 16:35

Gross. I wouldn't want to be in any kind of relationship with anyone who considered such a thing. Selfish, lazy, entitled... just, yuk.

itsgettingweird · 23/04/2025 16:36

Queue assist passes aren’t queue jumping as such. Certainly in the UK theme parks they are for people who cannot queue or don’t understand queuing and waiting.

There are a limited number of passes a day and you have to prove need and then once you have a code you book a queue assist passes aren’t for the day of your visit.

In Merlin attractions this means if you use the queue assist or step free access for a ride with a 90 minute queue when you use this entrance you get a time stamped card that won’t allow you to access another ride for 90 minutes.

Its a reasonable adjustment for disability and doesn’t get you more rides or preferential treatment.

It just means you don’t need to queue if your disability doesn’t allow you to.

My ds is a wheelchair user and uses step free access.

I have no idea about DLP but I know some uk theme parks have gold tickets or whatever they are called which cost circa £200 and you get a guide and queue free access. But this does get you extra access and it’s a service you pay a lot of money for.

itsgettingweird · 23/04/2025 16:38

That’s £200 per person.

minipie · 23/04/2025 16:38

Wow

No loophole left unexploited is there??

Thisisittheapocalypse · 23/04/2025 16:39

Disgusting thing to do, frankly.

Actually hope the daily mail picks this story up and gets the guy and others like him banned from the parks!

Clearingaspace · 23/04/2025 16:40

The poll is being misunderstood I think and people mean it would be unreasonable to do this.

if you are willing to pay just use the Fastpass system for individual rides when needed.

Gardenbumblebee · 23/04/2025 16:42

Blimey, that's enterprising! I agree it's awful, but you have to admire his resourcefulness.

Goldenboysmum · 23/04/2025 16:47

It's never been that busy in October when I've been.

Plus, £100 and expenses 😅

What happens if your there for 3/4 days do you have to pay his hotel as well. What a waste of money!

JoyousEagle · 23/04/2025 16:50

Well he’s certainly entrepreneurial

Endofyear · 23/04/2025 16:51

I would be thoroughly ashamed of my DH if he suggested this. I've been to DLP with my severely disabled child and even with the queue pass, it was difficult and stressful to manage his behaviour while waiting. To think that some people would be so deceitful and scheming is profoundly depressing!

SalfordQuays · 23/04/2025 16:51

This surely can't be genuine!! Apart from anything else, as someone else said, the costs would be extortionate, once you'd paid his travel and hotel. It would be cheaper to offer everyone in front of you in the queue a tenner!

SwornToSilence · 23/04/2025 16:58

While I disagree with this when you can buy a fast pass. I can't see it any more selfish and unreasonable than those who help themselves to our copper cables putting the internet out for days, or scam the benefit system or try to lower their tax return or those who sell black market driving tests. Everyone is out to make a quick buck, the world has no morals any more

MalleusMaleficarumm · 23/04/2025 17:08

That is horrendously selfish, he’s just adding to the stress for people with genuine disabilities. Is he going to start parking in disabled spaces at the shops as well?!

Also why would you give money to some random bloke you’ve never met. Could well be a scam!!

AndImBrit · 23/04/2025 17:09

Given you’ll have to pay him £100, plus his DLP tickets (not cheap), his flights or train and presumably a hotel for him in Paris - this seems like a very expensive solution!

SinkToTheBottomWithYou · 23/04/2025 17:10

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 23/04/2025 14:39

That’s disgraceful and should be reported to Disney land. I’m a wheelchair user and as such get the pass to jump queues. I actually have no problem waiting, it’s just that often my wheelchair won’t fit down the normal queue lane or there’s steps, and theme parks have a one size fits all policy when it comes to disability. Autistic people don’t general need step free access, but they get it because I do. If there were someone behind me in the accessible queue who appeared to have the issue with not being able to wait for long, I’d happily let them go in front of me. I admit I quite enjoy being able to jump the queue, but I don’t feel particularly guilty about it because it’s one of the few situations where I actually get a small benefit, whereas most of the time my disability is a massive disadvantage.

This!
We only used the disabled queues at a theme park just once with DS who has autism, there were usually only 2-3 groups in the queue but on two occasions people arrived and it was clear that their need for no wait was higher and without anything being said everybody just moved aside to let them go to the front of the queue.

Martymcfly24 · 23/04/2025 17:17

Stupidest thing I have ever heard.

Buy a fast pass it's cheaper especially as you will only need it for a few rides or use single rider and rope drop. The characters are now going to be booked on the app so no more queuing there.

We used a priority pass for my daughter a couple of months ago and at some rides there may still be a short queue. She didn't go on all the rides so the other family members just queued for these properly. It's an amazing system but if it's abused it will be lost for the people who rely on it.

Itsjustnotthevibe · 23/04/2025 17:19

If my DH suggested this (he wouldn't ever btw!) I would think so badly of him, it's disgusting to take advantage of a scheme like this. If he is willing to pay for 'Mikes' entry, expenses and £100 om top then just buy some fast passes.

Also I agree with a PP, who wants to walk around a theme park with a random dude all day. It would be so awkward!

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 23/04/2025 17:20

I’m clearly an awful person because this has made me lol. WTF?!

OoooopsUpsideYourHead · 23/04/2025 17:34

IKnowAristotle · 23/04/2025 15:44

Tell your husband not to take the Mick! Grin

🤣🤣🤣

RaffleQueen · 23/04/2025 17:35

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 23/04/2025 17:20

I’m clearly an awful person because this has made me lol. WTF?!

Me too! The bit where he says he can talk as little or as much as you want has me creased, and the name Mick Halliday is genius!

IstayhomeonFridaynight · 23/04/2025 17:37

It's not a human right for everyone to go to Disneyland. My kids didn't go as I couldn't afford it. They survived. If your kids cant cope with the queues, maybe don't go?

largeprintagathachristie · 23/04/2025 17:40

No wonder Mike hasn’t got a face-front picture on his website - he definitely should be embarrassed.

And so should your DP for considering it.