Theme park queue jumping for DLP

[RichSherl]

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?

I find it bizarre to prioritise people with babies in queues. And I have a baby!!! I hope there aren’t women with a god complex out there just because they had a baby or are pregnant

@MalleusMaleficarumm it’s not a god complex, it’s just law. What’s the point of making someone queue for ages with a baby?

• Decree-Law no. 58/2016 makes priority service mandatory for all entities that provide in-person service to the public, both public and private.
• Applicable Groups:
• People with disabilities or incapacities.
• Elderly individuals.
• Pregnant women.
• Individuals accompanied by infants or toddlers under two years old.

I do notice that people here don’t really tend to let people pass even when they only have a couple items so yeah, just cultural differences. It is what it is.

I'm surprised this is possible.

In a lot of these sorts of places they scan the passes to give them data which they use for crowd control info and flow optimisation.

If someone was consistently coming in on the same pass I am shocked they don't do something about it.

They were never going to, its quite clearly a goady post. Why these are fine to stand I dont know but it was clear from the outset this was another post and run and watch people froth

Obviously it’s my opinion, no I’m not being antagonistic. Any leisure activities are an option for anyone regardless of ability. If you choose to go to a place that is busy then queuing is inevitable so why go if it’s uncomfortable

Because an accommodation has been put in place not to make it uncomfortable.

My 7 year old autistic dd has no playdates or birthday parties and most days are really tough for her. She absolutely adores anything Disney and truly believed the princesses and characters are real.

The 4 days we spent at Disney a little while back were probably the happiest time as a family we have spent together..now you might think they are ghastly leisure activity but I think the accommodations they made meant the world to us.

Should not be ANY queue jumping included fast access passes!!

Why not ? Or are you another who thinks that disabled people shouldn’t be afforded any concessions ?

I said ANY queue jumping!

Nope. Ableist and ignorant on your part. You have to prove disability to your local authority to be able to get a blue badge - actually provide medical evidence and pass the LA’s own assessment if you’re not in receipt of the qualifying levels of PIP.

Including the disabled ? If so, what’s your problem with my response ?

Because disabled people are just as entitled to enjoy their lives as able bodied people. And any decent society has a duty to ensure that the barriers to their inclusion are smoothed as much as possible.

You’d have to an absolute cunt to this.
Just LTB

I can't get worked up about it. It's just a theme park...

None whatsoever, I am entitled to an opinion.

So basically you don’t think disabled people should be afforded the opportunity to enjoy facilities open to able bodied people. No one is suggesting that disabled people pay less for these facilities than others, just that they are afforded some concession in queuing if it causes a problem which is disability related. The fact that able bodied people abuse these concessions isn’t the fault of disabled people but sure as shit, it’s disabled people who pay the price.

What do you mean I have no idea really ? Was a disability outreach worker for over twenty years and am disabled from birth myself. Full time wheelchair user. Daily life activities for disabled people are allowed to be pleasurable. Theme parks are a choice to attend, I agree, but equality of choice facilitated by reasonable adjustment applies just as much to leisure activities as it does to other areas. The Equality Act states that reasonable adjustment applies to all areas of society to allow disabled people to participate as fully as possible. You really should educate yourself before making such ableist and discriminatory comments.

Well that was a rant! I meant you have no idea what I am in favour of or against. I really don’t care about your job/background/lifestyle as I’m sure you don’t mine. Lets just agree to disagree

Of course, entitlement to use the park is open to everyone but queueing isn’t enjoyable for able bodied people either & they pay to get entry too. Inclusion shouldn’t be at the expense of others who are equally important as paying customers.

@Kilroyonly there’s a difference between something not being enjoyable or even annoying or someone legitimately struggling and having an option in place to make attendance a little bit easier for them, though.

Have you looked into whether he qualifies for either a disabled ID card or access pass issued in the uk. My understanding is that they are based on proof of need. Both if thrm can be used as proof of disability fir the priority pass at dlp.

You may have already looked fully into the premier access pass, but it is per person per day. It only gives 1 go on each of the rides it covers, there about 14. Price is also more at peak times. There is also the option to buy per person per ride on the day, which can work out better for some, especially if they don't want to do all the rides it covers.

I understand that but younger kids struggle to queue & if a family pays a lot of money to get into these places just as general public then unless they want to get through quickly they have to pay an extortionate amount on fast passes. I just think if you want to benefit from being able to bypass the huge queue then you need to pay for it that’s all. I’m honestly not surprised that anyone who can bypass the queueing does so by whatever means.

He doesn’t get DLA or anything which I can use as proof. I only have his diagnosis letter and from what I have seen online you need more than that.
He’s 14 and very high functioning, to everyone else it would look like he shouldn’t be entitled to a DAS. But he gets incredible anxious, queuing is really hard for him and us. We did Universal which he was younger (before his diagnosis) and stayed in a Universal hotel which included a fast pass.
We are literally going to DLP for a day (it’s a stop en route to somewhere else) so I thought we could just do a day and pay for the premier pass.
I will definitely look into the disabled ID card though thank you.

Depending on when they went, the "queue jumpers" may have been in the correct queue. They also didn't "steal his treat". They joined the queue before him, and were not responsible for the ride breaking down.

It varies per ride, but for some the disabled entrance only used by those with the most mobility needs.

Those that have good mobility , but need assurance for other reasons, often use the same queue as those paying for premier access.

If the queue you were referring to was the oremier access, the "queue jumpers" paid to be there. That us how dlp have chosen to operate the assistance they provide. It effectively means for some, that they get a priority access pass without having to pay for one.

You also have no reason to know if those people had an invisible need.

They could have had conditions such as chrons, diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, dyspraxia, been registered blind or deaf, or any number of other conditions you may not be able to see.

The passes aren't only to reduce wait times. The pass means the cast member operating the ride knows who is likely to need assistance if there is a breakdown. Someone blind would need to be guided differently. Someone who is deaf wouldn't hear any spoken instruction, and a different means of communication would be needed to explain the evacuation process etc.

Obviously your husband is being selfish and unreasonable. But I don't know that I'd judge Mick (if he is real) too harshly, depending on his circumstances. Many disabled people are lonely and poor. He could well be a man without m/any friends and without much money who loves theme parks. By doing what he's doing, he can a) afford to have enjoyable days out, b) have a bit of company while doing so and c) make some money to supplement what could be a pretty meagre income. Is he being selfish? Yes, definitely. But all of us are selfish to some degree or another and I couldn't find it in me to be too hard on someone just making something positive out of a pretty shitty life situation.

If on the other hand, he's a rich, sociable fraudster then I would judge him right along with your husband!