If you are at a theme park with a ride access pass then you shouldn’t be also in the normal queue?

[NameChanger401]

came across two groups at Chessington today (one of them a family we know, others openly talking about it in the main), RAP and their friends so virtual queue that ‘times them out’ for the length of the queue meaning they shouldn’t be able to ride for 60 min (for example). AIBU that they shouldn’t then use that 60 min to stain in the main queue for the same ride again (especially openly talking about it!). It means they get twice as many rides as non RAP guests.

So if you were a RAP user, physically unable to queue for whatever reason, you wouldn’t think it was unfair that other RAP users (apparently fine to queue) are getting twice as many rides on your favourite ride?

That would be the fault of the RAP system so any irritation (and complaint) I had would be directed towards the company rather than the individual users. Those users didn't devise it, it's not their fault, and taking it away from them would not magically resolve the issue I'm facing.

I'd also remind myself that you can't divine someone's individual needs just by looking at them therefore it's not my place to judge their capability to queue.

People do play systems all the time, I know someone fraudulently claiming DLA for her child, so they would qualify for a RAP but really shouldn't.

Except the RAP pass is for those who cannot queue. Therefore if the queue is 60 minutes you wait a virtual 60 minutes - it’s not about not waiting for the ride but about not waiting in the actual queue because you can’t.

Disability benefits have one of the lowest fraud rates due to the evidence threshold required for a successful claim.

Ok?

Also I do not believe that statistic for a second

It's very revealing how quickly non-disabled people’s support for accessibility and inclusion disappears the moment they perceive disabled people as receiving a 'perk' or 'playing the system'.

As soon as non-disabled people think they're missing out while disabled people are benefiting, they suddenly see access accommodations as unfair, as if living with a disability is some kind of special privilege. If you truly believe that disability comes with perks worth envying, why not swap. You can take on the absolute hypocrisy and ableism directed towards you from non-disabled people and your reward is access to priority queues.

Luckily the ONS, disability rights groups, auditing departments, and other agencies use actual facts and not your opinion when accuracy checking disability benefits.

Ok, I know for a fact she is fraudulently claiming because she is very vocal about it. She's told them blatant lies about what her son can/cannot do. I also know of another person who is fraudulently claiming. So these people are absolutely falling through the cracks and the auditing departments are not aware of them.

We used these a couple of times when DS was a child. Tbh I was a “queue where you can” Mum so if it was a short queue we stood in line but for very long lines where queuing would have been difficult we used the passes. I quite liked the 60 min rule thing, it meant we could space stuff out with visual things like puppet shows etc. So yes you would have sometimes seen us standing in line but not always.

I don't think it's jealousy, but frustration.

People who abuse a system make it harder for those who really need it. Merlin have limited RAP numbers and for those with unpredictable disabilities who cant pre book, this has limited their ability to go to the theme parks.

I have a RAP and a disability and am frustrated when see people abuse our adjustments. The criteria for a RAP is simple - 'unable to queue'. Not 'find it a bit harder and don't really like it'. So if someone can queue for 60 minutes, they are able to queue and therefore shouldn't have a RAP, and that prebooked slot could be used by someone who absolutely cannot queue.

I had a ride access pass when I couldn't wait very long in a queue as I had to elevate my leg that I'd injured every half hour or so.
I took DD to a theme park and we went via the access queue for one ride then saw the regular queue was only 15 mins so I could cope and we went on again.
No loophole, just that it was now possible for me to wait.

Yep, we will use main queue for short queues too, but OP's example was a 60 minute queue

Well an access pass means you don’t have to queue but then you can’t use it again until the time of the queue you just jumped has elapsed so technically you don’t get on any more rides than a person without a pass - you just don’t have to queue. However, it is dodgy that if they are able
to queue with everyone else then they don’t need a pass? The pass covers the person with the disability plus up to 3 companions - you can’t stop the companions going in the normal queue?

I don’t totally understand what it is they’re doing.

Is it that they “clock on” with the RAP, so it starts counting down, then they get in the queue for the full time of the queue, ride the ride once that way, and then ride it again immediately through the RAP which has then timed out? So two rides in a row?

Sorry if I’m being thick!

Makes no sense to me - if you have a RAP it’s because you can’t queue so these people surely don’t need one? My DS has one and the whole point is he couldn’t stand the queue for that long - or it would be a very much not enjoyable experience - so we’d be doing something else like the playground whilst it counted down.

They seem to be horribly abused, much like disability benefits, those that need them get tarred by the same brush covering those that are trying it on, who are hopefully the minority.

I also think this is very true.

It’s amazing how upset people get about something design to put disabled people into the same position as others.

That said, these people do seem to be using their RAP in a way it wasn’t designed to be used, but there could never be a perfect system I guess.

Thats not what anyone is saying.

The issue comes as someone is using the RAP to time out the ride queue, as they are saying they can't queue in the main queue line...hence the need for the pass. They are then joining that main queue line, and quite happily standing for the full hour before getting off and jumping in the RAP queue.

The more people in the main queue line, the longer that queue for everyone in it. If you can manage that queue length, you dont need the pass for that ride.

Nothing against accessibility and inclusion...it is vital for all to enjoy certain experiences and activities, but the people in the op are clearly taking advantage of the adjustments and making it harder for people who genuinely need them

Merlin have now introduced limited RAP places for each day that need booking in advance as the amount of RAP users were making RAP queues unmanageable for many individuals due to the length and the amount of passes. That means that of all passes have gone for a certain day, an individual who needs the RAP may not be able to go as the adjustments are not available to them that day

I don't see the big deal. They're allowed to do something else whilst virtually queuing. Up to them what they choose to do.

You’re missing the point.

You get a RAP because you can’t queue. If you can queue when it times out you don’t need it!

It makes it harder for people like my ds who can’t use the normal queue (wheelchair user) to get a RAP because they are limited.

Who knows? Maybe they can queue sometimes but not all day for everything. Plenty of people have a RAP because they can't "cope" with queuing so it can be quite a subjective judgement. Its the job of the pass issuer to work that out not a load of jealous busybodys in the queue.

This! My DH has had to use disabled access for theme park rides for many years as he is a wheelchair user. We haven’t been to a theme park for a good few years as DC are older now but if we did want to go it seems passes are limited due to too many people accessing them. Wheelchair users & those with limited mobility cannot access the rides at all without a pass as most have stairs etc. If many passes are being given to people who physically can queue (but maybe not as often/ as long as other ppl) then wheelchair users lose out again!

I think if they are able to stand in the regular queue for 60 min then they do not need a RAP pass.

My son cannot do that , which is why the RAP pass is so important. Absolutely no way could he wait in a 60 min queue. He will wait in a very short queue , rather than the RAP queue , if there is one because there is no need to use the RAP and it’s best left for those who need the physically accessible entrance or those who need an immediate walk on. He recognised that he can handle probably a 5 min queue so if he can see the end of the queue and knows his turn is imminent we won’t use the RAP

I'm sorry, this is bs. There is such a thing as being fair to others, people don't get to have extra turns because they are not "satisfied" with one.

This is the shit that totally loses the sympathy of the general public.

And yes, even if it is not obvious, people taking extra turns does affect others.