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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Original poster

Merlin's magic wand

31 replies

appropriatelyemployed · 22/09/2012 21:40

I have been very disappointed by MMW's actions in inviting and then refusing to process applications from children with disabilities this year. Their argument is that, due to a huge increase, they have too many applications to process although they have refused to answer my questions about the facts relating to this alleged 'increase'.

This 'charity' is run by Merlin Entertainment which owns the theme parks concerned. So, I was particularly annoyed this week to find that on FOUR separate occasions, with two different shops, I have been given free entry vouchers for Legoland and other Merlin theme parks.

Why is it Merlin Ents can join up with large commercial organisations and give away free entry tickets as a promotion to all and sundry but they have stopped allowing their charity to process applications for free tickers from very vulnerable children.

A very poor show.

OP posts:
5inthebed · 22/09/2012 21:43

Did you get refused tickets?

The tickets you get "free" in the shops are usually on a BOGOF basis, so they are still making their money.

We got tickets from them a few months ago for a family of 5 and petrol money so cannot fault them, sorry to hear you have had the opposite from them.

UnChartered · 22/09/2012 21:45

i applied for tickets under this scheme and was advised that due to demand they were only able to accept on application per 12mths

nowhere have i seen anything saying they are refusing applications point blank - have you got a link to the information you've seen?

i'd imagine that the deals with other companies are exactly this, deals. probably tax deductable or similar. not great for our DCs but in the long run, they are businesses after all

5inthebed · 22/09/2012 21:48

They did say at some point either this year or last that they wouldn't do single applications for children with ASD but I know they backtracked on that one.

UnChartered · 22/09/2012 21:49

yup, DD has ASD and we got her tickets for the London Eye

5inthebed · 22/09/2012 21:53

Same here, ds2 has ASD.

lisad123 · 22/09/2012 22:41

I applied for our autism support group last year and were given tickets. I received an email a few months back saying that they wouldn't allow anyone that had tickets last year again and they were only giving tickets to new applications Sad

Original poster
appropriatelyemployed · 22/09/2012 23:34

Yes but BOGOF is still free tickets to LOTS of people.

Yes, I should have made it clear, they said:

"we must now prioritise applications for children who we have not previously supported".

This is on their website.

So if you have never been before you might get tickets. If you have previously had tickets, it doesn't look like it.

Yet, I really can't believe there has been such a massive increase and this organisation is run and funded by Merlins - it is not a poor little charity but the charitable arm of a massive corporation.

A corporation that can give out its tickets BOGOF at petrol stations all over the country.

OP posts:
5inthebed · 22/09/2012 23:37

So basically don't apply again if you've already done so.

UnChartered · 23/09/2012 07:54

i can see where you're coming from, OP but really there is no complaint we can carry forwards.

they might be giving away BOGOFS but these are red herrings when it comes to company profit. families are likely to bring twice as many people if only half of them have to pay, so that's double the spending when they are inside the gates from food outlets, souveniers etc.

we have to face it, our DCs cost money - and no-one else wants to pay for them.

it's come from the top Sad - from Downing Street. cutting services and benefits from those who most need it....

justaboutiswarm · 23/09/2012 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tiggles · 23/09/2012 09:34

Ooh, I didn't know they backtracked on the ASD, I may have to apply then. Do you get tickets for the whole family then? My DSs are desperate to go to legoland but we just can't afford it.

proudmum74 · 23/09/2012 10:11

Hi, we've also had a great experience with Merlin Magic wand.

We applied last year & got tickets for all immediate family to go on a day out to London Aquarium. Didn't apply this year, as wanted to give others the chance to experience the same sort of amazing day

The picture of the little blonde cutie in the green top on the 'are you eligible?' page is my DD, so you can see from her face what a great time she had!

5inthebed · 23/09/2012 12:22

Littlemissgreen, we got tickets for all our family and also £60 for petrol.

lisad123 · 23/09/2012 12:25

Missgreen carers are free at legoland so only apply for what's needed

lisad123 · 23/09/2012 12:27

The thing is we shouldn't have rights to complain. They want to help as many as possible and that's fair. Carers are often free or discounted at places like this and tbh many NT children parents can't afford days out like this either, why are they any less special, all kids should have the chance to go to these wonderful places.
If we aren't careful we are at risk of starting to sound very entitled Confused

5inthebed · 23/09/2012 13:36

I agree with some points made on this thread. If you've already had the tickets, then is only fair to let someone else get the next lot. I'll not be applying again on that basis, was glad just to get the tickets we got.

Lolaismyfavouriteandmybest · 23/09/2012 17:15

We haven't been since they changed their policy to classify blind people as no longer being disabled enough for exit gate tickets. Dh herding 2 of us through the maze of twists and turns before each ride was not a fun experience Sad

Lolaismyfavouriteandmybest · 23/09/2012 17:15

And blind people don't qualify for MMW Angry

5inthebed · 23/09/2012 17:46

Thats terrible Lola! I did not know that :(

Original poster
appropriatelyemployed · 23/09/2012 17:56

I am not talking about making a complaint.

I am talking bout the blatant inconsistency of a multinational corporation suggesting it cannot accommodate free tickets for children with disabilities while giving them away with abandon through WH Smiths, newspapers, petrol stations. Whether you have to buy a ticket to get one free or not, they are giving away free tickets hand over fist. And not all the give aways are BOGOF, some are literally hand outs.

So it is not about us all 'taking a turn' or 'letting others have a go'. This is not a small charity reliant on fundraising - it is the charitable arm of a global corp which must make millions if not billions. They are not 'short of funds' or suffering from austerity cuts.

They are rationalising who they give free tickets to and it is not children with disabilities.

I doubt very much, even with extra internet publicity on websites, they have so many applicants, they cannot manage. Merlin Ents could choose to process them if they want.

These tickets cost them nothing in real terms and the people who attend spend vast amounts of money whether they enter on free tickets or not.

OP posts:
Triggles · 23/09/2012 18:54

We just got tickets a week or so ago, as well as petrol money, from MMW for DS2. He has ASD/ADHD, and we've never applied previously. I don't think it's unfair for them to prioritise those that haven't been yet - that's only fair really. I know they've been massively promoted by different groups, including ours here, so I imagine they've been flooded with requests.

I agree that complaining about not getting return visits makes us sound a bit entitled, and that's not good. We're thrilled just to get the chance to go this time. We're going to Warwick Castle in October (DS2's choice).

justaboutiswarm · 23/09/2012 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

inappropriatelyemployed · 10/01/2013 16:43

It's not charity. It's tax reduction exercise (and marketing and PR too) - they are run out of the same offices.

I am not saying anyone has any 'right;' to anything but this came on the back of MMW trying to weed out applications from children with ASD and they don't even offer free entry for carers at their parks.

inappropriatelyemployed · 10/01/2013 16:51

Sorry. not sure why I resurrected this for a rant. Well, I do. DS is obsessed with Legoland and lego and has so few treats and a visit to Legoland just felt like, for at least once a year we were getting to do something positive for all the family when he is so excluded most of the time. It made him feel special.

I was just then searching the internet to see if the do carer's passes and I couldn't find anything but I found this thread.

googlyeyes · 10/01/2013 17:05

Legoland definitely do free carers passes. Or at least they did until the end of last season. Last year we got ds1 an annual pass and a free carer's annual pass at the same time