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[davidjw]

Hi Tubbyherman,

I was there during the last week of January and used my Blue Badge as proof.  I did have other documents in my bag but as soon as they saw the BB that was enough.  

One change that may apply is I used to ride Tower of Terror / Parachute Jump solo as my partner doesn't like drops.  Now you have to be accompanied on all rides so that may cause a minor issue.

A second thing I dislike about the new system is nearly all rides now have the chair entrance via the exit as part of the new system so you don't get to see the que lines on ToT /  Buzz and the others that were designed with everyone in mind.

[julesk]

We were very lucky last time and had lovely staff, although we didn't get to choose.  But we were stood outside one of the doors and daughter was in Rapunzel outfit, the staff on doors were talking between themselves and we caught on what they were saying and she asked did we want to stand by the other door instead - and we got to see Rapunzel.  I think I was just as excited as my daughter.  The oter times (I think we went 4 times over 4 days) we could tell who it was from the photos but happy to go with whoever but I think we did mention one time that we'd seen Tiana earlier that day (and it was actually a different Tiana by then) and they put us with Ariel.  

They said there was no return in 2 hrs before which is fair enough as i know the queue is often that.  we're not doing Auberge this year as wasn't very happy with our 2nd visit on our last trip so this will be our only chance to meet princesses.  My daughter told me the other day that it's just people dressed up as Mickey mouse etc as they're cartoons, but she's very adamant that the Princesses are the real ones as they are real people.  

Thanks for your help.

Can I ask, how long on average did you wait with the easy access card? Thanks

[polar vixen]

We were in a disabled queue of about 6 families, while we were waiting 2 of those families gave up and left, and we  waited for over 40 minutes, I really wasn't impressed, if you go and there's no queue, you should be in fairly quickly, but  if there's more than a couple waiting, I'd come back later, they were only letting 1 disabled family in every 10-15 minutes,  

[haribosmum]

we got our pass again for our trip last week.  we saw 3 princesses.  We got there first thing one day and queued for 10 mins then later that day queued for about 20mins.  The 3rd time queued for about 20mins again.  
Similar experience as last year with everything else, except for Big Thunder Mountain.  That seemed to be the worst as they gave out tickets with a group name and seemed to take very few groups down.  People ahead of us said they'd been waiting 40mins and would have been quicker to go through the normal queue (which wouldn't work for us as my daughter couldn't stand that long).
I was disapointed with some people who had passes.  We had followed them onto one ride and know that the pass was for the young boy.  Then they heard them say that grannie could look after him and they'd use the pass to get onto Space mountain.  I don't know if they succeeded but I think that's very unfair to misuse it like that :-(

[nathalie]

Yeah, unfortunetly some do use that pass not for the right reasons.

With BTM, they usually also tell you how long the wait is.
Last year we went through the exit, and they told us 40 minutes, so we just left and went back another time.
It is nicer to wait there though, you can "sit" down on the edge of fences (can't remember if there's a bench?) and it's much less crowded then standing all jammed up in the actual waiting line.

[gemmasteele84]

Can I ask what does the pass actually let you do? This is our first time having one though we should have had one the other times we didn't know they exsisted lol.

[polar vixen]

The pass lets you go directly to the exit (in most cases) of each ride, and get on the next one, although they'll only let one family group on at a time, so if there's another family infront of you you have to wait for them to come off.  This is in most cases, apparently in depends what your reason is for having the pass.  Last time there, my son who is autistic and uses a wheelchair had to wait as another disabled family had a priority pass which let them on ahead of him.  Would have loved to know what it was as they all looked incredibly fit and healthy and able bodied and minded.  wouldn't have minded if they were already in queue, but didn#'t like that they got moved ahead of us.  oh well.  It's also handy in that if there is a crowd gathered for meet and greet with the characters, (again just go to the cast member accompanying) or if they're walking around the park and have people crowded around for autographs, we stand to the back, hold our pass in the air, wait for the character to look up, they'll give a nod, talk to a couple more kids, and then leave the crowd, and come to see your child so they don't get crowded and shoved, and will ignore other children that try to push in.  I've been really grateful for this as my son can't deal with crowds and pushing at all, he just wouldn't stand a chance.  Although i felt very sorry for the parents of a child who peter pan went to see after my little boy.  Their son was in a wheelchair with tubes up his nose, tanks on the chair etc, obviously REALLY ill, and they got screamed at by a woman who'd been trying to push her kid into the crowd for an autograph.  Peter Pan whistled, and all of a sudden this HUGE 6'6 chunky security guard came over, and the 'shouty' lady was dealt with, (think she gt escorted out for ruining it for everyone else.  )

[zara-x]

That made me smile polar vixen...So glad that at least one shouty person has been dealt with! There are a few too many in DLP in my opinion!

[gemmasteele84]

Ugh how rude always discusts me how little respect some people have for those who need extra help. In our case it's my husband, he has a number of phyisical disabilities which people can see as he uses mobility aids, but he also has brain damage which has causes alzhimers like symptoms which obviously people CAN'T see and don't expect in a 34 year old bloke. Often people think he's a drunk or just an idiot which drives me mad.

[Tubbyherman]

Hi Tubbyherman,

I was there during the last week of January and used my Blue Badge as proof.  I did have other documents in my bag but as soon as they saw the BB that was enough.  

One change that may apply is I used to ride Tower of Terror / Parachute Jump solo as my partner doesn't like drops.  Now you have to be accompanied on all rides so that may cause a minor issue.

A second thing I dislike about the new system is nearly all rides now have the chair entrance via the exit as part of the new system so you don't get to see the que lines on ToT /  Buzz and the others that were designed with everyone in mind.

Thanks davidjw, I just strongly object to having to pay for my Dr to write a letter outlining what my daughters problems are, especially when I tell him what to write. We've ended up using a photocopy of the blue badge as the original is usually in the car at Ashford. Not sure if you know but you used to be able to get a % off parking fees there if you have a blue badge, only helpful to know if you go that way of course  :oops:

[Slimy yet satisfying]

OK I agree that it isn't right for adult to lose their temper and start shouting but it can be really frustrating when your family have been waiting in a queue or crowd to see a character or go on a ride and a "disabled" person and their family queue jump.  I realise that for some disabilities a crowd or extended wait can be difficult but that also can be said of standing with 3yr old twins.  I recently experienced standing waiting for Daisy with my son and daughters for a long time to have a "disabled" family be taken in front of us, they had only just turned up and walked straight to the front of the queue to have photos and autographs done. My gripe is that only the child was disabled as the parents pointed out to the cm but their group included other relatives..over 10 of them! After this group had monopolised Daisy's time the cm motioned it was time for her to go and everyone else was left unhappy. We saw this group on many other rides etc during our visit and they continued with this selfish behaviour. At one character the almost put a wall of adults around the character so they could take photos. My son has a mental health disability and I could probably get a pass for him but I feel that if we can stand and wait we should and leave these priority passes for those who really need them rather than using a child/adult disability as freebie to all who dont want to wait. There should be a limit to how many people can "tag on" to the pass because it is getting out of hand and breeds resentment to those who clearly see people using the system badly.   What do you think?

[Tubbyherman]

I get your point slimy, but not sure I like the use of " round the word disabled. Please don't think i'm having a dig at you, but often people believe you have to be in a wheelchair to be disabled, they forget about hidden disabiliities such as autism, ADHD where queuing can cause major meltdowns for some individuals.

I do accept that some families need to be more responsible when using the pass and I consider my family to be one of those. My daughter is autistic, and we know how long she is able to wait in line before becoming agitated, and as we tend to visit during low season, if she only has to wait for a couple of turns we will makes her wait. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't always work, but my view is there are times when she will have to wait like others so it is something she has to experience.

I have to admit we have used the pass when wanting to get a photo with certain characters, but I hasten to add, we have never got in the photo as well. In fact I don't even think we've let her younger brother get in them either. For a child who rarely interacts with others but comes alive with Disney characters this can be quite a magical moment. So I understand how difficult it can be for non-disabled children waiting in line and missing the opportunity to meet their favourite character, but I can't feel bad as seeing my daughter's face come to life and interact with these characters is a moment that rarely happens and one which I always cherish.

As I say, this is not a dig at you or anyone else that agrees with what you've said, but please be assured there are some very considerate easy access pass users, although possibly not enough .

[Slimy yet satisfying]

Hi,  Just to confirm that I used " around the word disabled deliberately to make a point that some people tagging on to a pass are not in fact disabled but are using a family member to their own advantage. My own son has aspergers, adhd, ocd and mild tourettes so I am well aware of the difficulties experience having a hidden non physical mental health disability. We feel that if we can physically queue we do and if we can't we come back later or do emh. We also book low season to increase our chances of having less bun fights around characters and book dining that can also offer a quieter option to interact.  We will however ask cm to take a couple of photos and would never expect a family to prevent that happening after all it is a family holiday and that shouldnt mean excluding anyone. My point is that some groups with, and yes im going to use " again "disabilities" take far more time than is reasonable or fair and create negative feelings to those around them. This in itself causes feelings of resentment that should not exist towards disabled people and their families who have every right to an enjoyable holiday...just not at the expense of others.

[gemmasteele84]

I think like all systems, its never going to be perfect or keep everyone happy. Disneyland is a family place, so i can understand why if someone goes in a group, they want to experience everything in that group. To say to a disabled individual that they can go on the ride with one carer for example, but then wait for an hour or so while everyone else goes on isnt fair. But on the other side of the coin I can see why people would be upset if 10 or so people are put to the front of the queue for the sake of one person with disabilities.
Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it in a large group, this will be our first time with the pass but we did go a couple of years ago and though we didn't have one (didnt know there was one) on a couple of the shows we were waved to disabled seating as hubby obviously has mobility issues. At these times my Mum sat with hubby to make sure he was ok (he needs 24 hour care) while i sat in the normal seating with the kids.  They system will never keep everyone happy, but then again no system does.

[nathalie]

That's the reason I'm not going to ask for a pass when visiting WDW next year.  There'll be about 10 of us, and even though I can go and get a pass, I don't just wanna pick 1 person out of the group each time to come with me ('cause you know, what if I don't pick "you" that person might get mad at me or something, lol), and I certainly do not want to take the whole group with me, as I don't think it's fair myself towards everyone else.

I did get a pass at my last visit to DLRP, but it was just me and my boyfriend (and then he was the one who didn't felt it was right to use it).

At Halloween last year I saw a family, with (what looked to me) their grandfather.
The man was in a wheelchair, we were at the back of the castle, were loads of villains were, so I did have a chance to watch them closely.
The mother kept waving the card around to every CM, because the grandfather is in a wheelchair.
You could see, the grandfather had no idea where he was, he didn't seem able to speak, I'm going to be very rude right now, but he didn't look "alive" that whole time we were out there, which was for about an hour, untill we had pictures with everyone we wanted.

Every family member took pictures with the characters, I noticed the character would touch the hands of the grandfather, but no pictures were taking with him.
It felt / looked like to me, the family was just "using" him, so they could get what they want.

Off course, this is only from what I have seen at that moment.
I'm obviously in no way to judge other people like this, but you do come across certain things, and your mind then just starts to think, and you see how the other members of the group are acting.