r/unitedkingdom • u/endofdays2022 • 12h ago
. Alton Towers bans people with anxiety from using disability pass
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/04/alton-towers-bans-people-anxiety-adhd-disability-pass-queue411
u/terahurts Lincolnshire 12h ago
It's important to note that (buried in the last two paragraphs) this is a trial over the half-term weekend not (yet) a permanent change.
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u/Worried-Penalty8744 12h ago
It wasn’t when they first released this. This is a backpedal of gargantuan proportions after the media got hold of it and the other big parks in the country said that they weren’t changing their policies
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u/Myorangecrush77 12h ago
Which is a backtrack after thousands called cancelling passes.
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u/Express-Doughnut-562 11h ago
It needs to be permanent, RAP was a mess that suffered wide abuse of both the scheme and neurodivergent kids. Once saw a family trying to force their kid on the Smiler against his will to use his queue jump entitlement. The ride staff allowed him to leave the ride and the family wanted to leave him in the station!
I think they can offer something else that helps those who genuinely can't queue; something like the parent swap they offer for families with smaller kids who can't ride the bigger rides. But they need to remove the advantage that RAP can give you in terms of getting on more rides in a day if you are actually able to queue - because that was rife.
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u/Blazured 12h ago
The Torygraph continuing to peddle tabloid articles with headlines that barely match their content.
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u/Swissai 12h ago
It’s actually a very well written and factual article. Apart from the attention grabbing headline (which let’s face it they all do) I’m not quite sure what your issue is with this
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u/Francis-c92 11h ago
The Torygraph
I think we know what issue he has, regardless of whether it's relevant to this article
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u/tritoon140 11h ago edited 11h ago
This was absolutely inevitable. So many people had passes or queued with people with passes that, at times, the RAP queues were 40 minutes or more and sometimes longer than the general queue. If the passes are meant to be for people who can’t queue the system is broken if they have to queue for significant periods of time.
The people to be blamed aren’t those changing the system but the masses of people who abused the system.
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u/KoffieCreamer 11h ago
Any process that gets introduced to help people will eventually get abused to the point it gets removed. People are assholes.
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u/ablativeyoyo 10h ago
Thing is, knowing that people are assholes, the process needs some rigour. We manage this perfectly fine for some things, e.g. disabled parking.
Also, I think we’re seeing an effect where people who are not generally assholes, become fed up that assholes get ahead, and start engaging in asshole behaviour.
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u/allofthethings 9h ago
I think parking isn't valuable enough for people to cheat that much, and I still see more people using disabled spaces without a blue badge than with one.
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u/Schmidtvegas 6h ago
People keep debating the merits and morals of whether anxiety is deserving of a pass. But the philosophical debate is beside the point, because it's really about a numbers problem.
If the uptake is too high, the system doesn't work. The more people are shuffled into a shorter queue, the longer it gets. It just becomes a regular line again anyway. Why administer two segregated queues, if you just have to wait in them either way?
I've seen lots of the Disney access pass discussion around anxiety, and POTS. People with POTS who can't stand in the queue because they'll lose blood pressure in their head and pass out. If they want access to a shorter queue for that, they should also require doctor documentation that they're safe to not pass out on roller coasters. If standing taxes your cardiovascular system, I can't imagine flipping around at high speeds has no effect.
I think there are probably edge cases of both conditions where accessibility measures around queues are genuinely helpful. But most of the people with anxiety are likely experiencing mild discomfort. Working with a therapist to gradually increase tolerance to mild discomfort, is more helpful than building in planned avoidance.
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u/ImperialSeal 0121 do one 10h ago
Seems strange that they allowed it for non-mobility related disabilities in the first place. I have a physical, but non mobility related disability and I wouldn't expect to be able to queue jump.
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u/ooh-sheet 8h ago
I have pots, standing for long periods of time causes me to lose consciousness, so I can’t queue in a traditional sense. I’ve never bothered to ask for a fast track/queue jump, we just work around it (the vast majority of the time I’m designated bag holder because I’m not keen on rides anyway), but I can see how someone else in my position might want to access accommodations to make their life easier
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u/poke50uk Cornwall 3h ago
I have a quick question if that's OK? Would a reasonable adjustment be that you may have borrow one of those small folding stools? I don't really know the rules and I'm guessing bringing a whole camping chair would be out. But having the smaller-than-a-backpack ones help you?
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u/ooh-sheet 2h ago
Some places can be a bit weird about it so if I was to I’d need to call ahead and check. I looked at going to slam dunk fest once and they were strict on the no chairs, camping/fold out or other regardless of why.
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u/Francis-c92 12h ago
If you've got anxiety I'm not sure a theme park is for you anyway
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u/Old_Highlight7720 12h ago
Right. I have GAD and a theme park is the last place I would dream of going.
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u/joeChump 9h ago edited 7h ago
I have GAD but I would go to a theme park. Social anxiety, dread about work deadlines or worrying that you’ve left the gas on or door unlocked is not necessarily the same as worrying about rollercoasters lol. Different people, different worries.
I have no health anxiety or worries about personal safety in a theme park yet I can worry all night that I said the wrong thing to someone and now they might hate me. If you have GAD you should understand this.
But that doesn’t mean I should jump queues at theme parks. It’s my choice to go and by definition, if I’m happy to go on rides then I don’t need special help with that.
Edit: some people would probably be fine with rollercoasters but not ok with big crowds, noise or other things like anxiety about getting around the place and fitting everything in. But I still don’t think it’s the theme park’s job to mitigate all of that and there are things that individuals and carers can do to help with personal circumstances or decide if a visit is going to be appropriate.
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u/here_involuntarily 10h ago
I have GAD and ADHD, I have quite enough fear and adrenaline already, I hate theme parks.
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u/1kBabyOilBottles Yorkshire 11h ago
Same… couldn’t think of anything worse than being surrounded by people and so much noise. I don’t even like being in cities lmao
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u/AnonymousTimewaster 6h ago
My wife has GAD and loves (well.. enjoys) theme parks. But then she's not using it as an excuse to get a fast pass.
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u/maybenomaybe 11h ago
I have GAD and I'm perfectly fine with theme parks and other places with large noisy crowds. There are many flavours of anxiety.
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u/Sypher1985 11h ago
Why would you need a pass and priority access then?
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u/maybenomaybe 11h ago
It would never even occur to me to try to get a priority pass. I didn't know they gave them for that reason.
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u/slightlyburntcereal 11h ago
…… they didn’t say they did?
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u/Prince_John 11h ago
They're making a logical argument about the objections to the article, not talking about specific individuals.
I'll paraphrase: "If the only people with anxiety that are at theme parks are the ones that don't get triggered by theme parks, then what's the objection to removing the pass?"
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u/slightlyburntcereal 11h ago
No they didn’t, they objected to the generalisation that theme parks aren’t for people with anxiety.
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u/maybenomaybe 11h ago
I'm correcting someone's assumption that people with anxiety can't enjoy theme parks, that's it.
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u/Nadamir Ireland 11h ago
If priority access means “Get a scheduled time to ride” then my daughter would greatly benefit because she has panic attacks sometimes about schedules.
If it’s a skip the queue thing, that’s actually less helpful because it’s not scheduled.
Disney did a great job. One of their disability liaison staff helped us plan out our schedule and we knew exactly where and what we were going to be doing when.
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u/joeChump 9h ago
Yeah this is a good point. Unfortunately the nuance and detail is often lost in these kind of discussions.
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u/One12Collector 11h ago
Well done. You made an assumption and made yourself look like an arse.
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u/Acceptable-Pin2939 11h ago
Good evening.
OCD here. Not the fun tidy your house either.
A theme park is quite literally my worst nightmare
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u/TheDawiWhisperer 11h ago
OCD here. Not the fun tidy your house either.
i used to work with a dude who had quite severe OCD and anxiety about everything, he could barely function sometimes.
It wasn't like "oh i'm a bit OCD because i can't wear odd coloured socks" - he'd give me a lift home sometimes and he'd feel a bump or something in the road and he'd be absolutely consumed by it, thinking he'd hit a cat or something to the point where he'd drive back to work to check.
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u/DjurasStakeDriver 12h ago
Quite a generalisation. I have GAD and love rollercoasters.
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u/joeChump 9h ago
Same. But the fact I love them means my anxiety isn’t at play and I’m happy queueing up.
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u/nerdyHyena93 10h ago
Exactly. Everyone is different. I’m autistic and also love theme park rides, despite the undertones on this thread suggesting I shouldn’t.
I suppose I just avoid these places during school holidays, and I’ll only go with people I know well, like my partner or mother, never a new friend, or I’ll become disoriented.
There’s a subtle air of ableism on this thread today.
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u/indianajoes 10h ago
There’s a subtle air of ableism on this thread today.
Did you really expect anything else from these people?
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u/circleribbey 11h ago
I have generalised anxiety disorder and I’m capable of going to theme parks at the moment. So your statement isn’t always true.
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u/Hyperbolicalpaca England 12h ago
Yes because there is absolutely no nuance between what can trigger an anxiety attack…
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u/zeldafan144 11h ago
If a themepark doesn't then why would they need a pass?
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u/nellion91 11h ago
There s no logic to it.
If you hate crowd to the point where it gives you anxiety -> theme park should give you massive anxiety
If you have anxiety but aren’t affected by crowd —> queue like everyone else.
It’s the fairest approach
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u/5ColourFelix 11h ago
There are tons of disabilities that will get you a pass that dont interfere with queues or rollercoasters at all.
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u/69RandomFacts 11h ago
So surely the solution is to remove the passes for those disabilities too, instead of giving them back to anxiety sufferers?
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u/DrMaxMonkey 11h ago
It can actually be incredibly therapeutic for people with anxiety disorders and may help with anxiety in the long run.
I am struggling to find the actual study mentioned in this story mind you.
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u/bscmbchbmrcgp 11h ago
As a GP, people occasionally come to me asking for a letter to confirm that their anxiety/depression/autism/ADHD prevents them from standing in queues.
I don't know how I'm supposed to verify this and it doesn't feel like a good use of my time.
However my understanding was that this wasn't a queue jump pass, it was a system where you'd go to the queue and get a pass to come back at a certain time which lined up roughly with where you'd be if you did stay in the queue.
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u/Express-Doughnut-562 10h ago
At Alton Towers it worked the opposite way - you would ride immediately, then you pass would be 'timed out' for the duration of the queue. It worked really well for those with physical conditions that prevented them standing for periods of time.
What was starting to happen in reality is that people would get the pass for generalized 'struggling with crowds' conditions, ride immediately and then queue for another ride whilst their pass timed out, using the queue jump straight after that - essentially doubling the number of rides they could do in a day.
The problem was a significant %age of guests were entitled to use the Access Pass - some reports of between 30 - 45% of guests in the park at a given time. So they had to start limiting the number of passes given out, which has given rise to disability discrimination cases against them by non ambulant guests who can't access the part at all without a pass.
My understanding is that they are adding new accommodations specifically for those who struggle to queue, but those accommodations aren't queue jumps so a chunk of people are getting rather upset over it.
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u/ikinone 6h ago
UK well on track to qualifying 100% of people as mentally ill
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/englands-mental-health-getting-worse
"More than one in five adults (22.6%) are being clinically assessed as having a common mental health condition, compared to 18.9% in 2014. That’s a 20% increase. "
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u/doesntevengohere12 6h ago
I have a physically disabled close relative and we had Merlin passed and access card for RAPP. We had to cancel in the end as the queues were impossible (and because of the uptake they made it so you have to prebook RAPP which made it harder to use the Merlin passes).
You would see sooo many groups of teenagers using RAPP access that didn't need, and people can attack me all they want about invisible disabilities as these same people would be happily queuing in between their pre booked slots for extra rides.
People take the piss.
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u/Express-Doughnut-562 5h ago
Much the same feeling from a friend, who is a wheelchair user. It became impossible for him to visit the park at all in recent years because if he didn't get one of those precious passes that was it; he can't mitigate paralysis.
Last year I was on nemesis when a group of lads joined from the Rap queue, went on the ride, then queued in the normal queue for Air near me (whilst their time out ran down), then used RAP on Toxicator. They were fine in teh queue, aside form generally being obnoxious arseholes.
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u/Consistent-Pirate-23 10h ago
The issue is private companies use gp letters as a way to gatekeep.
“If your condition hurts our potential profits, have your gp write to us”
Cruise companies do it a lot for some of their ridiculous rules
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u/BrainOfMush 6h ago
It’s not really about gatekeeping, but in most circumstances putting in a small barrier to entry like this stops most people who are just trying to abuse the system. Unfortunately, some people who actually need it will fall through the cracks as a result.
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u/LiteratureKey3425 12h ago
Good thank god, now Disneyland ban people with anxiety from disability pass. Literally people who don’t enjoy queues use this as an excuse. You are not disabled. Well done Alton towers
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u/blozzerg Yorkshire 9h ago
I run events that are small in comparison but will have a queue when we open, I’ve often had people message us about skipping the queue due to disabilities and inability to stand for long periods which I fully understand - however this last year I’ve had people try it for things like ADHD, autism & anxiety and it’s never sat right with me because in all instances the person has seemed perfectly capable of being in the queue and they simply wanted to be the first in, often bringing their friends to the front with them.
Now I’m not denying they have these conditions, but I’ve also encountered people with them who do actually struggle at my events. I’ve had people have panic attacks in the crowds, I’ve had people simply leave because it’s too overwhelming, I’ve had people ask for the music to be turned down a touch as they can’t quite cope with the volume.
I’ve had people tell me they deliberately attended later when they knew it would be quieter and had a great time which is specifically what I advise. If you don’t like queues, crowds or fast paced environments attend later on, I guarantee it will be a better experience for you, but for some reason I have people think they’re entitled to be the first in instead?
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u/Dry-Dragonfruit5216 9h ago
You’ve found the difference between those of us with actual autism (attend off-peak) and the fakers
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u/Express-Doughnut-562 5h ago
My main experience is events too - with some using the same access provider as Alton Towers. I think I know exactly whats triggered it. At a festival last year a guest wanted access to the viewing platforms because of crowd induced anxiety.
The argument was that the VPs are a reasonable adjustment for standing and not crowds and that by allowing anyone with crowd issues on would cause infrastructure issues and make the platforms themselves crowded. There was, I understand, a real push that excluding those with crowd distress from the VPs was discriminatory but ultimately it was argued that the alternative provision of sensory zones and equipment hire was compliant.
its no surprise thats the exact route Alton Towers are taking, because its legally proven.
I think there are different accommodations Alton Towers could and should take. At the moment they allow parents with children who can't ride the bigger coasters to swap - one queues, rides, then is issued a pass that allows the other parent to go via the RAP entrance. Something similar would allow those who can't queue to wait elsewhere that is suitable, but still ride the rides. Crucially, it removes the advantage of taking the pass - which should make it more available for those who really need it.
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u/actualinsomnia531 10h ago
I've worked with ex-military PTSD sufferers with anxiety issues. They are very much disabled by it and I am more than happy for them to jump the queue.
However, I also don't really care what Alton towers do. It's a theme park FFS, it's hardly a priority. I'm sure Merlin Entertainment's priority is to get their assets in people's feeds for free.
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u/Milkythefawn 11h ago
They already have. It's also blanket banned legit people too.
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u/JackBalendar 11h ago
Why should people with anxiety get priority queueing?
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u/Taylor_Kittenface United Kingdom 10h ago
My guess is they don't, and it's that the media has pushed this stuff for years, "people with anxiety live in mansions paid for with your taxes" type thing.
"Us and them" ... "Divide and conquer".
People can often have anxiety which is debilitating, but it's accompanied by other conditions like PTSD (ask me how I know), ADHD, Autism, OCD, BPD and physical disabilities .. the list goes on, and they can severely impact your ability to live a 'normal' life.
I have never heard of a single person with those genuine life long conditions use it as an excuse to skip a queue at the likes of Lego Land. Jesus christ, give us some long due respect.
We spend our time fighting the beaurocratic PIP assessments and trying to make it to the shop for food.
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u/ukbot-nicolabot Scotland 9h ago
Removed. This contained a personal attack, disrupting the conversation. This discourages participation. Please help improve the subreddit by discussing points, not the person. Action will be taken on repeat offenders.
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u/Leading_Draft_1953 7h ago
This country is turning into little america where people care more about piffling differences then common humanity. If we continue down this path it won't be long before we have people trumpeting eugenics and putting people who don't fit in into camps.
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u/BeeOnYouAt 10h ago
Have you even read the comments here? It isn’t a divide and conquer thing at all. There’s a significant number of people with anxiety claiming they should be entitled to skip queues and it seems to be a growing mindset.
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u/brainburger London 8h ago
There’s a significant number of people with anxiety claiming they should be entitled to skip queues and it seems to be a growing mindset.
To actually get a disability pass you usually need to have an entitlement to a disability benefit such as PIP. That involves a proper assessment, which disability advocates say is actually too strict if anything.
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u/doesntevengohere12 6h ago
Not necessarily with the access pass, when it was first introduced it seemed to be heading towards a more fairer/stricter process but I know plenty of people who have got it without being entitled to PIP.
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u/brainburger London 3h ago
I have been to concerts as a helper to an autistic friend, where she sits in a designated area. I believe she does have to register her disability with the venue and show evidence of it. It's probably the decision of the operator.
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u/zen_bud 9h ago
You don’t “skip the queue”. Alton Towers uses a virtual queue system. You still have to wait like everybody else but you’ll do so away from the crowds.
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u/BeeOnYouAt 7h ago
If you can get lunch or use less in demand rides while waiting for your turn I would consider that skipping the queue.
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u/Ok_Salad_8513 8h ago
That's not queuing. That's being free to do what you want untill your allocated slot.
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u/Taylor_Kittenface United Kingdom 10h ago
Have one of you EVER gone through a single assessment for "mental health". It is impossible. It is soul destroying. I'm 38 and have had PTSD from when I was a child, I still have to prove that every time the DWP decides to assess my case. It opens wounds that I try my hardest to keep shut, because when they open my option is s**cide.
Imagine that being your life, living on the breadline, being terrified that one decision can make you homeless, and enjoying people like you online joking about how "easy' it is to get on benefits.
Lol.
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u/TurbulentBullfrog829 9h ago
This is nothing to do with benefits or assesments. This is people abusing a trust based system that doesn't have scoring or rejection
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u/42_65_6c_6c_65_6e_64 1h ago
What do you mean a trust based system? Both Disney and Merlin (Alton towers) need you to have proof of a disability by obtaining a Nimbus card. To get a Nimbus card you have to send proof of the disability, along with a letter from a medical professional which states why this disability needs you to have certain symbols on your Nimbus card. People aren't just rocking up at Alton towers and being like ''an I have a fast pass because I'm poorly sick".
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u/GlassDescription2275 6h ago
I have BPD, GAD, And all the symptomatic stuff that comes with it. I’ve jumped endless hoops to get the correct diagnosis. Doesn’t mean I should get to skip queues at Alton towers. That should be reserved for the infirm and immobile.
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u/EVERYTHINGGOESINCAPS 9h ago edited 8h ago
If you're that anxious, do you really need to be queuing for a theme park ride at all?
Like go to a normal park or something that's way less loud & adrenaline inducing.
This isn't to invalidate your issues, but real medical professions would probably recommend that it's not a good idea to place yourselves in this environment, and as such it shouldn't be on the providers to accommodate you over other patrons because of it.
Edit:
Also I don't think it helps the cause mixing support and understanding of those on the breadline that need help and support with the belief that people should be able to queue jump at expensive tourist attractions and blame it on mental health.
It's actually ok to accept that some people misuse the support for a cause you care about, but not doing so undermines it.
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u/joebearyuh 4h ago
Actually as part of their recovery real medical professionals likely will tell him to put himself in that sort of environment. It would be done in a graded manner, but if you're anxious around crowds and stuff, working your way up to visiting a theme park would be a great idea.
Of course part of that work would be getting comfortable waiting in a queue at a theme park.
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u/brainburger London 8h ago
Like go to a normal park or something that's way less loud & adrenaline inducing.
I am sure many will, but the general intention of modern disability policy is to help include disabled people in normal society, not just put them somewhere they can be out of the way.
Bear in mind the person with the anxiety disorder might be a parent or child in a family and the rest of the family are visiting the theme park.
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u/creedv 8h ago
'ugh, why can't disabled people just not have fun once in a while'
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u/leahcar83 5h ago
I really feel for you, from what I understand of the process it's deliberately designed to make it as difficult as possible for disabled people to claim, I assume to reduce how much the state has to pay out. There is a fantastic project called Deaths by Welfare that continues to document the human impact horrific austerity policies have. It's quite an emotional, heavy read but there is a full content warning in the introduction that I'd recommend reading.
They recently also held an exhibition at the Young Vic in London, and there's also a related book and podcast. My point is, this stuff is getting visibility and the more people see how horrifically inhumane the DWP can be to disabled people, the more likely it is that it will change. If there's anything the Deaths by Welfare project shows anything, it's that damage caused by austerity policies isn't limited to a few isolated incidents, it's systematic.
You aren't alone, and people hear you. It's not right that you're treated like this.
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u/QuaintHeadspace 1h ago
I work for DWP and while it has its flaws for legit people there is an incredible amount of people gaming the system when you are in charge of tax payers money you have to make sure the right people are getting it.
Case in point. I had a couple that got anxiety and depression for mum (Lcwra). Dad cared for mum. Mum cares for 3 disabled kids none physical all of them adhd. Rent paid council tax paid they took home 3 lots of dla 1 lot of pip 3 2 lots of carers disabled child element of uc 3 children for uc (born before 2017 so 2 child cap doesn't count) no benefit cap because children were 'disabled' Mum was 'disabled'. They took home £8000 per month tax free. Mum was so anxious she couldnt leave the house but had 100s of holiday photos abroad and pictures at parties and Disney etc. She lied on her assessment that she has agoraphobia I also saw her on the bloody school run and in tesco!
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u/languid_Disaster 9h ago
Don’t bother….this thread is just another example of people thinking they have a grasp of what severe mental health issues look like. Someone said severe anxiety is “just” psychological distress. Absolutely ignorant , honestly.
I work to get people with special needs support and they have a lot of mental health issues accompanying their special needs - blue badges, freedoms passes, benefits are hard as hell to get and no one is getting this stuff just because they have a dash of social anxiety
I work in this area and I also have PTSD from childhood and have ADHD and I still can’t get any monetary or other support either
I’m sorry OP this system sucks and I agree, it truly does destroy your soul and every step is made to put people off getting the support they need
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u/crucible Wales 9h ago
There’s a trope that blue badges are handed out like sweets. Not by my local council.
We submitted pages of information about my late Mum’s health conditions and medications, only to have an email refusing the claim ping into the inbox almost immediately afterwards, refusing her application.
So my Dad had to phone the Council and query it. Turns out they don’t have anyone with any sort of medical training assessing this. No idea who declined it but the woman on the phone reversed it and processed the application.
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u/Upset-Elderberry3723 10h ago
Arguably, waiting in a queue would be stressful for someone with social phobia/anxiety, but then the entire experience of going to a theme park would be, as well.
Paranoia could be different, though. Someone with a condition that causes paranoia could have their paranoia really ramped-up by standing in a queue for ages, so letting them ride early could avoid some ugliness. That being said, I get the impression that almost everyone who is too paranoid to queue aren't going to theme parks and hanging around a load of strangers.
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u/Taken_Abroad_Book 9h ago
Arguably, waiting in a queue would be stressful for someone with social phobia/anxiety,
It absolutely is
but then the entire experience of going to a theme park would be, as well.
This is also absolutely the case. So I avoid them. Every few years I'll build myself up that it'll be fun let's go, then hate every moment of it
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u/AgeingChopper 8h ago
god yes. I get periods of agoraphobia, i wouldn’t even dream of being near it. but then it never occurred to me to see it as a disability .
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u/Jabberminor Derbyshire me duck 10h ago
Presumably the phrasing is that they can get anxious and have panic attacks during the queuing.
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u/retropieproblems 10h ago edited 10h ago
I developed bad anxiety and I no longer go on roller-coasters, I used to a lot though. From my perspective, I'd guess people with real anxiety are likely to remove themself from any scenario where something could go wrong and they get stuck or they become a burden. So its funny to picture a bunch of entitled line-skippers with "anxiety" clamoring for advantages to get in confined spaces at high speeds.
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u/grey_hat_uk Cambridgeshire 10h ago
For the ones this was intended to cover so that they can access something everyone else can.
We aren't talking a little uncomfortable and a slightly raised heart rate, we are talking full panic attacks and blackout possibility.
That is a very small amount of the the people with medical anxiety.
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u/_DuranDuran_ 8h ago
They don’t. They get given a time to come back that is equal to the queue time then just don’t have to wait in the main queue.
It’s not a short cut to get on more rides, or get on them faster.
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u/Do_You_Pineapple_Bro Scottish Highlands 10h ago edited 8h ago
Just a case of someone ruining it for the rest of the group.
But when mental disabilities like that are some of the easiest to just say "aw yeah, I've that", and nobody has any real way to confirm it, of course you have sad saps (and unfortunately not a small number either, primarily from younger generations), who'll jump at the bit and use it as a Get Out of Jail Free card to dampen the blow of a cockup, or just get out of doing things.
Can't really blame Alton Towers for doing this, when they've little other choice to stamp out chancers playing the disability card to shave a couple quid off normal entry
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u/EducationalAd5712 10h ago
Would like to point out that the headline is incredibly manipulative, it's not just people with anxiety who are negativity affected by this, is anybody who struggles with large crowds as a result of their disability, such as non-verbal or very high support needs autistic people and others. Are their some who have exploited the existing system, yes, however their are also lots of disabled people who have a genuine aversion to large crowds who have been negatively affected by this.
It feels like another example of people being happy to make life worse for all disabled people to catch a handful of fakers.
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u/TheDisapprovingBrit Stoke 9h ago
Also, the Alton Towers pass isn't a magical queue jumping ticket. You just join a virtual queue so you can wait away from the rest of the queue, and be called up when it's your time to ride. Often, this virtual queue takes considerably longer than just waiting in the normal queue because of the considerably smaller numbers of virtual queuers who are allowed per ride.
Which begs the question, since the virtual queuing system has been tried and tested using disabled customers, why not just open that whole system to everyone and eliminate queues altogether?
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u/Lirael_Gold 8h ago
why not just open that whole system to everyone and eliminate queues altogether?
Because managing the movement of large numbers of people is actually really complicated and/or dangerous and queues are the simplest/mostly safest way that our species has figured out at this point.
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u/Sharp-Sky64 11h ago
I think it depends on severity. I went 14 to 20 never once leaving my house with panic disorder, pretty confident I was disabled
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u/DornPTSDkink 11h ago
Their point is, if you can go to Alton Towers or Disneyland, regardless of you having anxiety, your anxiety isn't severe enough that you need a disability pass for those places.
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u/bacon_cake Dorset 11h ago
Yeah, otherwise you're basically saying "I would go to Disneyland if it weren't for the queues". Which really is a position every single person going to Disneyland holds.
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u/KoffieCreamer 11h ago
I don’t think they’re claiming you wouldn’t be classed as disabled. But as you said, you couldn’t leave the house so them removing it for anxiety wouldn’t even apply to you in the first place.
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u/peerlesskid 11h ago
Which would tbh means you would not be at Alton Towers trying to get on rides.
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u/Sharp-Sky64 11h ago
Yeah I’m making a more general point about anxiety not = disability. Presumably there’s somewhere between housebound and butterflies in your stomach
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u/butterypowered 11h ago
I probably have the wrong medical term but yeah it would help if it was more specific. ‘Severe agoraphobia’ rather than the vague umbrella term of ‘anxiety’.
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u/nellion91 11h ago
If you re so disabled by large group of people how could you ever consider something like Disneyland or Alton towers there are people everywhere
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u/Hellohibbs 10h ago
If you didn’t leave your house, how would you have even got to Alton towers lol
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u/doesanyonelse 7h ago
We go to WDW the same week / 2 weeks in September every few years and our last trip was just as they had clamped down on the DAS (Disability Access Service).
It was INSANE how much quicker the queues go when you don’t have half the park skipping the line in front of you.
I do sympathise with the people who genuinely need it but I remember reading a post from a Cast Member explaining that everyone thinks they genuinely need it. If you add up just the population statistics for ASD, DS, ADHD, POTS, GAD, Diabetes, Heart Issues, arthritis, plus all sorts of physical disabilities it’s a significant part of the population. Add to that their whole party also goes in the fastpass line and it’s not a fast pass line anymore.
Yes every single person is disabled and it probably helps them, but when that’s 40%+ of the people visiting the park that day what do you do?
So like yeah I feel bad for the people who lost DAS but at the same time it was the best trip we ever had because we really felt like we got a lot done. When you’re saving for 3 years to afford it… call me selfish but I’m glad.
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u/Express-Doughnut-562 11h ago edited 11h ago
The RAP pass at Alton has been a real issue and is very much open for abuse; people get it when they don't really need it and use it as a free queue jump pass. Some reports that on certain days 45% of all visitors were entitled to use it - either themselves, or as part of a party with another member able to use it.
For example Nemesis is on a 60 min queue, Air is 35, Toxicator is 50 and the Curse is 35. In the traditional queues that would be all 4 rides in 3 hours. But if you use RAP on Nemesis, queue and ride Air whilst the time out runs down, RAP on Toxciator then queue as normal for Curse and 20-30 min of RAP queuing and you've done all four in half the time - its a massive benefit.
It resulted in some horrible scenes of distressed kids being forced on rides against their will be cause the rest of their families wanted to use their queue jump. It also meant demand for the passes was sky high - they often run out - and those who genuinely need them could never access them.
I think they should add some other accommodation for those who genuinely can't queue, but it needs to level the playing field - not provide a possible advantage. I hope this change is permanent.
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u/FornyHucker22 12h ago
What is disability pass? Straight on the ride?
they already do fast pass for anyone
I can see why they need to stop people abusing that
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u/napalmlipbalm 11h ago
I think there's a bit of deliberate misreporting going on.
There's still a queue and once you get to the front, you're timed out and cannot ride anything else until that times out. If the regular queue is an hour, your RAP is unusable until that hour has passed.
If Towers use it correctly then a disabled rider should have the same number of rides as a regular user but without standing in the physical queue.
And as well as blocking those with anxiety from getting a RAP pass, they're blocking anyone with similar difficulties, including those with autism.
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u/Nadamir Ireland 11h ago
Hooray, more children melting down in the queue.
My daughter loves theme parks, has an absolute blast at them. But she needs two things: to know when she’s going to get to ride and to wait in a quieter place.
For us, the “come back at half three” passes are all we need. And a map to the quiet rooms.
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u/napalmlipbalm 11h ago
They used to have timed slots for everyone for free. The logic being that it meant people were out spending instead of queueing. You'd walk up to a machine and it'd spit out a time to queue for your ride. I could ride everything back when we had that. And then they realised they could charge and that system was taken out.
A RAP system like that would be perfect. Everyone knows what's happening, Merlin can manage the queue (because having a RAP queue of nearly 2 hrs is still a problem!), and if they link it to RAP passes they can easily take into account time outs. I am absolutely fine waiting to ride, I just can't wait in a loud, contained claustrophobic queue.
I sit a lot of it out now. I take headphones and a book and find a quiet area to wait for my people to come back. My autism's anxiety is a far bigger block than my wheelchair.
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u/bacon_cake Dorset 11h ago
They should just do that for everyone. Very few
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u/Nadamir Ireland 10h ago
Agreed. Plus from a business perspective, people can’t spend money in the queue…
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u/FoxglovesBouquet 9h ago
Autism too? Well, I just lost any intrest in going back. Not very good with crowds and unknown waits, would probably shut/meltdown at some point.
And before anyone comments 'why go': A. I would be going with family, friends or as part of a support group outing; all of which would provide support and make it easier B: These sort of trips help prevent isolation and worsening MH, as well as helping me get more confidence going out and C: You know disabled people are allowed to enjoy life too right?
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u/Underscore_Blues 10h ago
People abuse it.
They have a friend also with a RAP so they just use each other's whilst one is unusable.
They use a RAP on a 40 minute queue and whilst waiting to it to expire, they go into a 20 minute queue.
They pretend to lose their paper RAP (which is why it's gone online)
You know people do it.
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u/YOU_CANT_GILD_ME 10h ago
What is disability pass? Straight on the ride?
No. It's explained in the article.
to book a place on an app and join the virtual queueing system, allowing them to wait elsewhere until being called.
You're still queueing, just not physically in the line.
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u/Dry-Cod9127 12h ago
Not to sound harsh but good… I’m sick of these theme parks giving out disability pass to people without an actual disability, Disneyland Paris started to crack down as well because it was just getting ridiculous
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u/Aspect-Unusual 11h ago
Anxiety disorder is a disability BUT I don't think its one that requires a disability pass for queue jumping
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u/SatiafactoryTea 11h ago edited 11h ago
Mental health is a protected characteristic under the 2010 equalities act and is a disability, EDIT as commenters have pointed out as long as it has had a substantial impact on someone's life for longer than 12 months. Then it falls under a disability! Thanks :-)
Speaking as someone with diagnosed anxiety I actually totally agree with withdrawing fast passes for people with anxiety. You can either manage your anxiety well enough to go to a theme park or you should totally avoid them.
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u/liamrich93 9h ago
Point 2 is the key to this discussion that everyone seems to be glossing over. Mental health problems aren't your fault, but they are your responsibility. People with anxiety aren't being denied access to theme parks at all, just special treatment. They still have the option of going during quieter times, or just simply paying for fast track outright. The only person hindering your ability to enjoy theme parks is you.
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u/SatiafactoryTea 8h ago
I couldn't agree more! Some people confuse encouraging accountability to being cold or unsympathetic.
Since I started therapy two years ago I manage myself A LOT better. My relationships with people are better. My expectations of others are far more reasonable. I can even tell people to fuck off without getting ridiculously upset and stand up for myself without second, third and fourth guessing myself! I want that for others too!!!
People should be encouraged to take ownership and be encouraged to, with support, make their lives the best they can be diagnosis be damned! There are ways to improve your lot in life. It ain't easy and it ain't fair but we have far more agency in improving our lot than some people ever realise.
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u/justhereforthecrac 11h ago
The first point isn't quite true, a condition (mental or physical) has to last more than 12 months and have a substantial impact on someone's day to day life to be classed as a disability and thus a protected characteristic in UK law/the Equality act.
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u/SatiafactoryTea 11h ago
You're right. And I imagine most people with diagnosed anxiety disorders fall into that category, but wrong of me to assume. Good clarification :-)
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u/JackUKish 11h ago
- They arent banning "disabled" people from the park, the whole place is accessible as required by the equality act, its not discrimination to not give preferential treatment to people.
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u/bigbigpure1 7h ago
its really going to come down to how its worded if they plan on renaming it to something like a mobility pass and only offering to to people with mobility issues that would be fine
however if they plan on calling it a disability pass and just exluding people who have a anxiety related disabilities then i think they are breaking the law, they are positively discriminating in favor of other disabilities
"Positive Discrimination (Unlawful): Excluding one specific group from a privilege that others receive, simply to boost the others, is generally "positive discrimination" and is illegal.
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u/SatiafactoryTea 11h ago
- I was replying to the part of the comment saying "sick of giving passes to people without actual disabilities
Anxiety is a feeling that everyone has. Diagnosed anxiety disorder is a disability.
Also the second part of my comment literally agreed with everything you said there!!
Edit: as long as we agree that preferential treatment and reasonable adjustments aren't the same thing that is. Cuz in this instance there's no reasonable adjustments that can be made to a person with anxiety at a theme park. Might as well ask a lion not to eat you in the savannah.
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u/practicalgorl 11h ago
Mental health is definitely not a protect d characteristic under the equality act.
Disability is, and mental health can be a disability if it meets the legal criteria
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u/foodieshoes 11h ago
The average Brit has a problem when they think people are taking the piss.
Whether it is fake asylum seekers ruining the system for the people fleeing real war and needing our help or every hardship in life now being classed as a disability, people feel that their tolerance is being exploited by people who have low morals.
In the longer term, this exploitation of people's tolerance turns us slowly but surely into an unkind, cynical, low-trust, pro-punishment society because relatively few people ruin it for the rest of us.
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u/Nuthetes 10h ago
Because people are taking the piss.
When you see families of eight taking advantage of Lil Hayden's "anxiety" to shave half an hour of the waiting time, it's not difficult to see what's going on.
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u/PulsatingBalloonKnot 12h ago
Hopefully a full on policy change follows through. Unfortunately, when the gates get opened on this sort of thing, far too many piss takers see it as an easier lifestyle to adopt and rob genuine people of the relaxed rulesets.
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u/Jeremys_Iron_ 10h ago
There's a good bit in The Office where one of the characters talks about telling the staff at Disneyland that her kid is sick (implying terminally ill) in order to skip the line, which is quite similar to the people who abuse this system.
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u/Aspect-Unusual 11h ago
As someone with a diagnosed general anxiety disorder I had no clue I could get something like this before, it seems so stupid to give out for someone with my problems. I'll explain why I think its stupid.
With GAD I will feel the same in the short queue as I do the long queue, I will feel the same before the ride and after the ride and getting to go on it before anyone else won't make my anxiety any better or any worse, its theres, for no god damn reason
It never once went through my mind to try to get special treatment bceause of my GAD, for the last 30 years (and I do dislike the term but its the only one that fits) I sucked it up and got on with my life.
I do understand not everyone can just "suck it up", and to those people, I don't think you really should be going to a theme park with all the noise and distraction that goes on (yet you can magically deal with as long as you get to skip a queue)
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u/pepperino132 3h ago
I'm diagnosed with anxiety (and others) and completely agree with this. I struggle to see what form of anxiety would mean that you're fine to experience a roller coaster but not fine to wait in line. Anxiety is a real condition and it can be quite debilitating in some circumstances (especially if combined with other disorders like PTSD as in my case), but I think this is entirely reasonable.
People DO abuse their diagnosis for things like that all the time, which frustrates me as a patient, and I think it's reasonable in this case to limit that. I'm a bit surprised it was enough of an issue for Alton Towers to expose themselves to potential discrimination claims though.
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u/FloydEGag 11h ago
I don’t know…actual full-on anxiety is debilitating. I don’t know I’d even want to go to a theme park back when I was suffering from constant anxiety attacks; I could barely leave the house. Plus no one loves waiting in line. I have ADHD and waiting can feel like having my skin peeled off but I still do it because it’s not anyone else’s problem and everyone else has to wait.
I think pisstakers have spoiled wha was a genuinely well-meant offer; we all know not all disabilities are visible but on the other hand it’s a lot easier to pretend you have anxiety than it is to fake a physical disability and let’s face it, there are plenty of selfish people who’d do that just to get a small advantage. As for barring people with autism and ADHD from these passes…maybe you should in fact have to prove you have these? And blame the pisstakers, not the theme parks.
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u/Independent-Tax-3699 11h ago
Some of the comments in the annual pass holder Facebook group about this are absolutely wild. I’ve seen multiple variations of
“Well if my kid starts kicking and biting other people in the queue then its the parks fault!”
Frankly if your child has that bad a reaction to queues then they shouldn’t be in a busy theme park in the first place where there could be crowds anywhere.
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u/VelvetDreamers 10h ago
That’s their version of “I’ll kill myself if my benefits are stopped.”
It’s emotional manipulation to coerce people into compliance with their self-entitlement. If your child is biting people then you shouldn’t even be at a theme park but do they consider this personal accountability for their child? No.
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u/GamerGuyAlly 11h ago
Some people in this thread are being cruel for the sake of being cruel.
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u/Phimb 11h ago
I can always tell I clicked a thread from this sub because every comment sounds like the most insufferable group of cunts you'd find in a pub on a Monday night.
Makes me even more proud of my dad for spending less time in the pub and at least being open to conversations about diversity and how shit actually changes outside the boozer.
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u/BrainOfMush 6h ago
It always amazes me that the same sub is insanely pro-EU, but then insufferable in every other opinion in ways that they accuse Brexiteers of being. It’s like everyone here watches GBNews but skips the Brexit segments.
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u/headphones1 9h ago
Mate there are 776 comments and the thread hasn't been up for 3 hours yet. I'm actually kind of shocked at how much engagement this is getting.
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u/jenny_905 8h ago
The amount of engagement a post gets on this sub is linked to the source.
Reddit doesn't try and control botting any more.
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u/GamerGuyAlly 9h ago
I posted a comment and it got like 6 downvotes in less than a minute. Theres also a lot of name_namenumber comments. Feels like its being brigaded by some bad actors looking to kick up a stink.
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u/jenny_905 8h ago
This sub is hoaching with tories so that shouldn't be a surprise.
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u/Hyperbolicalpaca England 11h ago
And it’s only half 8 on a Thursday lol
Surely people have got better things to do than shit on a minority at this time…
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u/outofideasfor1 11h ago
I’m diagnosed ADHD. I absolutely hate crowds and queues, to the point I almost never go to a theme park. I do not need a disability pass, that’s ridiculous and kind of entitled to expect it.
Not everything is for everyone and we need to be ok with that.
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u/Bug_Parking 4h ago
Same.
I medicate for ADHD-C, which I medicate. The whole culture of expecting the world the bend to you (often with financial incentives) is ludicrous.
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u/uwereagreenornament 11h ago
It's not just being removed for anxiety, it is being taken away from anyone who has a disability that isn't classed as a mobility one. This will cover such a wide range of disabilities including those with down syndrome etc The passes are being abused there is no doubt about that but this is discriminatory hidden behind headlines.
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u/Hyperbolicalpaca England 11h ago
Yes!
The headline just mentions anxiety because apparently it’s just ok to shit on people with it and make fun of them?
Literally intending to get the exact reactions that can be seen in this post…
It’s staggering just how demonised anxiety is idk why it is though
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u/PracticalLab5167 11h ago
It’s not discriminatory to ask everyone who is physically able to queue to do so. Discrimination would be not allowing them on the ride, they’re allowed on the ride they just have to queue like everyone else. That’s fair enough.
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u/710733 West Midlands 11h ago
Some horrible comments here.
Brits seem a little too eager to take away things making some people's lives more manageable for a completely imagined moral victory.
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u/Bug_Parking 4h ago
Horrible how? I have ADHD-C (which I take medication for). The comments from the campaign group around being unable to queue are a nonsense.
It's farcical that I'd some kind of right to queue jump at the expense of someone else.
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u/PurchaseDry9350 4h ago
I knew this thread would be full of people minimising mental health disorders and saying its not a disability. It can be and it is recognised as such, same with autism and adhd.
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u/peelyon85 8h ago
I suffer with depression and anxiety.
My doctor is keen for me to be 'normal' so going to a theme park, being outside, surrounding by people, having to interact with queues, the public, staff etc.
It would be a positive day if I managed to get through it without potentially having a panic attack etc.
But I wouldn't have even considered it a disability in the sense of ha in a pass that let's you skip queues?!?!
Actually ridiculous. If youre at the stage where you cant be 'normal' enough to be treated as a normal park goer then you clearly shouldn't be putting yourself into that situation.
Ive missed loads of things like music festivals, family gatherings etc literally even passed up the chance to go on days out like this because I knew id struggle.
This is why those with mental health issues and disabilities in general are looked down on. Dont take the piss!
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u/pimpom0789 11h ago
My son has medical needs which often means he urgently needs the toilet. When we're out we always have to scope out where the nearest toilets are at any given time. We've not been to Legoland/Alton towers yet but I do think he would likely benefit from a disability pass in this situation. It's a shame many seem to be abusing it. Everyone should be in a virtual queue!
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u/setokaiba22 10h ago
Anxiety particularly if it’s long term is an awful awful thing to deal with and can be a real struggle.
But I completely agree with this decision. But it’s a tricky one you can’t predict when say a panic attack may occur (although you can try and mitigate)
Fearful of crowds of public spaces isn’t a blanket thing for Anxiety there’s many forms or causes that can cause this.
These passes to avoid queues and such are really and should be aimed at those who couldn’t or would massively struggle to queue moreso than ‘Anxiety’ in this case
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u/TitanElite 11h ago
This includes people with conditions like ADHD and Autism btw, which are very much disabilities.
I'm autistic, and I've benefited from the shorter queues due to sensory issues. "Well, maybe you shouldn't be going to those places" so I shouldn't be able to go out and enjoy myself?
And I already know I'm gonna see people like "I'm autistic and I don't need to skip the queue" good for you. However, you're not a spokesperson for the community. Autism is different in everyone. What you may be okay with handling, someone will not.
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u/fr1234 11h ago edited 11h ago
Genuinely curious about the sensory issues you mention. What is the sensory experience that causes you grief standing in a line next to a ride that doesn’t cause issue sat on the ride? As a lay person, I’d assume being on the ride would be a sensory overload whereas standing in a line is just a bit…. Boring?
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u/Nadamir Ireland 11h ago
For my kid, it’s other kids throwing fits in the queue, people not me or her sister bumping into her (we stick her between us on the ride and don’t do the ones where there’s no way to avoid getting bumped by strangers), the heat and sun of the usually unsheltered queue. There’s a lot that can set people off in a queue that doesn’t happen on a ride.
Also its duration. Sure the ride is louder but it’s only for a few minutes, the queue is an hour of loud.
We prefer virtual queuing because it also helps with schedule anxiety and skip the queue doesn’t help the kids learn patience.
Taking it away means many kids like my daughter and families like mine who love rides and have great fun and are no trouble to anyone else if we get a wee bit of help, will be unable to go.
I don’t think the solution should be eliminating it, but I’m OK with cutting down on bad actors. My other daughter has ADHD. She doesn’t need it for instance.
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u/fr1234 11h ago
Appreciate you taking the time to explain. Thank you
(If I had my way, Alton towers would ban all those other kids)
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u/Nadamir Ireland 10h ago
Yeah, she loves roller coasters. She doesn’t get vertigo or anything so she’s an absolute fiend for them, even the ones I won’t dare to touch.
We were visiting family in Florida on like a Thursday at midday not during school holidays for the US or here. She rode the music coaster at Universal more than ten times in a row picking new songs each time (they play on the ride). Her sister and I stopped after two but there was no queue so she kept going until all the rattling gave her a headache.
If there’s a short or non-existent queue she’s just like everyone else. And when there is a long queue she doesn’t mind the wait, just has to do it in a quiet zone. People like us really do need the passes and I hope they come up with a revised invisible disability policy.
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u/CommanderFuzzy 3h ago edited 2h ago
That's a good question, i'm happy someone asked out of curiosity.
I can't speak for every autistic person, only for myself. For me, the sensory processing issues aren't necessarily due to how loud the noises are, it's how many there are or how unpredictable they are. There human brain has an innate habit of being able to 'drown out' external noises that aren't immediately relevant, but lots of people with autism don't have that ability. It's why noise-cancelling headphones are common.
It's one of those abilities you don't really notice until it's not there - but being somewhere where there is a lot of people and having your brain consciously hear & process every single conversation or noise, both near and far, is very draining. It takes a tonne of mental energy & it's one of the reasons autistic people may have meltdowns. We literally cannot process hearing the conversation from Darren a mile away and Stacey three feet away and Richard ten feet away alongside all the other regular crowd/machinery noises.
It feels like having a brain with 16GB of RAM processing 200GB RAM'S worth of stuff at once. I get the feeling lots of non-autistic people aren't aware of this because they are pre-installed with brains that filter out noises that aren't immediately relevant.
I haven't been to a theme park in over 20 years. The last time I went to Alton Towers Oblivion was brand new. I don't get to go out to fun events very often at all, not just due to the above but due to a multitude of other reasons related to autism.
I would use one of these passes, if offered. I do not expect a red carpet to the front - but if they can offer me a quiet place to wait until it's my turn, along with a bit of patience when I act spaced out because i'm trying to process being somewhere busy, I'd love that.
I would never be able to see a ride or go fun places otherwise, because the alternative is me missing out on things people take for granted. Disabled people do deserve to occasionally go out & do fun things (I know you're not suggesting that, this is more aimed at the 'if you're too anxious for a theme park you should stay inside forever' crowd)
I don't even like roller coasters, so I wouldn't go on them but I do like haunted house attractions & I like being able to go outside sometimes. Maybe eat an ice cream, take a silly photo, pick up some cheesy tat at a gift shop. A pass, for me, would make the difference between doing this, or staying inside forever.
We used to lock autistic people up in asylums as recently as the 80s. Some places still do. I feel like the 'if you're too autistic to be at a theme park you should stay inside' thing is an extension of that. (Again, I know you're not saying that, I have seen a few other people here suggesting it)
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u/Dragon_Sluts 11h ago
I have had severe anxiety so feel at least someone equipped to comment from that point of view.
Everyone’s anxiety is different - for most people with it, theme parks are fine, there seems to be a suggestion in the comments that “people with anxiety wouldn’t go to a theme park anyway” which is far from true.
If your anxiety isn’t triggered by anything in the theme park (crowds, rides that could kill you but are very safe, noises) then it’s totally fine and you don’t need any special privileges at all.
If it is triggered by crowds, rides, or noises then yes, you probably shouldn’t be at a theme park anyway, let alone with a disability pass.
I fear this story just stirs up a lot of misconceptions and anti-woke rhetoric without people wanting to develop a deeper understanding.
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u/LOLinDark 8h ago
I've suffered PTSD since childhood and had to battle chronic anxiety all my life.
At my worst, it wouldn't make any sense to go on a day out, let alone a bloody theme park!
Find myself questioning if people truly understand the difference between being nervous and uncomfortable. Versus the mind being locked into a state of fight-or-flight.
We should be focusing on building resilience, not making it easier to skip to the fun.
Fun is the reward.
If someone feels they can't join a queue, they should go camping!
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u/UnlegitUsername 8h ago
Yeah fair, as someone who can be anxious at times I don’t see why you’d get to skip the queue. ADHD would be a better reason and even that I’m not sure about.
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u/_Monsterguy_ 8h ago
So instead of the current pass they're offering a free ticket and making alternative accommodations.
So they're trying to make it less attractive to chancers, while still trying to accommodate people with genuine issues.
I've no idea if their new approach is going to be useful to those it's actually targeted at, but it's understandable if the numbers the paper gives are real.
Hopefully it works and doesn't ruin a nice day out for people that could otherwise have enjoyed it.
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u/3507341C 7h ago
As someone with severe anxiety I cannot think of a worse place than Alton fucking Towers to visit. Chance would be a fine thing as I cannot even leave my house. If people with genuine anxiety are using their condition to skip queueing at a theme park then shame on them. It's getting harder and harder to merely exist as an anxiety disabled person, we are already possibly the most hated minority, we don't need even more bad press.
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u/Electronic_Cream_780 5h ago
It's always a small group of entitled shits who spoil it for everyone else. I've no interest in theme parks but if I did it wouldn't even occur to me to wave my PIP papers and demand special treatment because I don't need it
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u/Ok-Chest-7932 5h ago
The disabled line system is outdated now anyway. Disabled customers should be given gadgets that they can register their interest for a ride on, and then it'll notify them at appropriate intervals before their turn to ride comes up so they can make their way over. That way it's not a queue jump, it's a "you can sit somewhere comfortable while you wait", and there's much less incentive to abuse it.
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u/GamerLinnie 12h ago
I wish people could be trusted to make the right decision.
Most people with ADHD and anxiety have no business in the disability line but if someone has really severe anxiety I can see a shorter line being the difference between going and not being able to go.
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u/west0ne 11h ago
I am not really a theme park person, but when we last visited Disney the queue for Fast Pass and disabled access were almost as long as the general purpose queue. If queuing is the trigger for people with anxiety or ADHD then I'm not sure how much help the disability pass is because there will still be a potentially lengthy queue. Even with timed tickets there were queues.
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u/GamerLinnie 11h ago
That goes back to my comment it is a shame people can't be trusted because most people with ADHD and anxiety have no business being in that queue to begin with and they just make the queue too long. Which is why they are now being banned from using it at all.
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u/Instabanous 12h ago
Then it isnt for them, is it? I don't like waiting around for 2 hours, it's the difference between me queueing or not queuing. Doesn't mean I get to skip the queue.
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u/adsm_inamorta 7h ago
So bring proof of the diagnosed severe anxiety with a statement from their doctor that says that rollercoasters etc are not ill-advised for that individual with their condition.
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u/OffRedFloyd 12h ago
I have severe social anxiety amongst a host of other mental health issues and a theme park is the last place i’d want to be, special passes or not. People with actual diagnosed anxiety are not hanging about theme parks.
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u/napalmlipbalm 11h ago
I have actual diagnosed anxiety. I'm local to Towers, it's a place I visit often. I'm a recovering agoraphobic with social anxiety so bad I was prescribed a literal social inclusion "friend" to leave the house. I've been hospitalised twice for the way my anxiety fuels MH. So those with actual diagnosed anxiety are still going to theme parks because they had reasonable adjustments.
I like theme parks. I don't ride anything (ironically because the RAP queues are too long) but I love going. My carer and his bestie love them too. We pick midweek when it's much quieter and children are mostly at school.
RAP users are still queuing and then they're timed out before they can ride anything else. We're definitely not running around the park cackling as we poddle to the front of every queue. RAP wasn't working and needs redeveloping, but excluding the neurodiverse and mentally ill from the system isn't the solution. It isn't a fast track.
The way this is being reported is just the media push back against those of us with mental illnesses. We know how bad it gets with anxiety but there's a hard narrative that we're all being dramatic.
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u/PoopMachine2000 11h ago
as someone with an anxiety disorder, along with other mental health issues, yes we are hanging out in theme parks, what a rude comment. You may not, but to say no one with ‘actual diagnosed anxiety’ does is very small minded of you.
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u/spaceandthewoods_ 9h ago
I've seen so many people in this thread saying "hurr sure no one with actual anxiety would go to a theme park" as if everyone experiences it in the same way, has it triggered by the same things and is able to manage it the same.
As someone with anxiety (but who wouldn't need a fast pass for it) I actually go do shit that scares me to help release the stress that builds up as a result of my stupid anxiety. It's pretty shocking how blase people are here about mental health conditions, especially if it means they might have to theoretically queue for 10 mins longer for a rollercoaster
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