Access Cards

[squiggly2902]

We're off next month and are taking my 85yr old MIL. She's not too good on her feet so we're taking a wheelchair and are hoping to get an access card (she's got a letter from her dr detailing her conditions) For those that have had these cards what do you say at city hall to request one?

 

[owensdad]

Just go to City Hall with any documentation you have and they will sort it out, I think if its just reduced mobility here then they will issue an Easy Access Card as opposed to the Priority Card.

It's easy enough to sort, just take a docs letter. The EAC will allow use of alternative queues and seperate parade viewing areas and the Priority Card allows you to avoid queues altogether.

 

[kizzabel]

Is there a difference in the amount of companions you are allowed with you from one pass to the other?

 

[janiebubble]

I'm pretty sure there is a difference. My dad got an easy access card when we last visited, it only allowed him and 1 other person to use the alternative exit (although IASW and the tram tour allowed me and my mum to go with him) The Priority Access card allows more people to accompany the person with the card.

 

[owensdad]

We get a priority card for our little boy and that allows an extra 4 persons.

 

[kizzabel]

I'm pretty sure there is a difference. My dad got an easy access card when we last visited, it only allowed him and 1 other person to use the alternative exit (although IASW and the tram tour allowed me and my mum to go with him) The Priority Access card allows more people to accompany the person with the card.

I thought this was the case. My mam is going to get a doctors letter before we go in May if her diabetes & knee pain hasn't settled down in the mean time. Her meds are making her a bit nauseous at the moment plus her old knee injury is playing up but hopefully all will be OK for May & she wont need to see about a EAC. Thanks

 

[lilacgems23]

Is there a difference in the amount of companions you are allowed with you from one pass to the other?

If you only have a doctors note you will get a easy access card which will only allow 1 other person with her.

If she has a blue badge she will get a priority card allowing you all to go together.

 

[kizzabel]

If you only have a doctors note you will get a easy access card which will only allow 1 other person with her.

If she has a blue badge she will get a priority card allowing you all to go together.

Thanks for that.

 

[juttawdw]

Sorry to hijack this tread.
What is the differnce betweens the cards.
I can't seem the figger it out.

 

[owensdad]

As far as I can tell the Easy Access Card allows use of alternative queues (ie exit lanes) although you are still required to wait the same as the normal queue, and allows use of designated areas for the shows and parades with 1 extra person. The Disabled Priority Card allows immediate access to rides without having to queue and also allows the use of designated areas for parades etc with 4 extra people.

 

[lilacgems23]

As far as I can tell the Easy Access Card allows use of alternative queues (ie exit lanes) although you are still required to wait the same as the normal queue, and allows use of designated areas for the shows and parades with 1 extra person. The Disabled Priority Card allows immediate access to rides without having to queue and also allows the use of designated areas for parades etc with 4 extra people.

You may have to que with either, they can only have X amount of pass holder on an attraction at one time. You have to wait a little regardless of which card you hold although only for a few minutes.

 

[owensdad]

Good point, not come across that much as there aren't many rides our son can do due to the severity of his disabilities. I remember this though on IASW last year, they said about some new rule that only 1 disabled rider/party at a time.

Its never really affected us though and the wait on IASW was only 10 mins.

 

[maburke]

If you only have a doctors note you will get a easy access card which will only allow 1 other person with her.

If she has a blue badge she will get a priority card allowing you all to go together.

We're from the US & so we don't have an official disability card (blue badge). Is there anything else we could bring to get a priority card?

Thanks for any & all advice!

 

[owensdad]

A doctors letter detailing the nature of the condition will do, we take various documents but really as soon as they see our son in his chair then they don't even bother to go through all the finer details and just sort the priority card for us.

 

[RoseBug]

Our DD gets a green priority card with a letter from her doctor and consultant. She is allowed 1 adult with her in parades/dreams and up to 4 for rides etc.

From what we saw if it was a child with the card it was only ever 1 adult for parades (saw a lot of arguing with CM's about it) whereas if it was an adult with either card they could have an adult and their children.

HTH

 

[RoseBug]

Also, once or twice people with EAC were infront of us in queues and we were given no priority over them (not that it bothered us; the queues weren't that long anyway)

 

[owensdad]

We have always been allowed for all 5 of us in the designated area when the parades are on or Dreams etc, it may be because we tend to go either side of the busy summer time ( june and september).

I think alot of how the cards are handled are down to the individual CM.

 

[lilacgems23]

My husband had a card and he was alone one day with our two eldest, they were 7 and 2 and he was told he could only take one with him on the majority of rides. He explained he was on his own with them but they didn't care. They expected him to leave one alone which was crazy as neither were old enough, they said he could go on with one then go straight back on with the other. City hall weren't interested at all when he complained. During parades we both had our cards and was again told we couldn't take all 3 children in only 1 each. We kicked up a stink and was finally allowed in. I just don't understand the stupidity of some of the cms.

 

[lilacgems23]

Our DD gets a green priority card with a letter from her doctor and consultant. She is allowed 1 adult with her in parades/dreams and up to 4 for rides etc.

From what we saw if it was a child with the card it was only ever 1 adult for parades (saw a lot of arguing with CM's about it) whereas if it was an adult with either card they could have an adult and their children.

HTH

It's the same if your an adult 1 person so if you have to choose an adult or a child. I don't understand it as the brochure says it's for you and a helper and children are too small to help you getting on / off rides etc and I'm unsure it said your helper had to be an adult.