Disability pass at Universal Orlando

[Minuet888]

So here in LA Universal we have an app where my special needs son had to register IBCCES. (and despite recent reports this is still a requirement in Univeral Hollywood. We show that to the booth outside guest services and he gets his card where they write the return time down (unless the line is under 30 minutes then he goes right on). When I went today I asked if this app is also utilized for the Orlando Universal parks and surprisingly they didn't know.
So have things changed in Orlando? Do I need to bring a doctors note saying what accomodations he needs (but no diagnosis).
Universal and Six Flags now require a doctors note for their disability passes, it seems DIsney might do better with their if they required a doctors note about what accommodations are needed and with no diagnosis,
SO I ask how does the Orlando Universal system work now?

 

[lanejudy]

To my knowledge Universal Orlando uses the same system. Since he is already approved for Hollywood, I believe you just need to reconnect and let them know you intend to visit the Orlando park as well.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Also the pros and cons of requiring a doctor’s note have been discussed at length already. I don’t know if it is worth rehashing but bottom line - it would be a VERY easy system to abuse and can simultaneously also create barriers to others who need it.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have noticed Guest Services at Universal Orlando is close to the entry for their version . It seems there is 2 lines …one for those that registered online and another with long wait with everybody else needing guest services for different problems.
Sorry I don’t have more info but they do have a specific name for their version.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have noticed Guest Services at Universal Orlando is close to the entry for their version . It seems there is 2 lines …one for those that registered online and another with long wait with everybody else needing guest services for different problems.
Sorry I don’t have more info but they do have a specific name for their version.

View attachment 926548

"IBCCES does not require or ask Guests to disclose their
medical or psychological diagnosis or condition."

Interesting to see this notice - I've seen multiple posts online where people submitted paperwork to IBCCES and were told they needed to submit, for example, a page of their child's IEP that included the diagnosis.
I've seen other posts where people reported they submitted a doctor note that said only, "Mr. Smith is my patient and is disabled."

 

[Evita_W]

"IBCCES does not require or ask Guests to disclose their
medical or psychological diagnosis or condition."

Interesting to see this notice - I've seen multiple posts online where people submitted paperwork to IBCCES and were told they needed to submit, for example, a page of their child's IEP that included the diagnosis.
I've seen other posts where people reported they submitted a doctor note that said only, "Mr. Smith is my patient and is disabled."

Yeah, I don't think there is any consistency on their end, which really makes this concept even more pointless.

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

"IBCCES does not require or ask Guests to disclose their
medical or psychological diagnosis or condition."

Interesting to see this notice - I've seen multiple posts online where people submitted paperwork to IBCCES and were told they needed to submit, for example, a page of their child's IEP that included the diagnosis.
I've seen other posts where people reported they submitted a doctor note that said only, "Mr. Smith is my patient and is disabled."

There isn’t consistency or an explanation of what needs to be included…which really irks me. That said, I’m not about to upload my medical records or provide my diagnosis. So I went conservative and worked with my doctor to copy from the third-party list of accommodations and put that in a doctor note. That was basically it. I was approved. I already had a mid-tier disability pass from Universal from before the change so my interview was simple.

Universal already had a data leak early on (reported by someone in the leak). My password with the third-party was reported to me as compromised and I only used it with that third-party and park.

The company focuses solely on autism and not other disabilities like needing to use a wheelchair, which is why IEPs are allowed as proof of disability. Getting a doctor note can be very time-consuming and expensive so the IEP is a shortcut for their crowd to easily get approved. Personal opinion working with their system is rest of us don’t matter to them. If we did then there’d be a simple form to fill out like for state-issued handicap parking permits.

I would be surprised if “Mr. X is disabled” would be enough for many parks because disabled is a broad term. Universal doesn’t give their disability pass for mobility issues but Six Flags does because only their ride exits are wheelchair-accessible.

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

You’ll need to go into your IBCCES account and select the Orlando park just as you have for Hollywood. I don’t know if you’ll need a new interview. I would pro-actively call Universal guest services and ask. In Orlando, once approved, you’ll get a specific reference code. It appears on my IBCCESS account. I don’t know if it is the same as Hollywood. I’m guessing an interview is needed since I’ve heard there are different disability pass types at the two parks.

In Orlando, if you have that Orlando-specific code then you can use the disability pass line at the front outside of the park. It might change though. These things always do.

 

[Ariel620]

How long is the universal pass active? If I do the IBCCESS in April, would I need to redo it for a visit later in the summer (when epic opens)?

 

[Keladry84]

How long is the universal pass active? If I do the IBCCESS in April, would I need to redo it for a visit later in the summer (when epic opens)?

Once you get a case number of Universal, it's active as long as you keep the IBCCESS active. You have to "renew" that 1x per year, but at least for me it was just logging in and checking two boxes and was automatic. So no you wouldn't need to redo it for April (although note there has been nothing said/released regarding how they will do accommodations in Epic....I'm assuming the same as the other parks but that's not guaranteed)

 

[Dancergirlmelody]

Do you think I would have any luck getting an AQR for just one ride at Universal? I love Harry Potter, but am very concerned that some of the ride queue, especially Hagrid's, would give me a panic attack before they're so tight and busy. I don't think I need or would qualify for the full pass, so I was wondering how they would react if I asked for a return to queue pass just once for Hagrid's.

 

[AnneK]

Do you think I would have any luck getting an AQR for just one ride at Universal? I love Harry Potter, but am very concerned that some of the ride queue, especially Hagrid's, would give me a panic attack before they're so tight and busy. I don't think I need or would qualify for the full pass, so I was wondering how they would react if I asked for a return to queue pass just once for Hagrid's.

Universal does not have a system to administer an AQR without the pass. They use codenames for the rides to ensure no one can fake a return time and write those down on the disability pass, then need to be signed off on upon return.

 

[mamaofsix]

Once you get a case number of Universal, it's active as long as you keep the IBCCESS active. You have to "renew" that 1x per year, but at least for me it was just logging in and checking two boxes and was automatic. So no you wouldn't need to redo it for April (although note there has been nothing said/released regarding how they will do accommodations in Epic....I'm assuming the same as the other parks but that's not guaranteed)

I'm a bit confused by the timing language on Universal Orlando's site. It says that you have to obtain your IBCCESS pass over 48 hours but within 30 days in advance of your trip. This seems to indicate that you couldn't get it months ahead?

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/accessibility-information

 

[Keladry84]

I'm a bit confused by the timing language on Universal Orlando's site. It says that you have to obtain your IBCCESS pass over 48 hours but within 30 days in advance of your trip. This seems to indicate that you couldn't get it months ahead?

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/accessibility-information

I got mine months ahead. I actually didn't even have tickets for a specific planned trip as for me going or not would depend on accommodations received. That was about a year and a half ago now though so it may have changed in the meantime. I would go ahead and start the process if you are planning to go anytime in the future.

 

[mamaofsix]

I got mine months ahead. I actually didn't even have tickets for a specific planned trip as for me going or not would depend on accommodations received. That was about a year and a half ago now though so it may have changed in the meantime. I would go ahead and start the process if you are planning to go anytime in the future.

Oh, okay. Good to know your experience. Because of the "within 30 days" language on Universal's site, I was planning to wait until a month before our trip. How long did it take for your IBCCESS to come through?

I do wonder if it's changed since you did it? Do you happen to remember if Universal had the "must have gotten IBCCESS within 30 days" language when you went?

 

[lanejudy]

I do wonder if it's changed since you did it? Do you happen to remember if Universal had the "must have gotten IBCCESS within 30 days" language when you went?

That actually doesn't make sense. IBCCES is valid for a year. If you applied for your local Six Flags park, you might already have it several months prior to a visit to Universal.

 

[mamaofsix]

That actually doesn't make sense. IBCCES is valid for a year. If you applied for your local Six Flags park, you might already have it several months prior to a visit to Universal.

True. I am very confused by the language. Unless I'm misinterpreting what they're saying on Universal's accessibility page?

 

[lanejudy]

True. I am very confused by the language. Unless I'm misinterpreting what they're saying on Universal's accessibility page?

View attachment 959085

I know that's what the UO website states. I'm simply pointing out that it doesn't make sense based on how the IBCCES process works. I don't know if UO means they'll only have their conversation with you within 30 days -- not 6 months prior? But even that doesn't seem to be consistent based on reports I've seen.

 

[Keladry84]

Oh, okay. Good to know your experience. Because of the "within 30 days" language on Universal's site, I was planning to wait until a month before our trip. How long did it take for your IBCCESS to come through?

I do wonder if it's changed since you did it? Do you happen to remember if Universal had the "must have gotten IBCCESS within 30 days" language when you went?

IBCCESS processed pretty quickly, within about a week. I think I got an email from Universal about a week after that asking for when I planned to go, and when would be a good time to call. After responding, they actually processed my case without the phone call and sent me a follow-up email with my Universal case number that I use each time I go to the parks.

I can't remember if the 30 days language was on there or not, but I don't think they are enforcing that strongly on their end. My guess would be if they suddenly get a lot of inquiries at once, then they might prioritize the order of calls for when people have trips coming up, but if they have time/manpower would process any/all.

 

[mamaofsix]

I know that's what the UO website states. I'm simply pointing out that it doesn't make sense based on how the IBCCES process works. I don't know if UO means they'll only have their conversation with you within 30 days -- not 6 months prior? But even that doesn't seem to be consistent based on reports I've seen.

Good point - maybe they mean they'll have the conversation within 30 days of the trip?

I know Disney is pretty strict about having to be within 60 days of your trip when registering, but it's good to know that Universal might be more flexible.