Not-so-Magic Kingdom

[DennisP]

The following editorial was published in the Home News Tribune on February 10, 2004. The editorial states that there has been a policy change regarding "fast passes" for handicapped people. Is anyone familiar with the details of this new policy (i.e. what documentation is required to obtain the special passes)?


Not-so-Magic Kingdom

A Home News Tribune editorial

It may seem like a trivial matter to most people, but parents of special-needs children know otherwise.

In late December, Walt Disney Co. changed its policy regarding the eligibility for so-called "fast passes" at its theme parks. The passes allow handicapped individuals to avoid long waits by moving straight to the front of amusement lines.

The pass is now limited to disabled people who have a mobility handicap or a terminal illness. The trouble with the new rules is that they exclude a whole class of patrons with "invisible" disabilities.

Previously, a doctor's letter stating the specific disability, or a copy of a student's individual education plan, which also lists the specific disability, was enough to obtain the special pass.

The policy is particularly tough on children and their guardians, who cope daily with particular physical and emotional conditions that certain unseen disabilities present. The rules also pose an inconvenience for other visitors to Disney resorts who may come in contact with children who ought not be forced to spend long periods in a slow-moving crowd.

Imagine a 7-year-old with autism who can stand in a line for only a short period of time; any prolonged wait could induce a full-blown tantrum. For children with Tourette Syndrome, the prolonged waiting could increase ticking and become a disruption for those around him. Other cognitive or neurological disabilities may present similar difficulties or their own peculiar reactions to stress.

Disney said it changed the rules because the old policy was being abused. That's probably true. But the solution is far worse: punishing children who physically and psychologically require an added touch of human care.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was created in the early 1990s to ensure, among many accommodations, that individuals with handicaps are not subjected to discrimination because of their physical limitations. It isn't clear whether Disney is breaking that law. What is clear is that Disney is in defiance of its spirit.

Disney should reconsider its stand.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Well, to hear the way AV tells it, the abue was so bad the "fast pass" line was longer then the standard line. Abusive, ignorant, idiots ruin something, and Disney gets the bad press for trying to correct it.

Honestly, I doubt the new system will be so inflexible as to deny a family with a 7 yr old autistic a pass if they need one. The CM's aren't cold hearted or stupid. I'm sure common sense will be applied.

 

[Luv2Roam]

There have been articles on this at miceage.com I think.
The abuse of the FP system at DL has been horrible, from what everyone says. It was literally anyone asking for one got a handicap FP. And everyone did.
You should look up the articles. Interesting reading.
The downside is I think they should have posted notices about the policy change prior to doing so.
I think they just went from handing them out freely, to coming to a dead halt the next day.

 

[mochabean]

What the Tribune calls a "fast pass" is really the Special Assistance Pass/Special Assistance Card, not what we Disneyholics know as the FastPass.
Anyway,
There is a huge thread about this at mouseplanet:

link

And also see Kevin Yee's 2/10 report at MiceAge:

link

Where he quotes a Disney official:
A Disney official was even quoted in a local paper this week that Disney endeavors to provide "equal access, but not superior access."

Just wanted to post these links.

 

[ZacinIndy]

Wasn't Autism listed as one of the qualifying disabilities?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think the new system at DLR went overboard at first. But now sounds like they are working the bugs out. In another miceage article it cited how other parks have gone through that same.
(example: Legoland)

When this was first implemented, just as an example, I read an article quoting a guest who was upset because they were denied a SAP, even thoiugh they had some form of verification. (I think it was a doctor's letter. ) The guest was upset because he was expecting and anticipating a SAP so he could ride a few rides after dinner before the parks closed.
The DLR CM's wouldn't even look at his proof. (heart condition if I recall correctly)
And I think that is where part of the problem came into play. Not saying this person had no legit claim, but I think many guests were just relying on SAP and using them as FP.

I wondered on some sites I have read if some guests have certain conditions, why are they wanting to go on some rides they are?
But not being in that situation....

I know someone who uses SAP and a motorized cart while at WDW. Their problem is bad knees. And they can walk. But going up and down stairs, in addition to walking all day would lay them in bed with an ice bag for at least the next day.

I was at ToT a few weeks ago and in a group behind me was a woman with an qxygen tank/mask. She was boarding the ride for a second time that day.
The CM asked her if she could go through the ride without it.
She replied No.
He said he could not let her board then.
She and others in her group retorted they had just rode ToT with the oxygen.
The CM said -- I know. My boss called me and said you cannot do that again.
She rode ToT w/o the oxygen.

I was actually surprised they let her reboard. I would think something like that would be the same as a neck brace. If anything bad had happened to her on ToT, who would have gotten the brunt of the blame?
I wonder why some are riding the rides they do with the conditions they have anyway. Not meaning to make this a debate. But seems almost like Disney should be list grades of rides on the SAPs.

 

[Razor Roman]

Hey Dennis! We live in the same area! The Home News Tribune is my hometown paper (or as we call it "the junk we use to line the bird cage with and wrap our ebay items with") too!

I think the whole goal of phasing out front-of-line priveledges for guests with disabilities has more to do with what most people with disabilities want anyway, treating them the same as everyone else.

As more queues can accept wheelchairs and other assistance devices, front of the line priveledges for guests with wheelchairs are eliminated from the attractions. I was a College Program cast member in 99 and that is what we were taught at least.

I am sure that a child with autism would not be turned away from the front of the line by the greeter (if there is one) and I'm sure that S.A.P. or not, if a cast member saw someone who obviously couldn't wait in line, they would do their best to help that guest through the line as quickly as possible. I know staffing is short and hours are long, but most people that work for Disney decided to work there for a reason, and they understand what makes Disney "special" and still go out of their way to help guests, no matter how disgruntled they have become.

 

[Razor Roman]

Originally posted by Luv2Roam

I know someone who uses SAP and a motorized cart while at WDW. Their problem is bad knees. And they can walk. But going up and down stairs, in addition to walking all day would lay them in bed with an ice bag for at least the next day.

In cases like that one, I think that the appropriate thing to do in that case is to allow the member of the party with the ECV to wait in their ECV while some of their party wait in the line. When their party gets to the front of the line, they all go together.

Of course, rules are made to be broken, but the whole SAP/Wheelchair rule gets royally abused. Parents rent wheelchairs and their kids switch off on them so that they can get to the front of all the lines.

It's just not fair for everyone esle that waits in line like they are supposed to. So because of the few cheaters, others have to suffer.

 

[Bob O]

I give disney great credit for trying tp repair a system that allows "so-called" diasbled people to get fotl access at the expense of everyone else who waits in the regular lines or properly uses the fastpass system.
Disney shouldnt reconsider its stand at all and if anything beome tougher on it. It may not be politically correct, but if some child or adult is unable to wait in a line for short periods of time without having a tantrum then maybe they shouldnt be in a crowded theme park and should visit in less busy times where they will have less trouble with crowds.
Alot of people are trying to scam the system by using disney's family friendly behavior against them and thne threaten to go to the press to generate bad pr for the company.
If someone cant truely stand in line then they should be made to wait in a designated area until the people in their group have went thru the full line and then meet them with skipping other guests. These guests dont want equal access, but superior acces!!!

 

[mrsltg]

ITA, Bob O. My thoughts, exactly!

Erin

 

[WDWHound]

If the reporter cant even get the name of the pass right, I don't trust them to properly research and present a story.

I know Disneyland has been trying to fine tune its special assistance pass program to cut down on abuse. They will eventually move to WDW system, which seems to be successful.

 

[DennisP]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Based on your comments, I plan to write a letter to the newspaper editor, "clarifying" the editorial.

I agree that WDW has a good system and hopefully a similar system will be successful in Disneyland.

 

[tigger07082000]

Friends of mine were in WDW a few weeks ago, and she was still able to bypass lines with her handicapped daughter. All she had to present was a doctor's note explaining why the 7 year old could not wait in lines. I think what they're trying to do is stop abuse of the system, not end it. When I was there in '98, I couldn't believe how many able bodied folks rented wheelchairs to speed them and their HUGE families to the front of the lines. I actually saw families where the kids were taking turns being "handicapped." When I was back in December, it looked like families with handicapped children were still able to bypass lines, but the not-so-handicapped were not. I think it's a great move.

Mara

 

[tiggersmom2]

"It may not be politically correct, but if some child or adult is unable to wait in line for short periods of time without having a tantrum then maybe they shouldn't be in a crowded theme park and should visit in less busy times where they will have less trouble with crowds."

You are so right Bob O!

 

[treesinger]

So, Bob O., I guess we should call Disney and have them declare September and Oct. "Autistic and Tourette's children month."

That notion is ridiculous to me.

And what if a park is abnormally busy during "Autism month"? Should we send those kids home and say, "Sorry, the lines are too long for people like you."?

 

[MermaidsMom]

I am not posting to comment on the point of the OP'er, but to make a general observation. The last times we were at WDW, the number of people in motorized wheelchairs was at an all time high. I have never seen so many people riding those things before in my entire life. We have been going since 1989 and it's amazing how many people seem to need them now. They were everywhere, and while I am sure that many are legitimate, how can there be that many people in one place that need them? Do you see that many at your local mall, grocery store or movie theatre? Comparing a percentage of people at the parks who use these devices vs. the percentage of people using them in everyday life is interesting. So maybe Disney has examined this sort of thing and MUST do something to keep crowds in the parks/ride moving for everyone.

 

[treesinger]

Originally posted by MermaidsMom
I am not posting to comment on the point of the OP'er, but to make a general observation. The last times we were at WDW, the number of people in motorized wheelchairs was at an all time high. I have never seen so many people riding those things before in my entire life. We have been going since 1989 and it's amazing how many people seem to need them now. They were everywhere, and while I am sure that some are legitimate, how can there be that many people in one place that need them? Do you see that many at your local mall, grocery store or movie theatre? Comparing a percentage of people at the parks who use these devices vs. the percentage of people using them in everyday life is interesting. So maybe Disney has examined this sort of thing and MUST do something to keep crowds in the parks/ride moving for everyone.

I agree that they definitely need to cut down on the amount of abuse somehow. With WDW, it is such large complex with a lot of walking that many people, who otherwise can walk just fine, find too strenuous. This is no excuse for going FOTL.

Getting an ECV for a trip as a convenience should not be used to abuse the system.

 

[Chuck S]

WDW does not, and has not for several years, given FOTL access to folks in wheelchairs and ECVs. Most queues have been widened to allow them in with the ambulatory guests. Those attractions that do not have access through the regular queue usually have a limit to the number of w/c ECV guests allowed on the ride at one time, so often our wait is LONGER than folks walking into the attraction. The problem has been in California, where much of Disneyland was built prior to w/c access being required or even considered. Many attractions queues can not be altered to accomodate w/c and ECV guests, so they load through the exits. Again, often without FOTL priority, you simply don't see them waiting when they are separated from the regular queue. DCAs queues are w/c and ECV accessible.

Also, as we "babyboomers" age, a much higher percentage of the general population need w/c and ECVs.

As far as folks that for medical reasons can NOT wait in lines, they should still get FOTL access...these are often terminally ill people with Make a Wish Foundation, or as previously mentioned, Tourette's, Autism(sp?), or other severe conditions that make waiting impossible.

 

[treesinger]

When my wife was in an ECV, due to a temporary medical condition that kept her from standing than more than a couple minutes at a time, we got FOTL access whenever the ride line did not support a wheelchair. And some of the time, we waited 10-15 minutes even after being pulled aside. I guess it was to make sure that we waited at least a LITTLE bit, just like everyone else. I'm just fine with that. The only people that treated us even a little rudely were others waiting in line who couldn't "see" why my wife was disabled.

I think the way to go is to make sure that those that truly need FOTL access (when it is necessary, of course) get a GAC or equivalent pass. That way, unless you have counterfeit documents, people that get wheelchairs, etc. for FOTL access fraudulently won't be able to because they don't have any of the necessary cards to be granted FOTL.

 

[Kath816]

Dennis, I also saw this editorial, and my husband and I spent considerable time discussing it. Our feeling was that the writer of the editorial probably hasn't been to Disney World lately to view the rampant abuse. IMHO this is a notoriously biased newspaper.

Razor Roman, you must not like your bird very much! :

I will watch for your rebuttal DennisP.