big changes to the merlin ents group disabled policy complaints

deanos

Dont the Disabled guests park near the pay booths, think they charge normal guests £15 to park there , a £10 discount sounds good to me

Morglin

damos1 wrote: »

My oh my.

Merlin are seriously going to damage their buisness this year!

Disabled be aware of major changes!

Not only are gate payers being charged £5 car parking.

This season Merlin have taken the bad move of blue badge holders ALSO have to pay £5 car parking!

At least at Alton.

Also there is no longer a disabled gate discount!

The disabled guest must pay full price and the carers are the only people entitled to a discount this year for upto 2 carers!

There is also major change to the access system!

And by major i mean major! legoland style

Basically dla is not valid proof of disability anymore or blue badge etc as they do not state the disability

A DLA award letter is proof of disability - the fact that it doesn't state what the disability is shouldn't make a difference.

BB's have never been proof of anything, other than concessions to park in certain places.

As for paying, well places like the 02 centre at Greenwich (previously The Dome), have always charged (£10).

I don't mind paying - but what aggravates me with the 02 is that the car park, even the disabled bays, are so far away from the entrance.:mad:

Lin

gregg1

darkpool wrote: »

so do disabled people want equal treatment or special treatment? it seems to me that they want equal rights when it suits them and they want special treatment when it suits them.

considering blue badge holders get a fortune from the government in benefits i think it only right they pay for parking like everyone else.[/QUOTE]


Before you make yourself look like a complete idiot again in future (as you just have) I suggest you check your facts.

Just because someone has a blue badge DOES NOT mean they are receiving benefits!!!

Oliver14

darkpool wrote: »

so do disabled people want equal treatment or special treatment? it seems to me that they want equal rights when it suits them and they want special treatment when it suits them.

considering blue badge holders get a fortune from the government in benefits i think it only right they pay for parking like everyone else.

Your being rather ridiculous disabled people want equal treatment but they also do not wish to lose out due to their disabilility. The disabled are more likely to be on lower incomes and inccur greater expenses due to their disability.

It's a sad that that you do not see that need and would rather people suffer. It says a lot about you and I feel very sorry for you. Luckily most people are not like you I just hope one day you are not in the situation where you need a wheelchair and have to drive everywhere and realise how much extra this costs. It only takes one moment an accident or something else for you to be in this situation.

Also to correct you. You don't need benefits to get a Blue badge and if they are on benefits it won't be a fortune

aheaton46

damos1 wrote: »

And they have taken thorpes/chessys system.

Impracticable for Alton.

You must wait the queuelength before going on your next major ride now!

Yet fasttrackers dont have to do this.

So if thirteen is 2 hours queue, you must then wait 2 hours before you can ride Rita!!!

Despite it being right next to you!

Let me get this straight:

Disabled visitors used to be able to 'queue jump' - essentially the same as a fast track pass, but without paying for it.

Now, they are being told they don't necessarily have to wait in the queue, but they do need to wait for the length of the queue before riding.

That seems quite sensible to me. Someone with a disability doesn't have to stand for ages in a queue if they can't manage that, but nor do they benefit more than able-bodied people who do have to wait.

darkpool

damos1 wrote: »

Also explain why it is right someone is able to pay £100 to skip the main queueline? they are the only ones who are technically queue jumping, wether they have paid or not Merlin choose this as a way of raising revenue, although in the process adding to the standard queue length.

Also the people who pay £100 to skip the queues are often able to use the normal queue system, yet they have no limits placed on them as to when and when they cannot ride.

.

it's right because they have paid for the privilege to skip the queues. it's not queue jumping.

darkpool

gregg1 wrote: »

[]

Just because someone has a blue badge DOES NOT mean they are receiving benefits!!!

thanks for that input gregg. i always thought blue badges were for people with "severe mobility problems" are you suggesting that blue badge holders are not getting disability allowance?

Oliver, I'd like to think if i did become disabled I wouldn't go onto the internet complaining about having to pay £5 to park my car. If able bodied people have to pay the same amount I don't see what the problem is.

The_One_Who

damos1 wrote: »

Doh yes but a carer cannot change a persons abilities, they can only help towards making a disabled persons life easier.

Their are certain disabilities out there that cannot queue for lengthy periods.

Try taking an autistic person in the general queue line hitting/kicking people etc do you think the average Joe queuey will be happy with this?

Again try telling an autistic person they HAVE to wait before they can go their next major ride a short wait is fair as stated maybe forced of 15 minutes non busy times, 30 minutes during busy times. Ceratinley an enforcement however of you cannot re-ride the same ride for 2 hours.

Try taking a person with a weak bladder into a queue line during busy periods, sorry mate you have to queue just pull your bits out when you need to go.

Try taking a spacial awareness person into a queue line and explain to the person in front why that person keeps walking into them.

Try taking a deaf person in a queueline with limited space having to sign to them.

Try taking a visually impaired person through a queueline again explaining why they keep walking into things.

Try taking someone with co-ordination problems into a main queueline who cannot get the rythm of the left and right together of their body.

Apart from the weak bladder (they can go before they join the queue), all of those can be helped with a carer. The queues are not that jam-packed that there is no room to sign, don't be ridiculous. If someone is that seriously autistic (remember, it's a spectrum) then they may not want to be at a theme park in the first place, or they may not want to sit next to someone they don't know.

The disability bands are (or at least should be) for those who cannot queue, ie those with mobility issues.

Also explain why it is right someone is able to pay £100 to skip the main queueline? they are the only ones who are technically queue jumping, wether they have paid or not Merlin choose this as a way of raising revenue, although in the process adding to the standard queue length.

I know that the Fastrack system is a contentious one, but it is the path that Merlin/Alton Towers have chosen to go down. Personally, I think a scheduled time slot would be better, but never mind. These people are paying over £100 (Platinum pass plus the entrance fee) for the privilege of not waiting in as long a queue.

Disabilities are very complex and any option that can be taken to improve a disabled persons life should be given were possible after all does a disabled person choose to be disabled, if such access schemes were not in place thousands upon thousands of disabled customers would be unable to visit such places.

I do not choose to have a mental illness, I do not choose to be partially deaf. Why should I (who can queue perfectly well) get to skip the queue? Or by disabled are you succumbing to the stereotype of the man in the wheelchair?

vikingaero

Regarding the parking charges, I sent Chessington an email and this was their response:

"Dear Viking,

Thank you for your email.

We can confirm that, this year, Chessington World of Adventures Resort is coming into line with all other Merlin resort attractions in the UK with the introduction of a daily charge for the use of its car parks. This will allow a number of substantial improvements to take place this year and beyond in terms of the presentation, maintenance, safety and security of the car parks for the benefit of all guests. The cost for parking will be £2 per day, a percentage of which will be donated to the Chessington Conservation Fund.

Free car parking privileges will remain a benefit of the Premium Merlin Annual Pass, hotel guests, as well as for existing Standard Merlin Annual Pass-holders until the current pass expires.

Chessington is dedicated to constantly looking to improve facilities across the park and all feedback will of course be considered when planning new projects.


We have a number of incredibly exciting, new, wild adventures waiting to be discovered here at Chessington this year and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming you to enjoy the vast array of fantastic, unique experiences we have on offer.

See you soon at “Britain’s Wildest Adventure!”"

Seems fair enough when you consider the grottiness of the Chessington main car park and the muddiness of the overflow car park.

The_mangler

My husband will quite happily swap his disability for the chance to queue like 'normal' people. As for a reduction in price, well he cant go on many of the rides but he does like to come with me to see our children enjoying themselves so IMO this justifies a lower admission price, similar to that of senior citizens, for example. Also, our kids have had restrictions placed on their activities because of hubby's disabilities. I dont think its too much to ask that they get just a little back in return for all the missed opportunities theyve had to endure.