Lego Land and DDA

munchings-n-crunchings

I don't think it's 6 hours there.

Once you have been on one of the 6 major rides, you can return after an hour.

So if you concentrated on those 6, and arrived at 10am and did 1 every 15 minutes, you could return to the first after 90 minutes at 11.30.

That's to the exclusion of anything else there, and I'm sure that kids will want to do lots more inbetween.

Munchie

daska

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

I don't think it's 6 hours there.

Once you have been on one of the 6 major rides, you can return after an hour.

So if you concentrated on those 6, and arrived at 10am and did 1 every 15 minutes, you could return to the first after 90 minutes at 11.30

Flyboy152 wrote: »

However, this year they have changed their procedure. We now have to sign a card and agree to a list of terms and conditions for the scheme, but the benefits of this scheme have been restricted. We have to present this A5 sized yellow card to each ride have it signed and timed by the staff and we are not allowed to take part in any of the six major rides for another hour, regardless of how long the able-bodied queue is. So, for example, if we go on the Viking Splash ride, we cannot go on the Pirate Falls ride for another hour, even if the normal queue for that ride is only half an hour long.

Maybe Flyboy152 misunderstood but according to his post it would actually be 5 hours plus the duration of the last ride.

PudseyDB

lilly81 wrote: »

As a parent of a child with ASD and ADHD I would like to respond, having the card sign to prevent you going on that ride again within the hour is fine, but any of the big ride? that means you will have to spend at least 6 hours there! :mad:

My son is 8 and would be horrified at people seeing the big yellow card, because he has a hidden disability and that would just highlight it!

I still think it's a very fair system - as many people going to Legoland wouldnt go on all 6 main rides because of the long queues - but maybe a couple and then ride some of the other rides.

Besides people need time-out for a rest and bite to eat - which you can easily do while waiting for the next chance to queue.

As for the comment about the yellow card - surely using the disabled short queue is instantly highlighting a disability??

SingleSue

Flyboy152 wrote: »

So, do you think he should have to go on the rides by himself and then wait for everyone else whilst they have their go? What should he do in the meantime, should I just let him wander around by himself?


It is not a case of folding the card, it is the fact that we have to have a conspicuous label which defines his status. Do you have one of which shows your status as an able-bodied person?


Queuing may be a part of everyday life for most children, but try to imagine it from the perspective of a child who is trapped in his own nightmare of ASD, CAPD and ADHD etc. The mass of people who surround him are a confusing and frightening living hell and he can only cope with that for a limited time. Sadly, those limits change every second of every day.


Oh really, what advantages do you think he has then? Do you know him?



Who the hell is saying that my son is using his autism as an excuse? An excuse for what, for goodness sake?

I am sorry, but I really don't believe you have any children with ASD, with remarks such as "Queing is a pary of everyday life, and like it or not......." Or, if you do, they are not old enough yet to experience such difficulties, in which case you have a very rude awakening ahead of you.

I am another parent who has children with autism (two of them) and I agree with Munchie....my children are not young either, 13 and 14 and we have been through the stressy, complete meltdown, screaming ab dabs from the boys when they have found things difficult.

But munchie is correct, we, as parents, need to equip our children with coping mechanisms to cope with things like queueing, it is part of our every day lives and they are going to have to learn how to deal with it.

It is a stressful process to go through, god knows how many times I have just wanted to give up and give in but you can't, if you do, the children will grow up into adults not being able to cope with anything.

I am now able to visit restaurants for meals, go to the cinema and even go to an all day rock gig (not a huge one, just a local pub one) with the boys and have very little problems but it takes constant reassurance, constant reminding of their coping mechanisms but there is very little screaming ab dabs to be had.....although this has taken approx 11 years hard work in youngest's case and it is still ongoing and has to be ongoing for the coping mechanisms to retain their usefulness.

lilly81

I would like to point out that my son can queue in say the local shop (maybe 2 people ahead of him) but not in places like tesco. I do agree with teaching him life skills, and go through the stresses to get them prepared for adulthood but I think the point of a day to legoland is a break from the day to day stresses and meltdowns and to have some fun.
Fair point about the yellow card and maybe it will stop people rom glaring at us as we go straight on the rides?

skipsmum

Weve just been to Chessington and had the yellow ride pass for DS. He has CP and osteochondritis and whilst can walk he cannot manage more than 1 step or stand for long. Although it was virtually empty with hardly any queues we still had to use the exit pass as most of the queing systems involve a large amount of stairs - the runaway train, laser shooting thing, sky train, and bubbleworks all had far too many steps for us. THe staff were great and very flexible - we went on the runaway train 3 times without getting off as there was hardly anyone waiting and the man could see it was easier for us not to get off and on.
Whilst the yellow card system is quite obvious I feel like its a small price to pay for a huge amount of concessions - free carer tickets and ride access for the 4 of us. And DS knows he gets the pass to make his day easier and more fun.
Btw some of the rides request that those with mobility problems take at least 2 carers on with them - the sky train likes you to take 3 in case there is a problem.

Flyboy152

GlasweJen wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean.

I do know that anyone who is in receipt of DLA or who has a blue badge can present themselves for these tickets at any time. The theme park cannot possibly ask for evidence from everyone that they need specific adjustments with regard to standing in a queue.

A little googling helps, doesn't it? But you have failed to find out that the disabled person must take part in the ride, for other members for the party to use the exit passes.

As an aside I don't understand how a child with severe autism who cannot cope with standing in a queue can cope with the 3 minutes or so of high stimulation that one of the top 6 theme park rides provides.

:wall:

Then do some more googling, you might find out more about the coonditions.

dmg24

skipsmum wrote: »

Weve just been to Chessington and had the yellow ride pass for DS. He has CP and osteochondritis and whilst can walk he cannot manage more than 1 step or stand for long. Although it was virtually empty with hardly any queues we still had to use the exit pass as most of the queing systems involve a large amount of stairs - the runaway train, laser shooting thing, sky train, and bubbleworks all had far too many steps for us. THe staff were great and very flexible - we went on the runaway train 3 times without getting off as there was hardly anyone waiting and the man could see it was easier for us not to get off and on.
Whilst the yellow card system is quite obvious I feel like its a small price to pay for a huge amount of concessions - free carer tickets and ride access for the 4 of us. And DS knows he gets the pass to make his day easier and more fun.
Btw some of the rides request that those with mobility problems take at least 2 carers on with them - the sky train likes you to take 3 in case there is a problem.

That is a really positive view of it - it is nice that your son has not been brought up with this sense of 'entitlement' displayed by others. I imagine his life will be far more fruitful as a result.

holistic_witch

we went a couplke weeks ago they have changed the system which my son aged 8 with adhd,odd and asd found distressing because he was used to the old system. Its not a bog stantard hour its whatever the queue time was eg 50/60/90 mins which they were when we went he couldnt cope well as he only gets to go twice a year.
Only 3 people allowed which you say is very generous well son plus adult and his friend which we meet there and his dad i dont think its too much to ask for that.
Yes there are more poeple at the exits for the people who have the queue busting thats why there more people there.

They will probably make it like thorpe park and now alton towers where only 1 person allowed on which doesn't make a family day at all and you cant parent sway

I am COMPLAINING to head office as we meet our friends at the parks mainly alton towers regularly as to give son some time out so these changes will affects us. At our support meetings there are parents who will not be re-newing the passes and to be honest if i had not just done ours i would not be bothering.

Also to charge for disabled parking when its nescessary, as i use a scooter and by the time i can get out the upper parking is taken, i think is terrible

GlasweJen

I have never in all my days been asked to provide evidence that I can't queue. The DLA letter has always been fine and that just has my award rates and amounts on it as I'm on indefinite and haven't had a "you have been awarded middle care because..............." for several years.

Google may say you need a doctors letter or whatever but experience says not (alton towers, louden castle, chessington and blackpool if you want to know).

And google does not explain to me why an autistic child can deal with stimulation from wind and screams from others around them but can't stand in a queue. Certainly I couldn't handle it as a child (no idea about now, it's completely out of the realms of thinking for me now), my niece couldn't cope with it either - far too noisy for her but she's only 6. Yes that's right Flyboy, I don't need to google autism as I am HFA and was diagnosed back before everyone and their granny knew someone with autism.