# RO: Wealthy Disneyworld Patrons Hiring Disabled "Guides" In Order To Line Skip **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419 "2013-05-15T16:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/61 "2013-05-15T23:21:23Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Yeah, these poor, exploited guides. Please. They’re pretty much getting a bunch of money and probably a free trip to Disneyworld. It’s not like someone’s twisting their arm. > > Let’s not patronize the disabled as poor, stupid and naive. That’s not quite the point. I don’t consider my daughter poor, stupid or naive. But if she decided to whore herself out to some Romney or Trump like that, I’d … well, I’d be a little proud of the deep cynicism I’d have manage to instill in her, but still … I wouldn’t like that one little bit, and I’d let her know about it. In short, even she would see this is a shitty thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/62 "2013-05-15T23:28:44Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Often there are steps or insufficient room for a chair. Those attractions have side entrances. Many of the disabled can’t wait for hours due to bathroom or medication issues. Except that “disabled” in many of these situations seems to mean “wheelchair or scooter” or possibly organized groups of people with other disabilities.I’ve never heard of or seen a family without a person in a wheelchair,scooter or crutches going to the front of the line. There are plenty of people who are not in wheelchairs and have the same bathroom or medication issues with waiting for hours.And yes, the person on crutches can’t really stand on line, but that problem as well as medication and bathroom issues could be solved in other ways such as allowing those people who can’t stand to wait on a bench until the rest of the their party gets close to the entrance , and others to leave the line to use the restroom and then join the rest of a the party. Disneyworld’s website even says that the auxiliary entrances are not intended to bypass lines - they’re meant to provide easier access to guests in wheelchairs or with service animals. One park I went to gave out numbered tickets as you entered the line, and the numbers were checked as you got close to the ride entrance to ensure they were still in sequence. No reason that sort of system can’t be used to let anyone (wheelchair or not) leave the line to use the restroom or buy a drink and return to the line or sit and wait on the bench if they are unable to stand and then rejoin their party close to the ride entrance or enter through the auxiliary entrance when the rest of their party gets to the front. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/63 "2013-05-15T23:28:44Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > That’s not quite the point. I don’t consider my daughter poor, stupid or naive. But if she decided to whore herself out to some Romney or Trump like that, I’d … well, I’d be a little proud of the deep cynicism I’d have manage to instill in her, but still … I wouldn’t like that one little bit, and I’d let her know about it. > > In short, even she would see this is a shitty thing to do. So tell me, what’s the job market like for HC people? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/64 "2013-05-15T23:35:21Z")
Kind of shitty. But hey, she could always make a fast buck helping someone who could buy Disney Land cut lines, or hustle blow jobs for five bucks a throw, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/65 "2013-05-16T00:45:16Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > So, do you suggest that guide companies that specialize in Disney tours refrain from hiring disabled people, that disabled guides not be allowed to ride the rides with their charges, or something else? > > The setup at Disney is specifically for those who have disabled persons in their party so no rule is being broken. I’m not seeing the big deal. Of course not. But the charges should not be given any special access to front of the lines simply because of the disabled status of the guide. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/66 "2013-05-16T02:00:26Z")
The issue for me wouldn’t be the handicapped person being “exploited.” He;ll everybody gotta hustle for a buck, right? The issue for me would be the rich entitled douchnozzle cutting in front of people by pretending to have a handicapped kid. Hey if you have a handicapped kid and the park lets you up front, go right ahead. If you don’t, wait in line with the rest of us plebes. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/67 "2013-05-16T02:23:03Z")
i have a problem to begin with about allowing people to pay a fee so that they can butt into lines. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/68 "2013-05-16T02:35:04Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Family means a lot to me. However unless the person I was pretending with was truly disgusting, for $1000 bucks a day pure cash, I think I could live with the lie. Heck, if I was disabled teenager living near Disney world, this would be my summer job. I would be at the park quite often smiling ear to ear as I showed all my visiting “cousins” the sights. Nice to know that your values that you used to go on and on about are so worthless. I’m sure that people would have loved to know that all we have to do to get you to shake hands with a man is to make sure that hand has money in it. I thought you of all people would think your cultural values mean more than that. And, no, the guides aren’t exploited. They are just as fucking immoral as **ZPG** here. All it takes is money for them to put aside their moral qualms. That’s right, I have more disgust for the people who would go along with this than the rich people who try it. Yeah, the rich people are immoral bastards, but at least they aren’t hypocrites. Plus there are so many rich bastards that it’s getting harder to work up any outrage over them. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/69 "2013-05-16T02:36:20Z")
It’s not the travel guide’s trip, it’s the customers’ trip. So irrespective of the guide’s disability, the able-bodied customers deserve no special treatment. Why is it necessary for the travel guide to wait in line with the customers? Couldn’t the disabled guide simply wait for the customers at the end of the ride? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/70 "2013-05-16T03:00:03Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Family means a lot to me. However unless the person I was pretending with was truly disgusting, for $1000 bucks a day pure cash, I think I could live with the lie. Heck, if I was disabled teenager living near Disney world, this would be my summer job. I would be at the park quite often smiling ear to ear as I showed all my visiting “cousins” the sights. So it’s okay for you to lie about family to ride Space Mountain, but people of other ethnic groups who happen to be adopted should be forced to wear some visible mark of their status so you know they’re unclean. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/71 "2013-05-16T03:13:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > It’s exploitative To be clear, when I said this, I wasn’t referring to the disabled guide as being exploited but rather to the entire situation of exploiting an accessibility feature meant to be used by the physically disabled. Everyone involved-rich custos _and_ disabled guide-are exploiting the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/72 "2013-05-16T05:46:17Z")
Yet ask those wealthy people to pay more in taxes so that people can get better health care… ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/73 "2013-05-16T09:51:12Z")
Everyone does realize that Disney sells VIP tour packages that include unlimited use of the Fastpass lines (about the same or slightly shorter wait than the disabled lines), premium seating for live shows and parades, and backstage character meet and greets so you don’t have to wait in the line for that (some of the longest lines in the park in my experience)? The rich already have a way to skip to the head of many more lines than even the disabled do. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/74 "2013-05-16T10:47:02Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > Everyone does realize that Disney sells VIP tour packages that include unlimited use of the Fastpass lines (about the same or slightly shorter wait than the disabled lines), premium seating for live shows and parades, and backstage character meet and greets so you don’t have to wait in the line for that (some of the longest lines in the park in my experience)? The rich already have a way to skip to the head of many more lines than even the disabled do. I was going to say the same thing. I’ve personally done a VIP Tour at Universal. Though the guide did give us a “tour,” obviously the biggest perk was cutting to the front of the line of the 5 most popular attractions. All the major theme parks have “VIP tours.” So there are legitimate ways to cut to the front of the line. [https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/) > **[Universal Orlando](https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/oops-sorry)** > > Universal Orlando Resort [http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Attractions/Exclusive-Park-Experiences/Private-VIP-Tour](http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Attractions/Exclusive-Park-Experiences/Private-VIP-Tour) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/75 "2013-05-16T11:28:05Z")
so basically, people are complaining that the disabled are not only cutting in front of them but are making a profit from it? not really seeing the issue here. you could easily spin it as a promotion instead - “bring a disabled kid to Disneyworld, donate $1000 (to him) and you don’t have to queue!” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/76 "2013-05-16T12:07:41Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > so basically, people are complaining that the disabled are not only cutting in front of them but are making a profit from it? not really seeing the issue here. you could easily spin it as a promotion instead - “bring a disabled kid to Disneyworld, donate $1000 (to him) and you don’t have to queue!” No, people are complaining that people are hiring a disabled person to go to the park with them, so that the entire able-bodied family can take advantage of the privileges afforded to disabled people. The focus is not on the disabled person, but rather the ethics of the able-bodied people. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/77 "2013-05-16T12:57:58Z")
The first two years I went to Bonnaroo I went in an RV with some friends, one of whom (the RV owner) was disabled. This allowed us to park our RV right next to Centeroo (the actual concert venue). Since it’s possible to be camped as far as a mile and a half from Centeroo, this is a huge advantage. Those friends stopped going after that, and I’ve gone without them and camped in the general population. On that long-ass walk I’ve often reflected that if I had any other disabled friends who might be interested in going I’d happily pay for part of their admission. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/78 "2013-05-16T13:20:15Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > And you still end up waiting in line a bit with this, just not as much. Probably a 60% decrease in line, depending on the ride. Depends a lot on the ride and how busy the park is. A few weeks ago we were in Disney World and Fastpass got us a huge decrease on some rides - 90 minutes posted wait for Splash Mountain, we were on within 5 minutes. > [@SweetLucy](#): > > i have a problem to begin with about allowing people to pay a fee so that they can butt into lines. :rolleyes: You do know that most amusement parks apart from Disney have some form of this, don’t you? A pass you buy that lets you get in a different line that’s much shorter than the regular line. Universal has [Express Pass](https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Passes.aspx). Six Flags has [Flash Pass](https://www.sixflags.com/newEngland/tickets/flashpass.aspx). Cedar Point has [Fast Lane](https://www.cedarpoint.com/things-to-do/fast-lane). Hershey Park has [Fast Track](http://www.hersheypark.com/rides/vip_experiences.php). And as stated, Disney has the [VIP Tour](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/), which is MUCH more expensive than the other options - $315/hour. I tend to disbelieve this story though, for two reasons - there is the Disney VIP tour already, and the super rich would probably be staying on site at one of the deluxe resorts to begin with. And having a person in a wheelchair or scooter significantly slows you down in the park, especially when it’s busy. They simply can’t move quickly through crowds. So instead of waiting in line, you’re spending 45 minutes to get between rides, instead of 15. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/79 "2013-05-16T13:26:08Z")
Disney will probably follow suit on Universal’s fee-for-speedy-pass lead pretty soon. They’ve been discussing it for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/80 "2013-05-16T13:30:10Z")
Here’s my not-so-humble opinion: 1. This is both extremely tacky and in violation of the spirit of the Disney policy, if not the letter. 2. Disney already has the FASTPASS system in place which lets you jump ahead in lines by a significant amount. 3. Apart from considering people who do this sort of thing douches (and assuming that the story is true in the first place) I’m not overly outraged about this. But I’ll add that, having gone to Disneyworld over the Christmas period, the Dumbo ride has exactly the sort of take-a-number-and-do-stuff-while-you-wait area that others have already suggested - and the waiting area is one big soft-play area. You get a beeper when you come in the door, they give you a time estimate and they turn you loose in a big room full of climbing frames and slides and whatnot (and of course chairs for the parents). When your time comes, they buzz you to let you know, you hand the beeper back then out you go. You may still have to queue for a short period but it’s a decent solution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419.md?page=5)