# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/101 "2013-05-16T20:02:21Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Well many amusement parks offer front-of-the-line privileges if you pay some fee (Disneyland I have no idea, but I know Universal Studios does, for example). IS there any outrage over the wealthy being able to do this? Disney sort of does. If you pay for some tours, they will arrange Fastpass for you on a small number of the most popular rides. Last time I checked, it was five attractions. This does NOT = ‘getting in first at every ride in the park”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/102 "2013-05-16T20:03:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, but some states have their own ADA, and no matter what the ADA actually sez, parks are large targets and wary of lawsuits. Fair enough. > [@](#): > > And, if a kid isn’t able to wait in line due to a disability, isn’t there a requirement for preference? All you have to do to jump the line is be in a wheelchair, which you’d \*still \*be in all day even if you weren’t at the park. What sort of disability is there that prevents a kid from waiting in line but not from riding the rollercoaster? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/103 "2013-05-16T20:06:35Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > And, of course, parks are making the queues themselves more attractive–I recall at Universal there was a sign in the Harry Potter line telling people that they needed to keep moving with the line–I guess people were so interested in some of the stuff happening in the queue that they were holding up the line. Yeah. We went to WDW. On one of the days, MK was open late. Around Midnite, with no one in the park, we arrived at the “Little mermaid” attraction, which since they have the same ride at Calif Adventure we weren’t interested in. We mentioned this to a cast member, and he took us on a short one-on-one guided tour of the queue and what one could see & do while waiting in line. Fabulous! Many other attractions had similar stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/104 "2013-05-16T20:07:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Fair enough. > > All you have to do to jump the line is be in a wheelchair, which you’d \*still \*be in all day even if you weren’t at the park. What sort of disability is there that prevents a kid from waiting in line but not from riding the rollercoaster? Double-check the thread. Some parents have mentioned autism. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/105 "2013-05-16T20:09:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Disney sort of does. If you pay for some tours, they will arrange Fastpass for you on a small number of the most popular rides. Last time I checked, it was five attractions. This does NOT = ‘getting in first at every ride in the park”. Still, someone pays more and gets benefits. My point is that no one seems to care about it if it the park offering it outright, basically giving those with better financial resources more options and more convenience at the expense of others. The difference is really only who gets the money. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/106 "2013-05-16T20:14:10Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > It was mentioned earlier, but you can buy a Flash Pass to skip all of the lines at Six Flags. They offer Silver, which doesn’t lower the wait time, but sets a time for you to return so you don’t have to wait in line. They also offer Gold, which is the same, but the wait time is cut in half. Finally, they offer the Platinum which not only reduces the wait time by 90%, but lets you ride the ride twice in a row without having to get off. A neat benefit, but really pisses people off when you wave your little platinum machine thingy to stay on and the people who were about to get in your seats have to wait another go around. I’ve heard of those but haven’t been to a park recently enough to use one. I would feel creepy if I cut the line, even if I paid extra. It must suck to have normal tickets and have to watch the upper crust breeze past the long lines. I hope their monocle flies off on the roller coaster, their valet isn’t able to find it and they have to send the butler home for a new one. ---
**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, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/107 "2013-05-16T20:28:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Disney sort of does. If you pay for some tours, they will arrange Fastpass for you on a small number of the most popular rides. Last time I checked, it was five attractions. This does NOT = ‘getting in first at every ride in the park”. To repeat what I said earlier: All the major theme parks have “VIP tours.” [https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...tour-services/](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...tour-services/) > **[Universal Orlando](https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/oops-sorry)** > > Universal Orlando Resort [http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...ivate-VIP-Tour](http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...ivate-VIP-Tour) ETA: Looks like these sites are all coming up as errors now. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a5b964/32.png) [@what\_do\_I\_type\_here](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/what_do_I_type_here)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/108 "2013-05-16T20:28:43Z")
Disneyland sounds so damn boring ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/109 "2013-05-16T20:34:59Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Still, someone pays more and gets benefits. My point is that no one seems to care about it if it the park offering it outright, basically giving those with better financial resources more options and more convenience at the expense of others. The difference is really only who gets the money. It’s gaming a system that’s specifically intended to aid those with disabilities. If the system is set up to outright pay for some preference, that’s a different situation - you can then quite legitimately choose whether to pay extra for that preference or not. It isn’t those with money vs the rest (remember this is Disneyland, so we aren’t talking paupers arguing over crusts of bread here) - it’s those who abide by the rules versus those who egregiously and offensively game the rules _intended to help those with disabilities_. To provide an example, it is one thing if a fancy restaurant provides (for a fee) valet partking; it is quite another thing if someone wishing to go to that restaurant buys a “disabled” sign for their car so they can park in the handicapped parking spaces right in front of that fancy restaurant - even if the same amount of cash changes hands, and the “effect” is the same - the person doesn’t have to walk to their car. ---
**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, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/110 "2013-05-16T20:43:21Z")
no, a better example would be if someone were to bring a disabled person along to that restaurant and not only pay for their food but also a stipend for their trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/111 "2013-05-16T21:09:29Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > no, a better example would be if someone were to bring a disabled person along to that restaurant and not only pay for their food but also a stipend for their trouble. Fair enough - the important bits are that the “game”, whatever it is, costs the same as the legitimate service, provides the same benefit as the legitimate service, and that the “game” is difficult for the “authorities” to disprove. In the latter sense, inviting a disabled person makes the better analogy. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/112 "2013-05-16T21:19:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Disney sort of does. If you pay for some tours, they will arrange Fastpass for you on a small number of the most popular rides. Last time I checked, it was five attractions. This does NOT = ‘getting in first at every ride in the park”. Well, the wheel chair access is only available on select rides as well. It would only be those rides which have stairs or very narrow choke points which would not have the wheel chair go through the regular line. The wheel chair users are separated out close to the loading area of the ride so that the cast members have time to move you from the chair to the ride and have more space for storing the chair for the duration of the ride. Again, when I was there with my 88 year old grandmother 3 years ago the only 2 rides I can remember that had a separate wheelchair access were Spaceship Earth and a Buzz Lightyear arcarde ride. (as an aside, that visit we had Super Fastpasses that allowed access to 2 major and 3 minor rides per park without having to wait for the return time or worry about the passes being sold out. I don’t think we waited more than 20 minutes for any ride on that visit!) ---
**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, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/113 "2013-05-16T21:37:01Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Fair enough - the important bits are that the “game”, whatever it is, costs the same as the legitimate service, provides the same benefit as the legitimate service, and that the “game” is difficult for the “authorities” to disprove. In the latter sense, inviting a disabled person makes the better analogy. which is why i don’t get the RO. the rich and the disabled wins, and the existence of official queue cutting options means it makes no difference to those others waiting in line, so the only party stiffed by the “game” are the parks themselves. i doubt the RO is for the corporate bottom line. ---
**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, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/114 "2013-05-16T22:28:16Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > To repeat what I said earlier: > > All the major theme parks have “VIP tours.” > > [https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...tour-services/](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ev...tour-services/) > [Universal Orlando](https://www.universalorlando.com/The...xperience.aspx) > [http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...ivate-VIP-Tour](http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld...ivate-VIP-Tour) > > ETA: Looks like these sites are all coming up as errors now. Hmmm. They are still fine if you click on them in your original post. The copy and paste broke the links. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/115 "2013-05-16T22:32:26Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > which is why i don’t get the RO. the rich and the disabled wins, and the existence of official queue cutting options means it makes no difference to those others waiting in line, so the only party stiffed by the “game” are the parks themselves. i doubt the RO is for the corporate bottom line. The persons hurt by the “game” are those disabled persons whom the policy was intented to help in the first place. They are, on the one hand, now jostling for position with those who are on the “game” - and on the other, they will find their experience more restrictive as the “authorities” crack down or otherwise restrict the privilege they have granted. For example, in the other thread someone mentioned that, _because of widespread abuse of the privilege_, only a single escort is now allowed to accompany a “genuinely” disabled child. Previously, the whole family could go. Take the handicapped parking example - would you not be pretty pissed if you were disabled, and rich guys were parked in the only handicapped spots because they “rented” a disabled escort? In effect, the rich guy has appropriated an otherwise free privilege offered to you because society (or the owner of the lot) has deemed it a duty to offer such privileges to alleviate the lot of the disabled. They have monetized something that was not monetized before. It is a completely different situation where the place offers valet parking for a fee - that doesn’t affect the disabled person at all - because he or she can park in the handicapped spot. The counter-argument is “but there is a handicapped person getting that advantage - the rented one”. But that person would not otherwise necessarily be going to the restaurant, or to Disneyland, at all. He or she is being _paid_ to go. It is functionally no different from simply paying to be considered “disabled” for the purposes of taking advantage of the policy (as the rich person is indifferent to the presence of the disabled person). ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/116 "2013-05-16T23:05:25Z")
I can’t really find too much fault on the part of the handicapped people who are bringing in several hundred bucks for the occasional day’s work. It’s hard for some of these guys to find good-paying work - and in the case of being on disability, maybe impossible to find work at all. Sure, the people hiring them look like entitled asses, but I’m having a hard time being too upset with something that puts cash in the hands of people who could probably really use it. Maybe spending the day with someone in a chair might be beneficial and eye opening to these people, especially if they have the means to be helpful and give charitably, volunteering in the future, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/117 "2013-05-16T23:35:35Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > If only I can pay $130 an hour so my kid wouldn’t be autistic…I then would be happy to stand in line. For real. My son gets like 25 hours of in-home therapy a week at something approaching that sum per hour and yanno what? Still autistic. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419/118 "2013-05-17T18:04:42Z")
The funny thing is that when we were in Orlando last year at all of the amusement parks, my son can/did handle about 15-30 minutes tops waiting in line, but when we get to the actual ride, he decides he doesn’t want to go on…so my other son and wife will go on the ride while I wait with our younger (autistic) son, and then we switch and my older son goes a second time with me. This happens roughly one third of the time…and it’s quite the crapshoot. He may go on a wild rollercoaster ride and then refuse to go on a lesser wild ride. The one he could do all day is the Toy Story electronic shooting gallery…that’s his favorite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-wealthy-disneyworld-patrons-hiring-disabled-guides-in-order-to-line-skip/658419.md?page=5)