The only job I can think of that would be better than getting paid to ride rides at DW is being paid to be lotion boy for the Swedish Bikini Team.
That would result in many ambulatory people with latent disabilities getting head of line privileged. That might cause a riot on a hot day.
Talk about a long line.
Capitalism baby. Somebody wanted a service and was willing to pay for it and somebody else was willing to negotiate a price to do the job. I’m a hardcore capitalist but I don’t see much of a problem. It’s on Disney now to figure out a way to ban the practice. People who are rich have the ability to buy things that many other people can’t. Sorry.
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.
They should combine this with the ‘Make a Wish’ foundation.
Okay, I’ll save you a seat in hell.
^this. When I was in Disneyworld, I got a pass for my son, who’s autistic. Waiting in line would not have worked at all. He just couldn’t do it.
They would have had a problem anyway. From the NY Post article:
And, in my opinion, six is too many.
I don’t think the question has anything to do with the entitlement of disabled kids to go to the front of the line. This is Disney we are talking about here; what matters to Disney isn’t fairness but the quality of their patrons’ experience at the theme park.
Most people don’t like to look at disabled kids. So it makes sense to bring them right to the head of the line to avoid making other patrons feel uncomfortable. If my autistic son had some sort of incident waiting in a line, no doubt other patrons would be disturbed. Some hot-and-bothered person might say something, and then most assuredly there would be a scene. So launching disabled kids to the front of the line (bonus points if they enter via a side entrance) keeps them out of view. Everyone wins.
I’ve often wondered why the don’t give up on this whole line business anyway. How about take a number, sit somewhere nice, at a table perhaps, surrounded by ferns or aquariums or performers or something and you got 10 minutes say to get in line once the number shows up on the big board.
Serve drinks and food and snacks. Maybe downloadable special videos. They could probably quadruple the amount of non ticket related items they sell in a day.
That story is pretty poorly sourced, I call hoaxe.
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.
I thought the point of the RO was the line cutting, and the rich getting to throw their money around to get “unfair” advantages over the proles? Who exactly said anyone was upset at the way they treated their hired guns? I read the OP article just to make sure… nothing there that I could see.
They have it. It is called FASTPASS.
Yup, the infuriating thing about this story (assuming it is true) is an advantaged group (the rich) making use of a policy intended to benefit a disadvantaged group (the disabled) in order to jump the line. They are (allegedly) gaming the system with cash.
I suspect the story is not true.
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.
Well, to be fair I think that’s a crock a well.
Now if they wanted to have rich people days I could live with that.
Once the line waits are over say 45 minute (or pick a number) WTF are you making them stand in line? Give em a place to sit and SELL them more shit. Everybody is happier.
FASTPASS is available to everyone. Why is that a “crock”?
Pretend I said six, the point still stands. Disney runs on being a fun family vacation spot and forcing groups to break up because one is disabled would probably result in worse publicity than this.
Disney is already managing many hundreds or more disabled guests a day and, IMHO, do it very skillfully and almost invisibly. How many disabled guides could there be out there and how much more pressure would they add to the system? Would it be enough to lower the guest satisfaction of those who truly are travelling with a disadvantaged friend or relative?
Personally, I think the rich would get more bang for their buck by hiring one of the tour companies that has done the in depth, day by day tracking of crowd movement through the park and can design a custom tour plan based on that historical research combined with a list of your interests.
What long lines? We just came back from Disneyworld, spent 5 days there. We went between holidays. Weather was great. We followed poster Len’s great advice in his Unofficial Guide, went at right time of year, made sure to hit right parks on right days. Longest line was threading ourselves thru barriers, then 5 minutes, maybe 10 minutes?
I understand the ire here, but since the disabled dudes get well paid and a free trip to DW, I don’t think it’s so bad.