Rich parents hire handicapped tour guides so kids can cut lines at Disney World

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I realize this is from the New York Post (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/disney_world_srich_kid_outrage_zTBA0xrvZRkIVc1zItX GDP) and I trust them about as much as I trust the Weekly World News, but assuming the article is factual, I doesn't surprise me in the least.

[Frikitiki]

I've been seeing this all over Facebook this morning.

From friends who work at the park, we know that abled body people can rent ECVs or wheelchairs and they get front of the line because that's just what Disney does.

The question is now that this is getting such wide spread attention, will Disney change their procedures? Or will more people attempt to use this type of method to avoid the lines?

[blueerica]

Ugh, it's just stupid that they're rich enough to do that, but they won't pony up for the real deal guides who are amazingly awesome (I was fortunate enough to go on such a tour).

No shame for the lie?

[katiesue]

I don't get why people think "cutting" the lines is their right. On the Type 1 Parents message boards I'm on every time someone mentions Disney they all jump on the "get a GAC" train. There is no reason at all you can't stand in line with diabetes. And it kind of pisses me off. Even more so when most will admit they just feel their child should have some "perks". Really?

And honest when I first read this I thought they got ripped off it's way cheaper to rent a wheelchair for the day and throw one of your party in it. That is obviously not right either but there's no need to take along an actual handicapped person for authenticity.

[innerSpaceman]

I don't know about Disney World - but I thought Disneyland tried to stop Disabled Access fraud by insisting everyone who wants a disabled access pass to stop by City Hall with a doctor's note - and that simply showing up with a wheelchair or a scooter would not do the trick.

This would not necessarily stop Tour Fraud, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

[katiesue]

ISM they legally can't ask for a doctors note under HIPPA. From what I read from other T1 parent wackadoodles though they are asking more questions and cracking down where they can. They are also making the GAC more specific.

[€uroMeinke]

I thought Disney was making more of their queues wheel chair accessable this negating the front of the line option?

[katiesue]

They are but some people don't need a chair but can't stand for long periods of time. Or their child has severe ADD and can't wait that long in line. Or Aspergers. Or can't be in the sun. It's an endless list.

[katiesue]

Ok I'm kinda speechless. On one of my parent groups one Dad sees nothing wrong with it and in fact thinks it's a great idea for his T1 kid to earn some extra cash. Really?

[Moonliner]

Before the best friends a guy could ever have volunteered to help, I was looking to hire a pair of FastPass runners for the day to help game the system on my last visit to DLR.

Somehow I feel morally superior to people that are hiring the handicapped for essentially the same job.

[Alex]

I'm not actually all that bothered by it. Sure, in an ideal world they wouldn't. But many times the only reason I've gone on a ride is because someone in the large Disney group we're with can get us to the front of the line or someone has asked someone in the group to go with them for that purpose.

And honestly, I can't get too worked up about it when the complaint is essentially "Ugh, rich people aren't spending enough to cut in line."

And as Alan Tudyk tweeted today, don't look it as a rich person cheating, look at it as a handicapped person getting paid to spend the day at Disney World.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I think they're looking for any way to skip the lines. Doesn't matter what it is, and it's not that a diabetic has *any* problems standing in lines like everybody else. They just don't want to wait.

[katiesue]

I think they're looking for any way to skip the lines. Doesn't matter what it is, and it's not that a diabetic has *any* problems standing in lines like everybody else. They just don't want to wait.

Oh I get that. What bothers me it isn't necessary but the parents consider it a "perk" for having to deal with diabetes. Yes it sucks, yes it sucks 24/7 but what are you teaching your kids when you do things like this?

[alphabassettgrrl]

I agree. Teaching kids to whine in order to cheat the system.

[lashbear]

You mean Diabetics can jump the queue??? Woo Hoo! Just wait till I get back there !!

...I know someone who had a Triple Bypass, but they don't want to use that as the reason for the GAC because all the rides say "not suitable for people with Heart Disease". Or is that just a recommendation? Either way I'm sure I'd he'd have a harder time because of it.

[Gn2Dlnd]

So, (yeah, I'm starting a sentence with "so") I had some reservations about this story from the get-go. My experience is that handicapped access generally just puts you into a different, just as long line, usually through the exit, avoiding stairs or tight turns. Here's (http://www.xojane.com/issues/new-york-post-rich-manhattan-moms-renting-disabled-people-to-skip-lines-at-disney-world) a blogess who agrees with me. I did have to avert my eyes in the paragraph where she trashes it's a small world, though.

[Alex]

My exprience is that while sometimes the alternate access is just as slow, overall it is much faster. Especially if you're knowledgeable enough to know when to not try and get in the Pirates line.

But yeah, if you want certainty, then pay for the VIP guide.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The Today Show supposedly has confirmed the existence (http://www.today.com/news/undercover-disney-deplorable-scheme-skip-lines-6C10131266), though at a far better rate than that quoted in the original story.

[Frikitiki]

Of Course it would be NBC reporting on ABC's parent company Disney and not ABC themselves.

[Moonliner]

Of Course it would be NBC reporting on ABC's parent company Disney and not ABC themselves.

Interesting allegation. I wonder how the biggies covered the "explosion" in Toon Town.

Here is the earliest coverage I could find for:

ABC (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=9119444)
CBS (http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/05/28/small-explosion-reported-at-disneyland/)
NBC (http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Disneylands-Toontown-Area-Evacuated-After-Loud-Explosion-209275801.html)
Fox (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/01/cdc-denies-zombies-existence_n_1562141.html?utm_hp_ref=zombie-apocalypse)

[Morrigoon]

I don't think it was too much of an "issue" until the news started circulating it far and wide. Now people who might not have thought of it on their own will start looking into it.

Also, I think a lot of this stems from the ludicrous admission prices. People are shelling out SO much to go there now, that they feel compelled to do everything they can to squeeze every last experience-per dollar they can out of it. And that is a LOT of dollars to live up to...

On the disabled-getting-shorter-lines part of the question, my thing is this: disabled people (truly disabled, not people with "theme-parkinsons") have enough crap to deal with in life, enough obstacles, enough extra trouble to go to to do the slightest thing, I really don't have an issue with them getting this one advantage. As long as my line is still moving steadily, I see no issue with letting someone who faces a ton of obstacles in life for once getting preferential treatment. And on that note, if I had found out about the ADA tour guide thing outside of its being widely circulated by the media, I really wouldn't have an issue with its existence. So a couple people have found a way to game the system... haven't we all, in our various AP-er ways? Who's to say that one person's strategy is morally superior to another? Is it any better than when we figured out which fastpass attractions weren't connected to the system? Or when we park-hop to hold multiple fastpasses? Viewed in a different light, they're hiring someone to do a job that can only be filled by a person with disabilities, and I think that's kind of cool.

But on the flip side...

1. It *is* widely circulated by the media now. So more people will look to do it.

2. It *is* widely circulated by the media now. So many of the other guests in the park will assume more people are taking advantage of it than actually are. Which could lead to some undeserved ire directed at innocent disabled people and their family/friends who travel with them. That sucks.

3. It *is* widely circulated by the media now. So Disney will be compelled to make "fixing" it a priority. Which means a lot of the advantage part will be taken away, and a whole lot of hassle for innocent disabled guests will be added, as well as making a day at the park that much less accessible for those who really needed the help.

[katiesue]

The diabetic parents are all in a tizzy as this will make their "perk" GAC waits longer. Sigh.

[Morrigoon]

I'm confused, why would diabetics need a GAC?

[katiesue]

Exactly. They don't but see it as a perk.

[lashbear]

Well, I'm a diabetic, and I need a GAC so I can spend less time waiting for the rides and more time eating Corn Dogs.

...oh, wait.