Universal Studios new disability pass

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I got mine approved. Shockingly easy, but I provided the documentation that was asked.

DL Paris requires documentation also and we’ve always found it fast and easy, and it reduces abuse, I’m not sure why anyone would be against it.

My gf has a heart condition and we’ve found it infinitely easier to simply show them a doctors note rather than trying to explain a very complicated health condition to a random CM and then explain how standing stationary for long periods can result in low blood pressure and fainting.

She keeps the note in her wallet for doctors/paramedics in case of emergencies and always offers the paper to the DL and WDW CMs but none will even look at it. Instead we spend 15 minutes explaining the condition to a new CM every couple of months when her previous DAS expires.

We’ve been to DL Paris 3 times and every time we go we talk about how much we wish their verification system would come to the states.

 

[SplashJacket]

If people didn't abuse the disability pass system there would be no need for verification of ones disability. Unfortunately the few spoil it for the many and force Universal to ask and require proof. They should do the same for service animals which is wide open for abuse at WDW

It doesn't necessarily require abuse to incentivize increased barriers.

I've been in many groups where the pass was used, and I wouldn't categorize any use case as abuse. Did any person absolutely require the passes given by Universal or Disney? No.

Were they the intended recipients and people the extra accommodations were made for? Absolutely 100%.

From visiting the parks with my elderly grandmother who has a very bad foot and can hardly stand for any period of time, let alone extended periods, to visiting the parks with individuals burdened by crippling anxiety. In both circumstances, accommodations are not required to enjoy a day at the parks. My grandmother cannot walk up or down stairs, but on our own, we could self-regulate what we do to account for her. For the anxiety, we could only enjoy rides with low waits to minimize the potential build-up throughout the line. At the end of the day, the accommodations are not 100% necessary, but they make everyone's life 100% easier and the whole experience 100x more enjoyable.

My point is not that the accommodations should be thrown out, but most people (even those who aren't abusing the system) that use these passes could absolutely get by without them, so by making it harder, they're forcing people towards upcharges/minimizing the effect of these accommodations on the average guest.

I don't know what the perfect solution answer is, but regardless, it's definitely a tricky balance of ensuring the right people get access without turning off those who need it the most.

 

[Autumn]

I consider it a reasonable request in order to prevent the flood of people who would falsely represent themselves as having a disability in order to gain the same privileges. If you can figure out a better way for Universal (or another business) to determine who does (and does not) have a legitimate disability, you should let them know because Disney has been trying to figure out a solution to this issue for decades.

When my family goes to Disney we go to guest relations. I do carry a letter from my son's father primary care provider stating his needs. Disney never asks for a diagnosis. From what I understand the third party that is screening documents are an autism site. How can they determine if a health issue will determine if a person cannot wait on a line. The process to file documents online in advance of our arrival is not so easy to do for people who do not know how to use the computer system as well. This may be our last trip to Universal

 

[Chi84]

This silliness may end up getting the thread closed. People may actually have questions about Universal’s new requirements and the likelihood of Disney following suit.

 

[JT3000]

This silliness may end up getting the thread closed. People may actually have questions about Universal’s new requirements and the likelihood of Disney following suit.

It's probably not worth trying to salvage at this point. The avian malcontent has derailed it too far. That and the fact that there's already another thread on this subject. I would provide a link, but I don't want them finding it so easily.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

This is rather interesting...the more I think about it (from a Universal standpoint).
Is this being abused so much that this needed to happen?
My child is on the spectrum. We've gone and got the disability pass in the past but only use it when he personally is "done." We've waited in lines, then left when he's become overwhelmed, only to use the pass and come back to the attraction later.

If we were denied that pass, it would really hinder our enjoyment of the parks and we'd leave. That's a loss of revenue on Universal's part which, at the end of the day, may have been over a family not waiting 2-3 hours less in a park line over the course of a day. (Mind you, when people aren't waiting in lines, they are most likely spending money).

I think a better method would be to keep the system as is but extend out return times. (So if it's a 60 minute standby wait, the return time is in 90 minutes). This wouldn't make it as beneficial for those cheating the system but still allow those who need it to utilize it.

 

[mkt]

DL Paris requires documentation also and we’ve always found it fast and easy, and it reduces abuse, I’m not sure why anyone would be against it.

At least to me there's a certain degree of discomfort of having to provide medical documents to someone who isn't a medical professional.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

There was an article in my MSN newsfeed today about transableism, I’d never heard of this before but it’s identifying as disabled, and it made me think of this thread and wonder if Universal is looking into confirmation as a way to prevent future controversy.

 

[mkt]

There was an article in my MSN newsfeed today about transableism, I’d never heard of this before but it’s identifying as disabled, and it made me think of this thread and wonder if Universal is looking into confirmation as a way to prevent future controversy.

I assume it's more of a cost savings matter. It's likely cheaper to pass the responsibility to an organization dedicated to this, one that has medical professionals that make the determinations, rather than the labor cost and potential liability of doing this yourself and rejecting someone who did qualify.

 

[mkt]

Gotcha!

 

[Disstevefan1]

There was an article in my MSN newsfeed today about transableism, I’d never heard of this before but it’s identifying as disabled, and it made me think of this thread and wonder if Universal is looking into confirmation as a way to prevent future controversy.

transableism???!!!?? I had to Google it. So folks are identifying as disabled as a life choice, not just to skip the lines. Does their medical insurance cover this life choice?

We are truly living on clown planet.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Is this being abused so much that this needed to happen?

Yes. People assume it's only a handful of parties in the park that have the passes. In reality, it's closer to 1/5th of anyone riding any attraction.

 

[Chi84]

Yes. People assume it's only a handful of parties in the park that have the passes. In reality, it's closer to 1/5th of anyone riding any attraction.

I’m not challenging it but where did that fact come from?

 

[Tom Morrow]

I’m not challenging it but where did that fact come from?

Ask anyone who has worked at an E-ticket attraction at Disney or Universal (and also cares about their job and pays attention).

You can also easily observe it if you pay attention to the scanning point of the express line at an HHN queue if you know what card to look for.

 

[jaklgreen]

transableism???!!!?? I had to Google it. So folks are identifying as disabled as a life choice, not just to skip the lines. Does their medical insurance cover this life choice?

We are truly living on clown planet.

They used to call that Munchausen syndrome. It is a mental illness.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes. People assume it's only a handful of parties in the park that have the passes. In reality, it's closer to 1/5th of anyone riding any attraction.

That’s less than the general population.

CDC: 1 in 4 US adults live with a disability | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC

CDC public health news, press releases, government public health news, medical and disease news, story ideas, photos.

www.cdc.gov

 

[Tom Morrow]

That’s less than the general population.

CDC: 1 in 4 US adults live with a disability | CDC Online Newsroom | CDC

CDC public health news, press releases, government public health news, medical and disease news, story ideas, photos.

www.cdc.gov

Not every disability requires accommodations with waiting in line.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Also, and this is something that I really despise, if you live in Orlando and keep up with the theme park scene, then you probably know tons of people who openly admit to scamming the disability pass systems to skip the lines. I've always found this behavior atrocious and I likely won't hang out with people who admit to doing it. It's unfortunately extremely rampant though.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Also, and this is something that I really despise, if you live in Orlando and keep up with the theme park scene, then you probably know tons of people who openly admit to scamming the disability pass systems to skip the lines. I've always found this behavior atrocious and I likely won't hang out with people who admit to doing it. It's unfortunately extremely rampant though.

I have a few friends who legitimately have DAS but who I still feel abuse it… like using it to skip a 15 minute line when they are perfectly capable of standing in that line.

My GF is capable of standing in a 30 minute line so we don’t use it for anything with a wait less than 30-40 minutes (depending on heat). I think if people would police themselves and only use it when they need to Disney (and Universal) would be less likely to feel the need to police it themselves.

 

[mkt]

Not every disability requires accommodations with waiting in line.

Are you a medical professional that’s qualified to make that determination?