Disabled Access at Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park: A look at the effect of the policies at this U.K. park.
I go here every year with my nephews (age 6 and 8), mum and aunt. I suffer with arthritis in my hands and knees so I take along my disabled parking badge and you get given an orange wristband for yourself (the disabled person) and then your careres get yellow wristbands. This means you can then enter the ride using the exit or disabled access and don't have to queue. Also you get in for £14 and two careres also get in for £14 (its normally £26 per person which I think is outrageous).
Anyway last year when we went my nephews were allowed to wear wristbands as well (my mum and aunt will go on nothing except the magic teacup ride the chickens). This year my nephews weren't given their yellow wrist bands as i was told they would be allowed on with me regardless. This wasn't the case on one ride, a kiddies ride, the one that goes round and round a track with the indian standing in the middle (forgotten the name of it) the jobsworth on there wouldnt let me ride as i didn't have a carer with me. now i could understand this if i myself needed help on and off the ride and whilst i was riding (like if i was severely mentally disabled) i explained to the ride operator what was the matter with me and that i wouldn't try and leap off the ride as it was going but she wouldn't let me on.
I found also when i went on the samurai (alone as my eldest nephew was a little too small to go on it) that they wouldn't let me on without a carer, i explained the situation and was let on. thing is last year when i went i was allowed on any ride regardless of whether i had a carer with me. In the end i found myself covering up my wristband with my coat and riding as a single rider.
Am i wrong in finding this a bit insulting? I can understand that people in wheelchairs or those who are severely disabled must have someone ride with them for their own safety but for someone like me who cannot queue for a long time for the simple fact that my arthritic knees wont allow me to. I would appreciate others input into this.
What! They say you have to have someone with you to go on the rides? I'm not suprised you found this insulting. You also said you couldn't remember the ride when you circle the indian (native american). Thats the Rocky Express, anyway, did you go on Colossues and Nemisis Inferno? Did you enjoy the rides you went on?
i went on all the coasters and scary rides but had to go on as a single rider and hide my wristband incase i got turned away. my eldest nephew isnt quite tall enough yet to go on them. I understand the safety element for people in wheelchairs and those with mental disabilities having to have someone ride with them but im perfectly ok apart from my arthritis.
i'm always checking up on thorpe park.
it's a bit stupid really that you have to go in the single rider line. we were not alowed to go on logers leap becaus the staff didon't think i'd manage it!
Hi, i dont know much about getting onto rides when your disabled or some what "Meant to be disabled" like alot of people do so they dont have to queue but for us people who arnt disabled i think its pretty unfair that you guys dont have to wait at all! in thorpe park or alton towers. im not being rude or anything, im just being fair, i understand that you may not be able to queue but you still shouldnt be able to get onto all the rides without a wait at all. You should have to at least wait half hour or something depending on the normal queue time or how busy the park is.
3 years gone by, and I actually can't remember typing that first response down. One of those random things in life I suppose.
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