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Disney changing line-jumping program for disabled people

PR NEWSWIRE
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - (JUNE 15

ANAHEIM, Calif. >> People with disabilities will no longer go straight to the front of lines at Disneyland and Walt Disney World after growing abuse of the system, park officials said.

Under the change, visitors will be issued tickets with a return time and a shorter wait similar to the FastPass system that’s offered to everyone.

Currently, visitors unable to wait in the regular line can get backdoor access to rides or go through the exit and wait in a shorter line.

The system “certainly has been problematic, and we wanted to curb some of the abuse of this system,” Disneyland Resort spokes­woman Suzi Brown told the Orange County Register.

The move was a response to the phenomenon of disabled “tour guides” who charge money, sometimes hundreds of dollars, to accompany able-bodied guests and allow them to avoid long lines. Others who don’t have a disability have been able to get an assistance card since no proof of disability is required.

“Given the increasing volume of requests we receive for special access to our attractions, we are changing our process to create a more consistent experience for all our guests while providing accommodations for guests with disabilities,” Brown said in a statement.

The change takes effect Oct. 9 for guests with park-issued disability cards.

Disney officials said more details will be released after park employees are briefed on the new rules.

Some families of children with epilepsy and autism criticized the change, saying some kids’ disabilities just don’t allow them to wait in standard lines for longer than just a few minutes.

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