Universal now requiring documentation be sent to a third party for accessibility

[wilkeliza]

Is something like having a handicap pass for your car or license plate an accepted form of documentation?

I don't think they are accepting those because handicap passes don't say what accommodation you need just an accommodation.

 

[Ryoukoe]

I don't think they are accepting those because handicap passes don't say what accommodation you need just an accommodation.

Ah, thank you. I can get documentation from my doctors but wasn't sure if just the handicap pass was enough.

 

[Ryoukoe]

It needs to be a worded statement from a medical provider, government entity, or educational support professional.

Thank you, I can get those but just wasn't too sure if it was simple as a handicap sticker as well.

 

[DLgal]

Ah, thank you. I can get documentation from my doctors but wasn't sure if just the handicap pass was enough.

You can provide what you had to provide to get the handicap placard/sticker at the DMV.

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[AnneK]

Well I'll be able to tell you at the end of September, we are staying at Universal for ten days specifically for HHN with the Frequent Fear Pass.

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[AnneK]

We did opt to just buy Express for one night. We used the disability pass last year and the wait times were so long we only got through a few houses each night. Even if they just issue return times with no escort that would be fine with me, I only need the Gold for a few rides like Hargrids due to it's terrible queue.

 

[HavendishSquare]

We’ll actually find out closer to Sept 2 because that’s the first day of HHN.

I’m not trying to bum anyone out but if you’re going specifically for HHN and you need a disability pass I would call everyday until you get an answer.

I have a friend who is working as a scare actor this year and they have heard that there may not be any accommodations either. They’re just working in the houses so I wouldn’t take their word as fact but the fact that they’re mass approving the gold pass does make me believe it a little more.

I don’t think they are mass approving the gold AAP. I have only ever seen 2-3 groups on a given day with a gold pass compared to the many orange passes also seen.

I also think they only give it to people who go into more detail about why they need it and why the orange one doesn’t work for them. When I got my call, I really only gave a base level reason that would get me the orange AAP because that is all I require.

 

[HavendishSquare]

That is a huge bummer if they put us through this whole process and don’t offer the accommodation for HHN, which is the one event I needed the AAP the most for. In previous years was it announced ahead of time what accommodations were available?

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[HavendishSquare]

The gold pass use to be so rare that you only would only met one person who had even heard of it. With the new system, it just seems like a lot of people are getting approved for it. That’s fine I’m glad people are getting the accommodations they need!

I’m just more so worried about what this means for HHN. The gold pass and the accessibility pass ran into many issues last year. It felt like everyone had an accessibility pass which made the express lines for the more popular lines 30 minutes plus.

For the gold pass, alot of people waited 20-30 min past the return time before an available team member could guide them. Team members are already stretched thin for HHN so an increase in people with the gold pass would really overload the system.

I’m just going based on that and some rumblings from current team members that accommodations may not be offered. If you need accommodations for HHN I would call until you get an answer just to make sure.

I would hope Universal would anticipate the influx of the gold AAPs and staff more team members at rides/houses. If they’ve put this much effort into changing the accommodation system then I hope they put some thought into the result as well.

I’m hoping that Universal will be satisfied that the current process is good enough to prevent abuse that they will offer the AAP during HHN. Maybe they are waiting to see how many people get approved before they decide.

 

[AnneK]

I honestly feel like the timing of the rollout of this new process was specifically to cut down on the abuse of the pass at HNN.

 

[wilkeliza]

I would hope Universal would anticipate the influx of the gold AAPs and staff more team members at rides/houses. If they’ve put this much effort into changing the accommodation system then I hope they put some thought into the result as well.

I’m hoping that Universal will be satisfied that the current process is good enough to prevent abuse that they will offer the AAP during HHN. Maybe they are waiting to see how many people get approved before they decide.

I feel like HHN was really why we were denied last year. Crazy thing is we bought express for HHN. It was the lack of accomodations for heat during the day that made us miss 80% of HHN

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[mckennarose]

I don't think they are accepting those because handicap passes don't say what accommodation you need just an accommodation.

Ah, thank you. I can get documentation from my doctors but wasn't sure if just the handicap pass was enough.

You can provide what you had to provide to get the handicap placard/sticker at the DMV.

Do handicap plates/cards requirements vary by state?

In my state, on the application for the DMV, a doctor has to specify what "eligibility requirements" patients have, and it includes a whole list of things the Dr has to attest to.

Some examples:
Does not have full use an arm or both arms.
Cannot walk 200 feet without resting.
Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a wheelchair, crutches, brace, cane....
Uses Oxygen,
Severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

I'm trying to understand this, because your plate/card is attached to your driver's license, and you had to prove to the state the need for it, along with Dr certification you meet the eligibility requirements, I don't understand why they also need another form from the Dr just restating the same. The doctor has already provided that information to get the plate/card in the first place, and the DMV provided legal ID (in the form of your driver's license) and the handicap plate/card from the state government.

 

[DLgal]

Do handicap plates/cards requirements vary by state?

In my state, on the application for the DMV, a doctor has to specify what "eligibility requirements" patients have, and it includes a whole list of things the Dr has to attest to.

Some examples:
Does not have full use an arm or both arms.
Cannot walk 200 feet without resting.
Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a wheelchair, crutches, brace, cane....
Uses Oxygen,
Severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

I'm trying to understand this, because your plate/card is attached to your driver's license, and you had to prove to the state the need for it, along with Dr certification you meet the eligibility requirements, I don't understand why they also need another form from the Dr just restating the same. The doctor has already provided that information to get the plate/card in the first place, and the DMV provided legal ID (in the form of your driver's license) and the handicap plate/card from the state government.

In my state, being 100% P&T disabled according to the VA, gets you the plates. No need for a doctors note and no specific diagnosis requirement. Sinply having a disabled plate or placard doesn't say anything about your needs in a theme park. My husband has the plates for a combination of issues, none of which require accommodations in a theme park.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I waste a lot of my time on TikTok and I have seen more people on there than ever before the past two years talking about requesting DAS for bathroom issues. Many went viral and were followed by tons of comments saying, oh cool I'll just say this too! Not that TikTok is all to blame but knowledge does spread fast on there.

Interestingly enough, I was at a meeting today at the university I work at about student disabilities and the accommodations office showed us statistics of how the number of students applying for accommodations has been increasing significantly each semester. It actually doubled since COVID and this is a large university. They attribute a lot of it to the knowledge/awareness on disabilities that was available during covid so more people know how to ask what they need and also how the stigma continues to decrease on identifying your own needs. I'm sure that also applies too with the increase in guests requesting accommodations at theme parks. Sure, I bet there's a chunk out there lying to try and use it as a TikTok hack but my bet is the majority of increases is due to the awareness/lessening stigma. There's just more info now for people to know what they need and how they should ask for it.

All that to say, I think the knee jerk reaction to seeing increases in accommodations requests is to assume falsehoods (I see this happen at my work with some colleagues, sadly) and perhaps theme parks are having a similar reaction. Or maybe those viral videos on bathroom needs=theme park accommodations ended up on Universals radar. Such a specific thing to focus on...

 

[wilkeliza]

Do handicap plates/cards requirements vary by state?

In my state, on the application for the DMV, a doctor has to specify what "eligibility requirements" patients have, and it includes a whole list of things the Dr has to attest to.

Some examples:
Does not have full use an arm or both arms.
Cannot walk 200 feet without resting.
Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a wheelchair, crutches, brace, cane....
Uses Oxygen,
Severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition.

I'm trying to understand this, because your plate/card is attached to your driver's license, and you had to prove to the state the need for it, along with Dr certification you meet the eligibility requirements, I don't understand why they also need another form from the Dr just restating the same. The doctor has already provided that information to get the plate/card in the first place, and the DMV provided legal ID (in the form of your driver's license) and the handicap plate/card from the state government.

The plate itself doesn't say why you need it or what accomodations you would need in a theme park environment.

A plate could fall into a mobile issue which wouldn't get an AA but also could be for a non mobility issue.