Ok, so this week's "tip," if you can call it at tip, is very simple. BEHAVE and DO WHAT'S RIGHT!!!
(sorry for the shouting)
As many of you probably have read, there's apparently a few businesses out there that are hiring handicapped individuals to serve as tour guides to then use the handicapped entrances to attractions and bypassing standby lines.
If you haven't read the story yet, check it out here: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/disney_world_srich_kid_outrage_zTBA0xrvZRkIVc1zItXGDP
While the outrage is understandable and totally warranted, I do want to take this opportunity to share a few words of calm. First and foremost, please DO NOT think that all special needs guests are out to game the system. Disney goes above and beyond to be as accommodating as they can for special needs guests. That's why they put in special entrances and give special access to guests with disabilities. I want to see guests using these services -- that's why they're there.
What a don't want are guests ABUSING these opportunities. There's a big difference between the two and, sadly, it's pretty tough to tell the difference.
So, as I said, when you see guests using the privileges for handicapped guests, please don't assume that someone's out to take advantage of the system. The vast majority of guests are doing the right thing and acting in an honest manner.
So how can we as guests try to stop this sort of behavior? Well the easiest way is to stop using these kinds of "tour guides"!! There's really no way that Disney can police this kind of behavior, nor should Disney waste a bunch of effort trying to do so because of the potential negative impacts on disabled guests who are simply doing the right thing and using the services available to them.
Sure, Disney could cut down on the number of able-bodied guests who can accompany a disabled guest, but consider the impact of such action. You want to experience an attraction with your family - how would you like it if you had to break up. One group gets to use the FastPass line, while the other has to go through the standby queue.
Nor can Disney ask for a bunch of medical documentation - HIPPA privacy laws forbid it. Also, there's no real way Disney could require the accompanies guests to be "family." These days families have so many different last names that it would be impossible to verify the relations.
No, the way to stop this is to not use these services ourselves and discourage anyone else from using them.
I promise I'll get back to more magical posts next week, but this got under my skin and I needed to share my thoughts.
Showing posts with label guests with disabilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guests with disabilities. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Disney launches new service to allow guests "see and hear" attractions
Disney engineers have taken recent advances in wireless technology one step further, creating a first-of-a-kind, handheld assistive device to bring the magic of Disney theme parks to guests with visual and hearing disabilities.
Disney’s Handheld Device combines multiple functions – assistive listening, handheld captioning, and closed captioning activation – into one small, easy-to-use platform. The assistive listening system provides amplified audio, while handheld captioning enables guests to read captions while enjoying specific theme park attractions. Closed captioning is also activated by the handheld device in pre-show areas where TV displays narrate the upcoming experience.
The device also provides audio description for guests who are blind or with low vision. This service provides narrated information about key visual elements in attractions such as actions, settings and scene changes and works seamlessly with the existing show audio. From the moment a guest steps into an attraction, they are given rich detail of their surroundings and become immediately involved in the experience.
“We have a longstanding commitment to providing outstanding services for guests with disabilities,” said Greg Hale, chief safety officer and vice president of Worldwide Safety and Accessibility for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We had been looking many years for a way to deliver content in narrative attractions where fixed captioning systems weren’t an option. With this device, we found a solution for building multiple functions into a single lightweight, durable device that is simple to use and easy to maintain.”
The innovative handheld assistive device was designed to fit in a guest’s palm, weighing a mere 7.2 ounces. The Disney-patented* technology delivers location-based and synchronized information as guests move through an attraction. The device can also serve a wide variety of retail, commercial and industrial applications.
“We are now making this technology available outside of our Disney Parks,” said Hale. “Museums, movie theaters, stage shows, tours – it extends accessibility where it was previously impractical.” Softeq Development Corporation handled product development and is licensed to make this technology available beyond Disney Parks.
The device is offered at no additional cost at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort theme parks. For further information about services for guests with disabilities, guests should visit the Walt Disney World Web site at disneyworld.com or contact Walt Disney World Information at 407-824-4321 (voice) or 407-827-5141 (TTY).
Disney’s Handheld Device combines multiple functions – assistive listening, handheld captioning, and closed captioning activation – into one small, easy-to-use platform. The assistive listening system provides amplified audio, while handheld captioning enables guests to read captions while enjoying specific theme park attractions. Closed captioning is also activated by the handheld device in pre-show areas where TV displays narrate the upcoming experience.
The device also provides audio description for guests who are blind or with low vision. This service provides narrated information about key visual elements in attractions such as actions, settings and scene changes and works seamlessly with the existing show audio. From the moment a guest steps into an attraction, they are given rich detail of their surroundings and become immediately involved in the experience.
“We have a longstanding commitment to providing outstanding services for guests with disabilities,” said Greg Hale, chief safety officer and vice president of Worldwide Safety and Accessibility for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We had been looking many years for a way to deliver content in narrative attractions where fixed captioning systems weren’t an option. With this device, we found a solution for building multiple functions into a single lightweight, durable device that is simple to use and easy to maintain.”
The innovative handheld assistive device was designed to fit in a guest’s palm, weighing a mere 7.2 ounces. The Disney-patented* technology delivers location-based and synchronized information as guests move through an attraction. The device can also serve a wide variety of retail, commercial and industrial applications.
“We are now making this technology available outside of our Disney Parks,” said Hale. “Museums, movie theaters, stage shows, tours – it extends accessibility where it was previously impractical.” Softeq Development Corporation handled product development and is licensed to make this technology available beyond Disney Parks.
The device is offered at no additional cost at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort theme parks. For further information about services for guests with disabilities, guests should visit the Walt Disney World Web site at disneyworld.com or contact Walt Disney World Information at 407-824-4321 (voice) or 407-827-5141 (TTY).
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