Disney bans disabled visitors from jumping queues

Disabled visitors to Disney theme parks in America will no longer be allowed to go to the front of the queue because of abled-body visitors cheating the system.

Walt Disney World currently allows guests with special needs to skip to the front of the lines for rides, but after abuse of the system was reported, the parks have decided to introduce a new policy.

The change will see visitors with special needs issued tickets with a return time and a shorter wait similar to the FastPass that any guest can purchase.

The new policy takes effect 9 October for visitors with disability cards issued by the parks.

NBC Los Angeles reports that Disneyland Resorts said the current approach "certainly has been problematic, and we wanted to curb some of the abuse of this system."

Speaking to the Orange County Register, spokeswoman for the parks Suzi Brown said: "We have an unwavering commitment to making our parks accessible to all guests.

"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."

Vietnam veteran Larry Keran and his wife Delilah celebrated their second honeymoon at Disney World but said it was not easy getting around the park.

Speaking to WFTV, Delilah said people "cheating the system" was "not fair to the other riders."

"If it's going to make it fair for other patrons, it's right to do," she added.

But Rebecca Goddard, who takes her autistic sons, 4 and 6, to Disneyland once a week, told the Orange County Register that they can't stand in lines for longer than a few minutes before they start pushing people.

"My boys don't have the cognition to understand why it's going to be a long wait. There are so few things for my boys that bring them utter joy and happiness - to mess with it just makes me sad."

Disney said it has consulted disability groups, such as Autism Speaks, on the new changes.

Watch a video report about wealthy parents hiring "disabled" guides so that their children do not have to wait in line:

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