This is a summary from an article that appeared on the BBC website on 5 February 2026.
Alton Towers will trial stricter eligibility for its ride access (disability queuing) scheme during the February half-term. Similar restrictions will also apply at Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor.
Under the trial, “difficulty with crowds” (often linked to autism, ADHD or anxiety) will no longer automatically qualify a guest for the ride access pass. Eligibility will instead focus on needs such as difficulty standing, level access, or urgent toilet needs. Guests whose Nimbus card shows only “difficulty with crowds” will be directed to Guest Services for personalised support and other adjustments.
The operator says demand for the pass has increased and that disabled guests have reported the current system “isn’t working”, with longer waits for those relying on it. Charities and families have raised concerns that this approach may exclude neurodiverse visitors for whom crowded queues can trigger sensory overload or distress, and that consistency and predictability of support will be critical in practice.
The article can be found here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
I have not independently verified the reporting, but I can point out that the Equality Act 2010 imposes a statutory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments for service users who satisfy the definition of disability in the statute, to avoid substantial disadvantage they experience as a result of the effects of their impairments. It follows that any service provider should be aware of this duty. This is not legal advice.
More can be found here:
https://www.
This is a neutral and objective summary.
Sean Kennedy
