Discrimination

I have been a faithful CP goer for over 25 Years, most years at least twice a year (approx 100 mile drive). I have stuck through the park through good and bad times, including all the mess last year with TTD, I even got over it when they filmed a commercial instead of letting people ride it during operating hours (I am still amazed at that, but either way, got to get over it), but last Friday the park did what I do not think I can get over, they dicriminated against me becasue I have a disablility. This is clearly against the law, but they did it. SInce I was about 12 or 13 I have had to wear glasses, I have learned to live with it as for the most part it is an inconvience, but nothing major. Well last Friday me and my girlfriendn went to the park (we both took a day off work and spent a decent sum of money for what should have been an enjoyable day) and were shocked when we tried to enter the TTD line, only to have the line operator tell us because I am disabled (glasses) I need to:

1) Spend money on a strap

2) Spend money on a locker and not be able to see for the next couple hours without my glasses

3) Put them in a zippered pocket

Needless to say I was amazed????? I searched the website and brochere and could find no mention of the sort???? The only reference on the website says: "Guests with disabilities should refer to our Ride Admission Policy available at the Park Operations Office.", which means you need to first pay to get in, then find out this info.

Can you believe it, I was amazed, I mean all they needed to do was let you set the glasses on a shelf in the train station, like the other rides.

I am writing this as a warning to all people who wear glasses, expect the same treatment. I have emailed CP and asked for a refund (well a pair of passes to come back "prepared" as we left early becasue of the discrimination exhibited, we will see how they respond.

What are all your takes on this act of discrimination? Any other negative things to be said about the park while we are at it? Thanks guys (and girls)

Uh.... that's not discrimination, it's called taking off your glasses for the safety of others. The park won't give you a refund because you don't want to take off your glasses. Normally when they say guests with disabilities, it doesn't mean the large numbers of people who wear glasses, it normally means people in wheelchairs.

Is it just me or are some people really going overboard with complaints towards CP's policies? I would hardly call having poor vision and the need to wear glasses a "disability." There's a new invention called "contact lenses." That's what I wear and I've never had a problem riding anything at CP while wearing them. I'm sure most agree with me when I say that I'd rather not be hit in the face by your glasses while riding TTD because you refused to put them in a zippered pocket. Please lighten up!

Hey I have no problem taking off my glasses what-se-ever (why don't you re-read my post instead of flaming, when I talk about leaving them in the station). I wasn't even allowed to enter the line. As far as lightening up, it is hard to when you mainly come to the park to ride a particular ride (I have been there so many times, there are only a few rides I really enjoy much anymore) and you are told you cannot ride it becasue of a handicap you have. The operator on WT simply put my glasses for me on the shelf, and on PT I do the same, on some of the other coasters I leave my stuff in the station (they say they are not responsible for it, good ebough, I will take my chances). I have no problem leaving them in the station and definatley understand why you shoudln't wear them, but I was given no choice but to turn around and leave (I was not going to PAY to use a locker, then not be able to see while in line, not only is that VERY DANGEROUS, but for those of you who see right, you have no idea what it is like to not be ableto see. Again, if this info was published it would not be as big a deal, but the only way according to the website is at the operations office after you pay to get in!

I would think that since you have had this unfortunate disability for some time now, you would have purchased glass straps way before your visit to CP.

I like to wear my sunglasses on the rides, therefore I have enough sense to have tight fitting straps that I spent a grand total of $5.00.

Sorry, no sympathy here, and in no way any form of discrimination on CP's part.

what kind of stupid person would say it was descrimination for having to remove her glasses. they made announcements on ttd and mf when i was there in may. buy a strap, i'm sure they sell them at cp. please take a chill pill.

You can't leave it in the station for TTD, you don't even enter and exit in the same place.

I've worn glasses my entire life, and on each visit to cedar point i use contacts instead.

Not to assume that everyone owns contact lenses, but it isn't that hard to take off your glasses and store them, or purchuse a strap. I actually think that is common sense.

If you're going to complain about not being able to see for the few hours you're standing in line, how long would you complain about losing your glasses on the ride? Would CP owe you a new pair because they failed to warn you that at such a high speed and height you could lose them?

In repsonse to it being "posted" there are signs everywhere that NO loose fitting articles will be permitted on MF or TTD, and you'll need to pay for a locker. If you ask me, glasses or sunglasses for that fact are loose fitting articles. *** Edited 6/10/2004 7:06:59 PM UTC by PunkyPiko***

Yes, I agree that there has been too many complaints toward CP this year. It's ridiculous.

Fast car: There are no shelves on the TTD platform for anything. They will NOT let you in the line with any loose articels, including glasses. They didn't consider you as having a disabilaty. You would have, without a doubt, lost your glasses without a strap.

In fact, last year while riding in the front car, I had on sunglasses, with a strap, tightly around my head as possible, and they flew up. I was lucky though because my arms were up, and they landed in my hand. Someone could have gotten seriously hurt if I had not of caught them. Now when I ride, I still have my strap around my neck, but I tuck them in my shirt.

I also need a pair of prescription glasses, but I also have contacts. I don't wear my contacts often, but I do every single time I visit CP. That's around 30 times a year.

Bottom line, they know that you would have lost your glasses and that they could have smacked someone in the face......going 120mph might hurt just a tad. CP's #1 priority is safty. Don't be upset because they were looking out for you having to replace an expensive pair of glasses, and they were preventing their other guests from being injured.

You know, I am color blind and the park brochure is in color with a color-coded grid. I didn't know that until I went into the park. Of course, I couldn't find my way around and spent half the day trying to get from point a to point b. I should be refunded at least half of the admission for the time I wasted.

My son has allergies. We didn't know that the hotel room at the Breakers would be so stuffy and he was up all night. He had a headache the next day and couldn't fully enjoy the rides. We should get a refund on the room and at least a free ticket for him to come back when he is feeling better.

---

i'm sure they sell them at cp.

---

Yes, they do. They even say Cedar Point on them, so they also serve as a souveneir! *** Edited 6/10/2004 7:15:51 PM UTC by CurrentlyDownDueToFillInTheBlank***

---

Chief Wahoo said:
My son has allergies. We didn't know that the hotel room at the Breakers would be so stuffy and he was up all night. He had a headache the next day and couldn't fully enjoy the rides. We should get a refund on the room and at least a free ticket for him to come back when he is feeling better.

---

[sarcasm]Not to mention the park is outdoors which must have really played with his allergies....I mean the nerve of Cedar Fair to build a park out doors its just ridiculous[/sarcasm]

As for glasses, up until 2 years ago I had glasses, now I have contacts. Whenever I got on any ride, I took them off and put them in a pocket. You claim to have been going for so many years and yet you've never actually seen what its like to be on a coaster (since you claim to be so blind that you can't see yourself in a straight path through a line). I suggest you buy the strap (you can go to Meijers and get one for much less than the park charges if you are afraid of paying 5 whole dollars). Then you can enjoy the ride the way the rest of us do.

John

---

Chief Wahoo said:
You know, I am color blind and the park brochure is in color with a color-coded grid. I didn't know that until I went into the park. Of course, I couldn't find my way around and spent half the day trying to get from point a to point b. I should be refunded at least half of the admission for the time I wasted.

My son has allergies. We didn't know that the hotel room at the Breakers would be so stuffy and he was up all night. He had a headache the next day and couldn't fully enjoy the rides. We should get a refund on the room and at least a free ticket for him to come back when he is feeling better.

---

Well Cheif, you and me are thinking along the same lines, it is nice to see someone else on my side rather than just a bunch of cp puppies. As far as the map thing, you actually did get that before getting into the park though, you get the map at the gate, and from what I have been told you can get a refund of parking if you do not wnat to enter (I have not actaully tried, but heard that). So although I can side with you, it isn;t as good of an arguement as mine. As far as the allergies, I am not sure that you could get a free ticket, but maybee a disocunt off another stay??? You have to be realistic about that and it is hard to prove that the room really casue the problems, I have allergies also, but unless there is a blatent disrespect for the conditon (ie, dirt you could write in) that is a tuff one, but I'm with you, write them see what happens.

For some of the others I stress again, I have no problem taking off my glasses, but why should I have to pay for having them? I do hope that EVERYBODY here that doesn;t agree with me wears glasses as those who don;t cannot possibly understand. As far as the losing them, that is my risk that doesn't hurt anyone else (I am sure if somone took my glasses, I could get an escort to my car, room, or wherever I needed to get). The long term solution to the problem is simple, a small padded box on each car for things such as glasses. The short term solution, post that people with glasses will be turned away form the line, inside the brochere or website, not inside the park office, really then there would be no room to complain. As far as buying a strap, why shoudl I buy a strap, when I don;t like wearing my glasses on the ride anyway, I prefer to put htem down my shirt or inside my pocket (which isn't allowed on TTD, but is on all other rides).

The whole problem here is that the TTD is different than all other rides when it comes to glasses rules.

ago I had glasses, now I have contacts. Whenever I got on any ride, I took them off and put them in a pocket. You claim to have been going for so many years and yet you've never actually seen what its like to be on a coaster (since you claim to be so blind that you can't see yourself in a straight path through a line). I suggest you buy the strap (you can go to Meijers and get one for much less than the park charges if you are afraid of paying 5 whole dollars). Then you can enjoy the ride the way the rest of us do.

John,

You are a real moron man, I never said anything about not being able to see astragiht line, my vision is very blurred without glasses, so get off you high horse buddy. As far as doubting my visiting experience, you have alot of nerve there too. Why don;t you read my next post, I do nto liek wearing glasses on rides in general I usually put them down my shirt or in a pcoket, but I am not allowed on this ride.

I wear glasses. When I entered the TTD line and was told that I could either put them in a cargo pocket, stick them in a locker, or use a strap I didn't fuss.

I don't think that it's really that unreasonable to secure loose items on rides, do you? People who wear glasses are not turned away from the line. They are told that they need to be secured. As for your glasses being on not being anybody else's risk... would you like to have somebody's glasses fall on your head from 420 feet up in the air? Didn't htink so.

If it bothers you that much don't ride the ride and save your $1.95 for the strap. Or just duct tape them to your head.

Oh, and I think that Chief Wahoo's post was sarcastic.

Claiming discrimination because of a disability (wearing glasses is a disability now?) without anything to back it up other than "they told me I had to buy a glasses strap" is really petty.

Did you ride the ride or not? If you spent "a decent sum of money for what should have been an enjoyable day" what was the extra $2.00 for a strap or $1.00 for a locker going to do, break you completely? In the end you chose to make it an unenjoyable day because you got all pissed off because they asked you (for safety reasons of all things) to spend an extra dollar or two? That's pretty sad that something so small could ruin the park for both you and your "girlfriendn." *** Edited 6/10/2004 7:40:01 PM UTC by Michael Darling***

1,000 points to John and Michael for getting it...although I am color blind.

I think the bottom line here is that fastcar01 isn't playing with a full deck so there is no room for trying to be rational with him anyway. I always have to laugh when I'm walking into an entrance to a ride and someone like fastcar01 is ranting and raving to the attendant at the front about something silly and trivial as his glasses and his "sight disability," now I can read it on this site and laugh even harder. Like I said before please lighten up and focus more important, more positive discussions about CP.

So why can't you put them in your shirt before you enter the queue line? They don't strip search you...(I don't think ;), put them back on until you get on the platform, then simply put them in your shirt!

---

that is my risk that doesn't hurt anyone else

---

You don't think that it would hurt being blasted in the face with anything going 120+mph? I got smacked in the face with a bug while riding in front of WT last year, and the maximum speed on that ride is 72mph. I had a small bruise on my forehead.....from a BUG going 72mph. If it had been glasses at almost double that speed, I would have been seriously injured, no doubt, since a BUG left a bruise. So your risk very possibly could hurt someone else tremendously!

No one is a moron, and no one is on a high horse. You asked a question, and they answered it.......and you are arguing with people who were kind enough to respond why?

Have you ever seen the King of the Hill episode when Hank quits because a new member at Strickland Propane smokes pot and has a disability and then everyone else has a disability that is really stupid, some of the disabilites i believe were HWS (hard workers syndrome), blind b/c of light, stomach acid, easy tiredness if they stood up, migranes that just popped up outta no where and "late" stage ADD.

---

fastcar01 said:

Needless to say I was amazed????? I searched the website and brochere and could find no mention of the sort???? The only reference on the website says: "Guests with disabilities should refer to our Ride Admission Policy available at the Park Operations Office.", which means you need to first pay to get in, then find out this info.

---

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/ridepolicy.cfm#loose

You did not look on the website. The policy on glasses is in english, and not hard to find. CP even has the "search" feature to use. Next time put your glasses on to see what information is offered to you before claiming that you were discriminated against.

And exactly what does "CP puppies" mean?