Some wealthy Manhattan families have discovered a new way to skip the long lines at Walt Disney World. They’re now hiring disabled people to pose as family members so they can jump ahead, according to The New York Post.
The “black-market” Disney guides can apparently be rented for $130 an hour, or $1,040 for an eight-hour day.
“You can’t go to Disney without a tour concierge,” said one mom who hired a disabled guide through Dream Tours Florida, “This is how the 1 percent does Disney.”
The Post reports that the woman said she hired the guide to escort her and family through the park in a motorized scooter with a “handicapped” sign on it.
At each ride, the group was sent to an auxiliary entrance at the front of the attraction.
According to Disney policy, each guest who needs a wheelchair or motorized scooter can bring up to six guests to a “more convenient entrance.”
Despite a warning from Disney that there “may be a waiting period before before boarding,” but the moms using the tricky tactic are saying it’s well worth the cost, which happens to be cheaper than Disney’s VIP Tours.
Disney offers a VIP guide and fast passes for $310 to $380 per hour.
The Post says passing around the Dream Tours guide service’s phone number recently became popular among Manhattan’s private-school scene during spring break.
The service apparently asks who referred you before they even take your call.
Social anthropologist Dr. Wednesday Martin told the Post she caught wind of the underground network while researching her new book, “Primates of Park Avenue.”
“It’s insider knowledge that very few have and share carefully,” she says.
Ryan Clement runs Dream Tours Florida with his girlfriend, Jacie Christiano, whom has been pointed out as being one of the hired guides.
Clement refused to put The Post through to her and denied that she uses her disability to bypass lines.
He did, however, say she says an auto-immune disorder and uses a scooter on the job.
Disney has not returned The Post’s requests for comment.
