A visitor to Blackpool Zoo has warned guests with 'invisible disabilities' to 'tattoo it on your head' after they were allegedley forced to justify their disability to 'abusive' zoo-goers in a row over a Sealion show seat.
The exhausted tourist was left feeling 'absolutely wiped' after they apparently battled through several queues on the day, and took a seat in a designated disabled area in the arena. They were allegedley confronted by a staff member several times who asked them to move before the performance started.
The guest refused to move - sparking a row with eavesdropping spectators who started "abusing" the "selfish" zoo-goer, LancsLive reports.
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In a review on TripAdvisor, the guest hit out at the popular zoo, claiming they were forced to prove their 'invisible disability' - a heart condition - to the staff member and other guests, leaving them feeling 'extremely uncomfortable'. At the time of writing, the guest alleged that they had not yet had a response from the 'beautiful zoo'.
However, a spokesperson for Blackpool Zoo has since responded to the TripAdvisor post and has shed some light on why they would have been asked to move. The customer's TripAdvisor post reads: "Only around ten disabled (parking) spaces, no staff to ask...had to queue for an hour to get in, then queued around the same time for food and drink!
"To save queuing again, I purchased the £10 upgrade for (drinks) refills but there was only the (one drinks) machine at the entrance working so every time we needed a drink had to walk back and start again. Then absolutely wiped, (I) sat an hour early at the sea lion show to be told two minutes before starting that I needed to move to the back row!
"I explained several times 'I can’t' until I was abused by other visitors and called selfish! Then, on the last time, the same staff member came back and explained that my seat is actually reserved for someone that needs it (disabled people) so I need to move!
"I then had to explain my heart condition to him and everyone around me and have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. No response from the zoo, no sorry, no acknowledgment whatsoever! It’s actually a beautiful zoo.
"I’d say if you are fit and able and take a packed lunch you will enjoy it! If you have an invisible disability I would be advising you (to) tattoo it on your head."
A spokesperson for Blackpool Zoo responded with a statement which read: "For the majority of the year, the 12 spaces for our disabled visitors’ cars are sufficient and the area is rarely full. However, we do appreciate these can fill up on busy days such as during school holidays, and as such we block off additional spaces to be used if needed.
"If you do visit us again and parking is a problem, please speak to a parking attendant or a member of staff at the main entrance, and they will do everything possible to assist. I’m sorry to hear you were met with a queue; this unfortunately can be expected during peak arrival times in school holidays, however if you or your son were struggling to queue, and had mentioned this to any member of staff, they could have assisted in getting you in the zoo quicker.
"We have members of staff on queue control or there is always someone in Visitor Services, within the main entrance. On busy days, we do have a queue for disabled visitors and members, which is signposted advising to turn left into the coffee shop and queue into there, rather than the main zig zag queue towards the tills.
"Although I do appreciate if the queue is outside, this is not until you are nearer the entrance to the zoo. Please know for future visits, to speak to staff who would be happy to help you.
"We have this, along with other information listed on our accessibility page on our website, that may be helpful if you do visit again."
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