I Just Caught Colin Jost’s Joke About Disney World Prices On Weekend Update, And I Think It Really Glosses Over The Big Issue

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As a seasoned Disney enthusiast who has spent countless hours navigating the magical realms of Disney World and Disneyland, I can’t help but chuckle at the irony that SNL decided to poke fun at Disney’s price increases. It’s amusing how they chose to joke about faking a disability to skip lines, oblivious to the fact that the real joke is on us – the fans who are now paying more than ever to experience the magic.

Regarding the persistent rise in prices at Disney World and Disneyland, one can’t help but chuckle to keep from crying. Every year, without fail, theme park tickets go up in price, but the parks also devise innovative methods for charging visitors for various experiences. The latest instance of this was even mentioned by Colin Jost on a recent episode of Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update. I just happened to catch it.

Over the weekend, during the latest installment of Weekend Update, there was a brief mention of the new Lightning Lane Premiere Pass – an expensive ticket option allowing skip-the-line access at attractions. While I get the humor, it’s important to delve deeper into a potential larger concern that this quick joke may have overlooked. As a fan who appreciates these shows, I believe we should discuss the implications of such line-skipping passes more thoughtfully.

How SNL Poked Fun At Disney World’s Price Increases

Last month, Disney World and Disneyland announced Lightning Lane Premier Pass, a new premium option that gives guests the ability to pay to skip attraction lines, without having to wait for certain time windows like the current Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass Options. Colin Joest appeared on Weekend Update, and he came up with a secondary solution that doesn’t cost as much. Check out the clip below for the answer:

It’s a solid joke, and one that theme park devotees who watch are going to get. The idea that a person might fake a disability in order to get special treatment at Disney World is one that everybody can understand. The problem is the joke overlooks the fact that disability access at Disney Parks has actually gotten a lot worse.

SNL’s Joke Is Funny, But It’s Missing Something

It’s important to clarify that the SNL joke made me chuckle, but I don’t assume anyone in the writer’s room would fully grasp the intricacies of Disney World’s Disability Access Services (DAS). In other words, the humor wasn’t entirely on point, and a more accurate jab might not have been as amusing.

Given my frequent visits to Disney Parks, not only as a writer for TopMob but also personally, I’ve gained extensive knowledge about this subject matter. Consequently, the humor falls flat since the parks have undergone significant transformations regarding accessibility services (DAS), even before the introduction of Lightning Lane Premiere Pass. To be frank, using a wheelchair doesn’t automatically grant special privileges in the park anymore.

Additionally, Disney Parks has alleged that there’s been extensive misuse of the Disability Access Service (DAS), granting undeserving individuals access to it. Notably, independent tour guides have been barred from Disney World, with the manipulation of the DAS system being a significant factor in this decision. Lately, rules regarding the DAS have been tightened, resulting in fewer people meeting the criteria compared to before.

It’s not news that abuse of DAS is something that happens. Years ago, there were reports of people in wheelchairs essentially renting themselves out so that groups could skip lines. There certainly were people taking advantage of the system.

As a gamer, let me clear up a misunderstanding that’s been floating around: It seems like some folks think the recent changes to curb abuse are secretly making people pay for priority access. However, using a wheelchair isn’t a free pass to bypass the queue. Quite the contrary! The truth might not be hilarious, but it needs to be said. In fact, having a wheelchair is not an alternative to paying for quicker entry; instead, it’s the other way around. I’m not here to scold anyone, Weekend Update, but to shed light on this important detail.

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2024-11-07 02:38