Paralympics - Who's Going?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Their seating maps are crap

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Docume.../24/17/50/KDVENUESTAParaAthletics_Neutral.pdf

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Hi,

I think the Olympics and the Paralympics will work fairly similarly as far as entry to the park goes.
if you have a ticket to an event on the park, you can walk around the park as long as you want...the park is BIG and walking from one end to the other takes about 40 mins, most of it is flat/wheelchair friendly, although there are a few inclines and there are additional walkways on different levels (but you don't have to take them!).

If you don't have a day pass, you can only get into the venue you have a ticket for, and each venue is completely enclosed with only one entrance (the stadium has a couple of different entrances/bridges - but again impossible to get into it without a ticket). I am not sure how the day pass "availability" thing will work if the Paralympics are sold out, but you may be right about them allocating a certain number of seats for people with day passes (I only had tickets for events, so not 100% sure about this) but I did read that there is no multiple entry/day pass for the aquatic centre/stadium/velodrome.

There is loads to see - gardens/big screens/etc etc, so although it would be nice to go to a couple of different sports, there is enough to entertain even the most hardened soul in the actual park!

As far as getting there 90mins before your event - we didn't really find that necessary, the main thing is to give yourself time to get to the park without having to rush, but its fine to arrive at the venue 10 or 15 minutes before the start of your session.

And Minnie - the jubilee line goes to Stratford so you wouldn't need to take the dlr - unless you wanted to?

Yes, I realise Jubilee Line goes to Stratford, so I'll either be getting the bus to London Bridge and getting Jubilee Line or go to Liverpool Street to get Central Line, although I think I'd prefer the Jubilee Line as Central Line more unreliable. Knowing my luck Central Line will be running fine and Jubilee Line will fuck up

It is Stratford we go to isn't it and not Stratford International?

Many thanks for all the info

DELETED BIT ABOUT BEING ABLE TO WALK AROUND PARK

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

IGNORE. I DIDN'T READ YOUR POST PROPERLY

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Ozone

Is there anywhere quiet and clean (inside) or outside where someone could manage to have a sleep?

and also, do you know how the Mobility Shuttle Service works? Is it hop on/hop off or do you have to book it?

 

[Ozone]

Hi,

There are some quieter areas outside with grass and when I walked past, I did see some people sleeping....but it's more probable that they were sleeping off a hangover, rather than having a rest! I don't think there are any designated quiet/rest areas.

I think you can just hop on and off the mobility shuttles, but again I am not sure. There were lots of them driving around the park, but it may be a good idea to check how they work (website isn't very clear).

The other really important thing is:
You can't take any liquids into the park, but you can take an empty bottle (quite a few water fountains dotted around if you want to fill it up), and you can take food!!! We found it much easier taking our own food as the queues were quite long at the food stands and it ended up being cheaper....this is also a good idea for those taking kids into the park!

 

[gaijingirl]

oh we'll def be taking a picnic!! No way we could feed us all at those prices!

water bottle tip is great - thanks.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Hi,

There are some quieter areas outside with grass and when I walked past, I did see some people sleeping....but it's more probable that they were sleeping off a hangover, rather than having a rest! I don't think there are any designated quiet/rest areas.

I think you can just hop on and off the mobility shuttles, but again I am not sure. There were lots of them driving around the park, but it may be a good idea to check how they work (website isn't very clear).

The other really important thing is:
You can't take any liquids into the park, but you can take an empty bottle (quite a few water fountains dotted around if you want to fill it up), and you can take food!!! We found it much easier taking our own food as the queues were quite long at the food stands and it ended up being cheaper....this is also a good idea for those taking kids into the park!

Cheers Ozone.

I've seen the prices for food and drink. Think I read £8 for fish and chips which is reasonable enough, but over £4 for a bottle of Heineken Lucky I don't bother drinking outside much outside of a pub

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

oh we'll def be taking a picnic!! No way we could feed us all at those prices!

water bottle tip is great - thanks.

Gaijin - as I can't seem to find anything out about the mobility shuttles on the website, if you remember, and have the time, and just happen to be passing one, could you ask if they're hop on/hop off affairs or do they only take you to venue you've got tickets for and back to main gate etc?

Only if you remember and have the time and can be bothered of course

 

[Ozone]

Cheers Ozone.

I've seen the prices for food and drink. Think I read £8 for fish and chips which is reasonable enough, but over £4 for a bottle of Heineken Lucky I don't bother drinking outside much outside of a pub

£8.50 for fish and chips...we succumbed once, but it was realllllly good and worth it!!

Enjoy yourselves, I'm sure you'll have a great time...

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

£8.50 for fish and chips...we succumbed once, but it was realllllly good and worth it!!

Enjoy yourselves, I'm sure you'll have a great time...

I hope so, although if he gets tired, it'll be miserable, hence need for him to be able to have a kip somewhere if he needs it

 

[gaijingirl]

Gaijin - as I can't seem to find anything out about the mobility shuttles on the website, if you remember, and have the time, and just happen to be passing one, could you ask if they're hop on/hop off affairs or do they only take you to venue you've got tickets for and back to main gate etc?

Only if you remember and have the time and can be bothered of course

of course I will. If you get a chance pm me again just before I go - my head is a bit cluttered these days - and knackered.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

of course I will. If you get a chance pm me again just before I go - my head is a bit cluttered these days - and knackered.

Will do.

Have been trying to read up on the paralympians because unfortunately, not very familiar with any of them

Some good/sad/interesting stories

 

[Ceej]

Yup got tickets for the basketball.

Me too - only they don't sem to have ticket numbers on them, just general admission. Can't believe that's right, and of course the query isn't covered by the online FAQs.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Me too - only they don't sem to have ticket numbers on them, just general admission. Can't believe that's right, and of course the query isn't covered by the online FAQs.

Well I think basketball is one of the events you can enter (subject to availability) on an Olympic Park Day Pass. Maybe having bought a ticket just guarantees you entry as opposed to people who have bought Day Passes being allowed entry subject to availability?

Really wish there was more information on how the Day Pass works and how many seats have been allocated for Day Pass holders. It's most confusing

 

[magneze]

Maybe Row 1 starts right at the very back

Anyway, whereabouts on Row 5?

Entrance 158 or something - don't have the tix with me.

 

[Ceej]

Thanks, Minnie - there's very little info about the day pass stuff available - I was going to opt for that initially as I have no particular preference for any sport, just wanted to go to something and spend the day in the park, but it was all so non-specific I thought I'd just end up touring the the 7000 McDonalds stands. I wonder if there's any benefit to getting there really early?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Thanks, Minnie - there's very little info about the day pass stuff available - I was going to opt for that initially as I have no particular preference for any sport, just wanted to go to something and spend the day in the park, but it was all so non-specific I thought I'd just end up touring the the 7000 McDonalds stands. I wonder if there's any benefit to getting there really early?

Have just found this:

There are four types of ticket for the Paralympics:

• Reserved - for a specific seat for athletics, track cycling, swimming and medal events in some other sports
• General admission - any seat for other Olympic Park sports plus rowing, equestrian, road cycling, events at the ExCeL arena, archery, shooting and wheelchair basketball. Some finals are excluded
• Olympic Park day pass - access to sports including goalball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis and football
• ExCeL day pass - access to table tennis, judo, sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing, powerlifting and boccia at the ExCeL arena

Locog commercial director Chris Townsend said: "Many people visiting the Paralympic Games will be experiencing these sports for the first time so we wanted to provide a broad experience for spectators.
"The day passes will allow people to dip in and out of sports and experience a range of sports in one day. We expect that this will mean at various points throughout the day venues will appear to have empty seats, but this won't mean tickets haven't been sold or people haven't turned up. At some point during the day we anticipate all seats will be used."

Your ticket is for the Olympic Park and not the Excel isn't it?

 

[Ceej]

You're a star! x

 

[magneze]

So if we have tickets for the Olympic Stadium in the evening, can we go to the Olympic Park all day?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Entrance 158 or something - don't have the tix with me.

Who knows. I can't figure out the seating. It looks like on here the blocks go up to 156.

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Docume.../24/17/50/KDVENUESTAParaAthletics_Neutral.pdf

 

[magneze]

Who knows. I can't figure out the seating. It looks like on here the blocks go up to 156.

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Docume.../24/17/50/KDVENUESTAParaAthletics_Neutral.pdf

It's probably 156 then.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

So if we have tickets for the Olympic Stadium in the evening, can we go to the Olympic Park all day?

From what I can gather, you can wander around the Park all day, but unless your ticket is also a Day Pass, you can't enter other venues to watch sport.

However, as listed above, there's also a General Admission pass which to me seems to be the same as the Day Pass but allows you admission to the Excel and other venues (subject to availability).

What day and what event exactly have you got tickets for?

PS: What's your session code?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

So if we have tickets for the Olympic Stadium in the evening, can we go to the Olympic Park all day?

Doesn't look like it, but I wouldn't rely on this, and someone in thread earlier posted up their event, and judging by this, didn't look like Day Pass was included but on entering their session code on another bit of the website, it looked like it did.

HOWEVER, I think (Ozone may have mentioned it) that the three events that don't include a Day Pass were Athletics, Swimming and Cycling, so although you can wander around the Olympic Park grounds all day, you won't be able to go into any of the other venues and watch basketball or volleyball or anything else that you can get into with a Day Pass.

http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-gb/img/sys/tournament/london2012/para-athletics-3.pdf

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

and for Ceej, here you can see that most sessions of basketball include an Olympic Park Day Pass (ie. dependent on whether you're attending a session at Greenwich or the Olympic Park)

http://media.ticketmaster.com/en-gb/img/sys/tournament/london2012/para-wheelchairbasketball-3.pdf

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The Day Pass

What is a Paralympic Games day pass?

Updated 30/09/2011 12:59 PM
What is a Paralympic Games day pass?

A day pass gives you entry to the Olympic Park, The Royal Artillery Barracks or ExCeL on a particular day to see a variety of sports, depending on availability. An Olympic Park day pass allows you to see any sport in the Park, other than Athletics, Cycling or Swimming and the finals of some other sports. A day pass for The Royal Artillery Barracks allows you to see both Archery and Shooting. An ExCeL day pass gives you access to all sports in ExCeL, other than Sitting Volleyball finals.

I have a day pass and see that there is currently no availability for sessions on my day, does that mean I won’t get in to any venue?

Updated 18/08/2012 08:49 AM
I have a day pass and see that there is currently no availability for sessions on my day, does that mean I won’t get in to any venue?

A day pass gives general admission to sports on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability.

Each venue with day pass admission has a separate area for day pass holders. When we advise that a session has no further availability at this time, this is for the guaranteed session ticket area.

By the very nature of the day pass there will be movement in the venues with pass holders moving between events that are included in the pass.

There may be higher demand for some events than others so there may be times where pass holders will have to queue to get into a venue. Likewise there may be some times during a session where there will be greater availability as pass holders move between venues.

 

[magneze]

I'm confused.

 

[girasol]

http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/venue/olympic-stadium/visitor-information

Not clear, maybe the best thing is to call them and ask?

ah, there's a virtual agent here: http://ask.london2012.com/

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm confused.

You will be able to wander around the Olympic Park grounds before the athletics, but you won't be able to watch basketball, volleyball etc. as your ticket doesn't include an Olympic Park Day Pass.

What's your session number? or your ticket reference number?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/venue/olympic-stadium/visitor-information

Not clear, maybe the best thing is to call them and ask?

ah, there's a virtual agent here: http://ask.london2012.com/

See Post 115

 

[magneze]

I've asked.