
Joshua Hoffman is a quadriplegic former Marine. So when he went to Michigan's Adventure, an amusement park, his family expected he would be admitted for free since he wouldn't be riding any rides. They were wrong.
The park insisted that he and his nurse pay admission because there are no exceptions. "We just can't be in a position of picking and choosing," said a general manager for the park. "We have grandparents (who pay admission) that come in our park every day that have no intention of ever going on a ride. It's not based on the level of participation."
Hoffman's family was not having it. "He went to Iraq for all of us and took a bullet in the neck. He sacrificed everything for his country," Joel Lovell said. "I was just kind of stunned."
What do you think? One the one hand, this dude is clearly incapable of participating in any roller coaster riding. On the other hand, does his injury mean the normal rules of the park don't apply to him?
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Comments:
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Friday 19 June
By cg
There is no method behind this madness !! For the people that never served for our Country next time you see a disable vet keep in mind that the good ole USA doesn't pay them or reward them with alot of money. Just think man I got my leg blown off and I'm deaf now and I'm going to live and get therapy but I have to buy my own fake leg !! This Marine is not only disabled but he's also handi-capped. To show my support I would have let him and his nurse in for free.(what was he gonna cost - using a trash can).
Friday 19 June
By Heather
Yes, disabled people do typically pay to enter the park at Disney World. But are you aware there are free shows? A parade at the end? Or how about the fact that there are rides where they can actually DRIVE their wheelchair on and enjoy it with their family? You're comparing apples to oranges, here...
Monday 13 July
By Maria
I tend to disagree - a lot of parks give discounts, including Disney who has special rates for rooms and park passes for military and they even have a hotel on Disney World property called Shades of Green and a Red/White/Blue package for military personnel. Family dependents are also entitled to this, so yes, there are parks that give discounts or freebies, if you are disabled, that National Parks give you free admittance and if you have served in the military and have a military ID card, Apple Stores gives you 10% discount on all your purchases, one of the few retailers that does.
So perhaps, those are the ones that we should patronize.
Friday 19 June
By Vanessa
Boycott the park. Sea World lets in military and their dependents for free. We had a wonderful time. Thanks Sea World
Reply
Friday 19 June
By Cassandra
The Houston Zoo lets families up to 8 in free if you are on FOODSTAMPS! Wow huh?
Friday 19 June
By sabin
Amen. Any veteran should not pay for an amusement park. Think about it.......these guys need some recreation. They've been through more than most of us can endure, ready to pay the ulimate sacrifice. Some of them will never even be themselves again after what they've seen and done. They have paid more than their share for a little amusement.
Friday 19 June
By MUSINGABOUTIT
Boycott the park. Sea World lets in military and their dependents for free. We had a wonderful time. Thanks Sea World
WAY TO GO SEA WORLD! MANY PLACES OFFER MILITARY DISCOUNTS FOR SPECIFIC EVENTS, MOVIES, ETC., (HAVE YOU EVER TRID TO LIVE ON A MILITARY INCOME? IT AIN'T EASY; SOME HAVE TO GET SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD STAMPS TO GET BY; WHAT A DISGRACE THAT IS!) AND THEY DON'T GO BANKRUPT. THE PARK HAS LOST MY BUSINESS; THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A MILITARY DISCOUNT IN PLACE A L-O-N-G TIME AGO.
Friday 19 June
By Teresa
As far as I am concerned any Veteran who serves this country in any War or Conflict, should not have to pay for anything at anytime anymore!!
They have paid enough!!
Reply
Friday 19 June
By Linda
All I can say is AMEN!!!!!
Our service people AND the families who live without them should ALWAYS get in free!
Friday 19 June
By shelly
Teresa so you're saying they never have to pay for anything????? It doesn't make much sense. There are and always have been disabled vets in this country it would be hard to stay in business if none of them ever had to pay. And what about the vets that aren't disabled? because they made it out without injury they have to pay?
I DO BELIVE the park should have let him in for free and his nurse but I do think it should be a policy of theirs because as they said what about other people that go to parks with family members but don't ride rides they have to pay.
Friday 19 June
By Jerry
I agree serve this country,wear the uniform,get a free ride............so to say.
Friday 19 June
By jona61
any veteran of any war should get any admission free? are you a business owner? if you are then set your own policies, but dont try to tell other business what to do as a military veteran with a sister on active duty with the army i dont expect anything to be given to me or her automatically but i appreciate when i do.
Friday 19 June
By BILL
MAYBE IF YOU CAUGHT THE BULLET IN THE NECK YOU WOULD BE MORE UNDERSTANDING. THIS GUY IS A HERO I'D GIVE THIS GUY A PIGGYBACK RIDE A MILE AWAY TO THE GROCERY STORE IF HE NEEDED IT.
Reply
Friday 19 June
By Lauralynn
Well said.....you couldnt have said it any better...
Friday 19 June
By Gonzalez
Ever been to Michigans Adventure? No one should be made to pay. The service sucks and the rides are a joke.
Reply
Friday 19 June
By Eddie
I can say this...I would have taken my whole family and took our money we were gonna spend on overpriced admission, overpriced food and overpriced drink and went somewhere else...and probably had just as much fun. It is about family togetherness, and not the bottom line of some loser amusement park. Maybe they could have charged him for rides in his wheelchair? Would that be fair?
Friday 19 June
By Lan
my husband is in the military, and a lot of the bigger amusement parks have packages that lets an active military member get in for free. our friend who is in our troop is going on a 5day trip to disneyworld next weekend and the husband gets in for free, the wife's ticket is only $95 and this is all 5days to all the major parts of disneyworld PLUS marine world. so if active military can all get in for free like that, then this guy should've at least had such a crazy discount that it was practically free.
Reply
Friday 19 June
By Judy
Well, that's easy, DISNEY ROCKS!
Friday 19 June
By Helene
I went to Disneyland with my daughter in 2007 while her husband was in Iraq. There was no military discount for her or her daughter. The only discount offered was for AAA members. However they both got free admission at Seaworld.
Friday 19 June
By MarineWife
The Disney deal is for the 2009 summer only. It just started.