A severely disabled boy with a terminal condition had his once in a lifetime trip to Disneyland Paris ruined by a booking mix-up.
Six-year-old Layton Chapman has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy and could die at any time from something as minor as a chest infection.
The brave boy’s ‘last and only wish’ saw him granted a four-day trip to Disneyland by the Make-A-Wish Foundation – a charity that arranges experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Severely disabled boy Layton Chapman, six, with a terminal condition had his once in a lifetime trip to Disneyland Paris ruined by a booking mix-up
But when Layton, his mother Danielle Huart, 32, her partner Dale Chapman and brother and his two older siblings arrived at the Sequoila Lodge in Disney Village, they were told they had arrived two days late and would have to check out the next day.
A ticket mix-up also meant they could not enter the park because they did not have the right pass, so for two days they were trapped inside the village instead of making the most of their experience.
Danielle, from Hull, said: ‘They were arrogant and just not helpful at all. Because of the ticket mix up we missed a lot. We couldn’t leave the village, it was like a prison.
The brave boy’s ‘last and only wish’ saw him granted a four-day trip to Disneyland by the Make-A-Wish Foundation – a charity that arranges experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions
‘I was so upset I was crying, the kids were bored, I just wanted to come home.’
Although Disney managed to sort out a room for the stay, they were not given a Genie card for access to the theme park.
To compensate for the error, they were given a fast-track pass so they could get on the rides quicker.
But when they tried to use it, staff told them the pass did not work and they were not allowed on the rides.
‘They marched us to customer services and they even turned us away,’ said Danielle.
‘It was so embarrassing getting marched past all the other families, like we’d done something wrong.’
Layton’s birthday was the next day and his mother had organised for a meal and cake to mark the occasion at Buffalow restaurant.
But, again, because of the booking mix-up, they were told they could not have a table or cake.
She spent the rest of the day complaining to hotel management instead of enjoying what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday.
That evening, the family eventually got the correct tickets and re-arranged Layton’s birthday party, giving the family a day and a half to explore the park, instead of the four they were promised.
A spokeswoman for Disneyland Paris said ‘We regret this particular wish did not meet the guest’s expectations and we are now closely working with the family to resolve the situation.’
‘Layton also got to meet a few characters, just not as many as we’d like. Donald Duck tried to give him a kiss and ended up hitting him in the head and he screamed.
‘Moana was really nice and gentle with him though.
‘He still smiled all the way through but this is probably his only chance at a holiday. This was his last and only wish he will get and it was ruined.’
A spokeswoman for Disneyland Paris said ‘We regret this particular wish did not meet the guest’s expectations and we are now closely working with the family to resolve the situation.
‘This is not something we would want them to experience and we hope they can come back to us soon.’
A spokeswoman for Make-a-Wish Foundation said ‘When guest matters arise, we work with our friends at Disney to ensure the family is supported.’