First time going with Autistic son

[SueM in MN]

As far as I know, this is still the policy (copied from post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board)

What about Character Greetings? Can I use the GAC for those?
In general, GACs are not used for character greetings that are outdoors. For those outdoor greetings, if you have specific needs, there is always a CM 'handling' the characters. That CM might be able to make some accommodations for your needs.
One example of these types of greetings would be the characters in Epcot in World Showcase.

Depending on what accommodations you need, you may be able to use your GAC at Character Greetings that are in permanent indoor locations. These are considered attractions and are listed on the park maps as attractions. Examples of this are the Theater on Main Street in MK, Camp Mickey Minnie at AK and the Epcot Character Spot in Future World in Epcot.
Check with CM at the entrance to explain your needs and find out what assistance may be available.

I am adding another sentence to the FAQs thread to make it clearer there may not be any accommodations.

 

[aubriee]

My son would never make the wait in line either. But we can do OK inside the theater. We NEVER join the line until after they open the theater and the line starts moving. Then it is more of a long slow walk instead of a wait just standing there. Once inside (still usually 30 - 60 minutes before showtime) we can take turns walking around, get something to eat, etc. the wait inside isn't so bad. I wonder if you could bring bubbles or something like that as added entertainment.

I know you mean well, but as someone who has not one, but two grandkids allergic to that bubble solution, I would not recommend bubbles as a distraction in line. If someone was using them and refused to stop if we ask, then we'd have to leave the line, which would not be fair to us. This happened to us a few years ago at the safari in AK. A lady gave her kids a couple of those small bottles of bubble solution to play with. As soon as I saw them, I very politely asked if they could not use them, as my GD is allergic to the bubble solution and breaks out into whelps if one touches her. The mom sarcasticly snorted that no one is allergic to bubble solution. Then her bratty son immediately blew bubbles straight at my GD and the mom said, "see she's still alive". I had to rush her out of line and into the nearest restroom were we washed her face, neck and arms, but she still had red whelps on her face and arm. Later I thought I should have filed assault charges on them, since I had distincly warned them that she is allergic to bubble solution and the kid intentionally blew bubbles at her anyway. Even if he hadn't blown them directly on her, there is no way to get away from those bubbles in line and they are very annoying getting people's clothes wet and getting on camera lenses and glasses lenses.

 

[KPeveler]

I know you mean well, but as someone who has not one, but two grandkids allergic to that bubble solution, I would not recommend bubbles as a distraction in line. If someone was using them and refused to stop if we ask, then we'd have to leave the line, which would not be fair to us. This happened to us a few years ago at the safari in AK. A lady gave her kids a couple of those small bottles of bubble solution to play with. As soon as I saw them, I very politely asked if they could not use them, as my GD is allergic to the bubble solution and breaks out into whelps if one touches her. The mom sarcasticly snorted that no one is allergic to bubble solution. Then her bratty son immediately blew bubbles straight at my GD and the mom said, "see she's still alive". I had to rush her out of line and into the nearest restroom were we washed her face, neck and arms, but she still had red whelps on her face and arm. Later I thought I should have filed assault charges on them, since I had distincly warned them that she is allergic to bubble solution and the kid intentionally blew bubbles at her anyway. Even if he hadn't blown them directly on her, there is no way to get away from those bubbles in line and they are very annoying getting people's clothes wet and getting on camera lenses and glasses lenses.

You will need to be very careful, because if WDW is anything like DL, they sell light up bubble blowers and bubble solution in the parks, so there is literally no where you can go to avoid bubbles. Again, I live in CA, so I am not sure if this is true for WDW, but it is not just parents bringing out bubbles anymore. They are sold in the parks, the CMs often have the bubble guns and blow bubbles at passersby constantly, and even the parade floats have bubbles.

I would be very careful, and make sure that the kid's skin in covered as much as possible, wear sun glasses to protect the eyes, and know where first aid, just in case, if they are that allergic to bubble solution.

 

[Disneylvr]

You will need to be very careful, because if WDW is anything like DL, they sell light up bubble blowers and bubble solution in the parks, so there is literally no where you can go to avoid bubbles. Again, I live in CA, so I am not sure if this is true for WDW, but it is not just parents bringing out bubbles anymore. They are sold in the parks, the CMs often have the bubble guns and blow bubbles at passersby constantly, and even the parade floats have bubbles.

I would be very careful, and make sure that the kid's skin in covered as much as possible, wear sun glasses to protect the eyes, and know where first aid, just in case, if they are that allergic to bubble solution.

Personally we have not used bubbles in public as a distraction for DD. When she was younger they were often used as a positive reinforcer during private therapy. We also have a bubble machine that we use in our backyard. But I have seen CM's use bubble guns at WDW and in a few attractions and parades as well. Great Movie Ride and Muppets comes to mind...

 

[SueM in MN]

Personally we have not used bubbles in public as a distraction for DD. When she was younger they were often used as a positive reinforcer during private therapy. We also have a bubble machine that we use in our backyard. But I have seen CM's use bubble guns at WDW and in a few attractions and parades as well. Great Movie Ride and Muppets comes to mind...

We are at WDW right now and got bubbled twice yesterday - as Disneylvr mentioned, they are in several attractions, but you can also run into them at the parks just walking along. They sell bubble shooters in the parks and CMs selling them blow bubbles to attract buyers. Depending on how the wind is blowing, they can go a long way.

 

[Vidia2]

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[SueM in MN]

The thing about the line is that, in our one experience waiting, it was "packed in" people. It's not like a regular line which may be 3 people wide. It was more like 15 people across, seemed like even more. It's more like waiting in a crowd of people, than a line. If you choose to do it, trying to be on the side might help. As far as the actual theater, it's very tight seating. Our son fidgets and swings his legs and he's not a little tyke so we sit in handicapped seating which has more leg room and chances are someone still gets accidentally kicked. We stay in apologetic mode during the whole show and try to keep this from happening. Other people are always so kind in this situation, thankfully.

I don't know how to do multiple quotes but as you mentioned before about the QS option for Memorial Weekend...we're hoping for that option as well, though our next trip will be ending just before that weekend, so we have the dining package planned. I keep checking for the Min & Bill's option though. We do QS and pay out of pocket for TS as we just can't plan. We have to go with the flow for the most part.

Thank you Sue, for posting the FAQs. That's very helpful info. I didn't know the official policy, just our experience.

Bubbles...Oh, we've used those light up bubble "guns" during the show. We won't be doing that now. I didn't know this was an allergy issue.

Disney does not have anything official posted about GACs at all, so there is no 'official' written information to go to.

The information in the disABILITIES is as accurate as we can make it without any official guidance from Disney (and have been checked for accuracy for me by Guest Relations CMs).
It is also consistent with the ADA and general enough that it should not change much, even if WDW changes some things about GACs.

We do ask that people not post specific information about the wording on their GACs or post exactly how it worked because things do change.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We are at WDW right now and got bubbled twice yesterday .

I love that phrase "got bubbled"

 

[Vidia2]

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[SueM in MN]

Thanks for posting this. I see how everyone's experience is so different and why it's best to not post specifics. I'll guide my future posting by this.

 

[tinkerpea]

The GAC is not valid for characters (with the possibility of TST). Someone may have made an exception, but that is not normally the case

We have found we can use our GAC at all the indoor character meet and great, we have used it at least 5/6 times at the Epcot indoor one ( can't think of the name) and camp Minnie mickey? Plus 1 at MK the new princess one at the front of the park, we never used to be able to use it for these but the CM told us last trip that they are allowing people to use them, I understand this night not happen every time but it did happen every day on our last 3 wk trip, maybe as they are listed as attractions this is why?

 

[Joanna71985]

We have found we can use our GAC at all the indoor character meet and great, we have used it at least 5/6 times at the Epcot indoor one ( can't think of the name) and camp Minnie mickey? Plus 1 at MK the new princess one at the front of the park, we never used to be able to use it for these but the CM told us last trip that they are allowing people to use them, I understand this night not happen every time but it did happen every day on our last 3 wk trip, maybe as they are listed as attractions this is why?

The princess one is TST. I guess I should have mentioned Character Spot (but didn't because it's under refurb). I am surprised about Camp Minnie-Mickey though

 

[bmgrant]

Walt Disneyland also has an app for the iPhone/iPad/iPods. The app is free and shows the various things throughout the park. I told WDW they should have one too but my autistic son-7 uses it all the time as the rides are similar.