Universal Guest Assistance

[Emteach]

Hi there,
We are planning on going to Universal for a couple of days this summer while at a dance competition. My brother is 7 and we are trying to see if Universal offers something similar to a GAC? Most of the information I am finding is not recent so wondering what the policy will be. I also can't find anything on Universal's website. He has some issues similar to autism, struggles with the waiting in line and also with being in close confines with others. Last summer we used the GAC in Disney and it was fantastic and really helped him. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[damo]

Yes they do. They way it works is if the ride is busy, they will tell you what time to come back at which time you will enter the express line. If it isn't busy, they let you into the express line right away.

[macraven]

go to guest services and talk to the TM there about getting the card.

[Metro West]

Originally Posted by macraven

go to guest services and talk to the TM there about getting the card.

[Emteach]

Okay, thanks very much.

[Tinkerpeas hubby]

Also just wanted to add that they are much harder to get then at Disney, our son has Autism and when we went the 1st few trips he was in the process of diagnosis so we was not sure exactly what it was he had yet (I.e sensory issues etc)

We was told they don't offer anything like a GAC when we said we would go home then they offered us 2 front of line tickets each!!! The day was luckily not too busy but the ride lines that was long where hell!!!

We wrote a letter of complaint when we got home and was told that they do offer a GAC pass.
When we went the next time we made sure to take the letter universal had mailed plus he was diagnosed fully, so make sure your ready to really explain the needs and just saying can't wait in lines won't be enough.

[Emteach]

Originally Posted by Tinkerpeas hubby

Also just wanted to add that they are much harder to get then at Disney, our son has Autism and when we went the 1st few trips he was in the process of diagnosis so we was not sure exactly what it was he had yet (I.e sensory issues etc)

We was told they don't offer anything like a GAC when we said we would go home then they offered us 2 front of line tickets each!!! The day was luckily not too busy but the ride lines that was long where hell!!!

We wrote a letter of complaint when we got home and was told that they do offer a GAC pass.
When we went the next time we made sure to take the letter universal had mailed plus he was diagnosed fully, so make sure your ready to really explain the needs and just saying can't wait in lines won't be enough.

Okay, thanks that is also good to know as it is not a visible diagnosis. We have paperwork on his diagnosis and needs from the doctor so will make sure we bring that as well.
Thanks.

[2girlsmom]

My daughter is autistic, and we have never had any problems getting her pass at Universal, we just go to guest services and tell them that we are needing a guest assistance pass for alternate waiting due to autism spectrum. We have never been asked to show anything for it, and as locals to Florida, we have used probably 8 times in the past year.

[Emteach]

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.

[Tinkerpeas hubby]

Originally Posted by 2girlsmom

My daughter is autistic, and we have never had any problems getting her pass at Universal, we just go to guest services and tell them that we are needing a guest assistance pass for alternate waiting due to autism spectrum. We have never been asked to show anything for it, and as locals to Florida, we have used probably 8 times in the past year.

That's proberly because you too them your child has ASD! They tend to give them out alot more freely when you mention that!
My wife deals In helping people do there holidays, and so deals with alot of disability when it comes to getting the Universal style GAC alot of reasons was turned down autism being the reason that the GAC was readily given out! She also has been to Universal over 40 times spending at least a wk there each time!

[Tinkerpeas hubby]

Plus to add we have never been asked to show anything and they do not want to see any documents there not allowed, you do how ever need to be able to explain fully why you need the assistance.

[2girlsmom]

Originally Posted by Tinkerpeas hubby

That's proberly because you too them your child has ASD! They tend to give them out alot more freely when you mention that!
My wife deals In helping people do there holidays, and so deals with alot of disability when it comes to getting the Universal style GAC alot of reasons was turned down autism being the reason that the GAC was readily given out! She also has been to Universal over 40 times spending at least a wk there each time!

That's true, we just mention that we are looking for the pass for my Autistic child, and they are actually frequently friendlier about it than Disney. I wish SeaWorld and BG offered a pass, they don't have any such thing from what I can tell. Generally, we now stay in a partner hotel for Seaworld, and Busch is Tampa, so we drive in but tend to gravitate towards areas that she will not have significant wait periods in a crowded area, and spend an inordinate amount of time in Jungala while she climbs around the ropes.

[Emteach]

That is really too bad that Sea World and BG don't offer something like a GAC. That is one of the deterrents for not going to Sea World this time.

[dsmom]

we go to Universal all the time with our autistic son and they are great about

giving us a GAC- much better than disney ever was. We never had to show any

thing.

we were at Seaworld last Christmas and went to guest services and they were

great also. told them we had autistic son and they gave all of us the quick que

passes for free.

[Emteach]

That is good to know also. Thanks for the note.