1st visit after a change in DD's condition

[Liz]

I have posted on here before about my DD's non-apparent disability (heart transplant). We've always brought a letter from her doctor, which sometimes they look at and sometimes they don't, and she's been given a GAC to use alternate entrances since her immune system is low.

Unfortunately now her condition has changed and, although she is getting better, she no longer has a non-apparent disability. We will be renting a wheelchair, although she doesn't use one any longer at home. So my question is since she will be in a wheelchair most of the time do we still get a GAC because of her immune system problem?

Also since she can get out of the wheelchair and walk into an attraction are we going to likely have problems with someone thinking we are using a wheelchair inappropriately?

The other thing I'm concerned about is her ability to actually get on rides, especially if its dark and has the moving sidewalk (thinking HM) or if it requires stepping way down like getting in the Small World boats. She could probably do it with assistance from DH and myself, but it will take extra time. Will people be patient with us? Any suggestions?

I just hope it goes well. She so deserves a wonderful vacation after all she's been through these last 7 months. Oh, and I should mention we're going to Disneyland this time instead of our usual WDW.

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When you get to an attraction where you think there may be a problem, talk to, at least, the FIRST Cast Member at the entrance and explain the situation. That person should be able to contact th people in the loading area to make them aware of a potential problem. If you suddenly show up in the loading area and nobody is aware of the situation, they may not be ready to assist.

It would not hurt to get a GAC to use in the event you go to an attraction and she is not in a wheelchair.

Also, unless you have your own wheelchair you might be better off renting one from an off-site company -- they can take her size and weight into consideration and get a proper size chair. Also, it will be available for non-park use (such as if you go into the Downtown Disney are or in and around the hotel). If you contact the hotel guest or concierge services ahead of time they could probably give you information (or possibly your medical supply house) about where to rent a wheelchair.

 

[Liz]

Thank you! As for the size of the wheelchair, she's 14 so I think an adult one would work fine. Does anyone know how much DL charges daily to rent a wheelchair? And if we park hop from DL to DCA would we have to return the wheelchair at one park, walk across the street and rent another one or can she stay in the chair while we push her from one to the other? (I'm thinking probably not.)

 

[SueM in MN]

I also think you might be better off renting a wheelchair from off-site. I am not sure, but I think I read a post from someone who had to return their wheelchair and rent another one when they park hopped. Having one from off-site would allow you not to have to worry about that - plus you would have one for other places you might be going.
Here's a link to the official Disney site's page about services for people with disabilities at DL. You can download a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities if you like. The one for WDW lists which rides have moving walkways to board - I noticed the DL one doesn't, but you might be able to get more info by emailing disney. The Guidebook isn't clear about the "park hopping" wheelchair quest, but you could probably get an answer to that by email too.
For the moving walkway rides, boarding for people with disabilities (at WDW, but I'm sure it's the same at DL) is at the exit. Boarding there allows the CMs to slow or even stop the moving walkway so someone who is a little unsteady or slow has more time to board. They can't do those things at the regular entrance. The other nice thing is that since you are at the exit, you don't have an eager group of people making you feel like you have to hurry up and board. If she is in the wheelchair, she would be using these entrances whether she has a GAC or not. If she is not using the wheelchair, she would need a GAc that allows her to use the wheelchair boarding area. You would show that to the first CM that you see (and each one after that) to make sure that you are routed to the right place (again, not a problem if she is using a wheelchair).

So my question is since she will be in a wheelchair most of the time do we still get a GAC because of her immune system problem?

I guess that is a question for her doctor. Since she will always be on immune suppressive medications, she will always be immune suppressed. Whether her doctor feels she should be avoiding the crowded lines or it won't make much difference, I'd go with his recommendation.

Also since she can get out of the wheelchair and walk into an attraction are we going to likely have problems with someone thinking we are using a wheelchair inappropriately?

If she's getting out of the wheelchair and waiting with everyone else, no one has a reason to complain. And even if she is in the liens with a wheelchair, the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities most often says "Proceed thru the regular queue unless you have a fastpass". It's no one's business but yours and if people want to have problems with it, that's their problem.
You may hear some comments; we've heard people who saw our DD sitting on a bench next to her wheelchair saying that they think she is "cheating", but she can't walk or even stand up by herself. If people want to think we are "cheating" because of a 30 second observation of us, that just shows how ignorant they are and it's not our problem.

 

[DolphinBoy]

My wife has MS and is in a similar situation. Sometimes she can walk and some times she cannot. We are going to use a wheel chair for her as well. In regards to the complainers, let them complain and don't let it bother you. Thare are always people who have to complain about somthing. We have experienced the same thing.

In regards to renting a wheel chair from the resort. Check with the resort. I was shocked to find out that The Dolphin does not offer that service (rather ticked off). Now I am doing a last minute scramble to line up an off site company.

Go luck and have an excellent trip! I have 9 days and counting for us!

 

[DolphinBoy]

P.S. I am going to show my ignorance...
What is a GAC ?

 

[Liz]

Its a Guest Assistance Card, the same thing as a Special Assistance Pass (SAP).

Thank you for all the great advice given here!

 

[SueM in MN]

Its a Guest Assistance Card, the same thing as a Special Assistance Pass (SAP).

Liz is right; it used to be called Special Assistance Pass, but that name made people think it would get immediate access to rides/attractions, so they changed the name. It might still be SAP at Dl, but at WDW, it's GAC.
Anyway, it is a card that gives information to CMs about what sort of special assistance someone with an invisible disability might need. If the only disabilities are easily visible (like using a wheelchair or ecv), there would be no need for a CAG.
Some common situations where a GAC might be useful would include:
- someone with MS or certain medications who needs to wait out of the sun
- a child needing to use a stroller in line because stamina problems due to heart disease, cancer, or other chronic problem
- a child with an invisible disability like autism that would make waiting in lines extremely difficult (and unpleasant for the other people in line, in addition to his/her family)
- someone who has a hearing deficit and needs to sit in a specific area to to sign language interpreters or use captioning
- to allow someone to use the wheelchair loading area if they need to avoid stairs or need extra time/assistance with boarding
- someone with a wheelchair/ecv or other visible disability who also has invisible needs not addressed by just having wheelchair access

These are just examples, not a total list. The GAC is not meant to shorten the wait in line (and often doesn't), just to give the person with a disibility a more appropriate waiting place or more appropraite access to rides.

 

[DolphinBoy]

Thanks for all the info !

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Liz:

We were at DL last April with my wheelchair. I tried to rent an electric cart off-site but there were some glitches so we ended up using Disney's ECV. We park hopped and they did let us take it from one park to the other. However, it was a big production and they only let us do that because all of the ECVs in the other park were rented. We had to wait for probably 15 to 20 minutes for one cast member to walk over so we had an escort. Then at the end of the day they switched us to a Wheelchair so I could get a ride back to my manual chair which they were holding for me. Each of these transactions required deposits and refunds on the credit card which amazingly were all done correctly. I would recommend renting from an offsite company if possible.

Disneyland is also not accessable the way WDW is. That said, I've yet to take a trip there and have the CM's be less than friendly. They seem to bend over backwards to help you out. Especially in Fantasyland we would have the CM tell us that there was already a disabled party riding and instead of having us wait (there really isn't room) they politely asked us to return in a few minutes. Frankly although I love WDW I wish I could transplant Disneyland in place of the MK. I know, I know Heresay!

Looking forward to the first ever Utah DIS meet!

 

[tink2dw]

With Wheelchairs I think you will need to check in the DL one and get another at DCA BUT YOU ONLY PAY ONCE A DAY!![this applies to WDW,too!] Take your paid bill to DCA and they will give you a wheelchair to use there!!