20 Days After Giving Birth: Walking the parks OK?

[RabFlmom]

Exactly, that was the part I was referring to originally. The OP referred to it as a GAC for a medical issue for a family member who wasn't yet in the park. I don't believe I misunderstood what he wrote.

oops guess I missed that one- thought he just used the one he was given that day. Sorry.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

To the OP, a question that I know has long since been settled, good for you for listening to your wife and taking her feedback. In the end, that's all that matters for a happy, healthy trip to Disney (and a happy, healthy relationship for that matter).

I know that everybody is different after having a baby... My sister couldn't move around for weeks, but after I had my son, I was up and walking and feeling fine the day after without the need for Tylenol or anything else. I think I went grocery shopping day 4 pp and back to my 1-2 mile walks by the end of the week. Walking Disney at 20 days pp would have been nothing at all. And my son was particularly fussy, so by day 20 I was certainly ready for a 8-10 hour break. LoL!

But your wife let you know her limits, and I say good for you for acknowledging and respecting them.

As for the grief for using the GAC as a FP... Meh. Ignore it. Glad you had fun and good for you for listening to your wife.

 

[NPD]

Yikes, deegack why would you wish it got taken away from him? His family was on their way over to meet up with him there. He left a tad earlier than his entire family to meet up with me since they had a long night the day before. Seems like there were a few negative responses sprinkled in with appreciative feedback from others, very very negative when the family was on their way to the park. I'm a bad person in those responses eyes? A bit harsh.

Thanks Tropical Wilds.

 

[deegack]

Yikes, deegack why would you wish it got taken away from him? His family was on their way over to meet up with him there. He left a tad earlier than his entire family to meet up with me since they had a long night the day before. Seems like there were a few negative responses sprinkled in with appreciative feedback from others, very very negative when the family was on their way to the park. I'm a bad person in those responses eyes? A bit harsh.

Thanks Tropical Wilds.

Yes because what you wrote said the card did not belong to him but to another member of his party. If that person needed it they could get another when they arrived. You abused a system designed to help disabled people enjoy the park and made it more difficult for those who need the accommodation.
Oh I also wish they would kick people caught abusing the system out of the park, but that is probably too much to ask.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Yes because what you wrote said the card did not belong to him but to another member of his party. If that person needed it they could get another when they arrived. You abused a system designed to help disabled people enjoy the park and made it more difficult for those who need the accommodation.
Oh I also wish they would kick people caught abusing the system out of the park, but that is probably too much to ask.

If it'd been me and I'd met up with somebody in another group and they said that they have a GAC that applies to the whole group and asked me to come along, I'd shrug and say OK. I have no idea how those things work and I'd have figured that using it wouldn't be a big deal.

I suspect it's the same thing here. He didn't know, just went with his buddy's plans, and now he knows. EoD, no big deal.

Not worth saying that he or his friends should be kicked out of the park or implying he's some awful, immoral person. Like nobody here has never done something unintentionally because you didn't know. I remember once I blew through a crowd of people to meet Chewbacca and was so excited and it wasn't after until I realized there was a line and I blasted in front of like 50 people. My mistake, now I know. Thank God the DIS police weren't there to whip me with a wet noodle and heave me out of the park.

Mistakes happen, even to the practically-perfect DIS ettiquite police.

 

[NPD]

So, by his family giving him the card while they were finishing up getting ready to meet us a tad later, you say I'm abusing the system? I made it hard for others? I get your stance, yet in this situation, when they are getting prepared to meet us, how exactly dis I abuse the system? I can say that its a bit offensive to me regarding why they have the pass if you look at how your responding. By us using the pass, we perhaps skipped a total of 7 minutes of waiting in line with the few rides with him and I, so shame on me when his family gave it to him while they would be there asap? Quite frankly, I'm blown away by you and your reaction. A bit disheartening to ever share my Disney experiences ever again on here.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

So, by his family giving him the card while they were finishing up getting ready to meet us a tad later, you say I'm abusing the system? I made it hard for others? I get your stance, yet in this situation, when they are getting prepared to meet us, how exactly dis I abuse the system? I can say that its a bit offensive to me regarding why they have the pass if you look at how your responding. By us using the pass, we perhaps skipped a total of 7 minutes of waiting in line with the few rides with him and I, so shame on me when his family gave it to him while they would be there asap? Quite frankly, I'm blown away by you and your reaction. A bit disheartening to ever share my Disney experiences ever again on here.

Ignore it. Everybody here is critical of everythinlg everybody else does.

Glad you had fun. The world hasn't ended because of how the pass was used.

 

[deegack]

If it'd been me and I'd met up with somebody in another group and they said that they have a GAC that applies to the whole group and asked me to come along, I'd shrug and say OK. I have no idea how those things work and I'd have figured that using it wouldn't be a big deal.

I suspect it's the same thing here. He didn't know, just went with his buddy's plans, and now he knows. EoD, no big deal.

Not worth saying that he or his friends should be kicked out of the park or implying he's some awful, immoral person. Like nobody here has never done something unintentionally because you didn't know. I remember once I blew through a crowd of people to meet Chewbacca and was so excited and it wasn't after until I realized there was a line and I blasted in front of like 50 people. My mistake, now I know. Thank God the DIS police weren't there to whip me with a wet noodle and heave me out of the park.

Mistakes happen, even to the practically-perfect DIS ettiquite police.

A gac card has the name of the person it is issued to on it. That is the person who is suppose to use it. Not his cousin, brother, sister, father etc. Its not a mistake like accidentally missing a line, its deliberately using something intended to help a disabled person to gain a perceived advantage. It makes it harder for everyone else who has a hidden disability or even a not so hidden one, because they are given the side eye or extra scrutiny. So maybe the OP didn't understand but the person who had the card sure did and the family sure did. So yes, the card should have been taken from him.

So, by his family giving him the card while they were finishing up getting ready to meet us a tad later, you say I'm abusing the system? I made it hard for others? I get your stance, yet in this situation, when they are getting prepared to meet us, how exactly dis I abuse the system? I can say that its a bit offensive to me regarding why they have the pass if you look at how your responding. By us using the pass, we perhaps skipped a total of 7 minutes of waiting in line with the few rides with him and I, so shame on me when his family gave it to him while they would be there asap? Quite frankly, I'm blown away by you and your reaction. A bit disheartening to ever share my Disney experiences ever again on here.

I'm glad you saving seven minutes in your day was worth making it harder for a disabled person in the future. Maybe one day when you are disabled or travel with someone who is disabled you will get it. It is offensive to me that your friend would abuse a gac card.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

So, by his family giving him the card while they were finishing up getting ready to meet us a tad later, you say I'm abusing the system? I made it hard for others? I get your stance, yet in this situation, when they are getting prepared to meet us, how exactly dis I abuse the system? I can say that its a bit offensive to me regarding why they have the pass if you look at how your responding. By us using the pass, we perhaps skipped a total of 7 minutes of waiting in line with the few rides with him and I, so shame on me when his family gave it to him while they would be there asap? Quite frankly, I'm blown away by you and your reaction. A bit disheartening to ever share my Disney experiences ever again on here.

The Guest Assistance Card is to be used by the person with the actual need for the card. The person with the GAC can bring up to 5 family and friends with him/her on the ride. It is not a free pass that can be used by whomever the GAC holder decides to give it to. That is abusing the system.
You say you saved 7 minutes, well that is 7 minutes longer you could have had with your friend while you waited in the standard queue like everybody else.

I'm not saying the card should have been taken away, I'm saying that it shouldn't have been used by a person without a need for it and without the person whom the card was intended for.

Whether or not you continue to share you experiences is up to you, but this is a public forum so anything you share is open for comment.

 

[dimndgal1]

I'm not blasting OP about how the GAC was used and think it just highlights the larger problem. I have seen several groups run through queue lines with a GAC for grandma who is sitting in the shade. I even overheard groups using someone's GAC who wasn't in the park anymore. It's sad that some people abuse the 'system'.

If someone doesn't understand the use of the GAC, I can see making a mistake. But as someone who has just hard to start using them, I've gotten glared at and even some rude remarks (I don't look disabled enough, apparently). It's sad that what can be a fantastic way to allow those who cannot stand in line a chance to enjoy the parks has become a headache in many ways.

All that said, my main issue is that I don't understand how the friend had a GAC for someone who wasn't there yet. Aren't they issued daily? Just curious.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I'm not blasting OP about how the GAC was used and think it just highlights the larger problem. I have seen several groups run through queue lines with a GAC for grandma who is sitting in the shade. I even overheard groups using someone's GAC who wasn't in the park anymore. It's sad that some people abuse the 'system'.

If someone doesn't understand the use of the GAC, I can see making a mistake. But as someone who has just hard to start using them, I've gotten glared at and even some rude remarks (I don't look disabled enough, apparently). It's sad that what can be a fantastic way to allow those who cannot stand in line a chance to enjoy the parks has become a headache in many ways.

All that said, my main issue is that I don't understand how the friend had a GAC for someone who wasn't there yet. Aren't they issued daily? Just curious.

No, the cards are issued once for the entire visit. No need to get one from each park or every day.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I just wanted to say I feel bad for the OP.

He was just reporting back about his trip, and as soon as I read that--I knew what would happen

For someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of DisAbilities, or how GACs work--it may have been explained to him just as such--for example... "hey xxxx, we have an unlimited fast pass because Aunt Sally is in a wheelchair." Therefore someone who knows nothing about that type of situation may just take their word for it and go on.

Not everyone knows everything about everything--take for instance the couple in the hot tub at CR with us.... asking what boat they needed to take to dinner at the Boardwalk. I could have laughed, scolded... but instead I explained nicely how to get there and what the boats were for around Bay Lake.

Growing up, my dad was in an ECV from about when I was 10 and all I knew was my stepmom went to the window and gave them a doctor's note because my dad was sick and couldn't wait/plus needed an ECV. Now I know from reading that you don't even need a doctor's note. I thought we had a fastpass/pixie dust too. What did I know I was 10-19 years old?? Our group of 6 went on through with him no questions asked everywhere we went. Now that I read here all the time--I understand the ins and outs. If my father were still with us today and I knew what I knew now 10 years later--I would certainly make sure it wasn't abused. I have a better understanding of what it is.

I would be really upset if I was jumped on like this and didn't really understand the entire situation.

Back to the original topic and now that we're all educated.... OP I'm glad you had a good time seeing an old friend and I hope your wife is doing great!!

 

[Tropical Wilds]

A gac card has the name of the person it is issued to on it. That is the person who is suppose to use it. Not his cousin, brother, sister, father etc. Its not a mistake like accidentally missing a line, its deliberately using something intended to help a disabled person to gain a perceived advantage. It makes it harder for everyone else who has a hidden disability or even a not so hidden one, because they are given the side eye or extra scrutiny. So maybe the OP didn't understand but the person who had the card sure did and the family sure did. So yes, the card should have been taken from him.

And since it was his buddy's card, he probably didn't know. A friend of his says they can get onto a ride using the ECV entry because they have unlimited FastPasses from the GAC card, and he most likely just said OK and went with his buddy and didn't think anything of it. I know that's what I would have done if I met up with somebody and they said they had some card like that. I wouldn't have asked who's name was on it, where they were, how it worked, etc because I never knew the thing existed, much less how it worked. I'd have just assumed it was OK and gone about my day. And for all you know the family didn't know how it worked either.

The argument that because of what his buddy did, he's now made it harder for disabled people is kind of a huge over-reaction I think. I'm fairly sure that the GAC still exists as it did before he rode, his usage of it didn't change the Disney policy directed towards disabled guests, and they can still use the system exactly as they were before.

As for the sideways glares and second glances... So what? Who cares? I get those when I use FastPass and blow by people in standby. When we did Kali River a group of people actually intentionally blocked the FP side and refused to move to, as they said (and these were their exact words) "to teach a lesson." We had to walk through the bushes to get around them. Splash Mountain, people yelled rude things. It's not a trip to Disney without somebody freaking out about how the FP people are all getting on while they just stand there. Let people glare all they want. If they want to fester in anger over who is getting onto the ride and how, that's their issue, not yours.

This guy shared a trip report about going to visit a buddy after 10 years apart and what a great time they had. Lets maybe focus on that and not accuse the guy of being the reason why it's hard to be handicapped, how the GAC system is exploited, or how he's somehow making Disney harder for handicapped people.

I'm glad you saving seven minutes in your day was worth making it harder for a disabled person in the future. Maybe one day when you are disabled or travel with someone who is disabled you will get it. It is offensive to me that your friend would abuse a gac card.

Oh brother.

Be upset, be offended, whatever, but perhaps by saying that when he's disabled, he'll get it is going a shade over-the-line. He's not being intolerant or exploiting a system, he just didn't know. It happens. No need to wish him disabled to "get" that being disabled presents challenges.

The irony is if he'd travelled with his wife, she probably could have gotten a GAC and he could have done the same thing he did, only with his wife's card.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Physically she may be able to do it taking it easy, but mentally, that is another story.. Being away from the baby is going to be the hard part, not the walking in the park.. I am not sure I would have wanted to leave my infant that early in their young life.. but that is me. Everyone is different. I know I could not have handled that aspect of it.

 

[tchrrx]

I haven't read the whole thread, but thought I'd chime in with my GAC experience. DH broke his foot at EPCOT one trip. For the most part, he spent the rest of the trip in the room b/c he was in pain, the wheelchair was hard for me to handle, and transportation was difficult. However, on the one day we ventured out, I did stop by Guest Services to get a GAC. I remember the CM smiling at us and saying, "Well, at least you get to go to the front of the lines." I just smiled politely while thinking, "No wonder people are so confused about how this actually works!" It made me glad that I had read at least enough to know that it wasn't a front of the line pass.