A story of fast pass abuse

[rutgers1]

So, there I was at a camping trip last week with my son's Boy Scout troop. Throughout the week, I hung out with another dad, who seemed like a great guy. He was having a blast, doing everything the kids were doing -- sleeping outdoors, climbing the rock wall, etc.

Then the conversation turned to his upcoming trip to Hershey Park, which has its own version of Fast Pass, from what I have been told. He was all excited because his "type 2 diabetes" would enable him to get what he called the "front of the line pass."

As the father of a boy with type 1 diabetes (who never uses it to get to the front of a line), I am familiar with the disease and know how it can affect someone. So, with that in mind, I questioned him about the status of his disease. Apparently it is very mild for him, and he doesn't have to do much to control it. From all the time we spent buzzing around camp and doing things like climbing the rock wall, it was pretty clear to me that it wasn't much of a hindrance to him and his life. Yet when the conversation turned to Hershey Park, suddenly his face turned grim and he told me that waiting on lines is very difficult for him.

This came a year after a neighbor's brother told me that he tells Disney that he has Crohns Disease so that he can get the guest assistance card.

People like this make me very mad.

(Please Note: I have nothing against anyone with type 2 diabetes. As I said, I have a young child with type 1, and my son's type 1 is much harder to control than this man's type 2, yet we don't use the guest assistance card.)

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it's fascinating, in a bad way, that people brag about stuff like this.

 

[brymolmom]

At least that's a physical ailment...I have an aunt who insists that any child 'with an IEP' (Individual Education Plan - basically needs any type of special service in school for learning or other disabilities) gets to have a GAC. She tries to get me to use one for my ds who has very borderline Asperger's - but I never have. I make my own accomodations for him as I should - using FP, getting there at rope drop, preparing him for longer waits or differences. And honestly he's no different than many kids his age - no one ENJOYS waiting in a line. Really each person has their own 'quirks' for which a GAC would assist...but we need to take it upon ourselves in most cases to just adjust our style to fit accordingly.

Now, I've seen many families who really wouldn't be able to go to WDW without a GAC...And those are the ones I'm happy it exists for. But I know that there are a lot who aren't in that category.

 

[bdcp]

My DH was diagnosed a few months ago with type II, but he has since lost 25 lbs and his numbers are fabulous. Anyway, point is, it would never cross our minds to use that as an excuse for anything. It's not hard to wait in lines for him at all. In fact, he walks 6 miles a day for exercise, and changed his diet a little bit which is why his numbers are so good. This guy is just making excuses and abusing the system. I know several people with Type II and it doesn't stop them from living a normal life.

 

[bdcp]

At least that's a physical ailment...I have an aunt who insists that any child 'with an IEP' (Individual Education Plan - basically needs any type of special service in school for learning or other disabilities) gets to have a GAC. She tries to get me to use one for my ds who has very borderline Asperger's - but I never have. I make my own accomodations for him as I should - using FP, getting there at rope drop, preparing him for longer waits or differences. And honestly he's no different than many kids his age - no one ENJOYS waiting in a line. Really each person has their own 'quirks' for which a GAC would assist...but we need to take it upon ourselves in most cases to just adjust our style to fit accordingly.

Now, I've seen many families who really wouldn't be able to go to WDW without a GAC...And those are the ones I'm happy it exists for. But I know that there are a lot who aren't in that category.

IEP's are used for a lot of things. MY oldest DS (29) had IEP due to hearing loss, but that wasn't a reason for anything other than special accomodation with seating near the front of the class, which he didnt' need. Insane.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

One of my coworkers constantly brags about how they use a GAC for her 18 year old diabetic son even though he doesn't need one. She laughs when she says people must look at him funny when he proudly wears his Disney marathon finisher medal as he walks past the lines with his GAC. She says he in no way needs a GAC but she gets it for him bc she thinks he deserves a treat for dealing with his diabetes. She frequently offers it to me for my trips, and I of course would never take it. I have stopped engaging her in conversations about Disney!

 

[DebbieB]

So, there I was at a camping trip last week with my son's Boy Scout troop. Throughout the week, I hung out with another dad, who seemed like a great guy. He was having a blast, doing everything the kids were doing -- sleeping outdoors, climbing the rock wall, etc.

Then the conversation turned to his upcoming trip to Hershey Park, which has its own version of Fast Pass, from what I have been told. He was all excited because his "type 2 diabetes" would enable him to get what he called the "front of the line pass."

As the father of a boy with type 1 diabetes (who never uses it to get to the front of a line), I am familiar with the disease and know how it can affect someone. So, with that in mind, I questioned him about the status of his disease. Apparently it is very mild for him, and he doesn't have to do much to control it. From all the time we spent buzzing around camp and doing things like climbing the rock wall, it was pretty clear to me that it wasn't much of a hindrance to him and his life. Yet when the conversation turned to Hershey Park, suddenly his face turned grim and he told me that waiting on lines is very difficult for him.

This came a year after a neighbor's brother told me that he tells Disney that he has Crohns Disease so that he can get the guest assistance card.

People like this make me very mad.

(Please Note: I have nothing against anyone with type 2 diabetes. As I said, I have a young child with type 1, and my son's type 1 is much harder to control than this man's type 2, yet we don't use the guest assistance card.)

I was out at Disneyland last week and it was hard getting off some rides because so many people were lined up at the exits. Granted, some were in wheelchairs but most were not.

 

[sigmasal]

I have a child with ADHD/Generalized anxiety but waiting in lines is a part of life...like one of the posters, I make accommodations for both of my kids whenever we go anywhere (dd has selective mutism which is a social anxiety disorder). By the way I have had type 2 diabetes for over 10 years and have never considered waiting in lines a "hardship." The only hardship I can think of that would go along with that is if you suddenly had a low blood sugar and had to leave the line to get food/drink quickly but most diabetics will carry something in their purse/bag on trips like this just in case (like a granola bar or some hard candies). If someone is suffering from diabetic neuropathy it can be painful to stand in long lines but someone at that point could request use of a wheelchair while waiting so they can sit and it certainly wouldn't someone climbing rock walls and hiking with boy scouts. Seriously. Annoying.

 

[GillianP1301]

There are ignorant people everywhere. It can drive me crazy at times too, but I try not to let it because then it affects my fun, especially at a place like Disney.

 

[joshsmom]

Not diabetes, but severe arthritis in her knees--my mom is 67 and we just got back from the World. The pain she was experiencing before we left--especially going up and down stairs, I was convinced she would need a GAC. I told her that if she needed one, DS and I would just "catch up" with her after we went through the regular line. We figured there are only a few rides with stairs (like Toy Story).

We got there and although she did experience some pain, she used her icy hot, Tylenol and alternated heat and ice packs. She did GREAT and she did NOT get a GAC. The only real problem was at The Land in Epcot because the escalator was broken. She tried to go down the stairs and people behind her started pushing. That's when my DS17 cleared the way for her to go back UP the three or four stairs and she took the elevator. I'm not saying she wasn't sore, but she pushed through it.

Its SUCH a shame that people who really DON'T need it abuse the system. It makes it so much harder for those that DO need it.

 

[mkoerner]

Our 27 year old son has autism and never once in his entire life have we used his disability as an excuse for anything. We take him to Disney a lot because of the sense of independence the transportation system provides, and he waits in the same lines as everyone else. Like another poster stated, we get there at rope drop, use FP, and choose rides wisely. My husband and I would give up everything we have if it meant our son weren't permanently disabled, and people who abuse a system meant to help others infuriates us. I'll get off my soapbox now

 

[Kristine316]

A friend of my husband's recently returned from Disney after vacationing there with a large group of his family. They went at the end of July.. I kept telling him how busy and hot it was going to be and he shrugged it off.

He went with his sister who has a son with a disability. I knew they would be getting a GAC card for him and I totally understood but, they were going in a group of 14 so I knew that only a handful would be able to skip the lines with his nephew.

I was anxious to hear all about the trip when they got back.. I expected to hear about long lines, terrible crowds and blistering heat.. instead I got a brag session about how they somehow "finangled" (his words) two more GAC cards and everyone got to skip the lines. I kept asking him how they managed that when only one in their party was disabled and he wouldn't give me a straight answer. My husband told me later they basically lied to get two more. I don't know the details but, I guess his friend admitted it to him and thought it was funny. Then on top of that basically complained about Disney and how lame many of the rides were.. it was his first trip.

Needless to say I was annoyed... no annoyed is not the right word... fuming would be a better word. We are all paying good money to vacation at Disney and it hardly seems right or fair to me that some are lying to get a "free pass" so to speak while the rest of us are standing in long lines.
Its sad when people abuse the system and even worse that Disney may be forced at some point to really crack down on the cheats, in turn making it more difficult for those who truly need the service.

 

[vicky33006]

On our last trip, DS unexpectedly had a seizure and passed out in AK. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before so it was terrifying. Anyway, the next day (our last day) I was convinced he should just relax as much as possible. He was still lethargic and moving slowly. So we woke up and he wanted so badly to go back to Epcot one last time. It was his favorite park.

I was so nervous about letting him go, but our options were limited anyway since we had to jump on ME for 5. So we went to Epcot and I went to inquire about a GAC just simply so he could wait somewhere separate so that he would be allowed to sit. The only ride he wanted to ride was Soarin and the line was long. I just wanted him to be able to sit.

They have us the GAC and we wen to Soarin. I tried to explain he just needed a place to rest during the wait and they immediately waved us through to the fast pass entrance. I have to admit I was grateful. I was also so surprised. I never expected to bypass the wait.

After that I discarded the GAC and we went to WS for the remainder of the day and had a wonderful time. I just couldn't believe how easily we got that pass, and the access to the front of the line it gave us. I felt guilty using it. I agree that it's really great for people who need it, but it's sad how easily it can be abused. We could have ridden the thrill rides multiple times and that's great, but we didn't need to skip the lines. We just needed to have a place to rest. I even felt as though we had abused it.... Even though we hasn't tried to do that. I think it's sad how many people abuse them, but I've also decided not to let it affect my day in any way. If they can live with themselves, then I'll stay out of it.

 

[robinb]

Meh. There will always be someone who works the system.

 

[Punzie]

At least that's a physical ailment...I have an aunt who insists that any child 'with an IEP' (Individual Education Plan - basically needs any type of special service in school for learning or other disabilities) gets to have a GAC. She tries to get me to use one for my ds who has very borderline Asperger's - but I never have. I make my own accomodations for him as I should - using FP, getting there at rope drop, preparing him for longer waits or differences. And honestly he's no different than many kids his age - no one ENJOYS waiting in a line. Really each person has their own 'quirks' for which a GAC would assist...but we need to take it upon ourselves in most cases to just adjust our style to fit accordingly.

Now, I've seen many families who really wouldn't be able to go to WDW without a GAC...And those are the ones I'm happy it exists for. But I know that there are a lot who aren't in that category.

^^ must be common... I sell thirty one and while set up at a craft fair a family came looking for a good bag for wdw. The person set up by me said you came to the right place she's a disney freak.

As we talked a little I was telling them about fp and fp+ and the gma waves her hand and says oh we won't need that. Our boy has an IEP and the travel agent has us all set up to get some front of the line pass.


Mmmhmmm was all I could muster.

Granted the boy seems very fidgety and all. I'm guessing its a lack of parenting so hard to deal with in a structured situation type of IEP. On medicine for being active because we drug our kids now instead of teaching them how to behave.

Granted I do not know this kid but was in education and that is the sense I got.

He wasn't out of control what boy wouldn't be fidgety at a craft show! But considering the boring environment he was great and I doubt he needed gac for a successful trip!

 

[andyman8]

So much for doing a good turn daily...

 

[bumbershoot]

So much for doing a good turn daily...

Glad someone else caught that it was Boy Scout camp....

 

[ttintagel]

I just wanted him to be able to sit.

They have us the GAC and we wen to Soarin. I tried to explain he just needed a place to rest during the wait and they immediately waved us through to the fast pass entrance. I have to admit I was grateful. I was also so surprised. I never expected to bypass the wait.

That's really weird; since it would be impractical to install seats in the queues, WDW's official policy is that anyone whose only impediment to entering the usual way is mobility or stamina (i.e., needing to sit) should use a wheelchair in line. Sounds like they decided to make an exception in your son's case for some reason.

 

[WeCantWait]

Amazing. When my sons Neurologist heard we were going to Disney over the summer, she left the room and came back 5 minutes later and handed me a letter. It was a letter to give to Disney to get a GAC. He has absolutely no need for a GAC. He has been to Disney every year since the time he was an infant and does not have a problem waiting in lines. He has innatentive type ADD. I do not understand why anybody would abuse this system and cannot believe a Doctor would encourage us to do so. To abuse it and then brag about it is unreal.

 

[mrsclark]

Wow - pretend to have Crohn's to get a GAC. I wish sometimes I could pretend NOT to have it- it would be super fun to get to pretend my whole vacation that nothing is wrong with me! I have arthritis from Crohn's and had a particularly bad flare during our trip in 2009. It never even occurred to me that I should not wait in line. We just walked a lot slower (as I was limping around) and took breaks when it became too painful for me to stand. I suppose that if the arthritis or Crohn's ever gets really really bad then I might ask for assistance, but I just wonder if people who think they are so lucky to game the system think about people that actually have problems and what complications - both in everyday life and on vacation - those problems cause them. I am assuming people this self-centered don't care anyway.

It reminds me of a story I read about people with service dogs. Someone in the article with a disability said people tell her all the time "oh, it must be so great that you can take your dog with you anywhere you want." She wanted to know if those people ever thought of the condition required to get such a "privilege."