Abuse of the "3 letter word" - I'm on a TEAR!

[Lsdolphin]

I come to Dis Wld with my nephew who is 32 yrs is ASD, OCD, BiPolar, mild MR, ADHD, and has GERD. He is on meds and can not be in sun/heat extended per of time. He is not in wheel chair and therefore does not always appear "handicapped" until we get in a line! After a few min he is pacing talking to himself and getting in peoples space. We have letter from Sheppard Pratt hospital Dr. describing his special needs including pre boarding on a plane. We do give letter to CM at guest relations when first entering a park and get GAC which we do not use unless necessary. We come in Nov. or end of Jan. to avoid crowds and heat. Usually hav minimal waits during these times butn can only 2 attractions before he wants to go back to pool. Love fireworks dessert party only way we can do fireworks other than sitting on bench outside entrance of MK. Sometimes having the GAC allows us to visit additional attractions. I would be more than happy to give anyone questioning our use of the GAC the opportunity to take my nephew and the GAC and I will take their child and be happy to stand in line.

 

[ttintagel]

Yes, sometimes there is a shorter wait when a disability is accommodated. But when that does happen, it's a side effect and not the intended result.

 

[Lsdolphin]

Sometimes utilizing the alternate entrances results in longer waits but there might be a seat in which to wait or fewer people in close proximity to us.

 

[andersonsc]

Yes, sometimes there is a shorter wait when a disability is accommodated. But when that does happen, it's a side effect and not the intended result.

But it seems like it is the intended result. Those who can't wait because possibility of needing a bathroom or those that say they can't handle crowds wait in this "other area" and of course the CMs let them ride sooner. They don't keep track of where they would have been in line and have them wait that long. Or they get to use the fast pass entrance and therefore get through faster.

 

[keishashadow]

OP - Confused, are you traveling together with your friend & her family? It's my understanding that the GAC is for the person who needs the accommodation and their 'party'. I've read here that many request it for 1 + 5 so their whole group (family/friends) can ride an attraction together.

Lsdolphin You sound like a great Aunt! Many children and adults have invisible/not so easily discernible disabilities and certainly shouldn't have to explain themselves to other guests as to their eligibility to utilize a GAC.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

OP - Confused, are you traveling together with your friend & her family? It's my understanding that the GAC is for the person who needs the accommodation and their 'party'. I've read here that many request it for 1 + 5 so their whole group (family/friends) can ride an attraction together.

We are traveling with another family - but my family is a family of four, their family is a family of five. That's 9 people. They have 2 adults, 2 teens, and 1 child. We are all DVC members so all frequent Disney. None of this is "new" to anyone so we don't have to "fit everything" in to every day by getting to the front of every line. I use my GAC ONLY if my son really wants to ride and can't handle the line and we can't get a FP. That's it. Other than that I don't use it at all. We make him wait. We try to teach him to be patient. Otherwise he expects "immediate" with everything else in life.
I just don't like how the party I'm traveling with is assuming that I'm going to whip my son's GAC out just so we 'all' can just use fastpass for everything and not have to wait in a single line. I don't do that. I think it's abusive and rude to the people who ARE waiting and while I am ABLE to use an alternate line I only use it when I feel it's NECESSARY based on my son's abilities that day / moment. Otherwise, I feel like I'd be raising a 'monster' (it's just his personality - he will truly come to "expect" that type of accomodation in everything and he has to know that life isn't like that).
I'm not blaming Disney and that's not the intent of this post. I'm just disgusted with my friends behavior and what they are teaching (or more importantly NOT teaching) their kids!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I think the only thing you can really do is lead by example. Make sure you're the one with the GAC and unless you think your son is going to need to use it, just head people towards the regular line. Both families wouldn't be able to go with your son (if the CM is being good about enforcing number of people with the GAC) anyway. You could always say something like "there's a limit to how many people can go with him and we prefer to not split up when possible" if the folks you're traveling with ask why.

Unfortunately, you can't control what your friend (and I'm not sure they're acting all that friend-like if they're going to pressure you on doing something you're not comfortable with) teaches her kids. You can limit your involvement. If it truly gets out of hand, you may have to calmly and politely tell the other family that you can no longer tour with them if they will not respect the rules regarding your child. It sucks but you need to do what's best for you and your kids, not what they want to do.

 

[bopper]

"Sure, you can go with me to the wheel chair entrance. But keep in mind that I have to wait for the accessible car/boat so you may end up waiting longer. Or we might get out sooner than everyone else and will wait for them at the exit anyway. And most rides don't have a separate line. But you can come with me."

 

[keishashadow]

disneyfool

I cannot imagine anybody handling your DSs needs better

as for ur friends being DVC they indeed know the drill and agree it's a questionable example to set for their kids.

I don't envy u having that conversation with them, good luck.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have a son who uses a GAC.

I am currently at DL. (not with him, so no GAC for my group this trip). It is truly painful to see the huge long lines at Guest Relations at DL every single day. I mean, like 100 people or more. I never saw that at WDW.

I am glad they are cracking down, even if it affects my son adversely.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have a son who uses a GAC.

I am currently at DL. (not with him, so no GAC for my group this trip). It is truly painful to see the huge long lines at Guest Relations at DL every single day. I mean, like 100 people or more. I never saw that at WDW.

I am glad they are cracking down, even if it affects my son adversely.

I heard it was bad at DL, but it's interesting to hear a first hand report.

I think the only thing you can really do is lead by example. Make sure you're the one with the GAC and unless you think your son is going to need to use it, just head people towards the regular line. Both families wouldn't be able to go with your son (if the CM is being good about enforcing number of people with the GAC) anyway. You could always say something like "there's a limit to how many people can go with him and we prefer to not split up when possible" if the folks you're traveling with ask why.

Unfortunately, you can't control what your friend (and I'm not sure they're acting all that friend-like if they're going to pressure you on doing something you're not comfortable with) teaches her kids. You can limit your involvement. If it truly gets out of hand, you may have to calmly and politely tell the other family that you can no longer tour with them if they will not respect the rules regarding your child. It sucks but you need to do what's best for you and your kids, not what they want to do.

I agree that sounds like a good way to handle it.

 

[Phoebus]

And here I was worried about having a party of 7 (me and my wife, 4 children and eldest daughter's friend) being allowed access but it sounds like the CMs are allowing the GAC holder and whoever is with them in regardless of number.

Are the CMs really allowing an unlimited # of people through as long as one has a GAC? I thought it was limited to 6.

According to SueM in the disABILITIES FAQ's sticky thread, this is how it is supposed to work when you have a party that exceeds the limit:

In certain situations, a GAC may be given for more than 6 people - for example, if a family is 2 adults and 5 children, they would make an exception and give the GAC for a total of 7. Anything over 6 people is an exception to the rule.

 

[SueM in MN]

And here I was worried about having a party of 7 (me and my wife, 4 children and eldest daughter's friend) being allowed access but it sounds like the CMs are allowing the GAC holder and whoever is with them in regardless of number.

Are the CMs really allowing an unlimited # of people through as long as one has a GAC? I thought it was limited to 6.

According to SueM in the disABILITIES FAQ's sticky thread, this is how it is supposed to work when you have a party that exceeds the limit:

In certain situations, a GAC may be given for more than 6 people - for example, if a family is 2 adults and 5 children, they would make an exception and give the GAC for a total of 7. Anything over 6 people is an exception to the rule.

And, I would count on it happening that way. That is what usually happens.
The CMs always look at DD's card when we use it, ask which one of us is [reading her name off the card], look at the number written on the card and then ask which people in line are our group.

I have also personally seen people being told hey can only have the number on the card when they were asking (or sometimes whining, or yelling at) the CM trying to have a larger group.

It's possible that individual CMs might let a larger number use the GAC, but not as frequent as some people seem to believe.

 

[Phoebus]

The CMs always look at DD's card when we use it, ask which one of us is [reading her name off the card], look at the number written on the card and then ask which people in line are our group.

So do we need to get a GAC with the # in our party on it because DD has wheelchair and didn't think we needed a GAC? BTW, thanks for the great thread (disABILITIES FAQs) as it is invaluable for a first-time visitor with a special needs child!

 

[keishashadow]

I have a son who uses a GAC.

I am currently at DL. (not with him, so no GAC for my group this trip). It is truly painful to see the huge long lines at Guest Relations at DL every single day. I mean, like 100 people or more. I never saw that at WDW.

I am glad they are cracking down, even if it affects my son adversely.

wow, do you think everybody in the line is there for a GAC?Hard to tell with so many invisible disabilities, but they do process other things there too: dining, ticket purchases/upgrades/tours

I realize why it'd likely be crowded with so many locals now needing to obtain a new GAC each visit, but wondering if all the windows are being staffed? perhaps the 'slow service' is meant to discourage those who can manage to visit without obtaining one to do so.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I am currently at DL. (not with him, so no GAC for my group this trip). It is truly painful to see the huge long lines at Guest Relations at DL every single day. I mean, like 100 people or more. I never saw that at WDW.

I heard it was bad at DL, but it's interesting to hear a first hand report.

I was at DL 7/17 - 7/22. We obtained DD15's GAC on 7/17 in the afternoon around 2pm-ish.

I first went to the Guest Relations booth to the left of the ticket booths figuring like at WDW we could obtain it outside a park. There was only one family ahead of us in line. We were told that we could only obtain a GAC inside the parks. I hadn't realized that. If the long line was outside the park then it wasn't for GACs. We went into DCA and stopped at Guest Relations just inside the park on the left. There were a couple other guests in there and several CMs available who could help us right away. No line in there either.

There are many reasons people could be stopping at Guest Relations. Assuming that even the majority were there for GACs seems odd to me. At WDW we've stopped at Guest Relations for other reasons. We've gone there to upgrade tickets, to have them notify a restaurant that we're running late due to some kind of issue in the park and ask them to hold our ADR, to ask about lost and found, to leave positive feedback about an experience, and I'm sure for other reasons that are right now escaping me. Seeing 100+ people at Guest Relations (I'm guessing that's an exageration but for the sake of arguement lets assume it's correct) doesn't mean that lots of people are trying to obtain GACs. When there are that many people my first assumption would be that something in the park went really wrong and people wanted to complain (maybe people stuck on a ride for a while?).

At WDW I've been stuck in Guest Relations lines that are a good 20+ parties (not just people but parties where there could be a group of people all standing together in the line). It all comes down to how much line luck you have at the moment.

ETA: I just remembered another reason we've gone to GR. We fly SWA and before EBCI if we were in a park when we were approaching T-24 hrs I'd go there to check in for my flight. Dining reservations can be done there as well.

 

[cobright]

So do we need to get a GAC with the # in our party on it because DD has wheelchair and didn't think we needed a GAC? BTW, thanks for the great thread (disABILITIES FAQs) as it is invaluable for a first-time visitor with a special needs child!

The Wheel chair negates the need for a GAC. There is still a cap on how many may accompany the disabled person being accommodated. Five I think, plus the disabled person.

 

[mdvlprof]

The Wheel chair negates the need for a GAC. There is still a cap on how many may accompany the disabled person being accommodated. Five I think, plus the disabled person.

Sadly, wheelchair doesn't eliminate need for GAC. We got one because CMs at some rides refused to let us use handicap entrance w/o it [even tho' DS is a wheelchair-bound quad].

 

[pampam]

I agree with what has been stated previously by Wheeled Traveler. Your traveling companions don't even need to see it or know you have it. If it is tucked in a pocket you will have it when you need it, and it is only for a limited number of people so they can't really be accomodated with it anyway. As for her asking how she can get one and what stories she should make up, I can't really comment. I am sure you will let her know it is only for those who truly need it. If it was me, I don't think I would let her know even where to get it. I'm not sure if she has been there before, or how familiar she is with WDW. She probably just isn't thinking clearly, so, when the time is right, perhaps you can explain it to her, just like you explained it to us. Sometimes people just don't reason things through. I hope it works out with no hard feelings between your families.

 

[lanejudy]

Sadly, wheelchair doesn't eliminate need for GAC. We got one because CMs at some rides refused to let us use handicap entrance w/o it [even tho' DS is a wheelchair-bound quad].

If the only need is mobility-related and to bring the wheelchair in lines, then a GAC is not necessary. Most lines at WDW are mainstreamed, meaning a wheelchair or ECV can be maneuvered through the regular queue. If your DS needs a separate entrance for other reasons, that is why you get a GAC.

So do we need to get a GAC with the # in our party on it because DD has wheelchair and didn't think we needed a GAC? BTW, thanks for the great thread (disABILITIES FAQs) as it is invaluable for a first-time visitor with a special needs child!

You can ask, but they may not allow a larger number to be written on the GAC. Depending on the ages of the children, they might make an exception for a party of 7 - 2 parents and 5 children. However, as long as there are at least 2 adults in the party they may feel that you can split up. Unfortunately, nobody on this board can make that determination for you in advance and you'll just have to ask when you get there.

Enjoy your vacation!