Ack w/a GAC Disneyland Chiari Malformation/M.S

[loliepop]

I hope I'm posting in the correct area. My family (hubby DD14,DD9,DD1) are going to Disneyland in early July. This will be our youngest DD's first trip! I know it's the busiest month and not a good month for heat/sun/light issues but my neuro-surgeon has scheduled my brain surgery at the end of July and we're scrambling to make a family-wish vacation.

I have Chiari Malformation, Multiple Sclerosis and my oldest DD and I have Fibromyalgia. We're staying at the Disneyland hotel for 3 days and parks for 2 days hoping that it will give me time to recover/take my own pace.

My last trip to Disneyland 6yrs ago was a DISASTER! They were starting to switch over to GAC and despite my visible leg braces I was told I couldn't keep my daughter in her stroller for the line (I use the stroller for stability like my cane and she would want to be picked up during the line). I was also told there were no shaded areas to wait, it sounds like this has improved!

My electric wheelchair is broken and won't be fixed for our trip. Hubby will push me in a manual chair when I need it. I know over time my condition will get worse over 2 days.

Frankly I'm frightened that after spending so much money I'll get to the park and a CM won't believe me. I applaud following ADA but the flipside is now a CM who has never heard of my condition will need to judge it?

My memory is faulty, when I'm flustered I completely forget the words/word slur. I'm hoping to jot down what to ask for before I leave, do the below modifications sound disney reasonable? If I'm "turned down" the stress will flair my condition, and we're trying to give our daughters happy memories to hold onto during a recovery that will be so difficult for them.

*Wait in shaded area
*Keep daughter in stroller until last moment for stability
*Low Vision in extremes/Depth perception make judging steep stairs difficult
*Hard of hearing when possible be close to performers
*Extra time given to exit/enter rides

Thank you! I know a wheelchair is the usual stamina, but my current condition goes much farther than that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I would suggest print out a piece of paper which states you have multiple disabilities and have the following needs. Then have the list you printed above.

Disney Policy, as well as Federal Law, does not allow requiring providing "proof" of disability or even asking for the diagnoses. However if you do provide a request in writing they must read it.

This way you do not have to worry about forgetting something when you request the GAC.

 

[Earstou]

Hi from a fellow Chiarian!
Having the list handy seems like a good idea to me!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Respectfully - is there any way you can get (borrow/buy/rent) a walker for your trip? A stroller in this case really isn't a medical assistance device, and I can see why even though things have changed, this would still not be allowed, even with a GAC.

 

[loliepop]

I have/use a forarm crutch it's my Purple People Eater. However when I'm pushing the stroller it serves the same purpose and I suppose I'm trying to carry as little as possible. If the crutch will be more of a "convincer" I'll use that instead, I'm bringing it to the park, I just can't push the stroller w/it (though have 2 others that can).

My oldest DD has Fibromyalgia & unknown neurological involovement so the wheelchair will be a family chair for the one who needs it at the time. I'd like to get her a GAC as well because of her sun sensitivity (flares her condition) and difficulty navigating stairs/fall risk. There are rides I can't ride w/my chiari that she can. We have medical documentation though I know that doesn't matter. I'm afraid they'll see a seemingly normal 14yr. old and dismiss...suggestions? Darn invisible diseases....

-Beth

 

[Willow1213]

We just got back from our DL trip and the one thing I can tell you is DON'T WORRY! My hubby is a perfectly health 24 yr old (except for his knees)! We did not get one dirty look or comment about our GAC use at all. We did find a couple instances (Aladdin musical for example) where we would just "follow" the wheelchair parties and would get stopped by the CM, but a quick flash of the pass and we were on our way. When we went to City Hall the first day go obtain the pass we simply told them what we needed (a GAC) and they asked how they could make our stay simpler . He told her he could not climb stairs and she knew exactly what to do no questions asked. If you think you will get nervous, have your requests types as a PP suggested. If nothing else it will help you remember.

Have a wonderful, safe, and healthy trip!

 

[kittycat9]

The bullet points you listed are really all you need to provide. However, if you're deeply concerned, you can request something similar from your doctor. The first day you enter the park (Magic Kingdom for example), go directly to the Town Center/Hall, and request the GAC. They'll note something about the stroller as a wheelchair or medical device, and also put a second stamp on there (can't remember what that is called). With the two stamps you'll be able to go directly in the handicap entrances. They're shaded and ramped. The lines were shorter for us during spring break last year, but I've been told that sometimes this isn't the case. That wasn't our concern though - for us, the issue was heat/seizure risk for our son (he also remained in the stroller to reduce risk of overheating/seizure/asthma due to CP). The CMs were very accommodating and only one ever questioned us, but more to understand what was going on with our son because she/we had the time as we all waited in line (friendly).

Best of luck.

 

[SueM in MN]

I hope I'm posting in the correct area. My family (hubby DD14,DD9,DD1) are going to Disneyland in early July. This will be our youngest DD's first trip! I know it's the busiest month and not a good month for heat/sun/light issues but my neuro-surgeon has scheduled my brain surgery at the end of July and we're scrambling to make a family-wish vacation.

I have Chiari Malformation, Multiple Sclerosis and my oldest DD and I have Fibromyalgia. We're staying at the Disneyland hotel for 3 days and parks for 2 days hoping that it will give me time to recover/take my own pace.

My last trip to Disneyland 6yrs ago was a DISASTER! They were starting to switch over to GAC and despite my visible leg braces I was told I couldn't keep my daughter in her stroller for the line (I use the stroller for stability like my cane and she would want to be picked up during the line). I was also told there were no shaded areas to wait, it sounds like this has improved!

My electric wheelchair is broken and won't be fixed for our trip. Hubby will push me in a manual chair when I need it. I know over time my condition will get worse over 2 days.

Frankly I'm frightened that after spending so much money I'll get to the park and a CM won't believe me. I applaud following ADA but the flipside is now a CM who has never heard of my condition will need to judge it?

My memory is faulty, when I'm flustered I completely forget the words/word slur. I'm hoping to jot down what to ask for before I leave, do the below modifications sound disney reasonable? If I'm "turned down" the stress will flair my condition, and we're trying to give our daughters happy memories to hold onto during a recovery that will be so difficult for them.

*Wait in shaded area
*Keep daughter in stroller until last moment for stability
*Low Vision in extremes/Depth perception make judging steep stairs difficult
*Hard of hearing when possible be close to performers
*Extra time given to exit/enter rides

Thank you! I know a wheelchair is the usual stamina, but my current condition goes much farther than that.

In addition to what was already mentioned, I wanted to add some information about WHY Disneyland changed their GAC procedure.


1) Because the park is older and not that large, many attractions could not have the queues adjusted/renovated to be wheelchair accessible. This meant that anyone using a wheelchair or assistive device needed to use a specific entrance. As people with other special needs also needed to use that same entrance, the lines became very long and articles at the time reported that sometimes the wait in the 'special lines' were longer than the wait in the 'regular' line.

2) The ADA required that, as much as possible, people with disabilities be handled the same as everyone else. Because it was not physically possible for guests with wheelchairs to use a different way in, they had to use the 'old special' entrances. Other ways to handle other guests were added (including the Fastpass system, which allows any guest to wait out of the line and spend a short time actually in the line).

3) WDW and Disneyland had very different GAC systems. WDW changed in about 1999 or 2000 and Disneyland changed later to become consistent (as much as possible) with the way things were done at WDW.

4) Because Disneyland is older, there is much less space to store things like strollers and wheelchairs at the exit where guests will get it when they get off the ride.

5) Disney's California Adventure was built with mostly accessible lines, so many guest need no other accommodation other than that.

As far as a stroller being used in line, being able to use it would be an accommodation for a child who would otherwise be using a wheelchair to meet needs caused by their disability. I have heard of WDW allowing an adult with a disability to use a stroller as a wheelchair for their child only when that was the only adult and the child was too small to walk in line.

There is more information about GACs in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (you can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature). Even though the information was written for WDW, the basic information in post #6 also applies to Disneyland.