Anyone heard of a Red Card at Disney?

[BabyFu18]

A friend of mine was explaining a card to me that she uses for her disabilities and she called it a red card and said it was good for a year. I was thinking about getting a GAC card this summer because I have extreme asthma (heat sensitive), problems with my feet/knees that prevents me from standing for long periods of time, and some other things as well. But she was telling me a Red Card would be a good idea, I don't know if she meant that the card was the color red so that's why it's called that or not. When I mentioned a GAC she didn't seem to think they were the same thing.

I did a board search but found nothing, anyone have any information about a red card or even if a GAC might be helpful for me at all? Don't want to go through the process of getting one if there might not be anything Disney can do to accommodate me (which would be fine as well).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I've never heard of anything called a 'red card', however, I thing that the GAC is red (or has red writing, can't remember which), so it may well be that that's what she's referring to. I can't see why Disney would run two separate systems to provide accommodations for disabilities, so it's likely that they're the same thing.

I don't know if you've seen it, but if you want more information on the GAC, the FAQ section has a detailed explanation of what it is, how to obtain one and how to use it.

Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #6 there explains the Guest Assistance Card

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is no such thing as a "red card"; I think (with the other posters) that she is talking about the Guest Assistance Card. We abbreviate it as GAC, because we don't want to keep typing everything out all the time.
If you have any questions after reading the information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, just post them. The information there should help you decide what assistance (if any) a GAC would be for you. You might find it better to just rent a wheelchair or ECV, since the GAC would only help with waiting in lines and you will be doing a lot of waiting/walking and standing out in the heat just getting from place to place.
Usually, the GAC is given for just the length of the trip, but occasionally, the CMs will make it valid for a longer time for someone with an annual pass who will be coming frequently.

 

[dclfun]

A GAC might be helpful but if you have trouble standing/walking you'll be advised to rent a w/c or ECV instead. Having a means of mobility other than your own two feet is usually a good idea to prevent you from tiring as the distance between attractions is longer than the queue lines. Feel free to ask other questions in planning your trip. There are lots of us here who will be glad to help!---Kathy

 

[LauraVV]

We've used GACs for our last 2 trips. I use an EVC and my daughter uses a push w/c. We both get in and out of our chairs and walk short distances well. Our daughter has severe persistent asthma and is unable to be outside in the summer. Our trip four years ago was the second week of May. Even with a GAC it was very difficult breathing-wise. This year we went late Jan/early Feb. If your asthma is heat and humidity sensitive you may need to spend most of your time in your hotel room if you go any time after early May.

I do not have asthma and found it difficult to breathe in May. We have humid summers here in IL and it was still very, very unpleasant. If you have asthma that is heat sensitive then you're not likely to do well in Disney in the summer.

 

[LisaBi]

I wonder if the OP's friend was talking about the old version of GAC - I don't remember what they used to be called - but the word "pass" was part of the name, and they did have different colors based on what they were for. It seems that Make A Wish were green, 'stroller as wheelchair' was yellow or red, etc. I do remember guests calling them "red cards' or 'green cards', etc.

 

[SueM in MN]

I wonder if the OP's friend was talking about the old version of GAC - I don't remember what they used to be called - but the word "pass" was part of the name, and they did have different colors based on what they were for. It seems that Make A Wish were green, 'stroller as wheelchair' was yellow or red, etc. I do remember guests calling them "red cards' or 'green cards', etc.

A long, long time ago, they were called Guest Assistance Passes.
The name was changed in about 1999 (maybe earlier) to Guest Assistance Card. I had some conversations and PMs back and forth to Guest Relations CMs and they said the reason for the change was that some guests thought that the word "Pass" meant immediate access/some special access. They changed the name to indicate it was not meant to give immediate access.

It's possible that some people called them a different name based on the color of the writing on the card - there were no cards where the card was actually red.

 

[LillersMom]

I actually have an old GAC of my DH and it was actually red. Not sure what year it is from..I woud lhave to look. He has been a quad since 1990 so it could be old!

 

[LauraVV]

I actually have an old GAC of my DH and it was actually red.

Our GAC this year was red and white.

 

[SueM in MN]

The current card is white though the printing may be red.