Anyone Just Back Who Used the GAC?

[gritzel4]

Originally posted by Safari Steve
Pirates does not have an alternate entrance. Sometimes , if the queue is excessively long, GKTW families might be escorted around the building in an effort to bypass the queue (remember why these folks truly can not spend excess time in queues), however, this is not the standard procedure for 99% of guests as it goes through off-stage Non-Guest areas. In any event, this procedure would not help a person whose wheelchair does not fold, as the load/unload areas are on opposite ends of the building. Regardless of how one gets to the loading area, the chair they use (if they use one) must be folded and placed in the back of the boat. It seems like the CM made an exception for gritzel4 which they are not required -nor encouraged- to make (for whatever reasons, I will not speculate).
Sorry.

We have never traveled to WDW in the summer months before - but due to DS school schedule it is one of the few times we can now go. In the past (non peak times) POC has two entrances and using the GAC we are usually sent through the entrance not in use. However this time it was July and both entrances were being used - DS was having a complete melt down because "I WANT TO SEE THE PIRATES!!!!!" and we had overstayed our 2 hour alloted time to be at the parks. The CM took pity on us - was it following procedures -- probably not -- will he have my undying gratitude - you betcha.

 

[barrysprot36]

Re

Originally posted by Safari Steve

Pirates does not have an alternate entrance.

We used this entry twice whilst in MK last month, other families too. The CM told us only people with GAC could use it and sent the other w/c users through the regular lines.

Barry

 

[SueM in MN]

We have used a GAC and have given our "tale of woe" to the CMs at Pirates on numerous occasions and we have been told they do not have an alternate entrance. (This was as we had DD in the loaner wheelchair and she was arching her back, screaming and wildly signing "want different wheelchair. My wheelchair".)
The entrance that is being referred to is probably not really an alternative entrance, but more like a back door. Entrances that go thru backstage areas would only be used in very extreme circumstances and only when they have enough staff to have a CM accompany the guests there. So, I would not count on ever using it. We have seen Make a Wish families in the regular line, so if the alternative entrance was regularly used, you would expect the MAW families to be routed there.

 

[MEM]

Hi, I am the OP on this thread and I just returned from 12 days at WDW, including 2 spent with Hurricane Frances! We showed the CM at MK our GAC from our trip a year ago and that was all he needed. GACs are good for one month from the date you request one which is a change from the last one we had. He did make a point of saying that we should try to take advantage of EMH if we are staying on site so that we don't "need" to use the card. I was a little taken aback but I thanked him for his suggestion and sweetly informed him that we already do EMH and that the card is used judiciously!! Not sure if he was spouting company policy or his own opinion.

We were there August 26-Sept. 7 and although many attractions had little or no wait, we still needed it for things like Dinosaur, Test Track and Living with the Land. One of the longest lines we experienced was Snow White and there was no CM at the handicap entrance so I waited in line there while DS and DD rode Cinderella's Carousel.

 

[Wade Shrader]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the discussion about Pirates. We took our 7 yr old triplets (with 2 sons with cerebral palsy) for a long trip (11 days) to WDW in July. It was fantastic, as usual, and we were very pleased with accomodations for my boys in their chairs.

However, Pirates was the one place where it seemed that special needs accomodations weren't as well addressed as the rest of WDW. While one of my boys can make that walk easily, the other one can't. And we could transfer him to another chair, but I agree with Sue, it's better to keep our kids in their own chair, especially when the fold-up chair is not really made for kids, much less kids with spasticity issues.

For what it's worth, Pirates at Disneyland is much easier to handle! There you just enter through the exit...

 

[vhoffman]

Regarding the people who fake a disability in order to get a GAC, well, maybe someday their luck will change and they won't have to fake it anymore. My MIL used her aunt's handicapped parking permit, then her husband's, long after their deaths. She seemed to think there was nothing wrong in doing so. She often expressed contempt for disabled people, expressing the opinion that they were the ones putting on the "act" in order to get permits, disability benefits, etc. She felt if all those lazy people could get a permit, she was entitled to one as well. Last year, shortly before Thanksgiving, she had a massive stroke. She is now permanently paralyzed on one side. she uses an ECV, but transportation is now a daily struggle. She now complains about the inconsiderate people who park in handicapped spaces without a permit, sometimes forcing her to leave wherever she went because she can't find a parking space. She just doesn't get the connection between them and what she did. IMO, "faking" a disability in order to get some little benefit is just plain sick. But then, like I said, maybe their luck will change.......

 

[Figment1964]

Originally posted by MEM
We were there August 26-Sept. 7 and although many attractions had little or no wait, we still needed it for things like Dinosaur, Test Track and Living with the Land. One of the longest lines we experienced was Snow White and there was no CM at the handicap entrance so I waited in line there while DS and DD rode Cinderella's Carousel.

We were there for approximately the same time (8/29-9/6) and had the same experience at Dumbo as you did at Snow White. But my younger son (6) insisted on going so we waited. My ASD son didn't want to wait so he and his dad went and did something else. SW was a very brief wait for us, thankfully. My ASD son (11) loved Snow White and is still talking about it!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Grrrrr! I get so angry hearing about people trying to rip off the system!!!! It makes me angry that people can't get detailed info here about getting a GAC because we know that some rotten person will use that info to get a GAC that they have no right or need to get!!!! VHoffman, I agree with you. People who cheat the system will finally have their rotten ways catch up with them. What comes around, goes around.

No one knows what we all go through on this board! Believe me, I wish I did not need to find out about GAC passes for my son. I wish he did not have a developmental delay. I wish he could handle every day situations without having a melt down.
O.k. Off my soapbox now!
Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[llggood]

You know what? I feel the same way. If I could get rid of my son's Autism for one day to enjoy DW the way a normal family does I would gladly wait in line 5 hours to ride the rides. I certainly hope this is the exception and NOT the norm with people faking disabilities. It is just not worth it to torture his other 3 siblings with a meltdown. We went 5 years ago and got a GAC and I can honestly say it was a slow time and we only had to use it in MK for Thunder Mountain and once for pooh. In MGM we used it to wait in an alternate line for Fantastmic and we did use it for character greetings at MK (forgot) at Mickey's Judging Tent. We used it at MGM for the Lion King Show too to wait in alternate line. Notice most of the time we waited in an alternate line. We did not abuse it. It makes me so mad at people "faking illnesses". If you ask me Disney will have to go doctor notes and that is fine with me. My son really does have the condition and will have no problem securing a doctors note.

 

[Talking Hands]

I was at WDW Sept 9-12 and had my GAC but only used it once to explain to the castmember at Philharmagic that I needed captioning as well as being in a wheelchair. This was only because she kept trying to put me in the very back where the captioniong doesn't work well. As it was, where she placed me made the captioning very awkward to read.

 

[TweetyB]

I an trying to decide if I should try to get a GAC for my daughter. She will be 4 when we go in Nov. SHe does not have an official label yet, so far at Pre-K it is Developmentally Delayed. She has significant language delays. In addition she has some sensory stuff. We are in the process of having her evaluated for ADD/ADHD. So needless to say she does not wait well. You never know when a meltdown is going to happen

All this being said does anyone think she would qualify for one and if so, what diagnosis do I give them?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh...we went for a quick trip in March and rode one ride, she refused to wait in the long lines!

 

[SueM in MN]

Depending on when you are going in November, you may not have long lines anyway, so you may not need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) at all. If the lines are short, you might basically walk right in to a lot of things. Also, even during busy times, if you can go soon after the park opens for the day, you can go on a lot of things in a short time with little wait.
You don't need a specific diagnosis. What you do need is to be able to explain what your DD's difficulties are. bring your DD with you to Guest Services in any of the parks and talk with the CMs there. The GAC is not meant to (and often won't) shorten or eliminate your wait in line. What it is meant to do is give a place to wait/conditions more appropriate to the needs of the person with a disability. That might mean waiting in a place removed from the crowds or being able to bring a stroller in line with you to provide a "safe haven" forr the person while in line.

 

[Poohnatic]

I have been over to property a few times in the past few weeks. We've been getting a GAC, but only had to use it once in 4 days.

I suspect that November will be much of the same. October now has quite a few conventions, but during the day, the crowds are minimal.

Suzanne

 

[endkaos]

Just wanted to comment, I too am a mother of an ASD child now age 10. I have learned to have a tough skin because those who stare at us for using disabilities services don't have to deal with the meltdowns.

I am concerned about the GAC. I live closer to Disneyland and there are horror stories of their transition to the new system. "Imagine having problems making transitions (tongue in cheek)"

We are scheduled for the 10/9/04 Disney Cruise Line with hopefully a few days at WDW afterward. I figured it was off-season, less crowds and a good time to go. Hurricane season is presenting several "last minute changes in itenary". I can't imagine trying to do WDW without the GAC. It just wouldn't be worth paying the large fee for the max 2 hours it would take before the 10 year olds meltdown.

Hoping for fair winds and calm seas.
~endkaos

 

[Nik's Mom]

Endkaos,
I can relate. My DS 5 has asd. It's so nice to hear from other parents who also share our feelings. We have annual passes to Disneyland. I wish they'd learn from WDW on how to handle GAC's.