Autism and GAC - your experience re waiting times.

[Rachandgarry]

Hi,

I am sorry to ask another question about the GAC. I have done some homework, and read post #6 on the FAQ plus several other threads on the subject but all I seem to be doing is muddying the waters in my own head.

My son will be 6 1/2 when we (hopefully) go to WDW and has low-functioning Autism, sensory processing disorder and doesn't have much language or understanding. For him, waiting in line is so difficult, because he doesn't understand what is happening. It doesn't seem possible to my 'mainstream' head that after having to wait his turn on tons and tons of rides, games etc that he still doesn't understand what the line is... I can't explain it but he just doesn't get it. Each line is like a completely new problem for him, as if it has never happened before. Having very limited understanding, makes it impossible to actually explain the act of queueing to him. Our only 'strategy' is always to distract him, play with him, sing songs etc while we wait - but this won't work more than 5 - 10 minutes.

The Disneyland Paris version of the GAC allows you to go to the exit of the ride, and ride on the next available vehicle. There may well be other GAC holders in front of you, and you queue behind them of course.

I understand that the GAC can possibly give you somewhere else to wait, and potentially allow you to take your stroller further in to the queue than you would normally be able to, but neither of these are particularly relevant to our situation.

School are really funny about us taking DS on vacation during school time, so we are hoping to go over the Easter holidays and WDW is going to be mega busy. If we don't have a card that would reduce waiting times, we simply won't be able to go and if that is the case it breaks my heart, because my son loves Disney - the rides and the characters - more than anything in the world, and for him not to be able to experience it because of the limits his disability puts on him, is awful.

So, with all that waffle said lol, what are your actual experiences of the card? (particularly recently, as it may have changed over the years)

Many thanks in advance,

Rachel x

 

[livndisney]

Hi,

I am sorry to ask another question about the GAC. I have done some homework, and read post #6 on the FAQ plus several other threads on the subject but all I seem to be doing is muddying the waters in my own head.

My son will be 6 1/2 when we (hopefully) go to WDW and has low-functioning Autism, sensory processing disorder and doesn't have much language or understanding. For him, waiting in line is so difficult, because he doesn't understand what is happening. It doesn't seem possible to my 'mainstream' head that after having to wait his turn on tons and tons of rides, games etc that he still doesn't understand what the line is... I can't explain it but he just doesn't get it. Each line is like a completely new problem for him, as if it has never happened before. Having very limited understanding, makes it impossible to actually explain the act of queueing to him. Our only 'strategy' is always to distract him, play with him, sing songs etc while we wait - but this won't work more than 5 - 10 minutes.

The Disneyland Paris version of the GAC allows you to go to the exit of the ride, and ride on the next available vehicle. There may well be other GAC holders in front of you, and you queue behind them of course.

I understand that the GAC can possibly give you somewhere else to wait, and potentially allow you to take your stroller further in to the queue than you would normally be able to, but neither of these are particularly relevant to our situation.

School are really funny about us taking DS on vacation during school time, so we are hoping to go over the Easter holidays and WDW is going to be mega busy. If we don't have a card that would reduce waiting times, we simply won't be able to go and if that is the case it breaks my heart, because my son loves Disney - the rides and the characters - more than anything in the world, and for him not to be able to experience it because of the limits his disability puts on him, is awful.

So, with all that waffle said lol, what are your actual experiences of the card? (particularly recently, as it may have changed over the years)

Many thanks in advance,

Rachel x

GAC states right on it-not intented to shorten wait time. If you want minimal wait times you need to make good use of Fastpass and a good touring plan. Those will keep you out of the most crowded areas of the park. The card to reduce wait times is Fastpass.

As far as attractions with "other" places to wait-they are few and far between. And often where there is another place to wait-it is just another line (for example, Monsters Inc, is just a chained off line).

Additionally GAC is not used in character lines.

The only people who get front of the line-no waiting(minimal waiting) are children on their Make a Wish trip.

 

[newdrama12]

Depends on what stamp(s) you are given. My friends and I got a GAC on New Year's Eve last year for my friend's needs and he received a stamp and to use stroller as a wheelchair. With this assistance card, we were able to get the help we needed and we did MK, HS, and Epcot.

 

[dbprimeaux]

We were at WDW 2 weeks ago. We stayed at the WL, and loved the boat ride to MK. Our DS has aspergers, and cannot wait in long lines or be crowded in somewhere. We used the GAC during our entire stay... The Cast Members were very accommodating and helpful!! It was VERY busy and crowded! The longest line I remember waiting in was...Toy Story Mania, and the most crowded line we waited in was...Space Mountain. We did get a GAC and it was helpful. On rides such as Haunted Mansion, Monster, Inc...etc...we had to wait in the regular line, but I just made sure no one crowded in on him and we were fine. He sometimes got more frustrated waiting on dinner reservations... Oh, the only "true" meltdown was while waiting in line for the Lights, Motors, Action Show at DHS, but we handled it well, and once he saw Lighting McQueen - he was fine!

Good Luck on your trip!!

 

[Rachandgarry]

GAC states right on it-not intented to shorten wait time. If you want minimal wait times you need to make good use of Fastpass and a good touring plan. Those will keep you out of the most crowded areas of the park. The card to reduce wait times is Fastpass.

Thank you... Even fastpass and genius touring plans wouldn't solve our issues, unfortunately. Over Easter, how many rides are going to be less than a 10 minute wait, regardless of which way round the park you walk?

Depends on what stamp(s) you are given. My friends and I got a GAC on New Year's Eve last year for my friend's needs and he received a stamp and to use stroller as a wheelchair. With this assistance card, we were able to get the help we needed and we did MK, HS, and Epcot.

Thanks, this is what I had hoped would be the situation.

We were at WDW 2 weeks ago. We stayed at the WL, and loved the boat ride to MK. Our DS has aspergers, and cannot wait in long lines or be crowded in somewhere. We used the GAC during our entire stay... The Cast Members were very accommodating and helpful!! It was VERY busy and crowded! The longest line I remember waiting in was...Toy Story Mania, and the most crowded line we waited in was...Space Mountain. We did get a GAC and it was helpful. On rides such as Haunted Mansion, Monster, Inc...etc...we had to wait in the regular line, but I just made sure no one crowded in on him and we were fine. He sometimes got more frustrated waiting on dinner reservations... Oh, the only "true" meltdown was while waiting in line for the Lights, Motors, Action Show at DHS, but we handled it well, and once he saw Lighting McQueen - he was fine!

Good Luck on your trip!!

Hiya, thank you for sharing your experience with me, it really helps. Oh, and glad you had a good trip!

Did the GAC help with any character interactions at all? It does in Paris, so this will be tricky for us to manage.

Thanks again!

Rachel x

 

[livndisney]

Thank you... Even fastpass and genius touring plans wouldn't solve our issues, unfortunately. Over Easter, how many rides are going to be less than a 10 minute wait, regardless of which way round the park you walk?



Thanks, this is what I had hoped would be the situation.



Hiya, thank you for sharing your experience with me, it really helps. Oh, and glad you had a good trip!

Did the GAC help with any character interactions at all? It does in Paris, so this will be tricky for us to manage.

Thanks again!

Rachel x

Sorry, you did not feel my information was helpful. You asked for opinions of people with recent experience. As I live near the parks and spend lots of time in the park, I have quite a bit of real life current info.

Hope your trip goes well.

 

[Rachandgarry]

Sorry, you did not feel my information was helpful. You asked for opinions of people with recent experience. As I live near the parks and spend lots of time in the park, I have quite a bit of real life current info.

Hope your trip goes well.

Hi, sorry if I have offended - I didn't mean to sound as if your information wasn't helpful; I am very grateful for you taking the time to reply (and I did say thank you ). Its the actual situation I'm stressed about, not your reply.

Genuinely, I'm sorry if my reply came over differently than I had intended it...

How wonderful to live near the parks! The closest I come to that is being 800 miles from Disneyland Paris lol.

Rachel x

 

[wdw4rfam]

GAC states right on it-not intented to shorten wait time. If you want minimal wait times you need to make good use of Fastpass and a good touring plan. Those will keep you out of the most crowded areas of the park. The card to reduce wait times is Fastpass.

As far as attractions with "other" places to wait-they are few and far between. And often where there is another place to wait-it is just another line (for example, Monsters Inc, is just a chained off line).

Additionally GAC is not used in character lines.

The only people who get front of the line-no waiting(minimal waiting) are children on their Make a Wish trip.

I do NOT agree here. I have used a GAC for my son for 8 trips now. He has no physical disability, just cant wait for long periods with people in tight spaces, and Disney knows this.
We HAVE used it just last year for the princess and Mickey lines also where there was a FP!!!!
To original poster....GO to Disney, you will have NO PROBLEMS, 8 years later I have NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wdw4rfam]

We were at WDW 2 weeks ago. We stayed at the WL, and loved the boat ride to MK. Our DS has aspergers, and cannot wait in long lines or be crowded in somewhere. We used the GAC during our entire stay... The Cast Members were very accommodating and helpful!! It was VERY busy and crowded! The longest line I remember waiting in was...Toy Story Mania, and the most crowded line we waited in was...Space Mountain. We did get a GAC and it was helpful. On rides such as Haunted Mansion, Monster, Inc...etc...we had to wait in the regular line, but I just made sure no one crowded in on him and we were fine. He sometimes got more frustrated waiting on dinner reservations... Oh, the only "true" meltdown was while waiting in line for the Lights, Motors, Action Show at DHS, but we handled it well, and once he saw Lighting McQueen - he was fine!

Good Luck on your trip!!

Have always had similar to this. Although we have always been directed a back way in on Haunted Mansion, (to avoid the stretching room where everyone screams- yikes, the first time was BAAAD). I do take back my previous comment, We DID wait in line for Monsters Inc, but only because we were the last in, and not smashed in the middle of the crowd. Agree with the reservations, we had similar problem, especially at Donalds Safari b-fast.

 

[livndisney]

I do NOT agree here. I have used a GAC for my son for 8 trips now. He has no physical disability, just cant wait for long periods with people in tight spaces, and Disney knows this. We HAVE used it just last year for the princess and Mickey lines also where there was a FP!!!!
To original poster....GO to Disney, you will have NO PROBLEMS, 8 years later I have NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rather than compare my over 10 years experience with your 8 trips, I will just quote the sticky put together by the moderator Sue-

"What about Character Greetings? Can I use the GAC for those?
In general, GACs are not used for character greetings that are outdoors. For those outdoor greetings, if you have specific needs, there is always a CM 'handling' the characters. That CM might be able to make some accommodations for your needs.
One example of these types of greetings would be the characters in Epcot in World Showcase.

Depending on what accommodations you need, you may be able to use your GAC at Character Greetings that are in permanent indoor locations. These are considered attractions and are listed on the park maps as attractions. Examples of this are the Theater on Main Street in MK, Camp Mickey Minnie at AK and the Epcot Character Spot in Future World in Epcot.
Check with CM at the entrance to explain your needs and find out what assistance may be available."


I will also point out-

"What can I do to avoid or shorten our wait for attractions?
Fastpass is a good way to avoid waits in line. You don't have to be present to get a fastpass, you can send one member of your party ahead with all the park passes to get fastpasses. When you report back to the ride at your fastpass return time, your wait will be 15 minutes or less.
Link to DIS site page about Fastpass and how to use them
Also, even using a GAC or Fastpasses, if you know where NOT to be can be VERY helpful; maybe even more helpful than the GAC. Getting into attractions with accommodations is only part of the solution. If you are at a busy park, it is busy everywhere, which means longer waits for things like eating and using the bathrooms. The more people there are, the more difficult it becomes just to get around and to avoid all the general 'busy-ness' of the parks. That 'busy-ness' can be just as difficult for many people to deal with. Many people have reported good luck with www.easywdw.com, TourGuide Mike, or Ridemax, using their advice to avoid waiting for more than a few minute. Those sites have hints on tour planning to avoid busy areas.
There are also Smartphone apps (like for iPhone or Android phones) that include things like current waiting times for attractions in the park. One good one is put out by a company called Undercover Tourist."

And

"Many people handle the GAC like an insurance card, not necessarily needed or used all the time, but there for when it's necessary.
To use the GAC, show the GAC card to the first CM you see at the attraction. That CM will direct you.

Is it treated exactly the same each time and/or at each attraction?
No. Even on the same attraction, the GAC is not always handled the same each time.
Exactly what happens depends on how busy it is, how many other people with special needs are there at the time and staffing.
Some times you may be sent thru the regular standby line, ocassionally another access; Occasionally the person with the GAC and a member of their party will be given an alternate place to wait while the rest of the party goes thru the standby line - and then meet up with them when they get to the front. Sometimes you might be given a slip and told you can come back at the time written on the slip (usually equal to the standby time); very ocassionally, you might be taken right in. It depends on what they call "attraction considerations" (which is basically the things I listed in the second sentence).

What happens will also depend on the stamps on your GAC. For example, if the GAC is for a place to out of the sun, you will be routed to the regular line if the sun is not a problem when you arrive at the attraction.

If you come back later, you may be handled differently. Even on the same attraction on the same day. People sometimes think that means one of the CMs did something 'wrong'. What it usually means is that conditions were not the same both times."


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

As I said before OP I hope you have a good trip.

 

[Rachandgarry]

I do NOT agree here. I have used a GAC for my son for 8 trips now. He has no physical disability, just cant wait for long periods with people in tight spaces, and Disney knows this. We HAVE used it just last year for the princess and Mickey lines also where there was a FP!!!!
To original poster....GO to Disney, you will have NO PROBLEMS, 8 years later I have NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have always had similar to this. Although we have always been directed a back way in on Haunted Mansion, (to avoid the stretching room where everyone screams- yikes, the first time was BAAAD). I do take back my previous comment, We DID wait in line for Monsters Inc, but only because we were the last in, and not smashed in the middle of the crowd. Agree with the reservations, we had similar problem, especially at Donalds Safari b-fast.

This is what I am hoping Disney will allow for us - but this is a really really really expensive trip (because we are coming from the UK over Easter and the flights are ridiculous) and I don't want to risk booking it and then find myself stuck at WDW with a screaming child because he can only do like one thing every 2 hours.... You've given me hope!

We are planning to do all the character meals (to give him his beloved characters) so I must remember to schedule something for him to do just before the ADR time while one of us waits at the restaurant for the table to open up.

I soooooooooo wanna go to WDW, I've just started a massive diet (I have 168 pounds to lose ) because this trip has inspired me to lost that weight so I can play with my DS more at WDW. If I can't sort the queueing thing out, we won't be able to go and then I don't want to do my diet I will be devastated if we can't go....

 

[Moodyzblu]

I use the GAC card for my disabled son. He doesn't appear to have a disability, but it's there and the GAC card has been a blessing.
I have it stamped so I can use the stroller as a wheelchair which comes in handy on certain occasions. Like seating for shows and such.
It has helped with waiting for attractions. My son doesn't really care to do character meets, so I have no experience there.

I hope you can meet your goals and make your trip !

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think what you need to keep in mind OP is that there is not a ton of consistancy in Disney, especially when it comes to GAC and their use. I know a lot of people will disagree with that but let me explain what I mean. It's not even always a training difference or a discrepancy between CMs, but that everyone who uses a GAC or needs alternate accomedations is different. You will find persons A, B, and C who all use ECVs that all need different things and they will all have different experiences. Same thing with all issues. Then add in that things are handled differently based on how busy the parks and rides are, how their staffed, and how a particular CM might be trained to deal with the situation.

With going at a peak attendance time, you are going to find long lines no matter what. Even with a GAC, there will 90% always be people ahead of you and depending on how they're dealing with those people on that particular day, you will more than likely end up with long waits. Remember that GACs are useless in a lot of the lines you'll encounter in the park, like lines for trams/buses/boats/food, even getting into the park. Also remember that "alternate wait area" isn't necessarily what it seems. Its usually just a part of the line that's roped off from the crowd,but you're still in the same room. At shows like Monsters Inc, an alternate entrance or line will make no difference because you have no choice but to wait for the next show.

Another thing to consider is that a GAC is issued based on needs, not diagnosis, and you cannot approach the CM at guest services and say "I need this stamp" (the exceptation to that would be if you had an old GAC that was yours and you could tell the CM that those accomedations worked well for you, but they still might make you explain your needs again)

I think you're smart to do research before you make any decision, and since this is obviously a large undertaking coming from the UK and all it's not a decision to be made lightly. I would hope you understand that Disney is a very stimulating place in the best of circumstances, and can be hugely overwhelming to even those without issues. The time you say you'd be traveling will be even more crazy that usual and I think that should weigh heavily in your mind.

I hope all works out for the best, whether you go or not. My opinion is if you don't take anything else away from what I've said, just keep in mind that it's unwise to go to Disney and 'expect' anything. Never expect short or long lines, never expect good or bad weather, never expect awesome or nasty crowds. Instead..anticipate.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Rachel,

I have several years experience at touring parks with an Autistic child, both at WDW and DLRP.
I will send you a pm.

 

[Rachandgarry]

Thank you for all your advice, opinions etc. Its obviously a really difficult and complex topic, and I don't want to cause any extra confusion or hassle, so I'm just going to stop discussing it on this thread, and I will seek official information from Disney.

Thanks again!

Rachel x

 

[SueM in MN]

Closing for now.
I will be back later to post something.

Be aware if you contact Disney that they have nothing in written form about GACs and when you call, you are getting a call center where the people answering may or may not have ever been to WDW. We have heard of some phone promises that are way out there at times and - if you call 3 different times and get 3 CMs, you will often get 3 different answers.
Some people go to the MOM's Panel on the Disney site, but there are the same issues there - nd if you read the fine print on the bottom of the website, it basically says that the answers are the opinions of the writers, that Disney does not check them for accuracy and that they are not the official word of the Disney company.
So, basically, same as here, except that the people posting have generally Ben to the park recently and do have first hand experience about what they are posting.