Can I use the guest assistance card with the party of 14

[timom]

We are going to Disney with a group of 14 people in August. My son is diagnosed as Pervasive Developmental Disorder (one of the Austism Spectrum Disorder). I would like to get the Guest Assistance Card. But is it too odd to use for the group of 14 for the ride. Actually some of them may not ride. And one of my Aunt has to use wheel chair too. Should I just line up instead of getting the GAC as people may take a strange look on us.!

 

[krismom]

No. The GAC is good for up to 6 people.

 

[Selket]

For popular rides that you all might want to do together (like Buzz Lightyear, Splash Mountain, Pooh, etc.) you could have everyone in the party obtain Fastpasses.

I can imagine having such a large group touring together is like herding cats but it would help to have some basic touring plans together and ideas of what you want to do. In August (depending on whether it is early or late) it can still be rather crowded - and certainly hot! You don't want to stand around looking at a map. One thing that has really helped us on our last 4 trips is Tour Guide Mike - a fee-based website that gives touring plans and much good info. If you go to the Attractions board here at DIS there is a link to his site and a discount offered for subscriptions. He gives basic touring plans (and explains why you should visit what and when) and exactly what days to visit what parks according to crowd levels.

Perhaps you are very familar with touring WDW but his site was the best investment I've made on our trips.

Have fun!

 

[dclfun]

I would think being in smaller groups would help, esp. if your son needs the use of a GAC. I'm thinking he shouldn't have to be stressed or uncomfortable just because the group is so large. The person in the w/c can be accompanied by 5 additional guests and so can your son with the GAC, however for mainstream attraction lines, the person in the w/c isn't always using an "alternate entrance". Other than that it sounds like up to 12 people could be included and then perhaps there could be an exception made for the extra person with each group. If you are staying onsite, definitely take advantage of the Magic Hours, esp. the late night ones where it will be cooler and much less crowded. ---Kathy

 

[timom]

Can i use GAC in Disney's water park?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We do not issue GACs in the water parks. Also we do not rent strollers or EVCs. There are no "alternate entrances" for any of the slides and it would basically be impossible to be in a line and not in sunlight.

However, we will make accomodations if possible, considering Guest Safety, if there are special needs.

 

[SueM in MN]

For popular rides that you all might want to do together (like Buzz Lightyear, Splash Mountain, Pooh, etc.) you could have everyone in the party obtain Fastpasses.

That is what we did when we traveled with a large party. you can send one of the faster (and most reliable) people in your party ahead to the Fastpass machine with everyone's passes.
The advantage of Fastpass is that you know when you get into the Fastpass line theat you will normally be boarding the ride in 15 minutes or less. It's a very consistent thing. You are never quite sure what will happen with a GAC - there may be an alternate entrance or an alternate waiting area, you may be told to use the Fastpass line or you may be given a slip and asked to come back later.
Plus, all of you will be able to ride together.

If you haven't already, check out the information about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. It has one section of information about GACs.
The card is usually issued for up to 6; 5 plus the person with a disability. Even with that, there are some atractions where the space is limited and you might be asked to separate into smaller groups - like 1 or 2 people accompanying the person with a disability.

The person using the wheelchair won't need a GAC unless there are other needs that are not met by having the wheelchair. And, as was already pointed out, many atractions have "Mainstream lines" where the lines are wheelchair accessible and people with wheelchairs/ECVs are waiting in the same lines with eveyone else.

I can imagine having such a large group touring together is like herding cats but it would help to have some basic touring plans together and ideas of what you want to do.

We had 14 people on our last trip and it was very much like herding cats (I have one cat, but can imagine what it would be like with more).
We had some very specific plans of what to do/see and also had some Fastpasses that my DH had picked up. DH and I and our DDs are very familiar with the parks. Most of the other people we were with were not. It helped to have one person (my DH) leading the group and another person who knew where we were headed (usually me), at the rear to "round up" any "cats that got away from the herd." That actually happened quite often - someone would stop "for just a second" to get a drink or check the price on merchandise we were walking right by. The "herd wrangler" becomes very important to keep the group together.

Having done 14 people this year, 8 a few years ago and 10 on another trip, my best advice is to try to break into smaller groups as much as possible. A group of 6 or 8 is much easier.
As someone already pointed out, your child's needs might mean that trying to stay together in a large group would be more stressful to him. Even the little things like people becoming hungry, needing a rest or a bathroom at different times mean that a large group spends a lot of time waiting around for others in the group to do something.
Personally, I found it much more tiring on the days when we had large groups together and some of the other people mentioned it was kind of nerve-wracking to them too, since they were constantly having to keep tabs on where the group was.
I would suggest maybe planning to be in the same park on the same day and "mixing around" your groups (just make sure some particular person is responsible for younger children so you don't get "I thought he was with you" "No, he was with you"). It's kind of exciting to meet up with someone and we spent a lot more time talking about what we had done when we met up with people than we did when we were in a large group. It was so much fun to share what we had done with the other people later in the day.
Cell phones are almost a necessity. We had several in each group when we split into groups.

 

[PSUfan]

Our GG (16 Family members) will be at the parks over Thanksgiving and havea similar issue. SIL has MS, DM has early Parkinsons and stroke damage to her right leg. During our last visit with just DW, DM and myself we decided not to use the GAC. DM was in a wheelchair, but could walk enough to get on/off the attractions. CM's were very accommodating by taking us to a separate entrance and helping get on/ off the rides. With our Grand Gathering we will be in 2 or 3 groups except for several group ativities. Based on past experience, we probably will not use the GAC.

 

[mbb]

Our two boys have ASD, mom in a wheelchair, 9 month old in a stroller, group of 13 people.

Herding cats would be more fun

We've picked a ride that everyone wanted to do...and Fastpass were the only way to ride as a group. For Buzz, there were a few cars separating our 6 cars, but no big.

The people in between us became "unofficial Ohana" too

Too much fun, and lots of friendly competition

Have fun with your group, and like everyone said, breaking off into smaller groups, and having a "meet", ie, a meal, is a great idea

HTH!!

 

[pambo'shouse]

I am so excited that we get to take our kids to Disney. We have four kids (9,7,4,and 10 months). My 7 year old son has autism and I am really uptight about how it is going to go. He loves rides so that will be ok but too many people, noise, etc are just too much. I know about the GAC cards but question whether to use them. My son appears "normal" and I would not do well with any comments shot my way. It would get to me and I do not want to upset my kids in anyway, especially on their first trip. I do not know when we can get back to Disney.

 

[Talking Hands]

I am so excited that we get to take our kids to Disney. We have four kids (9,7,4,and 10 months). My 7 year old son has autism and I am really uptight about how it is going to go. He loves rides so that will be ok but too many people, noise, etc are just too much. I know about the GAC cards but question whether to use them. My son appears "normal" and I would not do well with any comments shot my way. It would get to me and I do not want to upset my kids in anyway, especially on their first trip. I do not know when we can get back to Disney.

Sorry to say there will be those with snide comments. Ignore them. YOu know your son's needs and situation and they don't. If he will tolerate them you could get some headphone type noise filters like rifleman use. A double stroller used as a wheelchair to keep people from coming to close to his space. Gameboy to distract him if he likes that. GAC as a fallback when needed. Best of luck with your trip.

 

[cmwade77]

Basically what I would suggest doing is get a FP for all of your party, then when you get up there, explain to the CM that you have a large group and that the one person needs Special assitance, basically what they would do here in Cali, depending on the attraction is send the remainder of the group through the FP que and take the person with the special needs and up to five others through what ever special needs they have and allow them to wait for the remainded to make it through the FP line. Although if you ever come to Disneyland with a party of 14 always make sure you ask first, for example at our Space Mountain they would simply have you wait for an extra group of wheel chairs to come up and you would all go down together, as 12 can go on a rocket together and they would simply have the other two go on the next rocekt behind them through gate number one, at least that is how it worked last time that I saw them handle a large group.

Bottom line is always ask the first cast member that you see, you will find some attractions can handle the larger sized groups, some might have you send 6 through at a time, others might suggest getting a Fastpass where available, something else that I have seen them able to do at Disneyworld when there are no fastpasses left is to give a pass with a specific return time on it. I have found in general that WDW is far more accomodating than here at DL.