Can you "cut" the lines along with a family that has a special pass?

[Andrew Bichard]

Generally, they'll have the smaller group wait in the shade while the rest of the group goes through the queue. Then, when the other 9 people get there, they will all board together.

I can second that. As I entered a long, long winding queue for one of the MK attractions, a cast mermber invited me to leave the line and wait to one side. About 45 minutes later he put me back into the last part of the line, just behind the family I was behind when he took me out of the line.

It saved me riding up and down the line, but it didn't save me one minute of time.

Andrew

 

[visitingapril09]

We are a family of 6, 2 parents 4 kids with one of those children in a wheelchair. We are the maximum party size for a GAC.

 

[bidnow5]

Last year we were a party of 5 and 2 friends flew down to do Disney with us for 3 days. I asked if we could add 2 more just for the 3 days and was told sorry but no 6 is the limit

 

[SueM in MN]

My friend is in DW now, family of 7, with their friends, family of 7. Her friend (the mom) just found out that her 4 year old is allergic to sunscreen. Hives all over his body. She called guest services and they said they would give her a pass so that they wouldn't have to stand in line (because of sunburn).
Now, my friend thinks that she can cut to the front with them. 14 people bypassing the lines? I told her I don't think her family is going to be allowed to. She said, "we'll just show our license that we both traveled here together" I personally don't think she should be allowed to cut. There is nothing wrong with her or her husband and 5 kids. Does anyone know?

The card they will give her is not a PASS (it would not allow her to 'skip' lines). The accommodation they would give would allow the child to wait in another area when the queue is in the sun for a considerable amount of time. It does not allow bypassing lines or shortening waits.
The CARD is called a Guest Assistance Card (we call it GAC to avoid typing so much). There is more information about GACs in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (you can look for the thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to that thread).

GACs are usually issued for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability). It is seldom issued for more than that number; more than 6 would be a very rare exception. The CMs at the attractions will not allow more people to use the card than the number that is written on the card.

It won't be the STANDING in queues that would burn him, it'll be the miles of walking to GET TO the queues.

Yes.
most of the queues are actually shaded, so there would be very few where there would be a need for a GAC that allows the person to wait out of the sun.
They will need to make some arrangements for the times when the child is in the sun, but not in a line.

Out of sheer curiosity, what happens when the queue for a shaded attraction becomes so long the line is now outside? Say, for Space Mountain, I know it's indoors, but quite frequently I've seen the line grow so long it's halfway into Tomorrowland. What happens then? I'm just curious!

The person who has the problem with the sun would wait somewhere shaded until the line actually gets into the shade.

 

[3mmm]

The card is for a maximum of 6, but my immediate family is 7 - 2 adults, 5 young kids - my daughter had the GAC, but we could get one for my son too if needed. Anyway, my whole family was covered by the card when needed which wasn't very often. Noone questioned it - now I would not have even tried to use it for extended family and I wouldn't expect them to honor it

3mmm

 

[KPeveler]

The card is for a maximum of 6, but my immediate family is 7 - 2 adults, 5 young kids - my daughter had the GAC, but we could get one for my son too if needed. Anyway, my whole family was covered by the card when needed which wasn't very often. Noone questioned it - now I would not have even tried to use it for extended family and I wouldn't expect them to honor it

3mmm

They won't leave a minor alone, and there are a very select few attractions which they may put a larger party with a GAC on (like Great movie ride, since so many people go on each car), but in general the only exception is when the one person left out of the party would be a child...

 

[LMC]

What the PP stated. We were a group of 3 adults and 4 kids and they would only let 6 in with the GAC. That meant that one adult missed out on the attractions where we used the GAC. Sometimes, we did child swap so the other adult could experience the ride w/o another 1 hour wait but that was only when the GAC holder was riding the ride again too. Sometimes it was not worth the hassle. We did however witness the blatant abuse of the GAC. There was a group of about 12 who only displayed one GAC (I saw them show the CM as they were right in front of us in line) and they all got access on the GAC. We tried with our one over limit (7 people) and they refused to allow the one extra person. It really made me mad but by the time we actually start utilizing a GAC we have already been there 7 days or more so I was too tired to worry about it.

 

[zaksmom]

My son usually gets the "out of the sun waiting" stamp on his GAC. It's a little picture of someone under cover. What usually happens is that I stay in line and he and Dad wait until right before we load if it's too sunny. (Son isn't able to perspire much.) Even with the "accessible" lines we do this. Example: we go through the regular line in the haunted mansion, then leave at the little wheelchair exit. Many times the wheelchair waiting area is in the sun. He and Dad go into the shade and I hold the place until we are called. GAC really doesn't give much line skipping. In fact many times you are actually in line a lot longer because you have to go through the regular line and then a wheelchair line. Like at the Safari ride. Or any ride that has a special car. Like Jungle Cruise. We're just grateful that there is accessibility and people that are sensitive. The folks at Disney will help you to have a good experience and try to meet your needs.
Have fun and stay out of the sun!

 

[Schmeck]

What is the family going to do with the non-sunscreened child in between attractions? There's a lot of sun exposure walking to and from the park, around the park, waiting for shows, etc. The sun exposure in a queue is probably the smallest amount of exposure for the entire trip.

They'd be better off planning their trip for a time when either the sun isn't so intense (winter) or when the parks have the late night hours (holidays, midsummer) and purchasing the clothing with the built in sunblock.

 

[mackay_j]

Is there something similar for Universal. The last time we were there, we waited in line for 1hr for men in black, and my daughters blood sugars went low so we had to come out of the line, we were well cheese off. We would not need to que jump for this but it would have been handy if the CM could have let us back near the front when she recovered

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If you ever have to leave a line for something like that the first thing you need to do is notify a Cast or Team Member. Several of the CMs I worked with at Disney were also Team Members at Universal and would give you an express pass or arrange for you to get back in line. I cannot guarantee it as I don't know what their policy is, but I know at least some would make arrangements.

At Disney, the GAC itself would not help you in that situation. What you would need to do is notify a CM and they will let you back in the line. If they give you trouble (which they shouldn't) ask to speak to a Coordinator or Manager.

Universal does have a Guest Assistance Pass, and I think it works similar to the GAC, but I am not 100% sure. At both places, you explain what your particular needs are and they will give you what they believe is appropriate to meet your needs.

 

[Brightsy]

Universal does have something. You need to go to the customer relations desk and inquire about it. For us when we went a year or so ago they gave us a pass good for my son and four others.

 

[SueM in MN]

Is there something similar for Universal. The last time we were there, we waited in line for 1hr for men in black, and my daughters blood sugars went low so we had to come out of the line, we were well cheese off. We would not need to que jump for this but it would have been handy if the CM could have let us back near the front when she recovered

Universal does have something. You need to go to the customer relations desk and inquire about it. For us when we went a year or so ago they gave us a pass good for my son and four others.

There is more information about how Universal handles their Guest Assistance Card in post #9 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is near the top of this board (or you can use the link in my signature to get there).

 

[kikiV]

My friend is in DW now, family of 7, with their friends, family of 7. Her friend (the mom) just found out that her 4 year old is allergic to sunscreen. Hives all over his body. She called guest services and they said they would give her a pass so that they wouldn't have to stand in line (because of sunburn).
Now, my friend thinks that she can cut to the front with them. 14 people bypassing the lines? I told her I don't think her family is going to be allowed to. She said, "we'll just show our license that we both traveled here together" I personally don't think she should be allowed to cut. There is nothing wrong with her or her husband and 5 kids. Does anyone know?

So to answer my original post and update everyone, I just talked with my friends in DW. The GAC card let in 7 people. I don't have specific details because we were texting but they did use it on every ride they did, in the sun or out. The funniest thing about this scenario is that they went to MK at NIGHT!!!!!! Don't really think the sun is an issue then. Then later, the 4 year old with the problem went home and the family with no disability kept the GAC card and used it the rest of the night. This is what makes me furious with DW. I am fine with people who truly have a problem but I wonder just how many get in that don't. My friend would interchange who the 7 people were depending which kids wanted to go on the ride out of the 10 there. They were never questioned, not even once, anywhere.

 

[Andy B]

So to answer my original post and update everyone, I just talked with my friends in DW. The GAC card let in 7 people. I don't have specific details because we were texting but they did use it on every ride they did, in the sun or out. The funniest thing about this scenario is that they went to MK at NIGHT!!!!!! Don't really think the sun is an issue then. Then later, the 4 year old with the problem went home and the family with no disability kept the GAC card and used it the rest of the night. This is what makes me furious with DW. I am fine with people who truly have a problem but I wonder just how many get in that don't. My friend would interchange who the 7 people were depending which kids wanted to go on the ride out of the 10 there. They were never questioned, not even once, anywhere.

I think it unfair to be furious with WDW, the individuals who are at each ride cannot make value judgements on the validity of a GAC and once issued it has benefits I would be more upset with the people who misuse it than WDW.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think it unfair to be furious with WDW, the individuals who are at each ride cannot make value judgements on the validity of a GAC and once issued it has benefits I would be more upset with the people who misuse it than WDW.

I would agree with that.
The people who misuse it make things difficult for those of us who are using it in good faith.

WDW issues the GAC assuming most people are honest (and most are).

I am going to close this thread at this point because I think it has been discussed in enough depth.