Changes to GAC getting closer?

[Jacie]

Inconvenienced? Glad that's all it seems like to you. To other people it's more than a slight inconvenience. Yes, people out there ruined it by pretending and lying, but no need to minimize the affects it will have on those who truly need it.

I agree something needed to be done, but it sucks that something needed to be done all the same.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I do think this is a big development however, and it's too bad it can't be discussed at all. Oh well. Good luck to everyone who really needed the GAC, I hope the new system works out ok.

 

[Orsino]

I'm just letting you know, don't be surprised if it gets locked quickly

I'm confused.

I'm fine limiting the discussion to a single thread, but all the threads are locked. Is there an unlocked thread somewhere that I've managed to miss?

 

[BayouMickey]

I'm confused.

I'm fine limiting the discussion to a single thread, but all the threads are locked. Is there an unlocked thread somewhere that I've managed to miss?

Unfortunately as far as I see, no.. they are using that one thread to inform us of any updates to the situation.
Which in a way I can see why, GAC threads get very heated..

 

[EMom]

WDW needs to do something, as the GAC abuse is getting out of control. I have to say that part of the problem lies with the CMs. Starting in about 2009, we began to see one possibly disabled person (usually with no GAC) heading to the FP entrance of rides that were accessible for the disabled, accompanied by their entourage. As I said, there was no GAC flashed. Usually, they had a cane, a knee brace, a flexible arm cast or something. If they had a wheelchair, they ditched it outside the FP area.

The CM would let them straight into the FP line. Over and over and over, we saw this. They had no FP. Just a cane, knee brace or $12 arm cast from Walmart was sufficient to get you and your group an unlimited FP. And yes, some of them were crowing about it.

We saw it in years after that, only it gets worse every year. Poor DH was not far away from a hip replacement and could walk, just sloooooowly. Had we used his cane, we could have FP our way on to nearly every ride too. But he wanted to leave that to "people who really need it." A GAC, or a cane, knee brace or temp wrist cast ought not be a mega FP. Once the CMs allow that, then no one is being given EQUAL access. They are being given gold plated, far superior access. And once that happens, people will cheat to get that superior access. That is what is happening now.

A few months ago, a family we know went to WDW. They have a severely disabled child. I reminded him to get a GAC and he said they had been before and it wasn't needed. As soon as they approach an attraction, the CM waves them through the FP line. Sure enough, he got back and I asked how it went. He said, except for one ride, they were FP on to everything with no GAC.

In their case, I don't really mind the kid getting an instant FP. God knows, his life is tough enough already and he simply cannot last a day at the park. They need to FP as many as they can and get him back to the hotel to rest. I don't think anyone begrudges someone who has a serious problem getting a leg up so they can enjoy the trip. But there needs to be a process and the process needs safeguards or people WILL CHEAT. They already are.

 

[KYO18]

We should be able to discuss it, it is a discussion board after all. I have used the GAC once, I do not like the changes but I understand the need for the change.

 

[BayouMickey]

We should be able to discuss it, it is a discussion board after all. I have used the GAC once, I do not like the changes but I understand the need for the change.

Don't shoot the messenger lol I'm just saying what has been going on all day. I'm sure they have their reasons, and since I'm a guest on their site I'm going to abide.

 

[Gorechick]

From the article, it sounds like a comprehensive plan. Many who use GAC appropriately in tandem with a good touring plan will certainly benefit from the changes and be able to adapt. I will say it would be wise for Disney to print up a pamphlet that explains the program and have CM's ask every family checking in if they will need to utilize the program. I think that will cut down on the park crankiness if everyone was notified of changes at checkin. I'm not sure how they could handle it for offsite guests except to have the pamphlet available at Guest Relations.

 

[DavidNYC]

Don't see this as much as a change as a moving the policy back to what it was intended to be in the first place. Sounds like the reason GAC was so abused is that it was never implemented or run in a manner consistent with the way it was actually described. As soon as having a GAC means you still wait the same amount of time (with whatever accomodations are necessary) and have no leg up on getting on a higher number of attractions than a guest without a GAC, you will see a tremendous decrease in abuse.

 

[KYO18]

Don't shoot the messenger lol I'm just saying what has been going on all day. I'm sure they have their reasons, and since I'm a guest on their site I'm going to abide.

Bayou I was not trying to come down on you, sorry if you felt that way

 

[BayouMickey]

Bayou I was not trying to come down on you, sorry if you felt that way

All is good. I don't necessarily agree with not being able to talk about it, but hey it's not my board, i'm sure they have good reason.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) People, people, people.
2) DLR and WDW GAC's are vastly different.
. . . the ride lines are different
. . . the wait areas are different
. . . the accessibility to rides is different
3) The referenced article addresses the lack of "handicap accessible" lines at DLR.
4) It would not be the same for WDW due to the line designs.
5) Let us wait for any true change at WDW before too many rumors/guesses.

 

[IntoTheLight]

We have a disabled child. Having never used the GAC I couldn't compare but I balked a little at the part about having to go back and forth to a kiosk. Honestly I don't want to skip lines at all, just let my party wait in line and when they are up let us ride with them. I don't want to loop, or cheat, just keep my son and other people safe and get a few rides in. I'll wait an hour, not a problem as long as it's in a safe place.

I guess who I do feel bad for is those with disabilities that mean they can only spend a few hours away from the hotel due to feeding tubes, battery life on equipment, stamina etc. While from the outside, hearing about their short waits and how fast they can ride seems unfair, they are paying what everyone else pays for the park, knowing they only get 2 hours. EMH, 12 hour days etc just aren't possible for a lot of people. The new rumored system hasn't yet mentioned what they will do. I hope it does address that.

Is it always going to be fair? No. But I'd wait 100 hours in line if it meant my son could talk to me while we waited. Wish we could all just spend more time enjoying those gifts and not sweating line times. That's what I plan on doing.

 

[AndreaA]

As soon as having a GAC means you still wait the same amount of time (with whatever accomodations are necessary) and have no leg up on getting on a higher number of attractions than a guest without a GAC, you will see a tremendous decrease in abuse.

But what many people are saying is that they DO need a leg up on getting on a higher number of attractions, because they only have a limited amount of time they will be able to handle even being in the park.

What I think would probably be of enormous help in decreasing abuse would be to use the GAC in conjunction with the MagicBands and have it so that someone with a GAC can only ride each ride ONCE going straight through the FP line, and if they want to ride again, they need either a normal FP or to get a return time equal to the standby line if the FPs are all gone for the day.