Concierge and GAC

[koolaidmoms]

Just wondering if anyone has been to WDW recently and used a concierge to help them set up items such as dining, tours or GAC? Someone we know came back recently and told us that the concierge at the hotel gave them a hard time because the note they brought, from their family doctor, only specified their child's autism (fairly severe) and did not go into the specifics he needed.

I told her I thought this was wrong and they should not have even asked for a note or anything from the dr. She was told they are getting stricter with this.

Was this CM wrong or ???????????

 

[Schmeck]

A note from a doctor is usually just a waste of paper- Disney doesn't care what the diagnosis is, they just want to know what is difficult for the child, and what accommodations would make your trip more enjoyable.

Sometimes the doctor's note sounds like it came from God - "this child cannot wait in line and requires front of the line access for everything", which is actually not an accommodation given on a GAC. I could see a CM getting frustrated by such a note, as they cannot give that access - only the most fragile Make A Wish children get that on their MAW trip.

 

[merryweather20]

I'd imagine the CM just needed the specifics period.

You don't need a note and there probably wasn't much he could do with the note if it didn't list any needs.

 

[koolaidmoms]

I thought she did not need a note and told her as much. I was just checking to make sure that things had not changed.

She was rather insistent that this concierge wanted to know what was wrong with her child and what accommodations he needed on a note. I am sure he was probably asking for clarification but she though it had to be on the note.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The Concierge should not have been involved. The GAC can only be given at a Park Guest Relations Office or Window.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Concierge should not have been involved. The GAC can only be given at a Park Guest Relations Office or Window.

exactly

the information in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread about GACs is up to date and as accurate as we can get it. I have had CMs who actually work in Guest Relations and process GACs read it over for accuraccy over the years.

The Concierge actually broke ADA law by requiring a doctor letter and by saying the letter was not complete enough to be 'proof'.

 

[Schmeck]

The Concierge actually broke ADA law by requiring a doctor letter and by saying the letter was not complete enough to be 'proof'.

The OP didn't say that concierge told her friend they had to have a doctor's note, or did I miss that? She only posted that the note only had the diagnosis on it, not the accommodations needed.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just wondering if anyone has been to WDW recently and used a concierge to help them set up items such as dining, tours or GAC? Someone we know came back recently and told us that the concierge at the hotel gave them a hard time because the note they brought, from their family doctor, only specified their child's autism (fairly severe) and did not go into the specifics he needed.

I told her I thought this was wrong and they should not have even asked for a note or anything from the dr.[/I] She was told they are getting stricter with this.

Was this CM wrong or ???????????

The OP didn't say that concierge told her friend they had to have a doctor's note, or did I miss that? She only posted that the note only had the diagnosis on it, not the accommodations needed.

I took the bolded part to mean that the OP's friend had been asked for a doctor's note. That sounded to me like the note was asked for by the Concierge and that the Concierge's reason for 'giving a hard time' was that the note was not specific enough.
Looking again at what was written, perhaps, they were not asked, but volunteered the note. But, I read it and still read it as the OP asking the Concierge was wrong to ask for a note.
Even so, the concierge gave them a hard because the note did not go into specifics - when they did not actually need a note in the first place.

Without knowing a little more about the situation, it's hard to say what happened - what is 'a hard time?' Did it mean the Concierge asked some questions about need and the parent thought any questions would be 'a hard time' because there was a doctor's note?"

But, I would still say that a GAC is something obtained at a theme park Guest Relations location.

 

[koolaidmoms]

I took the bolded part to mean that the OP's friend had been asked for a doctor's note. That sounded to me like the note was asked for by the Concierge and that the Concierge's reason for 'giving a hard time' was that the note was not specific enough.
Looking again at what was written, perhaps, they were not asked, but volunteered the note. But, I read it and still read it as the OP asking the Concierge was wrong to ask for a note.
Even so, the concierge gave them a hard because the note did not go into specifics - when they did not actually need a note in the first place.

Without knowing a little more about the situation, it's hard to say what happened - what is 'a hard time?' Did it mean the Concierge asked some questions about need and the parent thought any questions would be 'a hard time' because there was a doctor's note?"

But, I would still say that a GAC is something obtained at a theme park Guest Relations location.

Sorry. I am the OP. She was adamant that the concierge wanted a note with specifics of what accommodations her son needed not just a diagnosis. I still think she was upset and misunderstood what information he was trying to get from her to help her.

I think the other piece is that she did not know exactly how they could help her son so she was looking to the concierge to tell her what accommodations to get for her son.

Hope this clarifies a bit better. Just an innocent question. I wanted to make sure I did not give her inaccurate information.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Mostly - probably completely - you did fine. The only part that's a little confusing to me is, did you tell her the Concierge could help with the GAC, or did she assume that because, well, it's the Concierge?

As both Cheshire Figment and SueM in MN (and the FAQ) have stated, GACs are only available in the theme parks, to be used in the theme parks. The GAC has no standing or effect elsewhere, including the resort, the buses, restaurants, etc.

 

[SueM in MN]

From the OP's clarification, my guesses before were correct.

So,
I'm going to guess that the OP didn't say anything to the friend about the Concierge ahead of time, but did tell the friend that a letter would not be needed. My guess is that the OP's friend came back and said "not only did they ask for a letter, but the letter I had was not complete enough. I'm also guessing that made the OP wonder whether or not a letter was really needed and that's what the question was.

 

[koolaidmoms]

From the OP's clarification, my guesses before were correct.

So,
I'm going to guess that the OP didn't say anything to the friend about the Concierge ahead of time, but did tell the friend that a letter would not be needed. My guess is that the OP's friend came back and said "not only did they ask for a letter, but the letter I had was not complete enough. I'm also guessing that made the OP wonder whether or not a letter was really needed and that's what the question was.

Thank you!

I'll try to be more concise in the future.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you!

I'll try to be more concise in the future.

don't worry.
What we post always seems perfectly clear to us