Confusion over GAC's?

[cathyz]

Hi!
I've tried to read as many posts as I can here and I'm still a little confused.

When we visited in 2006, my father got what I suppose was a GAC. He had an ECV, can barely stand or walk for more than a few minutes, has obvious eye issues (myasthenia gravis), and an extremely short fuse. I mention the last part because that's how the GAC came about. After a confrontation at the gates at MGM (which I was not witness to), he rolled over to guest relations and came out with this special pass. He said we could show it at the entrance to each ride and they would help us. And, it worked practically everywhere. I had never even known about this.

Flash forward to 2009, we're visiting again with my Asperger's/Highly Functioning Autistic 16 yr. old this August. I'm definitely worried about him with the heat and the extra crowds and the possibility for meltdowns . And, I'm very seriously considering getting him a GAC.

My question is...are things different now than they were in 2006? I'm not asking for a 'front of the line pass' (although I wouldn't turn it down), but I would like to know what to expect. Are there different GAC's or different stamps which allow the CM's to know what accomodations are needed? That's what they seemed to be doing in 2006. Are there guidelines as to what types of accommodations to ask for? I'm not really even sure what I should be asking for with DS.

Thanks for putting up with all my ???'s

 

[mechurchlady]

First off Disneyland and WDW use the same system but Disneyland has fewer stamps.

WDW has heat/sun, autism, no steps, vision, and hearing for example.

Your father was given the GAC probably for his vision problems as persons who are obviously disabled to where they cannot do stairs like in an ECV do not need a GAC.

Read the FAQs for lots of tips. Your son probably would be able to get the GAC for autism and heat related problems. All you have to do is go to any Guest Services window outside any park or inside a park. Tell them what limitations your son has such as crowds and heat. They do not care about diagnosis and doctor's note. "Can you do stairs?" is what you here because they cannot legally ask for a diagnosis but sometimes it helps the CM as they might have had someone else with the same thing.

Hugs
Laurie

Sue will be around later this week with lots of information.

 

[bookwormde]

Cathyz,

Welcome, I cannot speek to your experience in 2006 but GAC is not intended to reduce wait times. It is intended to allow for an equivalent experience for our kids.

As you know for our kids, issues with the lines are from some level of sensory differential (sensitivity) and lack of innate social skill the combination of which with long crowded hot lines and fatigue is a recipe for a meltdown.

The GAC just allows for an alternate waiting area away from these challenges, sometimes it is a formal area and others just what the CM can figure out. It is not intended to reduce wait times although some have reported shorter times and occasionally longer times, but since my DS has an overdose of the justice and fairness AS gene it is unacceptable to him to have his wait shorter than others who lined up at the same time so I can not speak from personal experience.

If you are interested in non Disney AS discussions we usually have a few active threads on the disabilities community board, so come on over and share your experiences

bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have not already read it, I would suggest you look at post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It is all about GACs.
To answer your question about whether all GACs are the same, they are not. According to the ADA, accommodations are to be given based on the needs people with disabilities have. Since not all people, even with the same disability, have the same needs, not all GACs are the same. There are stamps added to the GAC to help let the CMs know what that person needs.

You don't need to know what accommodations to ask for; you and your son would go to Guest Relations and explain what his needs/issues are. Even with a GAC, not all attractions have the same possible accommodations available, so the GAC will not be handled the same at each attraction. And, sometimes even for the same person at the same attraction at a different time of day, the GAC may be handled a little differently. It all depends on what the conditions are at that time. Some attractions have a separate waiting area for people with special needs. If it is already filled with other people with special needs, you may be asked to come back or your wait may be longer (this is especially a common occurance at Small World, the Safari at AK, Spaceship Earth where the wait in the special needs waiting area can be much longer than just going thru the regular line without a GAC).

One thing to remember is that a GAC only helps with attractions. If the park is busy, that can be even more disturbing/stressful than waiting in lines.
So many people find that using a touring plan that helps you know where it's NOT busy is even more helpful than a GAC would be. Getting to any park early in the morning is going to mean a shorter wait for most attractions than if you arrive at 10 or 11 am.
There are many attractions with long lines at certain times and no lines at a different time.
For example, if you go early in the morning, it is possible to go on all the Fantasyland attractions by 10:30 am without waiting more than 10 - 15 minutes in line for anything.
Spaceship Earth has a long wait usually in the morning, but by mid to late afternoon, the wait in the regular line will usually be walking right on (less than 5 minute wait). At that same time, the special needs waiting area may have a 1/2 hour wait or longer.
Kali River Rapids may have a wait of 1-2 hours in the middle of the day, but by late afternoon, you can usually walk right on with no wait.
A touring plan can help you to figure out these times.
Fastpasses will help to make your waits more manageable and consistent. You can send one person ahead with everyone's park passes to get Fastpasses for your whole group. When your time comes, you will usually be able to ride with a 10 minute or less wait.

There are also some links to threads about autism in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread that may be helpful with hints.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Welcome, I cannot speek to your experience in 2006 but GAC is not intended to reduce wait times. It is intended to allow for an equivalent experience for our kids.

Respectfully, a GAC is intended to allow for an equivalent experience for any Guest who needs a GAC; it's not limited to kids.

 

[bookwormde]

Kaytieeldr,

Yes of course, I was just specifically referencing the OP and my situation, I did not intend to infer that it did not apply others with disabilities.

bookwormde