Corey glad you mentioned the GAC abuse.

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I have never noticed the problem before but my last few trips to the park I saw the exact thing you talked about. It was just odd that all of a sudden I saw this happening alot. I am glad that Disney noticed it too. It is just wrong on so many levels.

 

[baby1disney]

What's GAC abuse??

 

[alamode]

Guest assistance cards. You cannot by law ask why you need the card. But it's pretty low to ask for one when not needed.

 

[baby1disney]

Ok...is this for people in wheelchairs and/or people who are disabled?? I don't think I've ever heard of these cards before. Sorry if I sound ignorant, but I just want to know for future knowledge

 

[BriarRosie]

The problem is, you often cannot "see" a problem that might be justified by a GAC. I tend to reserve judgement on those types of things because there are some ailments that are not obvious to those who don't know the people.

The only times I've been disgusted were when I witnessed blatant wheelchair abuse. When you have a group of teenagers, and Captain Obvious is overheard saying, "I get to sit in the chair for the next ride", there's no way to justify how low that is.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Ok...is this for people in wheelchairs and/or people who are disabled?? I don't think I've ever heard of these cards before. Sorry if I sound ignorant, but I just want to know for future knowledge

As BriarRose mentioned, the Guest Assistance Card is more for people with disabilities that you can't see. Mobility issues requiring a wheelchair or ECV are very visible - and in fact, Disney won't give a Guest Assistance Card if you only have a mobility issue.

Basically what the Guest Assistance Card does is provides information to attraction cast members as to what you need. Think along the lines of an autistic kid who can't deal with the throngs of people in an attraction queue. The family would obtain a Guest Assistance Card, and provide it to the attraction hosts. They would then be able to provide a quieter location where this family could wait - away from all the people.

Really, I'm not sure I understand why people abuse this system so much anyway. The wheelchair and ECV abuse - that I get! Kind of. MOST attractions are accessible - meaning the ECV or wheelchair just goes through the queue with everybody else. But the Guest Assistance Card certainly isn't a front of the line pass. Why would you even bother? I agree that abusing this is REALLY low.

 

[WaltD4Me]

The problem is, you often cannot "see" a problem that might be justified by a GAC. I tend to reserve judgement on those types of things because there are some ailments that are not obvious to those who don't know the people.

The only times I've been disgusted were when I witnessed blatant wheelchair abuse. When you have a group of teenagers, and Captain Obvious is overheard saying, "I get to sit in the chair for the next ride", there's no way to justify how low that is.

It is mind boggling to me that anyone who didn't need a wheelchair would rent one. My mom had to use a wheelchair for a day on one trip and it is WORK to push someone in a wheelchair through the parks. Of course, I am not a teenage boy, but I was exhausted after a day pushing the wheelchair. There are alot more hills and inclines than you realize at WDW. I can't see it being fun for the life of me.

Aside from that, GAC card abuse is DISGUSTING, but at the same time, I hope people don't start with the GAC abuse accusations just because they saw someone who they didn't outwardly think looked sick using one. Please, please remember there are many, many things that can require a person to need a GAC card that are not "visible" to you.

 

[WaltD4Me]

As BriarRose mentioned, the Guest Assistance Card is more for people with disabilities that you can't see. Mobility issues requiring a wheelchair or ECV are very visible - and in fact, Disney won't give a Guest Assistance Card if you only have a mobility issue.

The bolded part is not necessarily true. There are lots of "non-visible" things that might require someone to use an ECV. Last year a friend of mine with breast cancer used an ECV, she looked mostly fine, but just didn't have the stamina to walk far. I also know someone who is in the early stages of MS that uses an ECV at Disney and the MS is not yet obvious.

 

[SueM in MN]

The bolded part is not necessarily true. There are lots of "non-visible" things that might require someone to use an ECV. Last year a friend of mine with breast cancer used an ECV, she looked mostly fine, but just didn't have the stamina to walk far. I also know someone who is in the early stages of MS that uses an ECV at Disney and the MS is not yet obvious.

I think SnackyStacky meant what was written in a different way than you understood.

Most lines are wheelchair and/or ECV accessible. For the lines that are not accessible and require a different way to access or board the attraction, some people have invisible needs to use the accessible boarding area. For example, someone with knee or hip problems who is not using an ECV or wheelchair might need to board at an area that avoids stairs (like at Toy Story Mania) or at an area where the moving walkway can be stopped or slowed. CMs would have no way to know about those needs just by looking and those people would need to have a GAC.

Someone like your friend has an invisible need to use the ECV, but the ECV is visible, so the CMs would know that she needs to use whatever is the accessible entrance. She would not need to have a GAC to do that since the CMs can see that she is using an ECV.
If using the ECV in line was not enough and she had additional invisible needs (for example, radiation damage that means she needs to avoid sun), then she would need a GAC for the attractions where that would be a problem.
But, most people using wheelchairs and ECVs don't need a GAC.

For people who want more information about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards), click on the link to the disABILITIES FAQs thread in my signature. Post #6 of that thread is FAQs about GACs.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Please accept this at face value as that is exactly how it is meant....

Threads regarding this topic invariable dissolve into discussions of who does and doesnt need a wheelchair and what does and doesnt constitute a disability.

Please do not allow that to happen here or I might lose my religion.

The previous posters have been entirely respectful and I will trust that should we wish to continue this discussion....that everything that follows also remains entirely respectful.

SueM in MN is an expert in this and should you have any questions, I am sure she will be more than happy to answer them or point you in the right direction.

Thanks..

Kevin

 

[SnackyStacky]

I think SnackyStacky meant what was written in a different way than you understood.

Most lines are wheelchair and/or ECV accessible. For the lines that are not accessible and require a different way to access or board the attraction, some people have invisible needs to use the accessible boarding area. For example, someone with knee or hip problems who is not using an ECV or wheelchair might need to board at an area that avoids stairs (like at Toy Story Mania) or at an area where the moving walkway can be stopped or slowed. CMs would have no way to know about those needs just by looking and those people would need to have a GAC.

Someone like your friend has an invisible need to use the ECV, but the ECV is visible, so the CMs would know that she needs to use whatever is the accessible entrance. She would not need to have a GAC to do that since the CMs can see that she is using an ECV.
If using the ECV in line was not enough and she had additional invisible needs (for example, radiation damage that means she needs to avoid sun), then she would need a GAC for the attractions where that would be a problem.
But, most people using wheelchairs and ECVs don't need a GAC.

For people who want more information about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards), click on the link to the disABILITIES FAQs thread in my signature. Post #6 of that thread is FAQs about GACs.

Thank you, Sue! Exactly as I meant, but worded rather poorly.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you, Sue! Exactly as I meant, but worded rather poorly.

I could read your mind

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

The thing I noticed was use of the GAC for asthma. Yes they can not wait out in the heat for the rides. But to have one child with asthma and a family of 20 follow them in with a GAC card IMO is abuse of the card. The parents and immediate family sure go in together. A family of 20 not wanting to wait in line is just wrong. I was seeing this over and over again in the fast pass line. My point was large groups entering the fastpass line with one GAC card not weather or not the card was neccesary.

 

[SueM in MN]

The thing I noticed was use of the GAC for asthma. Yes they can not wait out in the heat for the rides. But to have one child with asthma and a family of 20 follow them in with a GAC card IMO is abuse of the card. The parents and immediate family sure go in together. A family of 20 not wanting to wait in line is just wrong. I was seeing this over and over again in the fast pass line. My point was large groups entering the fastpass line with one GAC card not weather or not the card was neccesary.

WDW's 'definition' of a party for a GAC/wheelchair/ECV is a total of 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability.) When someone goes to Guest Relations to request a GAC, they are asked how many are in their party and that number is written on the GAC. CMs at attractions do ask how many are in the party and will not allow more than the number written on the GAC card.

We were able to get a total of 8 once, but our party included my DD who has multiple needs besides using a wheelchair, 2 grandmas who were over 80 years old and my son in law who has MS and had just gotten off of IV steroids right before our trip (like 2 days before). The CMs did let us know this was an exception and wrote an explanation on the GAC card. The few times that we used it for the total of 8 people, the CM really scrutinized it before letting us in. So, I can say that getting a GAC for more than a total of 6 is a big deal and they don't do it often or without reason.

We have had times when another group with a GAC has been behind us in line or we have run into that same group several times during the day and had some friendly conversation. People seeing us in line talking might assume we were all together in one group with one GAC, when that was not the case. We have also had groups without GACs try to 'attach' themselves to us. This has happened several times on the Safari - I should have let them because they thought we were getting right on when our wait was actually over 30 minutes after we got to the point where the Standyby and Fastpass line merge after the stroller parking area.
And, we have had situations where everyone in our party had Fastpasses (DH was the runner and picked them up for our whole group); people seeing we had a wheelchair in our party assumed we had 'used' the wheelchair to enter the Fastpass line, when in fact we all had Fastpasses.

 

[FireDancer]

I have to say I have rarely even noticed the use of the GAC cards while at Disney. While I am sure there are people who do abuse the cards, just as people abuse just about anything to one extent or another, I suspect is is a rarity and would never accuse anyone of it. If a family needs a little extra help to allow them to enjoy the parks I will gladly wait an extra 5 minutes. I would rather be glad I don't need it than moan about those that do. I suspect that those who do need the cards would glady trade their place in line for my ability to wait in it.

 

[Schrute Farms]

I have not listened to the podcast yet. What is going on? Is Disney cracking down on this or something?

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

Well I haven't listened to this podcast, but at the risk of sounding redundant I will say that it is utterly revolting to think that people would abuse the GAC. But they will. There are people out there that will do anything.

That being said, I have used a GAC for my DS (6) for the past 3 years. My son has HFA and simply cannot handle waiting in lines for an extended period. The close proximity of all the people is too much for him. So we get the GAC. And even with that, sometimes we have to skip certain attractions, or we can get seating towards an exit if we have to make a quick escape from a show.

I do wish that Disney would require people to show documentation of why they need a GAC, be it MS, asthma, whatever. I've always brought paperwork, but never needed it. That would end the abuse pretty quickly.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I do wish that Disney would require people to show documentation of why they need a GAC, be it MS, asthma, whatever. I've always brought paperwork, but never needed it. That would end the abuse pretty quickly.

Disney can't ask for documentation. It is against, I believe, the Americans with Disabilities Act. And really I am glad. I don't think people should have to explain their private medical condition to a stranger. While documentation might stem some of the abuse, I don't think that out weighs the loss of privacy of those who do need a GAC.

 

[WaltD4Me]

And, we have had situations where everyone in our party had Fastpasses (DH was the runner and picked them up for our whole group); people seeing we had a wheelchair in our party assumed we had 'used' the wheelchair to enter the Fastpass line, when in fact we all had Fastpasses.

And this is exactly what I totally just do not understand. Why do people feel the need to assume anything? I can honestly say I wouldn't have thought one thing about it if I saw your party...I would not have cared one way or the other if you had FP's or not, I would be thinking, how wonderful that they are all able to experience the ride. MYOB people.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

Disney can't ask for documentation. It is against, I believe, the Americans with Disabilities Act. And really I am glad. I don't think people should have to explain their private medical condition to a stranger. While documentation might stem some of the abuse, I don't think that out weighs the loss of privacy of those who do need a GAC.

I understand your privacy concern, but if you have to tell them what you need on your GAC it is not so much different than saying your issue.

But I think it could be solved somewhere in the middle. Not asking for some sort of proof is counter productive to the goals of the ADA. I say this because without some sort of proof anybody can get it and that clogs up the system.

There should be some sort of State approved ID issued by Doctors that state the need for a GAC. (I assume other places have these too, I can't imagine a law that only effects Disney) You have to get a Doc to say you need a handicap sign for the car. The special ID issued wouldn't have to have your specific situation, just your needs.