Did not get help (GAC) for my daughter

[Kirlinale]

I am sorry if this comes out at all worded wrong but it is not meant to be.

But, your message suggested you went to Guest Relations and Asked for a 'short wait' because your child has Aspergers, AKA, Skip the long line pass.

No where did I see that you said you explained your needs. Not ALL Autisitic and Aspergers kids need the same level of accomondation. So offering you asssistance if a problem should occur seems to be a reasonable acomondation based on what you said and what your wrote.

You seemed to have only one objective (according to my reading of the post) and that was ' I want a shorter wait' because my child has Aspergers, I was not there so I do not know what the actual dialog actually was, but
it did not explain a problem or a need .. just a want.. I hope that makes sense.

GR usually wants to visually see the person with the disability and while I understand it may make her embarrased , it also, protects the system from being abused by people WHO don't really need a GAC but try to beat the system. Therefore I have no problem telling my child or children that we are getting a GAC so that the medical issues they have won't impede on our vacation or that of any other person. I am not embarrased by nor should my child be of the difficulties she has and I have yet to have a CM or other speak to her directly about her issues which range from Medical to Behavioral.

I believe if you explain the childs needs, and clearly explain the difficulties you had on different visits they would be more willing to assist.

I am sorrry but If I worked at Guest Relations and Two different adults came in seeking a GAC, asking for a 'Short Line' wait, not able to produce or be willing to produce the party it was being requested for I can't see how or why DL would be at fault here and am genuinly surprised you were comped.


That being said, I have many friends with kids on the Spectrum who have been to WDW and had wonderful times.. of them, some use a GAC after explaining the issues not the diagnosis or asking for a GAC that DOES this or that .. but basically saying.. this is what types of issues in daily like my child has that may interfere with his ability to enjoy your park, is there anything you could do to help. Period, and that help will differ depending on the severity and needs. That need can change from attraction to attraction or from visit to visit.

I would have probably tired the Get out of Line card first, if that did not work then I would have gone back and said, we used this accomdation but it does not help as this and this keeps happening is there anything else you could help us with.. Period.. we have done this .

Also, please don't think I am targeting autism, I work with SPED kids regularly and I KNOW first hand hte difficulites they have... but many Autistic kids CAN wait in line, and many can handle things , and there are many who need some help with crowds, stimulation and queues...

I will give you two examples I have seen first hand.. there was an autistic child next to us on line at Pooh Bear Ride last year. We waited 20 minutes and were close to the enterance when someone popped a baloon (we think) and it triggered some behaviours which were difficult for the family to deal with and for him to maintain. A CM came over , got them off line, gave them a ' card' to come back to the FP line when things settled down.. He also said in earshot to see GR if she needed further assistance..

I believe , if you are reasonable, willing to explain your NEEDS, provide a clear description of you or your child's issues.. you should not have problems like this and actually I do not *personally* believe a CM should be Obliged to tell you what you CAN get or what is available for other issues , only what you would need based on your explaintation which I took based on reading this was 'I want a short line because my child has Aspergers' and not explaining what would occur if your child does have to wait on extended lines or in the heat, and also , not producing the actual person with the disability probably prevented you from getting the most applicable acomondation for your needs. I am very sorry you were not served and having my own medically fragile with many behaviour and cognive issues, I symphatize, I just wanted to point out that I don't think DL did anything wrong, I just think there was a miscommunication and an issue in the way you went about trying ot obtain your GAC.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Closed at the request of the original poster. Questions have been answered and issues resolved.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is the info that I was going by--and the person at guest services confirmed it for me:
http://pixiedustinn.com/disabilitiesfaq/GACFAQ.html

I just am reopening this for one post to clarify a few things.
The pixiedust inn website does have some very good information, but I wanted to point out that page has not been updated since June 3, 2002.
Teri, who owns that website, was a frequent poster on this site when it first began. Some of the general information about hints/coping with lines is very good, but I did want to point out that information about Guest Assistance Cards is over 5 years old.

As for some of the information shared above, from my understanding the person with the disability MUST be present to request a GAC which was the only thing the manager didn't convey correctly. I'm glad next time this person will see to it that your experience is a positive one. ---Kathy

CMS who work at Guest Relations in the parks have posted many times that the person the GAC is for need to be there when it is issued. The GAC is actually issued in that person's name and CMs (including Guest Relations Supervisors) have confirmed to me by PM and emails.
As someone posted earlier in the thread, they don't necessarily need to be right up at the counter with you, but do need to be somewhere in Guest Relations. For the same reason, they don't issue GACs ahead of time by people phoning or sending emails.

Only children who are currently on their one and only MAW trip are afforded such privileges, and from what Sue has mentioned recently, even that may be changing.---Kathy

Kathy:
My curiousity has the best of me. Could you please explain the part about "even that may be changing" or refer me to the post that is relevant regarding this changing? Thanks.

There have been a number of times in the last year where parents of children on Make a WISH trips posted that they did not get a "front of the line pass" (which is what people traditionally think of as a Make a Wish pass. Instead, they got a GAC with messages that met their child's needs (which in many case did not require that much access). I have no idea what the significance of this is - I have just reported that some people have posted the information.