Difference between Easy Access Card & Disabled Priority Card

[ScottishThistle]

Hi there,

We're long time visitors to DLP and have a disabled son so are always issued with an Easy Access Pass.

For some reason, I've just been having a look through all the disabled guest bumph on the official website and noticed that they now issue either an Easy Access Pass OR a Disabled Card. It doesn't seem to be clear on the website what the difference between the two is (other than the number of helpers that can accompany the disabled person on rides etc) and who would be issued a Disabled Priority Card and who'd get an Easy Access Card.

My son has a phyiscal disablity, can't walk at all so uses a wheelchair.

Any knowledge on this would be much appreciated.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I didn't know there was a change. Last time we were there I was given a card like the GAC issued in States. It had stamps on it for my accommodations. I was surprised that they do check it completely in DLP where at WDW they looked at it. I like it being checked and I don't mind answering questions.

I wonder what the easy access card will be?

 

[Carrie_Cat]

From what it says the main difference is in the type of disability

If you are permantly disabled with a card or a badge in your own country or if cards/badges don't exist where you come from a medical certificate in either French or English you can get a Disabled Priority Card which gives you priority on rides

If you are temporary disabled or not yet fully recognised as disabled or pregnant you can on presentation of a medical certificate get a Easy Access Card which doesn't give you priority on the ride but let's you use the special entrances

Either way if you have to show a medicail cert it has to be less than 3 months old.

Note as well that only 1 person is now allowed to accompany the person with the card

 

[purdy2233]

We returned home yesterday and we have always had an easy access pass for our 2 children. We got a Disable priority card this time. It's smaller than the old one they used to issue, they still put persons name on card and validity date, on reverse they tick which area the dissability comes under. It states it allows you and one helper and your kids to use dedicated accesses. There is also a space for assistance and kids accompanying.
We only used it once on Friday and a couple of times yesterday, ride times were only 5-10 mins for most but Saturday most were over 30 minutes. Did find that unlike previous years with a pass that we were questioned, kids had their names checked to the pass and we had to ride as two seperate groups where as previously we were able to go as a 4. Didn't matter to us though. Hope that helps.

 

[justfi]

Does this mean that as a family of four with one disabled child we will effectively have to have seperate holidays? One parent takes our disabled son with his disability card to the wheelchair access entrance and the other parent takes our able bodied son and joins a seperate queue. I do hope not as it will ruin a 'family' holiday.

That seems harsh

 

[purdy2233]

I may be wrong but I think in that case they would mark the boxes on the back. We did say that really in effect we should have got just one pass but last year when we did that they wouldn't let us all in the disabled viewing area so we went and got the second one. So this year we got the 2 to start with.

 

[justfi]

Ah ok, we sometimes get split up for the parades too but don't mind that. I'm just worried we'll be queueing seperately which is going to mean a lot of time apart, and lots of time and phone calls trying to find each other again which won't be cheap. Phone lines are closed now so will have to wait until tomorrow to confirm.

 

[ScottishThistle]

Thanks very much everyone, especially your info, Purdy.

It does sound that it's going to have a negative impact on family holidays. We haven't been since last April but even then, we found the disabled ride rules much more restrictive. The parks were really quiet but despite this we were given times to return to rides which meant that my son, being disabled, couldn't ride as often as he wanted to in a day like an able bodied person would be able to. Even at Buzz during EMH, when there was no waiting time at all, we were given a time to come back over 2 hours later. We said we were willing just to join the regular queue but they wouldn't let us

As a family of four, with 2 boys close in age, it's really going to spoil the enjoyment of our holiday as we'll spend most of our time apart. Our boys like to share the experience, go on rides together, watch the parade together and generally bounce off one another which they now won't be able to do. Well, they could under the new rules, but only with one parent so one of us would always miss out.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't agree with some of the old rules where large groups of people could benefit from the Access Pass on some rides but I think that for a family of four, it's actually going to make us think twice about going again.

 

[purdy2233]

They don't give out return times to ride now, or at least we didn't get any. Last year we got a return time on Buzz for 5.30 when it was 11.00! So we went in the normal queue! This time at Buzz they took us straight on and also on Thunder Mountain. They did however mark us on and off each ride and then they let another person on with a pass if they were waiting. So only one pass on at a time in effect. A cast member on Peter Pan said it was part of the new rules.

 

[justfi]

Scottish Thistle, I'm going to call tomorrow and find out what a family of 4 (incl one disabled child) will be expected to do. I'll post and let you know what they say.

Our son is a wheelchair user too so I imagine he will get the Disabled Access Pass. That says he will be allowed one able-bodied adult with with a maximum of 3 children, unless the children are under 12 years of age. Does that mean siblings under 12 cannot ride with their disabled brother/sisters or that another able bodied adult will be allowed on to accompany younger siblings.

 

[justfi]

Good Morning.

My phonecall didn't help much as the member of staff wasn't aware there had been any change to the disabled access arrangements. She did say that in the US the cards were issued on a case by case basis, smaller family groups were more likely to be able to ride together than larger ones and it also depends how busy the parks are when you go.

Since there are only 4 of us, going mid-week in March, we might be ok. Will report back on our return

 

[JohnnySharp2]

From what it says the main difference is in the type of disability

If you are permantly disabled with a card or a badge in your own country or if cards/badges don't exist where you come from a medical certificate in either French or English you can get a Disabled Priority Card which gives you priority on rides

If you are temporary disabled or not yet fully recognised as disabled or pregnant you can on presentation of a medical certificate get a Easy Access Card which doesn't give you priority on the ride but let's you use the special entrances

Either way if you have to show a medicail cert it has to be less than 3 months old.

Note as well that only 1 person is now allowed to accompany the person with the card

Joshua is permanently disabled, autistic & non verbal. Last year we received a green card (almost like a leaflet) with I think a Black Mickey stamp on that we presented to the CMs.

Are you saying that now we cannot go on attraction together? There are 3 of us.

 

[purdy2233]

I will try and add a photo of one of our cards so you can see what's on it.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Disneyland Paris reservations have just told me on the phone:

"Disabled person plus up to 4 guests" - based upon our son's needs anyway.

 

[justfi]

Yes, apparently now you can be restricted to only one able bodied adult helper with a disabled person (although a max of 3 other children over the age of 12 could go on with him too) but no other able bodied adults or mention of children under the age of 12.

I wonder if the 12 year old rule has been introduced as the 'free children' offers stop at 12?

Still, the CS lady today did say the number of people allowed to ride with a disabled person was decided on a case-by-case basis. There is hope.

 

[justfi]

Sorry, cross posted.

 

[purdy2233]

Hope this works! Front and back of card.
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s498/purdy2233/DSC06892.jpg

http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s498/purdy2233/DSC06894.jpg

 

[justfi]

I think I see the problem. The new cards are worded to apply to disabled adults, not disabled children. So, a disabled adult is entitled to take one adult helper and up to 3 children. 1 + 4. There's no facility on the card to allow for 2 adults if the disabled guest is a child.

 

[lilacgems23]

I think it depends on your CM some are lovely and will let you go together then you get the grumpy ones that will stick by the rules. When we was there last summer there was a single mum with a disabled son and another child, her friend went in the disabled area with her every day (I remember as we had words in there she expect me to stand at 6 months pregnant so her friend could sit by her). Then one day her friend was told to leave the area and the CM just shrugged when she said shed been there every day with her friend not just in that parade but all the others.

 

[Julesdis]

I think I see the problem. The new cards are worded to apply to disabled adults, not disabled children. So, a disabled adult is entitled to take one adult helper and up to 3 children. 1 + 4. There's no facility on the card to allow for 2 adults if the disabled guest is a child.

Justfi, when are you going? We are in a similar situation to you, my wife and I and our son (who will be 9), who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, and our daughter (who will be 6). I'm interested to see how you get on when you are there (we're not going until the end of July).

If it's true that we will be able to take my son, my daughter but only one of my wife and I through the special ride access, then that will seriously affect our holiday. One of my wife and I would have to miss out on each ride, or we'd have to split up, with one of us queuing in the regular queue. This is obvioulsy going to spoil what is after all a family holiday.

This does, as you say, seem harsh.

As we are going in high season, I would be concerned that the CMs would have less scope to be flexible with the rules. And I wouldn't like having to ask them to bend the rules either, I'd prefer the rules to be more reasonable in the first place.