Disability pass?

[BeeGee]

We will visiting WDW in October. We have been many many times before but this time our granddaughter will be with us. She will be 4 at the time and suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Sensory Issues. I understand that there is a pass for families that have someone with a disability that allows them to move to the front of the line. She obviously will be unable to handle long lines with a lot of noise and activity surrounding her. If there is such a pass, how do you get it and does it allow the entire party to move with her?

 

[Belle1962]

What you will need is a Guest Assistance CARD. There is info on the sticky thread in this forum abvout what a GAC is and how to obtain one. Basuically you go to Guest Services and explain your needs to them to obtain a card.

The only children who receive front of the line access are Make A Wish children.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
Fourth sticky

The Guest Assistance Card is to let Cast Members (CMs) know what limitations a guest may have. The GAC is only for persons with hidden disabilites. The GAC can get you into a seperate waiting area on some rides.

I am not familiar on FAS and it and FASD is a very wide range of possble limitations on your trip but I can tell you what I know from the Autistic and SID/SPD side. REading up on it leads me to say definitely take a stroller and use it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_Alcohol_Spectrum_Disorder

There are many things you can do to help make the trip more enjoyable. there is the baby swapping pass, fastpass, extra magical hours, GAC, and trip planning. You can check the autism section of FAQs for tips on how to deal with sensory issues and the inability to wait. Ear muffs used by hunters and construction workers are wonders for sound sensitive kids and they even come in infant sizes.

Fidget toys, busy work, chew toys, and other stuff keeps kids focused on something beside standing still or being in a line. Ipods, walkman radios, hand held games, and gameboys are examples that put noise into the kid that blocks out the surrounding bustle and entertains them. Some parents practice waiting in line and doing things like watching videos to see what is going to happen.

You can get a "stroller as a wheelchair" GAC. It allows you to take the stroller into most rides to the end of the line and while in line at shows. The stroller tends to give sensitive children a safe haven from crowds and noise. It keeps people a bit away from the child and forms a comfort zone. FAS and SID/SPD children react to stress and exhaustion so using a stroller reduces the stress and exhaustion thus reducing the meltdowns and other problems.

 

[SueM in MN]

As the others mentioned, a Guest Assistance Card is not a front of the line pass, but a card to tell the CMs what type of assistance you need. There is a link in my signature to the thread that the other posters suggested you look at. Post #6 of that thread is about GACs and post #3 has a lot of helpful resources. I'd suggest looking at some of the past threads about autism for some helpful hints.

We have been to WDW in October a number of times and can tell you that most of October is a very quiet time. You will find a number of attractions without any line at all. This past October, we often walked right on things because there was no wait in the line at all - just not that many guests.

Some other things that will be helpful to know is what areas are likely to be quiet and when. Even during a busy time like Spring break, if you get to MK at park opening, you can go on all the attractions in Fantasyland with less than a 10 minute wait. Knowing where/when to be to avoid the crowds is also helpful because you won't have to deal with the general busy conditions in the park. Going when it is less busy in the attractions also means it will be less busy and less congestion/sensory busy-ness.