Disheartened by many reponses here regarding GAC

[Cree629]

Okay, so I don't usually "vent" or post rants or anything similar (go ahead, check my previous posts!), but I really feel strongly about this and wanted to voice my opinions.

I know that the GAC is a hot topic here. I know about the controversies about people abusing them. I think it's awful.

We are travelling to WDW in November and bringing my mother for the first time. I'm not going to get into my mom's health issues here (although I just started to, then deleted it) because that is not what this post is about and I don't want it to turn into the kind of thread I am about to express my disappointment about. Suffice it to say that she has health issues that prompted me to do some research into a GAC and whether or not it might be something that would help her be able to "experience" WDW despite her issues.

What I found is that lots of people have posted questions about whether a GAC would be appropriate in his/her (or a family member's) situation. And in many cases, I have been shocked by the snarky, curt, and frankly, unhelpful responses they have received.

Most of these posts come from people who seem to have legitimate questions about the GAC and whether or not it might be appropriate/helpful in their situation. Seems to me that many are asking specifically so that they can understand what a GAC is and so they won't inadvertently abuse the system. Yet, many of these posters are immediately bombarded with posts about how GAC is not a fastpass and won't help in their situation. In response to their health issues, they are told to rent a wheelchair or EVC, take breaks, come at a different time of year, etc.

I have even seen a poster asked (in not the nicest way, either) what she could possibly expect Disney to do for her. The poster never said she wanted Disney to do anything for her. She was just trying to understand what a GAC was, what kind of limitations it is usually issued for, and if it might be something she should look into for her child. Honestly, this woman might as well have been told by some of the responding posters that with her daughter's issues, she might as well just stay home!

I have been a member on these boards for six years and have never seen DIS'ers respond to any other topic in such negative and unhelpful ways. Based on what I have read on these boards, NOBODY should be eligible for a GAC at all! People with illnesses/disabilities/health issues just need to rent a wheelchair, drink a lot of water, take breaks, wear a cooling vest, only plan to stay in the parks a couple hours a day, and only come in the winter months.

Again, I understand the abuse that happens. And I even understand wanting to help discourage this abuse. But I don't feel like immediately jumping all over almost any poster who even dares type those three letters is the appropriate way to do that. People are still going to abuse the system-- but now there are going to be honest people who might really need/benefit from a GAC being too afraid to ask about/obtain one for fear that they are doing something wrong.

Okay. Rant over.

 

[FortForever]

Based on what I have read on these boards, NOBODY should be eligible for a GAC at all! People with illnesses/disabilities/health issues just need to rent a wheelchair, drink a lot of water, take breaks, wear a cooling vest, only plan to stay in the parks a couple hours a day, and only come in the winter months.

Yep. As the one's telling them that slip their own GAC more deeply into their pockets....

 

[bookwormde]

I think a lot of the comments come from a misunderstanding of GAC in general and the legal basis specifically.

In the end WDW under ADA has to do no more or no less to accommodate individuals with disabilities with or without a GAC. It is just a tool that WDW has devised to streamline the explanation process.

 

[camper06]

Yet, many of these posters are immediately bombarded with posts about how GAC is not a fastpass and won't help in their situation. In response to their health issues, they are told to rent a wheelchair or EVC, take breaks, come at a different time of year, etc.

And lets not forget,"its NOT a front of the line pass", "you will have to wait longer in line if you use a GAC", "you should use fastpasses" and "use a good touring plan".

OP, I agree with your entire post. I have pretty much felt the same way in reading the threads when someone inquires about a GAC.

 

[infopurposesonly]

Yep. As the one's telling them that slip their own GAC more deeply into their pockets....

^^^^
This.

 

[camper06]

Yep. As the one's telling them that slip their own GAC more deeply into their pockets....

 

[Mom2six]

Jealousy. Plain and simple jealousy. People perceive the GAC as a way to get out of standing in lines and they are jealous. They may very well know and understand that a person has a disability, but they don't want anyone to have "special privileges" even if it means they can't go to Disney World. If they don't get the same card, then it is "unfair" for anyone to have one no matter the cause. Some people having a GAC when they do not, in their minds, makes their experience worse.

Edited to say: It is not because they are bad people, but it is more a matter of human nature. Different = unfair, no matter the reality.

 

[TLS4Mickey]

Count me in as someone who is embarrassed to ask for a card or rent an evc, for that matter. There used to be many similar post about renting ecv's - people just being lazy, etc. I have stayed away from Disney, for many years, due to my physical issues. Last time, I was there, was so physically hard for me, that I just couldn't do that, to myself, again. My husband wanted to rent me an ecv and I wouldn't let him because I didn't want people thinking I was lazy. This trip, I was glad to read about the GAC, but, now, am embarrassed to ask for one. But, I probably won't need one since I have a cane - and if I get my nerve up, rent an evc. I don't understand why people have to be so mean spirited. I do understand people abusing these things, but, I think, for the most part, people are honest about needing these things. I would never expect to go to the front of the line. I simply do need a little extra time getting into certain ride vehicles and absolutely can't do steps. But to look at me, I am a seemingly healthy looking 45 year old women. I have had my physical issues since I was 14 years old. When I was younger, I worked hard to hide my issues because of the embarrassment, but, now, I can't hide it anymore or all I will be doing is never leaving my house. And that is not right, everybody deserves to enjoy life. People need to be more tolerant (in many circumstance, not just to disabilities) and realize not everybody is the same, not every disability is the same and don't judge until you have walked a day in their shoes.

 

[Mom2six]

Count me in as someone who is embarrassed to ask for a card or rent an evc, for that matter. There used to be many similar post about renting ecv's - people just being lazy, etc. I have stayed away from Disney, for many years, due to my physical issues. Last time, I was there, was so physically hard for me, that I just couldn't do that, to myself, again. My husband wanted to rent me an ecv and I wouldn't let him because I didn't want people thinking I was lazy. This trip, I was glad to read about the GAC, but, now, am embarrassed to ask for one. But, I probably won't need one since I have a cane - and if I get my nerve up, rent an evc. I don't understand why people have to be so mean spirited. I do understand people abusing these things, but, I think, for the most part, people are honest about needing these things. I would never expect to go to the front of the line. I simply do need a little extra time getting into certain ride vehicles and absolutely can't do steps. But to look at me, I am a seemingly healthy looking 45 year old women. I have had my physical issues since I was 14 years old. When I was younger, I worked hard to hide my issues because of the embarrassment, but, now, I can't hide it anymore or all I will be doing is never leaving my house. And that is not right, everybody deserves to enjoy life. People need to be more tolerant (in many circumstance, not just to disabilities) and realize not everybody is the same, not every disability is the same and don't judge until you have walked a day in their shoes.

You are right! People need to be more tolerant!! I know I've spent too much of my life getting embarassed about things. My son, and his autism, has helped me to overcome some of that. I may easily let embarassment get in my way, but I would never let my own sensitive feelings get in his way.

Now I've realized that they may have a negative thought about us, but it does not affect their lives at all...why should I let their judgemental nature affect my live then? If they want to think bad things, that's them. I will go on making sure my son enjoys HIS life. They don't matter to me.

Go to Disney. Get a GAC, get an EVC. Don't worry about what some judgemental, self-righteous, self-important people think! If they are those types of people, they shouldn't matter to you.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am closing this thread at this time and invite readers to check out An Open Letter from SueM near the top of the disABILITIES Board, which was written in response to threads like this one.
Also check out post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is factual. Information about GACs.

Most of the threads where people are suggesting a parasol, wheelchair or ECV or whatever are guesting them because WHETHER OR NOT a person has GAC, there are places a GAC won't do anything - that would be places like restaurants, walking between attractions, waiting in the sun for a parade (many of the handicapped viewing areas for daytime parades are in the sun - in fact, for the MK afternoon parade, I have seen the handicapped viewing areas totally empty because it was in the sun, while an area across was full of people with special needs waiting in the general area out of the sun.

Right now, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainly about how the GAC program will be revised. No one knows, which is one reason that people are giving advice to try as much as possible to do what you can to handle their needs themselves. And, people are posting that GACs are not 'Front of Line passes' for a number of reasons - one is that many people think they are.
Someone who expected this at Small World

because they read a GAC meant front of the line or no wait is not going to be prepared to find this:

Two of the posts in this thread were especially distressing - they accused people who are using or posting about GACs of deliberately lying.