Disney finally sees huge abuse of the GAC

[Disney_Princess83]

As someone with real life altering disabilities, all I have to say is that this thread is disgusting.

Certain posts and posters are, indeed! Sadly, nothing on the Dis surprises me anymore.

 

[Sam81]

No, you haven't got a clue! If you did, you'd be PERSONALLY escorting these children/adults and their families to the front of the line and saying "I thank god everyday that I'll never know the struggles you really face!"

Sorry but for 19 years the one thing that stopped us from that was - Pride. My FIL was a great man. And he would never do something that put another at a disadvantage.

I'm sorry you have issues at home. But those issues do not entitle you to FOTL access. Your struggles are no better/worse than any other person in that park. And to believe that you have it better/worse than anyone else is just wrong. I actually feel sorry for you.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Sorry but for 19 years the one thing that stopped us from that was - Pride. My FIL was a great man. And he would never do something that put another at a disadvantage.

I'm sorry you have issues at home. But those issues do not entitle you to FOTL access. Your struggles are no better/worse than any other person in that park. And to believe that you have it better/worse than anyone else is just wrong. I actually feel sorry for you.

You haven't got a clue! And the worst thing is, you haven't got a clue and you don't know how "lucky" you are not to understand!

I won't be reply to you anymore Sam81, you don't deserve the attention. I will however report any posts that I feel are rude/harassing/or discriminatory. I suggest others do the same.

 

[sharadoc]

Certain posts and posters are, indeed! Sadly, nothing on the Dis surprises me anymore.

These threads always bring out the worst in some people. It's usually the men too LOL and with fairly low post counts. That survival of the fittest and fight to be the top dog gene kicks in. Most of the women here are compassionate.

Because of one poster the last few pages, we'll be locked soon. I guess there's really nothing else to say about it that we haven't all said. We're grateful that Disney allows us to go, we're angered that some people abuse the system and we hope and pray that our GAC won't be taken away from us.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

These threads always bring out the worst in some people. It's usually the men too LOL and with fairly low post counts. That survival of the fittest and fight to be the top dog gene kicks in. Most of the women here are compassionate.

Because of one poster the last few pages, we'll be locked soon. I guess there's really nothing else to say about it that we haven't all said. We're grateful that Disney allows us to go, we're angered that some people abuse the system and we hope and pray that our GAC won't be taken away from us.

The GAC card isn't going to be taken away. For ever example of abuse, there are dozens of people who use the card appropriately.

 

[beesauce]

I don't care about the day to day. I care only about experiencing more attractions. And as countless others have stated and blogs have pointed out it usually does cut down on wait time. And if it doesn't I complain, bc my disability is waiting in lines causes stress and makes me unhappy. Sorry I deserve a GAC just like everyone else.

Okay, so we're going to do a cost breakdown then? To call it fair? My child can go on 12 rides and yours can go on 7. Not fair according to you, right?

My child cannot watch the parade. How much is that worth in relation to "fair"? He also cannot watch the fireworks. Are we even yet? How about the fact that we can't meet characters either? Now are we square?

I just want to know so when I see you finding a spot for the parade I can go "well thank goodness it's all fair now!"

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Okay, so we're going to do a cost breakdown then? To call it fair? My child can go on 12 rides and yours can go on 7. Not fair according to you, right?

My child cannot watch the parade. How much is that worth in relation to "fair"? He also cannot watch the fireworks. Are we even yet? How about the fact that we can't meet characters either? Now are we square?

I just want to know so when I see you finding a spot for the parade I can go "well thank goodness it's all fair now!"

 

[atp]

Forgive me if I'm saying something stupid...but to those who mentioned that their kids barely get to go on any rides, even with the GAC...wouldn't it be easier and faster to get a FP?

I'm usually able to ride a lot of rides with FPs, with very little or no wait. Some of the rides you have to get there early to get a FP, sure, but for a lot of rides you don't and depending on when you go, the FP can be for 1 hour later, or less.

If the GAC gets you to the front of the line immediately and you are able to go from one ride to the next quickly, I can see how it would be a better choice. But if not, from what I've read here, it seems like it would be more like a hassle than anything else: getting looks from people who think you are doing something wrong, the risk of having to wait even longer than stand by, etc.

From what I've read so far, with most situations, it seems that only those who are pretty healthy would benefit more from getting a GAC instead of using FPs.

It seems that those who truly need the GAC and are posting about their situation here, can't really go running from ride to ride. They have to take it slow and take several breaks, which seems like itwould work well with the FP.

Now, if they remove the FP option as it exists today, then it could be a real issue for most guests. Because even if you don't have a disability, sometimes you just can't stand in line for hours on end due to being older, not as fit or whatever.

 

[Sam81]

Okay, so we're going to do a cost breakdown then? To call it fair? My child can go on 12 rides and yours can go on 7. Not fair according to you, right?

My child cannot watch the parade. How much is that worth in relation to "fair"? He also cannot watch the fireworks. Are we even yet? How about the fact that we can't meet characters either? Now are we square?

I just want to know so when I see you finding a spot for the parade I can go "well thank goodness it's all fair now!"

You are right. You have it much worse than anyone else. Is that what you wanted to hear? You are entitled to everything!

I know most of you hate hearing it, but your child is no more special than another. What you view as a struggle is a vacation to someone else. The DIS is full of people trying to one up another with everything from allergies to level of ADHD. I never advocated taking the GAC away. I just don't believe it should give you FOTL access to rides. Take that away and the level of abuse will go down.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I really don’t think people are saying that someone with a disability should not be allowed to enjoy the parks but more why should every disability under the sun qualify for GAC. I will say it again children with ADHD, ADD and MINOR SPD symptoms will more than likely go on to live very normal lives as adults especially if they are taught coping skills. In the real world they have to wait in lines at restaurants, shopping centers, and many other places where it may be too loud, people may look at them, or someone may bump into them. Years ago these children learned to cope with their surroundings and adapt to life and I just really think if we start to seriously modify these simply daily task for these children so they are not made to deal with minor discomfort that they experience from it then we are seriously setting them up for failure as adults.
The students that have taught with these issues are bright, funny and generally really good kids and my goal is to make sure they can function in society on their own but the parents need to enforce the same skills at home and in their daily lives.

I think that you are talking to a brick wall. But I get what you are saying. I have worked with many children with many different disabilities over the years. And there are many children who are slapped with labels that they don't need. There are children who can (and should) learn some of these skills to help them later in their lives. And there are parents who use these "diagnoses" in an abusing way. It is much easier to get a GAC than to fight to teach your child these skills (according to these parents - some of whom I know personally, so yes, they do exist). That being said, I agree 100% that this is not the case for everyone, there are most certainly people who deserve GAC's and need them to enjoy the parks, BUT there also are people using them who don't need to. We do need to look at both sides of the issue in order to get a full picture.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I think that you are talking to a brick wall. But I get what you are saying. I have worked with many children with many different disabilities over the years. And there are many children who are slapped with labels that they don't need. There are children who can (and should) learn some of these skills to help them later in their lives. And there are parents who use these "diagnoses" in an abusing way. It is much easier to get a GAC than to fight to teach your child these skills (according to these parents - some of whom I know personally, so yes, they do exist). That being said, I agree 100% that this is not the case for everyone, there are most certainly people who deserve GAC's and need them to enjoy the parks, BUT there also are people using them who don't need to. We do need to look at both sides of the issue in order to get a full picture.

I never mind looking at a full picture. Are there people abusing the GAC card? Yes. Is everyone? No. What I do hold against people is the argument made by many people on this thread which is basically "Don't let people with Special Needs into the Parks"

 

[Sunny37]

I think that you are talking to a brick wall. But I get what you are saying. I have worked with many children with many different disabilities over the years. And there are many children who are slapped with labels that they don't need. There are children who can (and should) learn some of these skills to help them later in their lives. And there are parents who use these "diagnoses" in an abusing way. It is much easier to get a GAC than to fight to teach your child these skills (according to these parents - some of whom I know personally, so yes, they do exist). That being said, I agree 100% that this is not the case for everyone, there are most certainly people who deserve GAC's and need them to enjoy the parks, BUT there also are people using them who don't need to. We do need to look at both sides of the issue in order to get a full picture.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I never mind looking at a full picture. Are there people abusing the GAC card? Yes. Is everyone? No. What I do hold against people is the argument made by many people on this thread which is basically "Don't let people with Special Needs into the Parks"

I'm not sure why you felt the need to quote my post. I made no mention of that argument.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I'm not sure why you felt the need to quote my post. I made no mention of that argument.

I quoted your post because I agreed with what you said and specifically mentioned that I agreed that people needed to look at both sides. I'm not saying you have posted the negative things that I mentioned. I was replying to your post.

 

[beesauce]

You are right. You have it much worse than anyone else. Is that what you wanted to hear? You are entitled to everything!

I know most of you hate hearing it, but your child is no more special than another. What you view as a struggle is a vacation to someone else. The DIS is full of people trying to one up another with everything from allergies to level of ADHD. I never advocated taking the GAC away. I just don't believe it should give you FOTL access to rides. Take that away and the level of abuse will go down.

LOL! Over dramatic much? I never said I had it worse than anyone, nor did my post read that way. Just trying to figure out what you think is fair. My son isn't entitled to anything and neither is your child. So why can't they both have a similar experience at WDW? My child can go on more rides and yours can see parades, fireworks, and characters. Otherwise I would be spending the same amount as you on tickets and my child would be seeing less than yours. And how exactly is that fair?

Kind of funny that you are telling special needs kids that life isn't fair and to deal with with it and then immediately turning face and saying everyone should treat your child fairly. Who has the special snowflake now?

 

[Twende]

I feel the need to state that when using a GAC, we have never been offered the opportunity to ride something back to back without getting off and re-entering the line. I have never seen a GAC used this way. If someone did it once then a CM was doing something nice and this is certainly not the norm!

The year that Disney was going around doing random nice things my family was picked at the start of the entrance to Soarin' to get VIP treatment. We were just showing our GAC to the CM. I had no idea why we were pulled out of line and I remember being upset that we were not in line. Once a group of about 15 people was gathered the CM explained the we were going back stage as VIP's and to the Front of the Line. That was true FOTL access. It was entirely different that how we normally waited for our turn with the GAC!

Get it out of your head that GAC = Front of the Line. This is simply not true!

I am thankful that Disney offered a way for my family to go to Disney. For decades we went to Disney World almost every year and even to Disneyland a few times. We did not need or use a GAC. We planned our visits to make it the most enjoyable that we could and felt incredible that we could visit such and amazing place.

Once my mother had her stokes, life became very different. She developed Dementia that most everyone including her physician thought was Alzheimer's. Only she did not follow the normal progression so it make everything confusing. Ten years into it and she still could walk, talk, and express a desire to go to her favorite place, Disney. She had short term memory loss, she wandered away, she would try to shop and buy everything and anything she saw in a store, she would cry hysterically one second and laugh the next, she loved seeing little children and then swear like a drunken sailor at them the next second, she would grab at people, push, bite, kick, and just plain be very unruly and then a perfect little old lady the next. There were no set triggers, it could happen any second. With proper planning, a lot of work, and patience we could make her experiences at Disney wonderful for her and not unpleasant for others, well at least most of the time.

Trust me in saying that no one would prefer to wait in line anyway near my mother when things were going bad. It was not pretty and would be extremely upsetting for young children to witness. A GAC made it more possible for other guests to enjoy their vacations and not have to deal with the unpredictable and sometimes outrageous behavior of my family member. Our GAC for my mother was used for the benefit of other people, not us. We could have managed because we understood and we were use to the behavior but others did not deserve to have to do that.

I thank Disney for giving us more than a decade of wonderful memories for my family. Nothing can take these away from us and I pray that Disney allows other families to have these memories with their loved ones!

 

[Sam81]

LOL! Over dramatic much? I never said I had it worse than anyone, nor did my post read that way. Just trying to figure out what you think is fair. My son isn't entitled to anything and neither is your child. So why can't they both have a similar experience at WDW? My child can go on more rides and yours can see parades, fireworks, and characters. Otherwise I would be spending the same amount as you on tickets and my child would be seeing less than yours. And how exactly is that fair?

Kind of funny that you are telling special needs kids that life isn't fair and to deal with with it and then immediately turning face and saying everyone should treat your child fairly. Who has the special snowflake now?

I think in theory the GAC is a great tool for families. But we all know in operation it is not used that way. We also know that your child COULD watch the parade and fireworks. It would create anxiety but let's be clear nothing is preventing you from watching the parade. Your child could have a good day and want to see the parade. My child (was) prevented from entering the FP line without a FP. That's the big issue.

Additionally, as I will be heavily using the GAC next week there should be no issues with my FOTL access. As I could use some extra assistance I will report back on my experience. I don't consider it abuse as I have had some aches and pains the last two months.

 

[Muddypaws]

You are right. You have it much worse than anyone else. Is that what you wanted to hear? You are entitled to everything!

I know most of you hate hearing it, but your child is no more special than another. What you view as a struggle is a vacation to someone else. The DIS is full of people trying to one up another with everything from allergies to level of ADHD. I never advocated taking the GAC away. I just don't believe it should give you FOTL access to rides. Take that away and the level of abuse will go down.

I can't believe that I am going to wade into this again...

I believe that there is a problem with entitlement in the entire general population, not just those that have a need for a GAC. I do believe that my children are entitled to be free of prejudice and abuse, just as your children should be. Unfortunately, this forum has made it painfully clear that prejudice is alive and well. There is very little tolerance for square pegs in a round world.

This thread has gotten very off track which is only perpetuating the problem.

While I don't believe that my child is entitled to anything extra and certainly not a FOTL pass, I do VERY MUCH appreciate that Disney makes it a little easier for us, so much so that our "trip of a lifetime" is now coming up to its third installment. For a couple of weeks of the year my son can take off the "kick me" sign that seems to always be on his back.

I'm not sure about other areas, but I can assure you that around here getting a diagnosis of ASD or autism is not easy. It is a very long, drawn out process that involves many different specialties. As parents, it is our goal to nurture our children so they grow up to be independent, self-supporting, contributing members of society, be they children with neurological disorders or otherwise. Contrary to what many believe, autism is not a mental illness which is widely acknowledged to have numerous stigmas attached, but a neurological issue that has now been genetically mapped. This means that for these kids the learning process on certain things is much more difficult. Unfortunately, we live in a world where many believe that if there isn't a blood test to prove it, then it doesn't exist.

So while I am continually teaching my son how to adapt to live in the "real world," Disney provides us with a little break where he can forget for a few minutes that he is not just a regular kid. It is a gift that is beyond priceless. If a reform of the GAC process is required so that I don't have to protect him from the eye rolls, sneers and nasty comments (of which he gets more than his share of in his day to day life) then I am all for it.

To say that there is no abuse of the GAC is ridiculous. Of course there is and it is rampant. Those of us who use the GAC for its intended purpose need to be on the front lines to try and find a solution to curtail it.

 

[stargazertechie]

What are you advocating? That a child who cannot cope with waiting in lines should always be put to the front? That's no longer equal.

NO. People are advocating for the ability to have an alternate waiting area, as is stated on the GAC. Clearly CMs have become lax and from anecdotal evidence it seems that they may be given expedited (but not FOTL) access. Fastpass does not = FOTL. FOTL literally means being taken TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE!

 

[beesauce]

I think in theory the GAC is a great tool for families. But we all know in operation it is not used that way. We also know that your child COULD watch the parade and fireworks. It would create anxiety but let's be clear nothing is preventing you from watching the parade. Your child could have a good day and want to see the parade. My child (was) prevented from entering the FP line without a FP. That's the big issue.

Additionally, as I will be heavily using the GAC next week there should be no issues with my FOTL access. As I could use some extra assistance I will report back on my experience. I don't consider it abuse as I have had some aches and pains the last two months.

No, he couldn't. Like, ever. Good day or bad day, it doesn't matter and anxiety isn't the problem.

You can go right ahead and get a GAC for nothing. I can't stop you and you will be the one that has to live with your guilt. I'm intrigued by the fact that you claim you aren't against the GAC, but are planning on protesting it by using it when you don't have a need. So your platform is "yes to the GAC but no to anyone who needs to use it"? Sounds legit.

::here's where you enter in yet another pointless diatribe about how you are all for the GAC when people have a legitimate need that only you can determine. And that life isn't fair unless it's your kid, then it better be fair. Cue it in 3...2...1...::