Disney finally sees huge abuse of the GAC

[Sam81]

No, they don't "just let everyone do what they want and head to the front". I've personally seen CMs refuse to give people a GAC.

You must have been awful close to that person to hear their conversation at the window. The sad fact is that I can go right up to Guest Services and get a GAC today for whatever I want. If the CM argues with me I can ask for a Manager. That's the sad truth.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Are you serious? Little Susie may not because of her syndrome be able to adapt to her surroundings.

I am not trying got be snippy and I don’t want to argue with you but I think you would have to be in the schools to fully understand what I am talking about it. It is very frustrating when you are trying to educate and help children with major issues like Autism , MMD , MR , EBD, and so on and you are being bogged down with minor issues like a kid freaking out over the toilet flushing.

 

[phi2012]

I've been reading up on this thread and the gac cards as until recently I didn't even know they existed. I can understand many peoples complaints about the abuse that obviously goes on at wdw and I do feel that it is terrible that people abuse it in such a way.

It is a shame that the cards are not used in the way they are meant to be, not front of line access but rather for people to be able to sit down in alternate areas whilst waiting the appropriate time. Maybe the new fastpass plus will aid this to work, but hopefully not to the detriment of those who really do need the gac card.

I myself was informed of the gac card by my Dr over here in the UK, as I have an ongoing problem with headaches and migraines which causes me problems with lethargy (I take some pretty heavy duty epilepsy medication so that runs me down unfortunately ) and she is concerned about my standing in long lines in the heat during our trip in June (booked over 2years ago). She has offered to write me a formal letter to obtain a gac, but I feel uneasy about using it if it does as people state mean I get a free pass as such. That is not what I want and I don't want to feel like I am getting anything more than I need or deserve.

But also from reading all this it seams they don't even look at letters from drs so I don't know if there is any point getting one?

All in all, from reading this thread it seems that many people are very unhappy with the abuse that seems to go hand in hand with the gac card and it looks like genuine people who need the gac will be the ones to pay the price. my fingers are crossed that Disney does not make it so difficult though as there are those people (mainly children with autism etc) that really do need it. IMO

 

[Robbi]

I agree with the others that are optimistic the RFID system will greatly reform how these things work.

I can see them having special GAC accounts that allow unlimited day of fp to be added one at a time by a CM at the RFID reader to allow returns in the same time frame as the standby line.

Then you can go wait anywhere that suits your needs, and no one ever needs to see if you have anything other than the magicband on your wrist. The current system can't handle that because of the need to constantly issue little slips of paper, when its just a few finger swipes should be no problem.

Sounds good to me.

You must have been awful close to that person to hear their conversation at the window. The sad fact is that I can go right up to Guest Services and get a GAC today for whatever I want. If the CM argues with me I can ask for a Manager. That's the sad truth.

Have you been in the Guest Relations building in the MK or Epcot? There are several CMs working the counter. It's very easy to hear what goes on with other people especially when the CM steps away to get your GAC.

I am not trying got be snippy and I don’t want to argue with you but I think you would have to be in the schools to fully understand what I am talking about it. It is very frustrating when you are trying to educate and help children with major issues like Autism , MMD , MR , EBD, and so on and you are being bogged down with minor issues like a kid freaking out over the toilet flushing.

I have been in schools. My oldest son is almost 40, my middle son is 29, and my daughter is 19. For 34 years I volunteered in the school systems at their different schools both public and private. Many years I was there 5 days a week from 8-3. Through the years I have seen kids with all types of syndromes, disorders, and illnesses.

 

[stargazertechie]

I myself was informed of the gac card by my Dr over here in the UK, as I have an ongoing problem with headaches and migraines which causes me problems with lethargy (I take some pretty heavy duty epilepsy medication so that runs me down unfortunately ) and she is concerned about my standing in long lines in the heat during our trip in June (booked over 2years ago). She has offered to write me a formal letter to obtain a gac, but I feel uneasy about using it if it does as people state mean I get a free pass as such. That is not what I want and I don't want to feel like I am getting anything more than I need or deserve.

But also from reading all this it seams they don't even look at letters from drs so I don't know if there is any point getting one?

No point in getting a letter from your Dr. They are not legally allowed to look at it, nor determine your eligibility for accommodation based on a letter.

Disney's standard response to stamina issues is to rent a wheelchair. You do not need a GAC to use a wheelchair- the chair itself is indication to the CM that you will need an accessible entry. If you, however, need a place that is shaded or quiet to wait, you would need a GAC

 

[Muddypaws]

I am not trying got be snippy and I dont want to argue with you but I think you would have to be in the schools to fully understand what I am talking about it. It is very frustrating when you are trying to educate and help children with major issues like Autism , MMD , MR , EBD, and so on and you are being bogged down with minor issues like a kid freaking out over the toilet flushing.

Please, stop. You are doing your profession no favours. I think we all understand how you really feel about it.

The review of the GAC should be a opportunity to have meaningful discussion about how to make the system work properly for everyone. There is nothing to be gained in debating who should receive them and who doesn't since it is a moot point by law.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Sounds good to me.



Have you been in the Guest Relations building in the MK or Epcot? There are several CMs working the counter. It's very easy to hear what goes on with other people especially when the CM steps away to get your GAC.



I have been in schools. My oldest son is almost 40, my middle son is 29, and my daughter is 19. For 34 years I volunteered in the school systems at their different schools both public and private. Many years I was there 5 days a week from 8-3. Through the years I have seen kids with all types of syndromes, disorders, and illnesses.

.Thing are really different now especially with all the pervasive developmental disorders and many minor behaviors are being seen as PPD and many children are being placed on the spectrum unnecessarily.

 

[hsmamainva]

My youngest daughter has autism and we pick up a GAC card for her every visit and, thankfully, rarely have to use it. As she's grown up, she's improved and every visit is better and better!

But only ONE time has the GAC card earned us "special priviledges" and that was our visit to The Seas with Nemo and Friends" our last trip.

When we exited the ride, my daughter wanted to ride it again, but the area where all the fish are was under construction and walled off. The CM said we would have to exit the building and go all the way around to the front. She then saw the GAC card in the front cover of our daughter's backpack and motioned us toward a wheelchair entrance and we were able to get back in line and ride it again without a wait.

For everything else, no matter that we had a GAC card visible, we were directed to stand "over there" and waited in "a line" (so to speak) until it was our turn. Eventually, my daughter no longer needed a separate place to wait and could go into the regular line. (She waited last year 40 minutes for It's a Small World in the regular line! We were so proud!)

Also....I like the idea of putting a picture on the GAC card so that it must be used with the GAC holder present.

This reminds me of the big controversy on this board...I think it was a year ago...when a large group of cheerleaders rented all the ECVs and were riding around EPCOT, drinking and running into people. "Hover around the world" they called it and even posted pictures of themselves on Facebook, having a grand time.

It's sad to see such things as ECVs and GACs being abused! It really is.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Please, stop. You are doing your profession no favours. I think we all understand how you really feel about it.

The review of the GAC should be a opportunity to have meaningful discussion about how to make the system work properly for everyone. There is nothing to be gained in debating who should receive them and who doesn't since it is a moot point by law.

I really dont care what you think about my feelings towards the situation. Until you are on the other side and see the misuse of funds and time because of parents being too quick to think something is wrong with their child and insist they be labeled then I really could care less what you think or how you feel about it.

 

[la79al]

I'm really curious here. For the ASD kids that can't be around other people, how do they get from one ride to another? And for the ones that can't wait, what would happen if they were on a ride that stopped for an extended period of time (thinking POTC or some other water ride that wouldn't allow for easy evacuation)? Not trying to stir the pot here. I have worked with kids everywhere on the spectrum but never taken one to DW.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

I havnt read through the thread yet, but I want to comment in the article...


1st of all DL ALWAYS a different system then WDW..

When we went About 6 years ago..
You would show you GAC at the front of the line.. You were given a hand written FP.. For the stand by time and . And You were to return within no later then 30min after the return time!! THIS WAS ENFORCED!!! They would then allow you to enter the fast pass line according to your needs.. If you are in a wheelchair you will to go to the wheelchair area.. which ALWAYS long..
So in a way you had to wait twice.... And for those who really NEED the GAC are the for the most part fine with this.... And for those who abuse it, we'll I don't care what you think as this GAC was not meant for you..

It's a little different now where they write it on a GAC card, and then return and enter the FP line.. And your limited to 2 times on headliners...
It's fine with me..

Now as for WDW, I only know about wheelchair access. Due to needing one last time.... And it is true you end up waiting longer then FP in most cases..

 

[hsmamainva]

I'm really curious here. For the ASD kids that can't be around other people, how do they get from one ride to another? And for the ones that can't wait, what would happen if they were on a ride that stopped for an extended period of time (thinking POTC or some other water ride that wouldn't allow for easy evacuation)? Not trying to stir the pot here. I have worked with kids everywhere on the spectrum but never taken one to DW.

Every child with autism is different and has different "things" that set them off.

For my daughter, it used to be dark places. So when we did "Turtle Talk with Crush", we waited with those riders in wheelchairs because it's in a separate, well-lit room...rather than the line that goes into the dark. We didn't get in any faster...we just didn't have to wait in the dark.

My daughter has never been bothered by other people, but large crowds used to upset her. She's now much taller and, therefore, isn't bothered by them.

What did we do? For our first visit, we watched the Wishes fireworks from the parking lot. Every night. It was easier than taking her into the crush of humanity that exists around the castle.

 

[Gantu]

Call me crazy but I really don't care what anyone else is doing when I'm at Disney. EVC users and GAC users, I don't even notice them. I'm there to have the best time ever with my family!

 

[cjstarr]

My biggest problem is knowing if we have the chance to return to WDW is the fact that I will need a GAC even though I will not look like I need it.
Since March 2011 I have had 4 operations that has left me unable to stand or walk for any lenght of time. If I do then I'll start having back spasms so bad that I can not stand without help and will fall and there is nothing I can do about it.
So for those here that have had this problem tell me what is the best way to handle it.

 

[davedmaine]

Last trip heard a CM say, "nobody likes to be thought of as disabled unless they're standing in line at Disney."

 

[hsmamainva]

My biggest problem is knowing if we have the chance to return to WDW is the fact that I will need a GAC even though I will not look like I need it.
Since March 2011 I have had 4 operations that has left me unable to stand or walk for any lenght of time. If I do then I'll start having back spasms so bad that I can not stand without help and will fall and there is nothing I can do about it.
So for those here that have had this problem tell me what is the best way to handle it.

More than likely you would be using an ECV? You wouldn't need a GAC card. You just show up at the handicapped entrance. They will see you are in an ECV and know what to do.

I haven't been to the parks with anyone in an ECV, so I'm not positive about this, but I believe that's the way it works.

 

[BearcatsFan]

My biggest problem is knowing if we have the chance to return to WDW is the fact that I will need a GAC even though I will not look like I need it.
Since March 2011 I have had 4 operations that has left me unable to stand or walk for any lenght of time. If I do then I'll start having back spasms so bad that I can not stand without help and will fall and there is nothing I can do about it.
So for those here that have had this problem tell me what is the best way to handle it.

You need to visit the disABILITIES Board and read the FAQ there. It will be helpful in explaining "hidden" disabilities, mobility issues, etc.

HTH

 

[Robbi]

Last trip heard a CM say, "nobody likes to be thought of as disabled unless they're standing in line at Disney."

Wow

 

[married2mm]

Wow

I know!

I would've taken issue with this and immediately acted upon it,no way would I have let that simply pass me by.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I don't like to fuel these threads, but I will say that I feel bad for those who truly need a GAC and changes may be made because of selfish abusers. I have seen it both ways in the parks myself. A large (12ish people) group going into the Great Movie Ride had one person in a wheelchair, by passed the entire line and went straight in (and yes they did get on a ride vehicle right away). But, on my most recent trip, I watched the side where they had wheelchairs lined up, and they had to wait for an accessible car. They were there from the time I could see them, until we got off of the ride. There were more than one wheelchair in that line, and the stand-by line was really not very long at that point. Hopefully Disney can find a solution to help those who need it and curb the abuse.