Disney Stricter about GAC?!?!

[littlemermaid]

I think you hit the nail on the head with that one KPeveler. I guess the point is you just need to be specific with what your NEEDS are and not just what the condition is.

 

[NicoleDisneyFan]

I am not trying to say anything bad but I have IBS and un controlled diabetes that causes me to be in the bathroom most of my day at times but never thought once about getting a GAC. Back when I was pregnant with my ds at disneyland, I asked about a wheel chair because I had a lot of problems with the pregnancy and couldnt last long standing but was given a GAC. I wish there was a way that I could have used it while my able body dh stood in line and then I could enter. There is a lot of people using the GAC at disneyland. I would like people to need a doctors note to crack down on fraud so the people who need it can actually would not be questioned.

 

[BeckyScott]

I agree. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a good way to do that.

There's the doctor note. To begin with, it isn't legal to ask for one. But even if it was, there would still be problems. Some doctors are more cooperative than others. Some doctors may be overly-cooperative, if you know what I mean. You'd get into a whole issue of validity, does it need to be a physician? How about a psychiatrist's note? What about guests that don't use traditional medicine? What about all the people in the universe that have the skill to "create" a doctor's note?

And you can't rubber-stamp a diagnosis with a particular type of GAC. Everyone is different, so the logic would be you should go worst-case scenario with them. It's sort of like being pregnant, and how some stores you will find "expectant mom" parking. Some pregnant women have all sorts of problems and really need a close parking space, and others are doing aerobics up until delivery day. If you just have one GAC for one condition, there would be plenty of people that didn't need so much accomodation taking advantage of the opportunity.

I would be able to slap down a 3" stack of paperwork on DS's diagnosis, and someone off the street would think he was a mess. But when you see him, not so much. Yes, he still needs a GAC, but diagnostic stuff is hard for a layperson to interpret. So doing the GAC ahead of time based on some form or sending in paperwork isn't so great either. I'd love to have the GAC before we even go, just to have that out of the way and not have to stop that first morning. But Disney handing them out, literally "sight unseen", that's not a good idea.

When we went to Silver Dollar City, they had one standard letter they used for autism. It served as a GAC. It actually read alot like that sample letter. It didn't say autism on it, it had the usual bit about a disability that impacts the guest's ability to wait and sensory problems. But it was the same letter for every kid with autism. Silver Dollar City is not the size of Disney, though, and I got the impression that people don't ask for their "GAC" very often-- the lady at Guest Relations knew exactly what to do, but many of the employees hadn't seen one before. And when I called on the phone beforehand to ask them if it even existed, I got transferred several times before getting an answer. So they aren't as common there, and using a form letter works fine for them because very few guests use them. It wasn't FOTL though, it was Wheelchair Entrance, it did cut wait time down but we still did have to wait a little bit. But it gave DS the ability to move around without being crunched up.

 

[breezy1077]

We actually did take his diagnosis "stack" with us too - just in case. All I know is that we did the physicians note and diagnosis just in case we ran into someone who did not understand and maybe that would have helped in her case? Who knows but we'll do the same with every trip...just in case.

 

[twinspluscade]

I am not trying to say anything bad but I have IBS and un controlled diabetes that causes me to be in the bathroom most of my day at times but never thought once about getting a GAC. Back when I was pregnant with my ds at disneyland, I asked about a wheel chair because I had a lot of problems with the pregnancy and couldnt last long standing but was given a GAC. I wish there was a way that I could have used it while my able body dh stood in line and then I could enter. There is a lot of people using the GAC at disneyland. I would like people to need a doctors note to crack down on fraud so the people who need it can actually would not be questioned.

I agree. In fact, Breezy's earlier post--which has since been edited--really rubbed me the wrong way. There are lots of 2 and 3 year olds who also meltdown while waiting in line--does that mean that next there will be a GAC for toddlers?! Why should her child get to ride without waiting (more than once, no less) when there are tons of kids who have a hard time waiting in line. I think it's great they have the GAC for people who really need it, but I think sometimes people do take advantage of it.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Well first of all, I'm not trying to find a way to get out of lines, just standing in them-that's what leads to issues for me.

Have you considered using a wheelchair or ECV? If sitting helps, perhaps using one of those while in line will help.

Also, if you go at a non-busy time of year, you'll have hardly a line at all for most rides.

I don't know if stress makes it worse or not, but if so, bring a stress-relieving item with you, such as a squeeze ball or soft stuffed animal that you can use in line.

 

[momejay]

IBS is painful at times, I have had for years, but there are treatments & things one can do, like get a fast pass. I drink bottled water & eat mostly my own foods.
When your 12 year old is acting like a 2 year old most people believe it is bad parenting. The GAC gives us an opportuinity to allow my DS to have his tantrum without tourturing those around him. It also minimizes the stares from rude people. He also doesn't have to stand next to the child waving around his icecream or lollipop. It becomes more of a safety issue for everyone.
I don't think the average person realizes that it probably takes us twice as long to see half as much. We have to retreat to quiet places when over stimulated, wait for 3 buses because the first 2 have no working lift, wait for the wheelchair boat or assistance from castmember, take afternoon naps, diaper changes, go back to the hotel's kitchen to cook dinner...
Then there is always at least one rude family taking turns throwing water on each other in the companion bathroom...
So does our GAC get us to front of the line faster? Yes, but without it my DD would never get to Disney World just because her brother is special.
People should be glad they don't need a GAC instead of selling them or buying them on the internet!

 

[breezy1077]

I agree. In fact, Breezy's earlier post--which has since been edited--really rubbed me the wrong way. There are lots of 2 and 3 year olds who also meltdown while waiting in line--does that mean that next there will be a GAC for toddlers?! Why should her child get to ride without waiting (more than once, no less) when there are tons of kids who have a hard time waiting in line. I think it's great they have the GAC for people who really need it, but I think sometimes people do take advantage of it.

I'll gladly give up the GAC and wait in a thousand lines in exchange for my DS to be able to lead life without his "handicap" (I hate that word, but don't know what else to use).

Someone with an autistic child does not deal with "normal" meltdowns. I have a typically developing 4 year old and, trust me, her "toddler" meltdowns don't even compare. For us, the GAC allows us to experience disney on a more level playing field. Like I said before, we went to Busch Gardens, spent nearly $400 just to have him ride one ride. If by taking advantage of it, you mean using it -then... yes, we did. I hope this post doesn't come across as angry, just frustrated.

To respond to your question, "why should her child..." Let me say this:

why did I have to wait 4 years just to hear my child call me mommy or say he loves me, or be able to ask for a glass of milk?

why can't my child still not be able to tell me about his day

why does my child have to go through the agony of sensory integration disfunction

why can't my son experience the joy of friendship?

why does my child have to be taught over and over again the simple task of holding his own fork and not being able to use it?

why does my child have to experience gagging on almost all foods

I could go on and on, but will leave you with this...walk a mile in my shoes or better yet, walk a mile in my son's....

 

[SueM in MN]

I think this thread has run its course and it's a good time to close it.

One of the points I try to make as a Moderator is that the GAC is NOT meant to shorten or eliminate waits in line. It says that right on the card.
It is meant to do just what be just what the name sounds like - a Card that tells the CMs what sorts of Assistance a Guest needs.
The type of assistance needed will vary with the needs of the guest. The type of assistance available at the attraction will vary depending on the type of attraction, the staffing right then, how many other people are waiting and many, many other factors. Sometimes, depending on the needs of the guest and all those other factors, it might mean a shorter wait.
But, I have also seen situations where someone said they used a GAC and had a short wait when everyone coming to that attraction had a short wait. Things like Festival of the Lion King, the Indiana Jones Stunt Show, Fantasmic that have huge capacity and the person would have in all likelihood gotten in without a GAC.
Knowing when to go to an attraction can mean short waits - and that can be more helpful than a GAC. If the attractions are not busy, the rest of the park is not busy. We have gone on many attractions over and over, just by knowing when to be there. In most late afternoon in AK, anyone can go on Kali River Rapids as many times as they want, as fast as they can walk thru the line - no wheelchair or GAC involved. You can do the same thing early in the morning in Fantasyland at MK. We've even done it during Easter.
That is why knowledge can be so helpful.