Thank you all for your replies!
You don't need to get a Guest Assistance Card everyday. It will be issued for length of stay. You can find guest services at any of the parks.
As far as people having a hard time getting a GAC, I have not heard that. They by law can not ask for proof of a disability.
As far as others, just tell them to mind their own business. If you encounter another CM giving you a hard time about your disabilities or making comments, ask for their supervisor right then and there and report them. It is none of their business either as to why a person needs those accommodations or a
ECV. It is just their job to try and make those accommodations.
Ok, that's good to know. Thank you. I could not deal with having to ask every day! So, can I go work on getting a GAC right when I get to Florida or do I have to wait until my first day in the park?
Oh trust me, I told someone when the CM gave me some not so nice comments. He looked young, possibly just some jerk kid tired at the end of a shift. I'll gauge my pain when I get there I guess.
Keep in mind that the GAC is NOT supposed to be used to skip lines or shorten your wait time (except for a few special MAW situations). In fact, the GAC will say on it "NOT DESIGNED TO SHORTEN WAIT TIME" (or something to that effect).
If you don't have the ability to "stand lines whatsoever", the GAC will not be able to cover that - it may provide you with an alternative place to wait and/or an alternative line in which to wait (depends on the ride, time of day, who else is there, etc.)., but it will still mean waiting in some bit of a line.
Many people find that touring plans are most helpful for limiting the length of time in line - by putting you in the least crowded area of the park.
Also, as others have said, the standard accomodation for not being able stand for long periods of time is to get an ECV or wheelchair. Having one, does not mean that you have stay in it all day, but it will give you some place to rest when you need it.
Alternative is OK with me. I know that I have seen many people say it took longer but the area made it easier on them. Skipping lines wasn't really my "goal" because part of me would feel guilty. I just know that some rides I'm like "I just can't stand here, I'll wait the time...just not here!"
True. I planned on just doing what I do in my day-to-day life, walking and then sitting on a bench and "soaking up the magic" so to speak, while I rest a bit. Resting doesn't
really help, but I'll do it. I'm still stubborn about my pains, I fight it as much as I can.
I agree that you're going to have to do a lot of research and figure out what realistic expectations are. There are some things that you list as issues that are simply unavoidable at Disney. There are lines for things other than rides and shows. Waiting for transportation, bag check, turnstiles, food lines. There are no way around them, and they all can be very crowded. There are always going to be people around you. You can't completely avoid crowds and lines. A GAC will not help you with any of that.
With the pain you say you're in, how do you expect to get around any other way than an ECV or wheelchair? If you can't stand, you'll need one of these no matter what. The rides are not always smooth moving, and you will get bumped and jerked around to varying degrees on a lot of them. Again, there's no way around that. You can avoid some of the rougher rides but depending on the severity of your issues (and if I'm reading correctly, they're pretty severe) you may find this jolting to be too much.
As far as shows go, usually CMs are pretty accomedating with helping you get a seat towards the front so that you can see. I wouldn't be worried about the shows if I were you, I'd be more concerned about dark buildings and lines, because there's quite a few of them.
This next comment is probably going to come across as mean but I'm going to say it because it's the truth. You can't travel through Disney in a magic bubble, and Disney (no matter how magical people believe it to be) can only provide you with so much. I'm not trying to scare you off, and I promise I'm not trying to be mean. You have to go into it with realistic expectations otherwise you're going to be cranky and angry and disappointed when you get there. You have to accept that its going to be a lot of work to deal with everything.
Oh I understand that. I go into the parks later in the day anyway and normally the wait isn't too bad and I can deal with that. For the food, one I'm not a big eater other than meals do to stomach issues (yeah, MORE issues) and I have friends/family who are more than understanding and will probably just sit me down at a table and bring me my snack & soda. I can handle tables, as long as they aren't smooshed together, and I haven't had that issue in Disney. I have reservations and/or plans for Dinner.
Well, I know it's going to be hard and painful. I can stand/walk, but it's a challenge. Like I stated above, I'll just take lots of breaks. I planned this trip/hotel so I could leave the park and rest in my room in the late afternoon (when my pain peaks no matter what I have done) maybe get lunch at the hotel and have it be relaxed. When I get there I might regret my decision of no
ECV and end up ordering one.
I'm not much of a ride person. Although movement in "vehicles" has never really upset me too much. I know I can't do the "bad" rollercosters. That's fine with me, I hate drops!
Well as long as the shows are ok. Last time when in a dark building in line I just kind of watched the shoes person infront of me haha. It worked out. If my friends pull through, I won't be alone for most of the trip so I should be ok walking in the dark if they get infront of me.
Oh don't worry, that didn't sound mean at all. This is the internet, you don't know my personality and I might sound like I need a "reality check" ... I know I won't have every little detail perfect, I'll just try to get the best I can. Before my disability went into "overdrive" I was pretty hardcore!
These days with my pain some days I may be able to go for hours walking and some I may struggle getting to the gate.
My mental stuff is kind of spotty. Slow moving lines INSIDE freak me out, slow moving lines outside are somewhat ok (for anxiety), drink lids freak me out, public transit is no problem. It's OCD it makes no sense and is really hard to describe.
I have never known of anyone being turned away from Guest Services because they weren't believed. I can't remember a single person reporting that on this board.
The person who told you that a note from your doctor would help was wrong. You need to be able to tell the Guest Services what your issues are---not your diagnoses. The people who answered you above were correct. There is NO front of the line pass, no way to skip lines, no place to sit down in line....and often you will wait longer with a GAC than without one. When I went with my extended family, I brought my own ECV. One or two people would go with me and the rest were together. Often the other group finished a ride way before I did (although I was always in the front of our group.) A couple of times the teenagers rode twice in the same time it took me to ride once!
Going in an uncrowded time, using a good touring plan, utilizing fast pass and using either a WC or ECV for mobility is probably your best way to go.
Well that's a load off my mind. I bet that lady was just crazy and trying to scare people off. I didn't know her personally, she had a few Disney pins and my mom made a comment asking her if she was a Disney World fan, then she went on this rant about her daughter. The other 2 people I heard this from where also not friends and possibly faking.
Alright, I'll probably write up a "script" on the plane then to make sure I don't forget anything.
I don't know what kind of pass my friend had, but her Cousin is autistic and the whole family literally passed
all the lines. So to say they don't exist isn't really true from what I have
personally seen. I just don't think I'm eligible.
I have read that on here, I guess if the wait time is somewhat reasonable or I have a fastpass and the line moves I don't have to show them my GAC? Normally I go on rides when some show that I have seen is going on and the lines are really short.
Well, I guess the fact that my mother who is a person who always told me to fight, fight, fight and not use a wheelchair tells me I need one...maybe I really do. That seems to be the general opinion on here as well.
A bunch of good points on here. I have a GAC, and it doesn't get rid of the people....trust me on that one!! There's ALWAYS people around you, you can't avoid that at all. Go during a slower time of the year, except, I'm not sure when that is anymore LOL And eat at places avoiding the peak times, like lunch at 11, dinner at 5, and that'll cut down on the people in those places. The GAC will NOT help with the food lines, the turnstile lines, none of that. It does help with getting to an alternate waiting area on some rides, usually you sit in the back for shows, but if you require up front viewing, the CM's will probably accomodate you. As for the pain, I take hydrocodone while at the parks, it doesn't make me loopy or anything, and I'm young, with a relatively invisible issue of Muscular Dystrophy. I can walk, if we're there for only a couple of hours, if we're there longer, I have a manual chair. I get looks, but don't really care. I have yet to encounter a person who says something. Any aids I use, I do make my own, like my leg braces are painted, my wheelchair has pads that I made with Disney fabric, and my cane is a water type blue pattern. Stuff like that helps me, cause people don't look down at my legs, and frown, they wonder about them. I get LOTS of complements on them as well. They're bright orange, with black stripes, and personally signed by Tigger. So, go, have fun, there are rides to avoid with pain, Dinosaur in AK, Stitch in MK, sometimes Space Mtn can hurt me, and thunder also, it depends on how I feel that day, when I've taken my meds, and if I'm walking or not. The GAC has been a God send, and has helped me quite a bit. I even go more often, because it does help that much. Enjoy, and if you have any questions, you can PM me!! I'll be glad to tell you my stories, I'm at the parks 2-3 times a week!
Thanks for the tips.
I'm not going to be unrealistic about this, I know I can't have the park to myself haha. It's a park. Some situations are more stressful. I know I will be skipping most of the parades because those stress me out (and people like to stand on the back/floor of your EVC as well. Jerks. I'm not a step stool!) I have reservations for dinner and plan lunch outside the parks.
I hope they help with the vision. I can walk enough to get up close for sure. I'd rather groan for a minute and have an hour of sitting entertainment that I can enjoy than have no vision! Plus, I have never done any of those rides. I'm more of a "gawker" in Disney. I don't like many rides, I'm a big fan of shows.
Aw that sounds so cute! That's an idea! Tigger is awesome!
Unfortunately, I don't have any meds powerful enough right now. I have been on a trial and error, mostly error. I'm really sensitive to medication.
What I have right now really doesn't feel like much more than a double dose of Tylenol. I see my doctor tomorrow, I'll see what she has to say. My trip is way to close to try something really strong now.
Thanks! I'm going to send you a message now.
I'm sorry about your pains by the way

I know someone with that...wow. Glad you can enjoy Disney!