DL GAC question UPDATE

[poopie]

It seems that DL is not issuing GAC's at all. I had no luck getting one. I saw several other people with no luck as well. I never did see anyone with one in 4 days we were there.

They are sending wheelchairs and ECV's into the main lines.

They say if you have an endurance problem you should be in a wheelchair and use the regular lines.

Children with probelms are being told to use their strollers as wheelchairs. I ran into a woman with a child that clearly could not stand in line and they basically told her to strap the kid in the stroller and wait in line. She said the child would scream the whole time and be a nusicance to other guests if she had to do this. They told her too bad.

They said if you cannot negotiate the stairs at an attraction to ask the cast member at the etrance and they will let you use the elevator.

At Splash Mtn. there is usually a cast member manning the back entrance and people in line for assistance, there was no one in line and no cast member manning the post.

After being denied a GAC and talking to 2 supervisors the answers to my issues were:

If I need to sit next to an exit at a show in case I need to leave, I need to explain that to the cast memeber at each attraction each time. I asked if I have to explain my medical condition each time I want to do this and they said yes.

While I use fast pass somethimes they are out and with assistance they would give me one to come back later. I asked about this. They said contact the cast memeber at the entrance and tell them to give me one. Yeah I can see how well this will go over if I walk up and ask for a fast pass when there are no more. I will tell them guest services said. lol. Yeah that will work.

I brought up my fear of getting stuck in a line and not being able to go to the bathroom. They said to find a cast member for assistance. I asked if there are cast members in the middle of all the lines and was told no. I asked if I was supposed to just knock people out of my way to get out and was basically told yes whatever I have to do to get out of line.

We saw a man on Pooh and they sent him in the regular line in his ECV then embarassed him by stopping the ride making him check that his ECV would make the corner from the REGULAR line. He did this, if this wasn't bad enough they then made him BACK it back into line. Good thing he was a good driver he did not have much room to manuver in. Then he had to do it all over when it was his turn to ride. All this time they have the ride stopped and everyone was staring at him.

I saw people with children trying to get their money back after finding out they no longer offer assistance and they would only issue return tickets not refunds.

While I will live and just avoid non fast pass rides when I am having an issue, I feel bad for the children and their parents that need help to enjoy the parks. Disney no longer seems intrested in helping them.


So that's the way it is at Disneyland. I hope WDW stays the same, I will just have to spend more time there.

**************8


Usually I just go to Guest Services and hand them my old card and they hand me a new one without me having to explain my medical problems. Since DL has changed their system I was just looking at my old card and it is from October. Should I be able to give it to them in exchange for a new one or will I have to explain my health problems over again?

This is what I usually do at WDW as well just hand them my old one and get a new one.

I don't want to have to explain all my health problems to a stranger with no medical training, what's the point.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Under the ADA (and the Disney rules) you do NOT have to explain your diagnosis. What you should be able to say is:

"Due to certain medical problems I have, I need the following so I can enjoy the Park without pain or ill effects."

In other words, just explain what your needs are. Note that for avoiding prolonged walking or standing (stamina issues) they will suggest you use a wheelchair or ECV. The new Guest Assistance Cards (not Passes) will not give "front-of-line" access.

 

[poopie]

Thanks

I don't mind telling my barage of medical problems to a doctor or nurse but I'd rather not have to explain it to a lay person.

If the GAC is like the I get at WDW then it should be fine, I don't use it all the time only when needed and mostly for shows so I can sit near the exit in case I need to make an "emergency" run for the bathroom.

They don't call me poopie for nothing.

 

[poopie]

bump for update

 

[cupcake]

Here is my DL trip report

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=596631&highlight=+peace

I suggest that you write to DL and express your need for a GAC with a specific message (mine would be "I need to wait in line out of the sun because I have medication indiced photosensitivity and need to know in advance how much sun exposure I will get." Yours would be different, but equally meaningful for your needs.

I think they are in a transition period re what needs they will help other than straight ADA accessibility (and they didn't do that great with that either). At least, I hope so. I fully realize how miserable it is for you, and hope that if they get enough comments they will change things. It seems to be an education thing--I absolutely do not care how much I wait if I can wait out of the sun, but they don't seem to get that. I am NOT trying to skip lines. I hope your trip overall was happy but I know this kind of situation is difficult.

Cupcake

 

[poopie]

It does seem there goal is ADA acessibility and they have taken all the magic out of going to DL for many. We had just come from our wedding planning session and were let down to have been given such a we don't care anymore mantra from Guest Relations.

It's not like we want the assistance to ride rides over and over again. In 4 days we went on 6 rides. In line for TOT I had to back out of the line to go to make an emergency potty trip, then get back in line. I am on immuno suppresent drugs and the less time I spend on line with strangers coughing on me the better. I was happy to wait my turn when I was able to go in the exit of rides and wait with a clear exit to the potty and in a less "germy" environment.

I know there were time I waited longer for rides like Indiana Jones and Pirates just to be able to wait in a non crowded area, in fact one time my frineds went in and on the ride then back in again and were in the same care as I was and I had gone into line before their 1st ride.

I think DisneyLand is making a big mistake and just killing more of the magic.

 

[kathyk2]

It seems to me the cast members want you to do what is easiest for them and not the ADA. The ADA calls for reasonable accomodation based on the person's disability. I don't see how putting an autistic child in a stroller is going to help them avoid a meltdown. What is Disneyland's offical policy on assisting guests with disabilities? I'd have a copy of their policy with me next time I visit the park.

 

[poopie]

I asked to see the policy and they won't give it out.

 

[SueM in MN]

They are still in a learning process at DL; it's unfortunate for the people going now, but in time, it should be better.
I know that they did work with disabilities groups to come up with their process and policy, but exactly what disabilities the people in those groups have would make a difference in what they see as necessary. For example, a group that includes mostly paraplegics who are able to transfer by themselves or people who are ambulatory, but need a wheelchair for distances would give a lot different feedback than the parents of a child with autism or multiple disabilities.
I have read mostly good things though about how things are going at DL. I have heard from people with children with autism who expected they would be told to just wait in the regular line who were very pleased with the treatment they ended up with. I think at this point, there is a lot of inconsistency in what is happening since CMs are not really sure of what to do and if people are not able to explain their needs in a way that the CMs can understand, they can't help, even if they are willing to.

 

[cupcake]

Sue wrote, "I think at this point, there is a lot of inconsistency in what is happening since CMs are not really sure of what to do and if people are not able to explain their needs in a way that the CMs can understand, they can't help, even if they are willing to."

I think your need also has to be something that they recognize as a need. Photosentivity clearly isn't a covered accommodation, at least when I went there very recently. "Wear a hat, it is sunny in California" followed by the "you can't go to the front of the line" speech is far from ideal. Maybe I am spoiled from WDW, but it is a genuine medical need and I don't think it is right to treat people making a medical request like they are trying to skip lines.

If anyone from DL is reading this, you need to recognize photosensitivity as a need. Because so many lines are sunny, you should issue a card with a return time and then let the card holder into the attraction without a sunny wait. Or provide a map with the areas of the line that are shaded/sunny and the appropximate wait time so guests can figure that into their sun time or at least know which attractions to avoid if they can't manage that (not great but better than suddenly landing in the sun for big chunks of time with no warning). Or shade the lines. I am sure guests in general would appreciate it.

Sorry for my irritation, but sun poisoning is no picnic and it is very belittling to be told "bring an umbrella." HELLO! Like that works.

Cupcake

 

[kathyk2]

Cupcake do you watch Extreme Home Makeover? They are remodeling the home of a young girl who has sun poisioning. The episode will air next Sunday.

 

[Nik's Mom]

The problem with DL is that way too many people found out and took advantage of GAC. These people just wanted to cut the line. Now those people who really need it are suffering. I hope DL figures things out. It's a shame you experienced such poor treatment.