DW w/ GAC for 4yrold/Stroller-as-Wheelchair Report

[MousekeMommy]

Hello everyone!
I want to thank you all again for your help in planning my family’s very successful and magical Disney World Vacation! I've been more of a lurker than a poster, but I have asked (and received) a ton of useful advice!
We did end up needing a GAC in order to use a stroller as a wheelchair for my 4 year old who has a heart condition/pacemaker. With the July heat & humidity, we didn’t even make it out of the resort before he was asking to be carried . . . (my “normal” 5 year old was fine without a stroller the entire trip, though—thank goodness!)
Anyway . . . I just wanted to relate our “testimonial experience” for the disability board in hopes that it will give an accurate picture of something that someone might expect . . .
Obtaining the GAC was no problem at all. I just told the CM at guest relations what DS’s medical problem was, how he was dealing with the situation (wearing out quickly from long walks and standing in the heat), and how using a wheelchair or a stroller could appease the problem. That was the easy part . . .
We were told by CMs repeatedly to please park our stroller before we pointed out the obvious special sticker and showed our card. (It is the busy season . . . and you can’t believe how many times those poor CMs were dealing with inexperienced ECV drivers running over others in lines/bumping into walls, and awful guests who were complaining about the wait and the height rules--so of course we got an earful of reproach and questioning from CMs before we received an apology and admittance to the lines.)
Most of the time the GAC was enough to use a wheelchair accessible line immediately (often the same line that everyone else used, like Buzz Lightyear and Pirates of the Carribbean, but sometimes a fastpass line, or special wheelchair line, or sometimes the exit ramp—it’s just that we could keep the stroller—and that was enough to cover our particular need). At Splash Mountain, we were told that we had to get a fastpass to use the wheelchair accessibility line (and that was fine . . .at least we had accessibility!) I had to carry DS through the line for the TeaCups, and some other ride I can’t quite think of right now . . . but it was only 2 for the entire trip! And at some attractions (maybe it was Soarin’?) we had to use the fastpass line, but the CM didn’t make us get one and wait for the time . . . But at the Nemo ride, our wait was longer, even though my son could transfer easily.
So, overall, some wait times were sometimes faster using a special wheelchair access lane, sometimes the same the exact same, and sometimes the wait was longer. It just depended. . . But MY SON’S SPECIAL NEED WAS ALWAYS ACCOMMODATED!!! I am eternally grateful to Disney for that. We live minutes from Kings Island, but never has anyone offered that level of respect and accommodation for our needs at an amusement park!!!
As for “rude comments” . . .
I never heard another guest comment about any special treatment we received (I was probably having too much fun with my boys to notice!) The only CM comment that we received was from a shop attendant at Downtown Disney who told my DS that he was too big to have Mommy push him around in a stroller. I kindly, but firmly, replied “well, he has a heart condition and a pacemaker, so just having him here at all is a blessing and I don’t mind pushing his stroller at all”. She was very apologetic (but I don’t blame her . . . I’d rather educate than lay blame). I’m sure she’ll think twice in the future . . .
But thank you to Sue and CheshireFigment and all the others who have answered my questions as I planned this special trip for 7 long months . . .You have made a difference in the experience (and lives) of my family!
Thank you all again!
Love and Magical Wishes!!!
MousekeMommy

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad to hear you had a great time and that what you found out here was helpful to you.
The only thing I would add is that people need to remember that the GAC may be handled differently for different attractions (as you pointed out) and it can be handled differently for the same person at the same attraction at different times.
So, the biggest thing for people to remember is what you wrote here:

It just depended. . . But MY SON’S SPECIAL NEED WAS ALWAYS ACCOMMODATED!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thanks for your kind comments. It is our (unpaid) job to help people and is nice to see we are appreciated.

 

[5dwarves]

I am so glad you had a magical time and your son was able to enjoy doing so much. I am also very glad to hear you didn't catch any negative comments from other guests. It is always nice to read good news!

 

[Mono~rail]

Our experience was on our May 07 was much like mousekemama's. My DD's needs were always accommodated! I did have to keep pointing the GAC out to CM's who were constantly directing me to stroller parking, but they were apologetic once they looked at the GAC.

 

[MousekeMommy]

Oh, we went to Wiggles Live in November--Sam was great--if they hadn't said anything, my kids probably wouldn't have noticed the switch at all (but my 4 year old has said a prayer for Greg to get better every night since the concert--he has spent a lot of time in the hospital and hates to hear that anyone else has been sick and needs to see the doctor). Anyway, when we went to Wiggles Live, we took a sign that said "Harry and Nelson LOVE Murray Wiggle!" He's their favorite! (My kids also took their microphones and guitars to sing and play along!) Anyway, we held it up on the 1st song, and Murray came down to hug & talk to my kids on the 2nd or 3rd song!!! The experience of a LIFETIME!!! I was just a bit sad that I didn't have a lighter (I don't smoke) in my purse later in the concert when Murray jokingly started into the opening rif of Stairway to Heaven . . . There's something in a Wiggles concert for everyone!!!
MousekeMommy