ECV and GAC

[Foodog]

I have been reading a lot here and have decided to take some advice, but also have a few questions.

I was at WDW in october and was in a WC being pushed by my wife. *I have constant pain and a foot drop from a surgery gone bad so I wear a molded AFO to walk distance or stairs without falling. *I did not like the chair and especially did not like the looks and stares, plus I was not easy to push around for 5 days. *I have rented a ECV $80 a week for a HD in my home town and I will bring it in the truck with me. *Here is what I want to know. *I got a horrible heat rash from the brace last time an think I might not wear it and use a cane from the ECV to the ride. *I hate the looks and the stares especially from other elderly dissabled folks like when I use handicapped parking. I also experienced some of that at WDW when HC spaces were full at shows. *When people see the brace I feel I am justified to use my accomodations. *When I do not wear it I feel I am *being judged as a faker or someone with grannies parking pass.

*What it more important? Mental comfort by wearing the brace and shorts so no one says anything or I do not think people judge me. *Or use the scooter leave the brace and avoid the physical discomfort and try to ignore the stares.

Also I was told by a CM in October to get a GAC if I wanted to use the alternate entrance. *So I had to wheel from frontierland to town hall and was given one after explainig that I could not walk far or do stairs. Plus he said the bace was evidence that I needed one. *I did not get asked for it much, but at least once or twice at each park trying to use the HC entrance at shows or rides and I was in a chair. I assume I should get a GAC again?

 

[Bete]

Never and I mean never have I cared about what others think in this department. You know your limitations and you have just as much right as anyone else to enjoy Disney in the best way possible for you.

I had one bad experience in my time at Disney and I asked the party if they would like to trade situations? I didn't go on and on, but I wasn't about to just take it, either. Once I took my ground, the party moved on. I wouldn't start a war over it, but I'm not timid, either. You have to get a thick skin about things like this.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also I was told by a CM in October to get a GAC if I wanted to use the alternate entrance. *So I had to wheel from frontierland to town hall and was given one after explainig that I could not walk far or do stairs. Plus he said the bace was evidence that I needed one. *I did not get asked for it much, but at least once or twice at each park trying to use the HC entrance at shows or rides and I was in a chair. I assume I should get a GAC again?

If you are using a wheelchair or ECV in line, you do not need a GAC.
There is a new guidemap for disabilities for each park (well, new since early 2009). These maps list the wheelchair/handicapped entrance for each attraction. You do not need a GAC to use the entrance listed on that map with a wheelchair or ECV. Trying to use an entrance other than the listed entrance will require a GAC (and may not even be possible - many people think that all attractions have some 'special' way for guests with wheelchairs/ECV to enter, but most do not).

There are some entrances that are wheelchair accessible, but not ECV accessible. In some cases, this means it is not accessible to the large, less manouverable park rental ECVs, but power wheelchairs and small ECVs can go in the line. Those attractions do have wheelchairs that guests with large ECVs can transfer to, but the guest or someone in their party will need to push them.
If someone chooses to walk in line, but needs to avoid stairs in the few attractions that have stairs, they will need a GAC unless they have a very visible need. If you have a problem with the greeter CM, ask for a manager.