Fantasmic special seating...

[krismom]

Has anyone used their GAC for special seating at Fantasmic? Where is it- I'm worried about my sons reaction if it's too close to the stage- also, do they generally allow the whole group to sit there- or is it similar to parade handicapped viewing areas, where only one member of the party can stay?
We tried desperately to get a dinner package to avoid having to line up 2 hours ahead- but they are all booked!
(He doesn't have a sight impairment- I'm just not sure about lining up and waiting for the show)
Thanks in advance for any help or info-

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You don't have to worry, special seating for Fantasmic is all the way at the back of the stadium. and there is room for a reasonable number of the party to stay with the special needs guest.

 

[Earstou]

I think the last three rows are the disabilities section. The back row has spaces for wheelchairs and ecvs, with room for one person to sit beside the space. The rest of the party sits in the rows ahead.

 

[Kirlinale]

We did the Fant. Dinner Package and it was not really worth it if you are going to use the H'capped area anyway. Just make sure you are prepared to get there as early as you can, however, even as busy as it was, the HC area did not fill up as quickly but WAS full later on . Since the line does not move for a while you can always have a family memeber keep place in line and then go across with your child and get a treat, by the time the line starts moving you can join your party.

The HC area is at the Top, not too close but close enough so you can see. I sat next to my child in her Chair, my DH and two kids sat in front of us. When the show got to loud for my daughter (she can be sound sensitvie) we just stepped back and walked a little until that part was over, since you are at the top it is easy to get in and out if you need to. There was a child that was not in a W/Chair and had a GAC (don't know why) but he and his family was seated in two rows down from the Top , they were trying to keep the top row for ECV/Chairs.

It is our favorite show! Enjoy

 

[LivingDreams]

"There was a child that was not in a W/Chair and had a GAC (don't know why) but he and his family was seated in two rows down from the Top "


Just because a child is not in a wheel chair doesn't mean that they do not have a handicap. Yes I get very offended by statements like that especially from someone with a "special needs child". My son is Autistic and looks perfectly normal! Well until he bangs his head into a wall until it bleeds because he sees or hears something that gets to him. Handicap does NOT always mean wheelchair.

 

[Figaro]

LivingDreams wrote: "Just because a child is not in a wheel chair doesn't mean that they do not have a handicap. Yes I get very offended by statements like that especially from someone with a "special needs child". My son is Autistic and looks perfectly normal! Well until he bangs his head into a wall until it bleeds because he sees or hears something that gets to him. Handicap does NOT always mean wheelchair."

Tone is very difficult to "hear" in online communications. What I interpreted the comment: "There was a child that was not in a W/Chair and had a GAC (don't know why) but he and his family was seated in two rows down from the Top" by Kirlinale to mean was that they were trying to reassure the original writer that it didn't matter whether or not the child with a need was in a wheelchair or not because they would have the same level of accessibility to Fantasmic.

I have generally found it best with online communication to assume the best possible interpretation possible. Hope this helps!

 

[Kirlinale]

My DD has a inoperable brainstem tumor and is independantly mobile MOST of the time, she also as various other health and medical conditions such as behavioural, intractible epilepsy, global developmental delays, sensory intergration and autistic like behaviour and yet looks totally typical, she does NOT use a wheelchair on a regular basis, but does so in places like the mall or Disney etc. due to her numerous medical conditions. We rarely use it for short trips.. My intent was that the OP who was asking was concerend where her child was going to sit. I assumed that he was using a GAC without a chair and since I did not know the people I saw at Fantasmic I could not assume what disabilities he had, but , was explaining where they placed the people without wheelchairs and GAC's. I thank the other poster for clarifying my intent , which is exactly as it should have been taken, that there were people using GACS that were not seated in the Wheelchair row at top, but, rather in the two rows in front which was assuming where her child would be seated if he was not in a chair.. I would not nor have ever intended to assume a child without a chair is not handicapped .I would be doing my own child an injustice. I am sorry if were offended by my post and if the moderators feel it needs to be edited for clarity I will do so.. but my intent was just to explain where those with GACS and no chairs were seated.. but I could not say if it was a term of the GAC (visual or other) that they were seated in that particular area because I did not know why they had a GAC, just that they had one and were seated into that row...

Your interpretation of my post was not anywhere close to what I was trying to say so I am sorry if you felt offended.

Nicole

LivingDreams wrote: "Just because a child is not in a wheel chair doesn't mean that they do not have a handicap. Yes I get very offended by statements like that especially from someone with a "special needs child". My son is Autistic and looks perfectly normal! Well until he bangs his head into a wall until it bleeds because he sees or hears something that gets to him. Handicap does NOT always mean wheelchair."

Tone is very difficult to "hear" in online communications. What I interpreted the comment: "There was a child that was not in a W/Chair and had a GAC (don't know why) but he and his family was seated in two rows down from the Top" by Kirlinale to mean was that they were trying to reassure the original writer that it didn't matter whether or not the child with a need was in a wheelchair or not because they would have the same level of accessibility to Fantasmic.

I have generally found it best with online communication to assume the best possible interpretation possible. Hope this helps!

I

 

[LivingDreams]

My apologies, Nicole.
I hear so many negative comments from people about my sons "non-visual" handicap. "He looks fine to me, why should he get to go ahead?" And yes I jumped the gun I suppose when reading your post last night. I do apologize.

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad to see the misunderstanding got cleared up.

I have generally found it best with online communication to assume the best possible interpretation possible. Hope this helps!

Always good words to remember.
In most cases on the disABILITIES Board, people are posting with the best possible intentions.

I am sorry if were offended by my post and if the moderators feel it needs to be edited for clarity I will do so.. but my intent was just to explain where those with GACS and no chairs were seated.. but I could not say if it was a term of the GAC (visual or other) that they were seated in that particular area because I did not know why they had a GAC, just that they had one and were seated into that row...

Your interpretation of my post was not anywhere close to what I was trying to say so I am sorry if you felt offended.

Nicole

I read your post soon after you wrote it and thought it was clear - I understood it the same way as Figaro did, so I didn't add anything or post myself at that time. It was basically what I would have said:
The back row is reserved for people with wheelchairs/ECVs/special needs strollers, etc. because it is the only row that is wheelchair accessible; the rows below it require several steps down.
The last row is not suited for seating since it is mostly open spaces where ECVs and wheelchairs can be parked. Along with the open spaces, there are scattered seats where one person can sit next to the person using the wheelchair or ECV.

The 2 rows in front of the back row are reserved for the parties of the people using wheelchairs and ECVs and other people with special needs who don't have a wheelchair/ECV/special needs stroller or who can get out of it and walk down the few steps to sit. I have seen families with GACs directed to sit in those 2 rows below the very last row.

 

[MickeyMirth]

We did the Fant. Dinner Package and it was not really worth it if you are going to use the H'capped area anyway. Just make sure you are prepared to get there as early as you can, however, even as busy as it was, the HC area did not fill up as quickly but WAS full later on .

This is good to know. I opted not to do the package for our upcoming trip because I figured me and my scooter would be in the accessible/special needs section. Don't mind waiting in line and now I know to get there earlier than I anticipated! Thanks for the info.