GAC Abuse -- just sad

[Pesky]

Unbelievable...

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/us/disney-skipping-lines/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[funantiques]

Pitiful. I hope Disney investigates and puts a stop to it.

 

[sherilaine]

They are playing a pretty scary game with Karma doing that!

Are there seriously 2.5 hour waits for It's a Small World at WDW though? That to me seemed a bit of an exageration.

 

[aliceclones]

They are playing a pretty scary game with Karma doing that!

Are there seriously 2.5 hour waits for It's a Small World at WDW though? That to me seemed a bit of an exageration.

I have never heard of a wait that long for IASW at WDW, we are semi-vets and my brother is definitly a WDW vet! Then again, the lady was bragging about her exploits, so i am guessing she was being over the top.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

They are playing a pretty scary game with Karma doing that!

Are there seriously 2.5 hour waits for It's a Small World at WDW though? That to me seemed a bit of an exageration.

When I went to WDW last year the wait was an 1 hour long but I don't recall it being two hours. I know the line at DL can get that long over holiday season

 

[LBIJim]

Do the disabled actually get to "skip the line?" I've always read that, except for rare cases, disabled guests often wait as long or sometimes even longer. I've read that there are alternative waiting areas or other arrangements made. Something tells me that these people who hire disabled guides just "think" they are having shorter waits.

In any case, even if the practice does exist, it doesn't bother me. Disney does offer VIP tours for a hefty price, and if a disabled person can make make an financial windfall while having fun, good for them.

Jim

 

[Melora]

Do the disabled actually get to "skip the line?" I've always read that, except for rare cases, disabled guests often wait as long or sometimes even longer. I've read that there are alternative waiting areas or other arrangements made. Something tells me that these people who hire disabled guides just "think" they are having shorter waits.

In any case, even if the practice does exist, it doesn't bother me. Disney does offer VIP tours for a hefty price, and if a disabled person can make make an financial windfall while having fun, good for them.

Jim

Last time we were at Disneyland I had hurt my knee pretty bad before we went and just couldn't walk for any length of time. I reluctantly got a wheelchair and had my family push me around. We definitely did NOT get to skip all lines and had to wait a considerable time at most rides. They often sent us to alternate waiting areas where they let a few people go at a time. It also depended on if you could get out of the chair which I could, just couldn't stand for long periods but was easily able to get from the disabled area to the ride without problem. But each ride there was a wait and we skipped all the themed line areas so it wasn't as interesting. And there were MANY rides that they simply let the wheelchair go through the line (like the Little Mermaid ride in DCA.)

 

[jenpace]

My 10 year old daughter needs to use a wheelchair for extended walking outings like DL so does get a GAC. This scenario with people hiring a disabled person to piggyback on their GAC is really sickening, it's beyond gross IMHO. What a terrible example these parents are for those kids.

I wonder if Disney can figure out who the people working for this business "service" are. Isn't operating an unofficial tour guide for pay against the rules? It would be great if those individuals could somehow be flagged and banned.

 

[Freesia123]

At certain attractions (dumbo, Alice, pp) you go in the exit and your wait us considerably shorter. It also depends on the accomadation you need. If you are waiting for the boat you can take your wheelchair onto for iasm it can be a lengthy wait.

I'd much rather have to wait than have my dad have a broken neck!

Btw most of the newer rides have wheelchair accessible lines. This means the wait is the same as for everyone else if your only need is wheelchair accessibility.

 

[lalasmama]

I don't buy it... For a few reasons. I read the original article in the New York Post, which, I've been told, often sensationalizes stories. I'm betting this is a gross exageration of the truth. First, touring with someone in an ECV can be a pain--navigating around the crowds, not being able to weave through big groups. Who *wants* to deal with that? Second, I'm not aware of EVCs or people with GACs getting "front of the line" access; I know, at least with my GAC, yes, waits were occasionally shorter, but they don't provide immediate access to the front of the line without a wait. Third, why in the world would a "1%er" brag about this? Fourth, if they are in the 1%, are they REALLY going to care about the $200/hr price difference in doing this vs a DIsney VIP tour guide? I have one good friend who makes a fair living, and is in the top 5%, and he wouldn't flinch at spending the money for the VIP tour, but I promise he and his wife wouldn't be looking for a "cheap" way, when there's more bonuses with the Disney VIP tour. Lastly, the author of the NY Post article is writing a book. Can we say "Great Publicity"?!

 

[ArchOwl]

I can't believe the NY Post is being cited as journalism and being picked up by other legit news sources. That is sad. The original NY Post article is full of exaggeration, half-truths, and outright lies. It is sensationalism at its best. This will only add fuel to the fire and make it harder for those who truly need GACs. I hope no one here on the Disboards believes a word of what the NY Post has to say.

 

[nana50]

I don't buy it... For a few reasons. I read the original article in the New York Post, which, I've been told, often sensationalizes stories. I'm betting this is a gross exageration of the truth. [COLOR="Yellow"[COLOR="Magenta"]]First, touring with someone in an ECV can be a pain--navigating around the crowds, not being able to weave through big groups. Who *wants* to deal with that? Second, I'm not aware of EVCs or people with GACs getting "front of the line" access; [/COLOR]I know, at least with my GAC, yes, waits were occasionally shorter, but they don't provide immediate access to the front of the line without a wait. [/COLOR]Third, why in the world would a "1%er" brag about this? Fourth, if they are in the 1%, are they REALLY going to care about the $200/hr price difference in doing this vs a Disney VIP tour guide? I have one good friend who makes a fair living, and is in the top 5%, and he wouldn't flinch at spending the money for the VIP tour, but I promise he and his wife wouldn't be looking for a "cheap" way, when there's more bonuses with the Disney VIP tour. Lastly, the author of the NY Post article is writing a book. Can we say "Great Publicity"?!

I was with my sister who is in a wheelchair but used an EVC to get around easier. That part was great, I didn't have to push her. Everything else was a pain. Getting to the waiting point, often sitting in the sun for quite a long time, and getting her off and on the rides. It was no picnic I can tell you. We seemed to wait as long as everyone else. Yes you go up to the front to wait, but you wait there.

 

[Mama Who]

Do the disabled actually get to "skip the line?" I've always read that, except for rare cases, disabled guests often wait as long or sometimes even longer. I've read that there are alternative waiting areas or other arrangements made. Something tells me that these people who hire disabled guides just "think" they are having shorter waits.

In any case, even if the practice does exist, it doesn't bother me. Disney does offer VIP tours for a hefty price, and if a disabled person can make make an financial windfall while having fun, good for them.

Jim

It balances out. Yes, for certain rides it is easiest for the CM to board me (I travel with a GAC) quickly and get me out of the way. On other rides I wait much longer than folks in the stand-by line. If you watched me do the dark rides in Fantasyland you might get the impression that I was saving lots of time... but you'd be missing the triple length wait I just had over at Space Mountain and the fact that I couldn't ride Star Tours at all that day because there wasn't an accommodation available, that I can't go to Fantasmic at all and that there are times of day I quite literally cannot leave the park because of the bottleneck areas and may have to sit somewhere for an hour until the crowd thins.

A GAC doesn't give me a VIP experience of Disneyland. A GAC makes it possible for me to go at all and to have *almost* as much access as you do. There are things it cannot do. I am grateful for those it does. I get to do DL at about 90% of "normal" and that's a blessing. (Now if only there was a way to make it work for Fantasmic...)

 

[TheZue]

I hope the IRS looks into this to see if the "guides" are declaring their income.

 

[BryANDJessMom]

I went to DL in April with a friend that is going through cancer treatments. The only ride that we got on quicker was Splash Mountain. We had to wait considerable longer at IASW (they had us wait up by the gate and go down only when it was time to board. Also, on Pirates, the stand-by wait was 20 minutes, we waited 40 minutes to board. So, I think people just assume it is quicker.

 

[bcla]

I will admit that I sometimes go with my parents to federal recreation areas because they've got lifetime senior passes which I paid for ($10 each). I don't feel bad about it. I think part of the reason for the senior passes is to encourage family members to visit with their older relatives.

My dad also got a disabled placard after he injured his shoulder. Hurts like crazy for him to get out of his car. I don't know if it's abusing the privilege to go with him, but he'd never "rent out" his services.

 

[TheZue]

I will admit that I sometimes go with my parents to federal recreation areas because they've got lifetime senior passes which I paid for ($10 each). I don't feel bad about it. I think part of the reason for the senior passes is to encourage family members to visit with their older relatives.

My dad also got a disabled placard after he injured his shoulder. Hurts like crazy for him to get out of his car. I don't know if it's abusing the privilege to go with him, but he'd never "rent out" his services.

Nobody expects that people with a legitimate disability will be separated from their family. Of course it's fine when family goes with them.

 

[Malcon10t]

I can't go to Fantasmic at all <snip> (Now if only there was a way to make it work for Fantasmic...)

Out of curiosity, why can't you do Fantasmic!?

 

[Disney Dreams]

I saw this article yesterday and was surprised I didn't see any chat about it here.

Pitiful. I hope Disney investigates and puts a stop to it.

If they are traveling together throughout the day and not going over the limit of people stamped on their GAC, they are utilizing it within the guidelines. They aren't selling the GAC (which is not allowed), they are selling their "touring services" and the guide just happens to need a GAC (cough cough). They aren't violating any rules... technically. Unfortunately.

... (Now if only there was a way to make it work for Fantasmic...)

Clearly I don't know what your limitations are and why you have a GAC, but could you share why you can't do Fantasmic! ? There are all sorts of accommodations offered for viewing the show depending upon ones needs.

- Dreams

 

[cats mom]

Out of curiosity, why can't you do Fantasmic!?

Clearly I don't know what your limitations are and why you have a GAC, but could you share why you can't do Fantasmic! ? There are all sorts of accommodations offered for viewing the show depending upon ones needs.

- Dreams

I'm wondering as well. I wasn't particularly impressed with the way entrance to the accessible area was handled the time we used it. We were there long before anyone else, but were directed to the wrong place to wait, so certainly didn't end up in the best spot. We were able to see the show though.

While The NY Post may be sensationalist tabloid journalism I'm sure there are elements of truth to the story, and I find that sad on many levels.