GAC Abuse -- just sad

[Happy 2 B Me]

I am irate over this article. The writer of the article just made using GAC much harder for the guests actually needing this service. Cm's can and might make guests with GAC's wait longer to discourage misuse of special needs boarding of attractions. (My husband had to have attractions with moving areas stop so he could board-- ya we are the ones to blame when attractions like Space ship earth play the message not to get out of moving coach ride will start again very soon-- blah blah blah)


Gacs are to hard to regulate. CM's seeing the same GAC users over and over again with different "family members" could bring questions to mind.

Now for the biggie LOL paying 200 dollars and hour to wait same or longer time as regular que areas hum just stupid. Paying a bit more would give same patrons a VIP tour of the parks with a Disney Tour Guide. Now let me see -- hummm I will pick the second.

At the end of the day -- please remember there are many guests that have invisible disabilities and with out the GAC would not be able to ride any attractions at the Disney parks. The few that use this service as a way of by passing wait lines -- well they are just idiots---Some times bad just wins--to bad they do not understand it is not a game.

Planning a trip to DL with husband. No attractions for him even with a GAC. He can not stand or walk anymore, he has to use the isle chairs when boarding and off boarding a plane. I have heard that Small world has a roll on roll off for wheel chair users-- well will see. We still enjoy the sights, sounds, and food offerings that makes Disney fun for all.

 

[KerBear]

I am irate over this article. The writer of the article just made using GAC much harder for the guests actually needing this service. Cm's can and might make guests with GAC's wait longer to discourage misuse of special needs boarding of attractions. (My husband had to have attractions with moving areas stop so he could board-- ya we are the ones to blame when attractions like Space ship earth play the message not to get out of moving coach ride will start again very soon-- blah blah blah)

Gacs are to hard to regulate. CM's seeing the same GAC users over and over again with different "family members" could bring questions to mind.

Now for the biggie LOL paying 200 dollars and hour to wait same or longer time as regular que areas hum just stupid. Paying a bit more would give same patrons a VIP tour of the parks with a Disney Tour Guide. Now let me see -- hummm I will pick the second.

At the end of the day -- please remember there are many guests that have invisible disabilities and with out the GAC would not be able to ride any attractions at the Disney parks. The few that use this service as a way of by passing wait lines -- well they are just idiots---Some times bad just wins--to bad they do not understand it is not a game.

Planning a trip to DL with husband. No attractions for him even with a GAC. He can not stand or walk anymore, he has to use the isle chairs when boarding and off boarding a plane. I have heard that Small world has a roll on roll off for wheel chair users-- well will see. We still enjoy the sights, sounds, and food offerings that makes Disney fun for all.

There are several rides at Disneyland that accommodate a wheelchair! I know tsmm does, small world, I think blab, little mermaid, probably more, those are just the ones I can think of off hand. Get a guide when you arrive, it will tell you which rides require transfer and which don't. Don't give up on rides altogether!

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

i know both Ariel's & It's a Small World have ride vehichles that allow for a wheelchair because my Nana rode both of them in her wheelchair.

 

[GrandBob]

There are several rides at Disneyland that accommodate a wheelchair! I know tsmm does, small world, I think blab, little mermaid, probably more, those are just the ones I can think of off hand. Get a guide when you arrive, it will tell you which rides require transfer and which don't. Don't give up on rides altogether!

Better yet, look it up online!

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/list/#/wheelchair-ecv-accessible

On the left hand side, toward the bottom, are checkboxes for level of accessibility.

HTH,
Bob

 

[hootey]

We get a GAC card every visit due to medical conditions. We make a point to visit the parks during the week to avoid crowds as well. Do I use the card on every ride, every time? NO!. Most of the time when we go to the parks we have short wait times in the regular lines. I use the card only when the lines start getting long and standing in long lines gets painful. If pain pills are needed, I simply go back to the room and watch Disney-tv or go to the hot-tub at the DLH. The family keeps going.
Most people never ask if I am handicapped or have some type of medical condition. When I get asked anything, it is usually something like "Who died and left you the pass" or my personal favorite " just what makes you so special?" to which I simply reply "I am the only one that lived"
Most of the people that ask the rude, narrow minded, or stupid questions are just mad because someone is getting to do something they can't. Most of them have no idea what a person goes through everyday living with the condition that requires the use of such things as a GAC card or handicap sticker for the car. I spent most of my morning today in a Radiology dept at the hospital. What did you do?

 

[Nonsuch]

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"?!

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.

I agree, and call "shenanigans" on the NY Post. The "article" is promotion for an upcoming book by Wednesday Martin, who also writes for the Post

It is sad this fictional story has been picked up by mainstream media.

 

[perlster]

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..

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.

I agree, and call "shenanigans" on the NY Post. The "article" is promotion for an upcoming book by Wednesday Martin, who also writes for the Post

It is sad this fictional story has been picked up by mainstream media.

Please don't eat them ... even if you have reason to.


The crooks tried to bury the scheme, but they couldn't beat the other kind of "cache".

 

[Malcon10t]

Planning a trip to DL with husband. No attractions for him even with a GAC. He can not stand or walk anymore, he has to use the isle chairs when boarding and off boarding a plane. I have heard that Small world has a roll on roll off for wheel chair users-- well will see. We still enjoy the sights, sounds, and food offerings that makes Disney fun for all.

Buzz, IASW, Jungle Cruise, Carousel, Tiki Room, Monorail, the Railroad (except Main St station), Finding Nemo (The Outpost), Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, Monster's Inc, TSMM, Mickey's Fun Wheel (stationary car), and the Mark Twain are all wheelchair accessible. There are probably more, but those are the ones I could think of. Soarin' and Space also pretty easy if he can transfer via a slide board.

 

[nana50]

There are several rides at Disneyland that accommodate a wheelchair! I know tsmm does, small world, I think blab, little mermaid, probably more, those are just the ones I can think of off hand. Get a guide when you arrive, it will tell you which rides require transfer and which don't. Don't give up on rides altogether!

I know small world does and so does jungle cruise as we did both with my sister. I don't think pirates or HM does though.

 

[Mama Who]

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

Information removed. Not willing to have that discussion on the Community Board.

 

[lovebug33]

And the thing is nothing is shorter. I can't speak to the E-ticket rides because I had had surgery and that was why I was in the ECv, so I couldn't ride the big ones. However, I had to have the GAC so they would slow down the rides for me. On Little Mermaid, I waited a longer time because we had to wait for the roll on wheelchair clam shell to come up for the guy in front of me. This is just sensationalism!

 

[aliceclones]

I agree with PP's who said this just makes it that much harder for those of us with legit reason to get a GAC, or endure comments from other park goers. I have 2 type 1 diabetic daughters, and they "look" healthy, REALLY healthy. And for the most part they are, until they aren't. We choose to travel during slower seasons so we can forgo a GAC. My daughters deal with so much junk i dont have the heart to try to force them to endure comments from ignorants, even if the comments are few and far between. It would only take a few well chosen words to ruin our day!

It is also my understanding is that this doesnt get you to the front (except on a few rides). The only benefit for us would be holding a spot in line if we have an emergency low blood sugar.

 

[Freesia123]

Just wanted to add that you go faster in Peter pan because you have to take the wheelchair up the exit and the space is very cramped. They want you in off and out of the way ASAP so that others can easily exit.

 

[profa]

I don't fully understand. IF they are paying for a tour from this company and that person "happens" to have a disability is that really a problem? I feel like there is some information missing. It's different to say someone is going to look on the street for some random person to join them on the a DL day and be their "disabled" person.

We were there in March and my daughter had a GAC as she had to stay in a wheelchair. We couldn't wait in the lines because she couldn't stand and I couldn't hold her that long. For tea cups, we got right on. Dumbo was a shorter wait but still a decent wait. And the kids love Gadget. That one was probably a tad shorter but not a lot... We rode 3x and had to wait about the same each time.
Also a friend whose son gets a GAC, said last time they didn't even ask her to see him. They just gave it to her. He has MS.

 

[jenpace]

The woman who wrote this book about wealthy NYC parents is full of it. She says "It's Disney's policy that disabled guests never wait and go to the front of the line." Um, no it's not. That's absolutely false!

 

[Mama Who]

Also a friend whose son gets a GAC, said last time they didn't even ask her to see him. They just gave it to her. He has MS.

Your friend must have come across a CM who was confused, new or feeling lazy because policy (and they're quite strict) is that you *must* present the person with the need at GR. It's absolute.

 

[Laz]

A few years ago I escorted a group of high school students to DLR and one of them was confined to a wheelchair. She needed two of us to help her on and off most of the rides. In many cases, we may have waited in a different line, but by the time we helped her on and off the rides, we had the same wait time as anyone else. Some of the newer rides like TSM at DCA had a que line big enough for wheel chairs. Now to be honest, some time the CM let us ride a second time if no one else was waiting in the special assistance line.

 

[hootey]

I get a GAC card every visit as earlier posted. I have also made it clear that I do not use it very often. That being stated, I see other people using the GAC card and guess what? I have never once asked anyone why they had a GAC or a wheelchair or scooter. It is none of my business and I do not care why they have one. I see people all the time parking in handicap parking spaces that appear to be physically fit and healthy. Why do they have a handicap parking permit? Not really any of my business why.
Thank you, as you were, that is all...

 

[pharmama]

Please don't eat them ... even if you have reason to.


The crooks tried to bury the scheme, but they couldn't beat the other kind of "cache".

I have no idea if they're doing what the article says or not, but their cached page simply reads like a tour service/FP runner not unlike Mouse Expeditions out here. It does not state they use the assistance lines.

I heard this being discussed on a morning radio show here in the SF area today and someone called in to share her 'trick' for doing Disney. According to the caller, guests with assistance dogs go to the front of the assistance lines even and are boarded immediately. She has a friend near Anaheim who raises guide dogs so this caller relayed that she picks up one of her friends puppies in training and takes it with her to the park so she can get this priority boarding. She didn't specifically address this but it sure sounded like she viewed it as a front of the line pass for her rather than a training situation for the pup....

 

[Casey's Mommie]

Does this even make sense?

I'm just wondering why these rich women are paying so much money to bring a disabled guide to Disney when they could can just rent a wheelchair for one of their family members...