GAC Advice

[JCTigger]

My parents are going down to the world for the first time in like 5 yrs... my step dad wanted to go back at least once before he cant any more he has major medical issues... We are trying to talk him into renting an ECV since he can barely walk around the grocery store without getting tired... so we know endurance is going to be a huge issue... he also has skin cancer so hes not suppose to be in the sun much (he basically baths in sunblock year round)... He also cannot stand much waiting in huge cue lines would be out of the question fastpass i know is going to be a huge help my only question on that is he would like to ride Soarin and i know that the fastpasses on that ride go very fast in the morning especially on holiday weekend (they are going over memorial day) he would not be able to stand in an at least 2 hour stand by line would they make him? I had suggested that they get a GAC when I go down with the family i work with we get a GAC there son is in a wheelchair and has some other issues so i know what they need it for for him but what should I suggest my folks ask for on it?

Any advice would be SO helpful...

TYIA
Jill

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi Jill and to disABILTIES.

The normal suggestion made by Guest Relation to people with mobility and/or stamina issues is that they rent a wheelchair or ECV.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. One thing is in addition to the stsamina problem he would defintely need a GAC to allow waiting in shaded or indoor areas and out of the sun.

My recommendation is that he rent the ECV from an off-site company (again, see the FAQ) so that it is available at the resorts and DTD as well as the parks. And, if he is unwilling to rent, please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides what Cheshire Figment wrote, most of the lines are wheelchair and ECV accessible, so with an ECV, he would not have to stand in any lines. If he gets tired just walking in the grocery store, he would need an ECV or a wheelchair. An ECV would give him a lot more independence and no one would have to push him. It would also help to conserve his energy so he can use it for having fun, not just for getting around. Most of the attraction lines are fairly well shaded, so he may not have much problem in the lines with the sun. The bigger problem may be getting around from place to place. At Epcot, many of the attractions in Future World are contained in pavilions that have a number of things to do inside.

Also, one thing that people are not always aware of with Fastpasses is that you can send one member of your party ahead to the Fastpass machine with all the park tickets to get Fastpasses for everyone. That helps, especially if you can send the fastest

On some attractions, when the Fastpasses are gone for the day, the CM may (not always, but may) issue sort of a handwritten Fastpass with a return time close to the wait time in the 'regular' line if the guest is not able to wait in the regular line. So, if the Fastpasses are all gone for the day, that might be a possiblity.