GAC and Character Greetings

[Talking Hands]

The inconsistancy is a reason I rarely see the characters. I find if I get in line with my wheelchair able bodied families will just walk in front of me unless I am right up on the next person. Since I try to leave a gap so I don't nick the person ahead of me this is a problem. And forget trying to tell them you are in line before them. No CMs don't police the line that well. Only the front of the line. I guess as a handicapped adult who is often on her own, my enjoyment of the charters isn't a priority in their eyes. I do see kids get special treatment but adults it is just too bad from CMs and guests with children. If you try to be careful in a PWC you are taken advantage of and if you don't they scream at you for getting too close to them and their precious children. Am I bitter. Yes. I like characters and usually miss out on the experience because of able bodied people.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'm just stating what I was told in training. If the child is GKTW, they got to skip the line and come to the front. I don't recall dealing with too many GACs when I worked there.

If somebody would have asked me for an alternative place to wait, I would have pointed one out to them but at the same time asked for somebody in their party to wait in the actual line to hold their place. I can tell you that character situations can get out of hand very easily (I was with characters several times that were hit or worse) so it would have been almost impossible for me to keep an eye on the character, watch the line, watch the time and to mentally hold that person's place in line.

TT may be an entire different ballgame though. There really is no good place to wait. Maybe that is something Disney will need to look into for the future.

And what would you do with a handicapped adult travelling in a power wheelchair who doesn't have someone to stand in line for them. This is often the problem I face. I have even had people complain about my being in line and be bumped forward because they don't want to be near my PWC. If I leave sufficient space people walk around me and take up the space. And if the space is tight it is dangerous because my controller is left handed and not on the right as people expect. I freak-out if people are too close and end up with a panic attack. Disney needs to have a better way for those in wheelchairs to see the characters because as it stands now it is not equal or even equivalent access.

 

[Tissa]

I'm not sure what a good solution would be for a solo adult in a wheelchair, I'm sure that can be frustrating for you.

What we do is, I wait in line with my one ds while my mom walks around nearby with my autistic ds. When it is our turn they come up. I get dirty looks sometimes but we are not line cutting and it's easy to tell both my boys have special needs.

 

[dawnball]

TT may be an entire different ballgame though. There really is no good place to wait. Maybe that is something Disney will need to look into for the future.

I have been told in the past (and who knows if it was policy or just someone making things up) that the GAC works for indoor character greetings, but not for outdoor. The logic was that indoor they had alternate entrances - Judge's tent has a seperate queue, country fair they have you wait by the exit, Character connection has had me wait out in the exit hallway before, etc.

For outdoor character greetings the recommendation was that someone from your party stood in line. Since I found outdoor character greetings to be pretty do-able, I didn't enquire about how my 3-4 year old and I would be handled at outdoor lines, we just kept *lots* of personal space, and only did the ones with ropes up.

 

[Joanna71985]

It depends on the character location (and sometimes, on who the attendant is). But for the most part, GACs are not used for character meets (unless it is a MAW/GKTW child).

 

[Lilogirl]

I would find that very, very frustrating. It's difficult to explain "we've been able to wait elsewhere before, but this trip we can't".

Fortunately, my daughter doesn't know that Tinkerbelle is there, and with luck, no one will mention it to her. Unfortunately, she does know that there are princesses there, and that there has been a separate place to wait to meet them.

This is the issue we have. My DD knows we have been allowed to wait to the side before. She could not understand why she was not allowed to see the princesses (and this is how she saw it).

I'm just stating what I was told in training. If the child is GKTW, they got to skip the line and come to the front. I don't recall dealing with too many GACs when I worked there.

If somebody would have asked me for an alternative place to wait, I would have pointed one out to them but at the same time asked for somebody in their party to wait in the actual line to hold their place. I can tell you that character situations can get out of hand very easily (I was with characters several times that were hit or worse) so it would have been almost impossible for me to keep an eye on the character, watch the line, watch the time and to mentally hold that person's place in line.

TT may be an entire different ballgame though. There really is no good place to wait. Maybe that is something Disney will need to look into for the future.

But what of the single parent family with needs? There is no one to stand in line.

Sadly, I don't think it is possible anymore for us to visit with the characters (unless we book a character meal). The outdoor lines are just not an option due to sun issues. It seems the indoor ones are no longer available. Rather than have to deal with the meltdown when a CM says no (for whatever reason), it is probably going to be best to just not ask. Ironically, it was CM's who told us to go to GS to get the GAC stamped to provide a seperate place to wait for the Princess's.

I guess I still don't understand the on again off again "rules" CM's follow. It is hard to explain to any child.

 

[blondietink]

I have noticed on our trip last week that most of the outdoor lines are in the shade now. They were under trees or awnings or an otherwise shady area. the only ones out in the open that we noticed were in the town square in MK right when you get there in the morning. And the morning sun was not very hot and some of the buildings shaded the area.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Bill is 37 years old in a power wheelchair with the joystick on the left side. If anyone tries to cut in front of him, I clearly and loudly state the line is behind us and then other people give the line cutter a dirty look for trying to cut in front of a wheelchair . Disney isn't perfect, but they are so much better than other parks. WDW is the only place Bill will go on vacation, he loves the accessibility.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

I used it at Ariel's Grotto in '07. Didn't have a problem, but never even thought about not using it there. Guess we got lucky!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

And what would you do with a handicapped adult travelling in a power wheelchair who doesn't have someone to stand in line for them. This is often the problem I face. I have even had people complain about my being in line and be bumped forward because they don't want to be near my PWC. If I leave sufficient space people walk around me and take up the space. And if the space is tight it is dangerous because my controller is left handed and not on the right as people expect. I freak-out if people are too close and end up with a panic attack. Disney needs to have a better way for those in wheelchairs to see the characters because as it stands now it is not equal or even equivalent access.

I guess I should have been clearer with what I posted before - I was refering to children who wouldn't be able to stand/wait in a line, not adults in wheelchairs. When we are at the parks. my mom is always in a wheelchair because she can't stand/walk that long due to health problems. I can't tell you how many times she has been cut off and had a line cutter try to cut in front of her. It's annoying and not fair.

This is the issue we have. My DD knows we have been allowed to wait to the side before. She could not understand why she was not allowed to see the princesses (and this is how she saw it).

But what of the single parent family with needs? There is no one to stand in line.

Sadly, I don't think it is possible anymore for us to visit with the characters (unless we book a character meal). The outdoor lines are just not an option due to sun issues. It seems the indoor ones are no longer available. Rather than have to deal with the meltdown when a CM says no (for whatever reason), it is probably going to be best to just not ask. Ironically, it was CM's who told us to go to GS to get the GAC stamped to provide a seperate place to wait for the Princess's.

I guess I still don't understand the on again off again "rules" CM's follow. It is hard to explain to any child.

I don't know what the answer is regarding the single parent family with a special needs child.

I understand that it is frustrating for you and for your daughter. I am no longer working at the parks, so I don't currently know what the rules are. If I were you, I would try to contact Disney entertainment management directly to see if it's possible to make a change in the rules.

The CMs you see out on the front lines aren't the ones who are making the rules. Just like in any job, the people behind the scenes are the ones who make the big decision. It would be best to go straight to the top to try to make a change.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I just hope this gets somehow sorted out before we go next year. I've always been able to "get around" the lines by booking character meals (up to 8 in a trip) so we can see everyone and keep the kids calm and distracted. Of course, Tinkerbell is my DD's fave of the last year. I don't know how much shorter lines are likely to be next year, and Tink's not at any of the meals. So I guess this is just one more thing we can't do Hopefully, I can keep her from finding out about Tink. I know WDW does an awful lot to accomodate our special blessings. It's just a little frustrating when they miss out on things because of (it seems to me) poor queue planning; i.e., Finding Nemo, the musical, these "bigger" indoor character meets, etc.

 

[Ashton7]

The inconsistancy is a reason I rarely see the characters. I find if I get in line with my wheelchair able bodied families will just walk in front of me unless I am right up on the next person. Since I try to leave a gap so I don't nick the person ahead of me this is a problem. And forget trying to tell them you are in line before them. No CMs don't police the line that well. Only the front of the line. I guess as a handicapped adult who is often on her own, my enjoyment of the charters isn't a priority in their eyes. I do see kids get special treatment but adults it is just too bad from CMs and guests with children. If you try to be careful in a PWC you are taken advantage of and if you don't they scream at you for getting too close to them and their precious children. Am I bitter. Yes. I like characters and usually miss out on the experience because of able bodied people.

I've had the same experience. In fact, I was told by a CM to basically either stand in the line (which I couldn't do -- I was sitting in an ECV at the time!), have someone stand in the line for me (I'd already told her I had no one to do so) or LEAVE. There were other people in the line who were actually apologizing to me for the treatment they saw me receive and one gentleman finally told the CM with obvious disgust that HE would stand in line for me! I called for a manager and it took 30 minutes for him to come and talk to me. I had NOT asked to go to the head of the line. I had asked to wait to the side in my ECV until it was my turn. He told me that they could "judge" the line and let me in after about 15 minutes or so. I told him I'd already waited 30 minutes and he said he'd take care of it. Within short order, he did and I was allowed to do the character meeting. But frankly, by that point I was so upset and annoyed by the unpleasant treatment, I only carried through on doing it because I had made an issue out of it. There is no doubt in my mind that no matter how good Disney might be about following the ADA, in these situations they are falling down on the job.

 

[tavettava]

The only characters we have used the GAC was for the big tent. They have let us use it for the last 2 trips. I am just going to go where we went in May when we go see Tink, up the back ramp.

 

[syko]

We went yesterday and where not allowed around the back as we have always have been, (wich GAC card) including last week.
The wait for Tink was 140 mins and when we got in there I was ingnored by the faries (that never happens with the Princess), adult in a wheelchair I guess?
You are taken in by one of the faries and then you have to cross over the room to see the others in turn, we had familes tripping up over other each other!!!!!
Once we got in the line we where stuck, a wheelchair pushing a stroller and a service dog had no way of getting out.
We would have be very happy to have been given a time to come back at to do the meet and greet and then taken around the back, as we would not have missed anything magical in the "shrinking room" as we where not told anything about it!!! We where just told that we where waiting for the faries to come and get us, if I had not read about it on the Dis then we would have just thought thst it was just a place to wait a little longer with very bright moving lights.

 

[livie1205]

I have use GAC for the tent area with no problem, we have never been told to wait in the line or leave...we just show the card to the cm and they do what they need to do.

 

[EnchantedTales]

Unfortunately the GAC only works with attractions (rides and shows) and is not designed to work with restaurants or Character Meet and Greets. Also, as it says right on the card it is not intended to shorten wait times.

^^^^^^^^^
This is not official policy. Often CMs will go out of their way to assist people with GACs.

Let me echo the words of Cheshire Figment. This is correct. Character meet and greet do not work with GAC, unless it's a MAW.

As for using it in the tent. When the attraction was redone to accommodate Tinkerbell they rehabilitated the lines so GAC entrace could run thru the same line as the other guests. In short, the regular line is also the GAC line for everything. The back ramp was eliminated so Tink and her friends could fit in the tent too. I'm trying to think of an attraction with the same idea and I think (correct me if I'm wrong Cheshire Figment) Soarin comes to mind. Does in Soarin everyone go thru the same entrance?

As for a system of 'Fast pass' for characters, unfortunately a while ago there was a try out for this and it was disastrous, as I've heard. Characters are not like the attractions, that have the beauty of mechanics on them. Characters work in a different way and the fast pass system is not doable for them.

We went yesterday and where not allowed around the back as we have always have been, (wich GAC card) including last week.
The wait for Tink was 140 mins and when we got in there I was ingnored by the faries (that never happens with the Princess), adult in a wheelchair I guess?
You are taken in by one of the faries and then you have to cross over the room to see the others in turn, we had familes tripping up over other each other!!!!!
Once we got in the line we where stuck, a wheelchair pushing a stroller and a service dog had no way of getting out.
We would have be very happy to have been given a time to come back at to do the meet and greet and then taken around the back, as we would not have missed anything magical in the "shrinking room" as we where not told anything about it!!! We where just told that we where waiting for the faries to come and get us, if I had not read about it on the Dis then we would have just thought thst it was just a place to wait a little longer with very bright moving lights.

I'm a little confused. Did you go alone or did you have other people with you? I'm afraid I'm not understanding how you got ignore. Can you go over this again?

 

[Jackie Psarianos]

You need to speak to a cast member about your situation and they'll give you advice. As of last July, our GAC couldn't get us quicker access to the characters so we just don't do that and our son misses out completely.

And, Woody is his alltime favorite buddy.....

 

[SueM in MN]

You need to speak to a cast member about your situation and they'll give you advice. As of last July, our GAC couldn't get us quicker access to the characters so we just don't do that and our son misses out completely.

And, Woody is his alltime favorite buddy.....

Sometimes they will allow you to wait to the side in the 'tent' or 'building' situations. A lot depends on how busy it is, how much space is available and how many character handlers are around to help monitor things.
And, if what they suggest doesn't work for you, speak up and let the CM know why that won't work. For example, waiting for Sorceror Mickey a few years ago, the CM directed DD to wait to the side, by herself, while the rest of us waited in line. We knew that would not work and even having just one person stand by her would not work. The CM did agree to let 2 people wait with her; when the rest of us got to the front, DD and the other 2 joined us.

 

[syko]

I'm a little confused. Did you go alone or did you have other people with you? I'm afraid I'm not understanding how you got ignore. Can you go over this again?

The faries did not interact with me at all, and the one in yellow was scared of the dog as well.
Sometimes I go with my husband, other times by myself (with daughter and dog), but that has never made a difference in how the CM treat us with our GAC.
We will not be seeing Tink again.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I used to work in entertainment. The "official" rule is that the GAC does not work with entertainment.

Most of the entertainment lines are "soft" lines. They do not have a permanent queue. I can think of several places I have been where it would be hard to have you wait out of the way without blocking access. They tend to be very confined. The other issue is that the entertainment lines are a lot more open than attractions so people in line can see everything. (In most places). People get downright cranky in entertainment lines when they go too long, and allowing front of line access can get very tricky because it takes so long for each family. It's not like an attraction line where allowing the family to go in front of you won't really impact your wait time that much. Even with Give Kids the World I have seen guests throw a royal tantrum.

That being said, most of my attendants would do whatever they could to accommodate if there was special circumstance. It mostly depended on the character, the attendant, the manger on duty, and how crowded the park was. It certainly never hurts to explain your situation and see. As others have posted, it is not uncommon for the attendant to make an informal accommodation.

It might be easier with Tink because it does have a hard line (to my understanding, haven't been there since they added her) and if it's set up like the rest of Toon Town, it's easy to sneak a guest in thanks to the way they load the rooms.

So- ask! But have a back up plan if they can't help you.