GAC and Character Greetings

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I was sad to see several comments on this thread about posters feeling like the characters did not care about them because they were adults.

I'm sorry you had those experiences. I used to work in entertainment, and some of my fondest memories come from the adults because they are so into it. When there are kids in a party, we are trained to primarily focu on kids, but we get a lot of adults-only parties, and they are just as much joy to be around. I'm sorry that you all had those experiences. I have also worked with some wonderful attendants who would not have allowed some of those experiences to happen. Disney is just like any other business- it is made up of individuals. And unfortunately those individuals can have a bad day or be just plain incompetent. It doesn't make it right, but you cannot automate a person to make sure they say and do exactly the right things.

As TheDisneyGirl02 posted, things can get out of hand very quickly with the characters. There have been times I was terrified that I would get hurt because the guests got out of hand. The attendant has to manage the line, cut it off, watch the character to make sure they don't need anything ,watch the guests to make sure they are not misbehaving, and keep an eye on the time. In many lines there is only one attendant. That is why they tend to "take care of the front." The majority of the need is at the front with the character. If the family needs a pen, or a Sharpie, or a picture the attendant has to provide. They have to help keep things moving. And they really have to keep an eye on the character to step in should the guests get inappropriate (it happens a lot more than you would think). In a location with only one attendant...

In the future, if you do have an issue with people cutting, do not be afraid to get the attendant's attention. They can't do anything about it if they don't see it. 99% of them are wonderful people who truly care about all the guests, and will do their best to remedy the situation. Everyone should be able to enjoy the characters.

I will also echo what others have said: Write to Disney! They can't fix a problem they don't know exists. It's much more meaningful when it comes from the guests as opposed to the Cast Members.

 

[pddmom]

We just got back and when we went to the Character Spot at Epcot the CM said it would be about a 20 minute wait, and then saw my GAC and said, but you go right this way and she put us to the side and then took us through after a while to meet the characters. My DD is 5 and has autism, but is OK with lines, but if the CM insists, I'm not going to object.

Same thing happened in the Judges Tent at Toontown. My MIL took her in and they stood in line for about 10 minutes, when the CM saw the GAC (we wore it around our neck on a lanyard) and told them to come forward.

I think it depends on the CM and the Crowds

 

[livie1205]

This was also how we were handled.They put us to the side and then took us in through the back after a little while.

 

[dclfun]

I will also echo what Lisa said...that an adult with a GAC will likely not be treated the same way in character areas as a child with a GAC. Sad but true. We recently visited the judges tent with my SIL, neice, nephew, and their infant daughter. I was the one with the GAC, basically to assist me in queue lines with my SD and to avoid any issues with my vent/feeding pump. It would have been much better to wait in another area, not minding the wait, but avoiding snaking through a line with children reaching to grab Skye ( my SD) and me being concerned about my equipment getting ensnared. We asked, and were told that the line would accomodate my w/c even though my GAC indicated other accommodations should be provided. Lately it seems as though the "magic" is reserved for children. Walt's original idea was that it was for all ages.---Kathy

 

[Blanche_Neige]

I went last january with my 2 ASD sons, we did use the GAC to meet some of the caracters. Espacially for the princesses, the line was very long, one of my son doesn't do very well in those situation, anyways I ask the CM and he showed us a quiet place to wait.

When it was our turn, they ask me the dx, I didn't mind sharing, the CM told the Princesses before my boys went up. I was glad he did because they seem to understand and know what to expect. When he didn't answer her questions, she switch to commenting on his pins and he actually responded!

As I'm sure many of you have experienced, many adults don't know how to react toward autistic kids and then just ignore them

But the were amazing!! it was truely magical and we didn't feel rushed at all.

 

[syko]

The GAC worked last night for TINK!!!!!!!
We where told to sit on the Mickey benches near the wait lines and someone would take us back.
I didn't feel up to it so my husband took my daughter (she has a GAC too) and she had a fantastic time, also they did not have to cross over the other guests to see the faries as before. My husband said it was the same as when they meet the Princess.
They also meet the Princess and Mickey and Minnie.

 

[stitch34]

Just returned. GAC worked for Tink and characters at Epcot. We didn't use it for seeing Ariel, as line wasn't too bad and was able to keep my autistic son in his stroller - so glad I read on here about getting the thing to use a stroller as a wheelchair. It really helped greatly with him for places where he would not have been okay just holding my hand or for an extended period of time.

But we went to see Tink and was terrified how I'd handle him with the long waits. Tink is a must for my daughter. When asking the CM about the wait time, I commented how I'm not sure how I will handle my son, and she told me to hold on a sec, and then told me to go to the exit to wait. I am not even sure if I even showed her the GAC, though he did have the red sticker on the stroller that was visible. I saw another family waiting there also. I told my daughter she owes her brother BIG TIME!
And turns out - him and Tink really hit it off. There's like two photopass pics of my daughter and tink - and 10 of him and Tink. He LOVED HER! (okay, he does have a thing for blondes!) He kept kicking off his shoe and had this game with her of her putting his shoe on, him kicking it off. I have the cutest picture of her tickling his feet! She was fantastic with him - and she gave him a kiss and my girls were so excited their brother had Tink's lipstick on his cheek!

I was very thankful they were able to accommodate us to see Tink. I was on this trip alone with 8 and 6 year old girls, and my 6 year old son with autism, so I had my hands full, that's for sure.

Also had no problem using the GAC to see the characters at Epcot. I suppose I could have tried it for Ariel - but my son was pretty mellow during that time, wait was a half hour, and figured he'd be fine in the stroller to wait. Only other time we used it was for Toy Story Mania - a must for my girls. Otherwise, everything else we just walked on due to no lines to begin with.