GAC and no standing?

[Dot2Vegas]

I tried searching and got results for WDW so I figured I would ask here.
We are attending the Halloween party on Friday. I am 6 weeks out from my 4th back surgery. I was feeling good and did not think I would have any trouble at the park until last week when my pain slowly started returning. Long story short, I generally do OK walking and standing for 15-20 minutes at a time. I don't need a wheelchair. My surgeon suggested asking for a GAC to alleviate time standing in one spot. I attend the Halloween party every year and I am only concerned about waiting in the HMH queue. Does anyone have experience with a no standing type GAC? I don't want special treatment or shortened wait times, just a spot to sit and wait for HM rather than stand in the long Halloween party line. Any feed back would appreciated!

 

[Zbugz]

I tried searching and got results for WDW so I figured I would ask here.
We are attending the Halloween party on Friday. I am 6 weeks out from my 4th back surgery. I was feeling good and did not think I would have any trouble at the park until last week when my pain slowly started returning. Long story short, I generally do OK walking and standing for 15-20 minutes at a time. I don't need a wheelchair. My surgeon suggested asking for a GAC to alleviate time standing in one spot. I attend the Halloween party every year and I am only concerned about waiting in the HMH queue. Does anyone have experience with a no standing type GAC? I don't want special treatment or shortened wait times, just a spot to sit and wait for HM rather than stand in the long Halloween party line. Any feed back would appreciated!

Edited:Nevermind, I was thinking you'd be there after the DAS system is in place.

 

[Girimama33]

Go to City Hall, and tell them your accommodation needed is to void standing. They will give you the appropriate card, and use it when necessary. Show it the CM at ride entrance, and they will instruct you as to what to do to get on the ride.
Hope you get to feeling better. Have fun at the party!

 

[Dot2Vegas]

Go to City Hall, and tell them your accommodation needed is to void standing. They will give you the appropriate card, and use it when necessary. Show it the CM at ride entrance, and they will instruct you as to what to do to get on the ride.
Hope you get to feeling better. Have fun at the party!

Thank you!! We are so excited for the party and after the horrific year that we have had I just want to make sure that we get to have the best time possible! I'm so tired of my back getting in the way!

 

[sandgrace]

My DH has back issues too and is concerned about standing in line too long. Do we have to bring a doctor's note to prove his back issues, or do they take your word for it? I know that they are changing the guest assistance program, but I'm not sure when it happens we arrive 10/8 and leave 10/12.

 

[T0rrent]

Laws keep Disney from verifying so no note needed.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

My DH has back issues too and is concerned about standing in line too long. Do we have to bring a doctor's note to prove his back issues, or do they take your word for it? I know that they are changing the guest assistance program, but I'm not sure when it happens we arrive 10/8 and leave 10/12.

My doctor told me that it is against the law for them to ask for proof. However, he wrote me a note anyways. His suggestion was that it is good to keep on hand, not necessarily for Disney but for other situations as well. Good luck to your DH! I've been dealing with this for a long time. I always ignored my pain and powered through our Disney trips. After 4 surgeries in 8 months I am just now taking those pains seriously and adjusting my park plans!

Edited to add: not sure what it is worth, but my doctor wrote my note on a prescription print out. Hope this is helpful!

 

[Susie63]

We just got back last night and rode HM several times over the days we were in the park. Even using my GAC I ended up standing for significant periods of time. Between standing at the door waiting to be admitted, in the stretching room and then the line up upon exiting the stretching room...it was at least 15-20 minutes. Every time we left the stretching room we met a wall of people. On the upside we had a long time to look at the pictures.

 

[purple figment]

I tried searching and got results for WDW so I figured I would ask here.
We are attending the Halloween party on Friday. I am 6 weeks out from my 4th back surgery. I was feeling good and did not think I would have any trouble at the park until last week when my pain slowly started returning. Long story short, I generally do OK walking and standing for 15-20 minutes at a time. I don't need a wheelchair. My surgeon suggested asking for a GAC to alleviate time standing in one spot. I attend the Halloween party every year and I am only concerned about waiting in the HMH queue. Does anyone have experience with a no standing type GAC? I don't want special treatment or shortened wait times, just a spot to sit and wait for HM rather than stand in the long Halloween party line. Any feed back would appreciated!

My DH has back issues too and is concerned about standing in line too long. Do we have to bring a doctor's note to prove his back issues, or do they take your word for it? I know that they are changing the guest assistance program, but I'm not sure when it happens we arrive 10/8 and leave 10/12.

You might want to ask your question over on the disABILITIES board where there are many knowledgeable disboarders who can answer your questions.

Also, Sue, the moderator has a thread about what is known at this time about the upcoming DAS at DL and DCA.

Here's a link to the board:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=20

Here's a link to the DL and DCA Disabilities Access Service Card thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3179460

 

[Disney Dreams]

Guest Relations reply to the issue of not being able to stand while in line will be to rent a wheelchair or an ECV.

There is absolutely no reason to bring a doctor's note of any kind. Disney is not allowed to ask for it and will not look at it if presented unprompted. It is a legal issue related to HIPPA, as well as the fact that Guest Relations people are not medically trained. They don't want to know what you have. They want to know what your limitations are so they can tell the the best accommodation Disney can offer.

- Dreams

 

[KPeveler]

I would definitely consider renting a wheelchair for the evening. You do not need to sit in it all the time, nor does a member of your family need to push you. Think of it as a folding chair with wheels.

HMH is a batch-loader. That means that you will be standing in one place for quite some time, then walking a ways, then standing again. Even with a GAC (I have one, and a wheelchair) you will likely end up standing for significant periods of time throughout the night.

Halloween parties are usually quite crowded, and if you plan on watching the special fireworks you will definitely be in one place for a while.

Put the backpacks, the bags, whatever in the chair, push it empty, then sit when you need to. That really is the only way to avoid standing.

Also, depending on who you talk to in Guest Relations, you may be told the current policy on such issues - which is to rent a wheelchair.

 

[Dot2Vegas]

Also, depending on who you talk to in Guest Relations, you may be told the current policy on such issues - which is to rent a wheelchair.

Thanks! This is exactly the info I was looking for. We will likely skip City Hall then and go straight to renting a wheelchair. With the party time being so short I did not want to waste our time in City Hall only to be told to go rent the wheelchair.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks! This is exactly the info I was looking for. We will likely skip City Hall then and go straight to renting a wheelchair. With the party time being so short I did not want to waste our time in City Hall only to be told to go rent the wheelchair.

I'm so glad someone gave you that info.

I'm not sure how long you'll be there, but you might consider an off-site rental so you truly have it all day and not just after you get there. There are places like Deckert's with good reputations and lower costs than from Disneyland. But since you only need it for lines, maybe having it before and after you're in the parks won't be useful. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Thanks! This is exactly the info I was looking for. We will likely skip City Hall then and go straight to renting a wheelchair. With the party time being so short I did not want to waste our time in City Hall only to be told to go rent the wheelchair.

Wheelchair rentals are just inside the turnstiles on the RIGHT hand tunnel (inside the tunnel, under the train station).

 

[tlovesdis]

Wheelchair rentals are just inside the turnstiles on the RIGHT hand tunnel (inside the tunnel, under the train station).

Not any more! Wheelchair, stroller and ECV rentals are now right outside of the gates on the right hand side (this is for both parks). So you do your rental then you enter whichever park you are going to.

 

[KPeveler]

I'm so glad someone gave you that info.

I'm not sure how long you'll be there, but you might consider an off-site rental so you truly have it all day and not just after you get there. There are places like Deckert's with good reputations and lower costs than from Disneyland. But since you only need it for lines, maybe having it before and after you're in the parks won't be useful. I hope you have a great trip!

I am not saying that you definitely will not get a GAC. I am just saying that even with a GAC, you may still get stuck standing. With it, you can sit until it is your turn to go in, then stand/walk in the stretching room then out to the Doom Buggies. Then you exit and grab the chair and go.

I have a GAC, and even if you got one of the two stamps generally given to mobility-related disabilities in DL, I can tell you there is still a LOT of standing. It adds up over the course of the night, too - fireworks, fantasmic, even waiting in line for a churro or something.

So it cannot hurt to ask about a GAC, I just wanted you to be prepared for the answer to be to rent a wheelchair. AND I wanted you to be prepared for a GAC to still leave you with standing (sometimes even more standing in one place as opposed to slowly moving forward in line)

 

[Dot2Vegas]

I'm so glad someone gave you that info.

I'm not sure how long you'll be there, but you might consider an off-site rental so you truly have it all day and not just after you get there. There are places like Deckert's with good reputations and lower costs than from Disneyland. But since you only need it for lines, maybe having it before and after you're in the parks won't be useful. I hope you have a great trip!

Thanks! For this trip we are only going to the party so I won't need an extended rental but if I am still having trouble in march when we go I will look into Deckerts!
Luckily, as of right now the meds that the doctor gave me have completely cleared up my pain. If I am still feeling this good tomorrow I won't need a chair or a GAC!

 

[Dot2Vegas]

I am not saying that you definitely will not get a GAC. I am just saying that even with a GAC, you may still get stuck standing. With it, you can sit until it is your turn to go in, then stand/walk in the stretching room then out to the Doom Buggies. Then you exit and grab the chair and go.

I have a GAC, and even if you got one of the two stamps generally given to mobility-related disabilities in DL, I can tell you there is still a LOT of standing. It adds up over the course of the night, too - fireworks, fantasmic, even waiting in line for a churro or something.

So it cannot hurt to ask about a GAC, I just wanted you to be prepared for the answer to be to rent a wheelchair. AND I wanted you to be prepared for a GAC to still leave you with standing (sometimes even more standing in one place as opposed to slowly moving forward in line)

Thank you so much! Everyone has been extremely helpful with all of this. That's why I love this board!