I didn't know if this is the best place to ask or if I should ask over at the theme park board, but here goes:
Has anyone tried to use the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) at the Rapunzel Meet-n-Greet? I know not to use it at character m&gs that are outside (we've only used it for Mickey/Princesses/Fairies and only once did we have an issue), but wasn't sure if Rapuzel was considered one of those. My son loved the movie, but I'm not sure he could wait longer than 30 minutes in a line, so I wasn't going to mention it to him unless we could use the GAC....
Thank you in advance!
In general, GACs are not used for character greetings, especially those that are outside in a non-permanent position. The reason for that is there the CMs there have little resources for making any accommodations.
The CMs at the indoor character meet and greets or those with permanent locations may have more ability to make accommodations. Since Rapunzel is a permanent location, they do have more things they can work with, but not as many as the old Fairy/Princess waiting areas.
For example, in the past, we were able to use DDs GAC for the fairies to wait in a quiet spot by the exit. We were given a card with an approximate amount of time we would wait (which was equal to the current wait time).
For Rapunzel, I have heard of them doing something similar to that for guests without special needs when it was really busy. When the attraction first opened, they could have a line of several hundred people waiting in line for hours for a show, rather than just waiting for the next show. So, they gave kind of a Fastpass card for the number of people in the party or allowed one person to wait in the line and represent the rest of their group who waited out of the line.
When we saw Rapunzel in early April, it was not that busy (even though it was Spring break) and people were waiting for the next show only. In that situation, you may be able to show your childs GAC and speak to the CM. It is possible they could have your family wait in another spot out of the line or have one or two of your party wait and then be joined by the rest of your group before guests start entering the show area.
Also, something to be aware of is that there will be a wait in the show area before the show actually begins. There is a coloring table in the center of the show area where children are standing close together coloring while they wait for Rapunzel and Flynn to come in. I didnt really watch the time once we were inside, but I would guess that was at least 15 minutes. There were some children not coloring who were standing along the side walls with the adults. There are very few seats and the ones they have are stone benches.
There are a number of transitions you will want to be aware of if your child has trouble with transitions.
1) There is a certain number of children who are able to color at the table. CMs dressed in sort of peasant clothing give them coloring pages and crayons to use. The male CM at our show came out 3 times in a short period - sort of a tease because people expected Rapunzel to come out each time.
2) The last time the CMs come out before Rapunzel, they tell the kids to take their coloring pages back to their parents (which may be a problem if your child is not done and does not want to stop).
3) The CMs tell the children to come back to the table after giving their parents the coloring pages.
4) The CMs teach the children a little dance around the table, which includes walking around the table holding hands, putting hands up and down, jumping and turning around.
5) Rapunzel and Flynn come out on the stage and then come down to the table and do the little dance around the table with the kids.
6) The dancing took around 2 or 3 minutes, then Rapunzel and Flynn went back up to the stage and the kids were told to line up on the ramp on the right side of the stage to see Rapunzel and Flynn onstage. The kids crossed the stage, saw Rapunzel and Flynn and then continued on across the stage to exit using the steps on the left side of the stage. (Rapunzel and Flynn actually came down from the stage and saw DD near the steps since DD is in a wheelchair and was not able to come up to them). We left soon after seeing them because DD was just about at the edge of endurance at that point.
I did see other people filing out after us after their child/children saw Rapunzel and Flynn.
Here is a picture that shows the coloring table and the children practicing the dance. Toward the top of the picture, there are children waiting in a line toward the stage - thats the ramp to enter the stage.
You can see the rail for the stairs to come down from the stage toward the front of the picture.
