GAC - are there too many of us?

[_tinkerbell_]

DBro(8) is autistic and I've been looking at the posts about the GAC. My family agree this would be a huge help. Our only worry is that our family would have to split up there are 6 of us going my parents, sister and my 2 brothers. If it’s a problem we won’t have a choice, but we want to spend as much time together as possible.

I've heard you go into a waiting area to avoid waiting in line for so long.
Would we all be able to go together?

We are going to get a doctors letter to show at guest services but to be honest any information would be a great help as we don’t know much about it.

Thanks!

 

[dclfun]

The GAC accommodates the guest who needs it plus up to 5 others, so your party of 6 would be fine. There isn't always a separate waiting area and each attraction will have a different way of handling your child's special need- just an FYI so you don't have unrealistic expectations. They will let your entire party stay together though.---Kathy

 

[KPeveler]

btw, you do not need to bring a dr's note for Guest Relations - in fact, they will not look at it even if you have it

 

[momto2greatgirls]

They actually accomodated 7 of us in 2005. Rarely were we all together, but it stated on her GAC that there was her plus 6 others (my parents and aunt were there only for a few days and we didn't do everything together even then).

 

[mechurchlady]

It is the guest and 5 other persons at WDW. It depends on the cast member as some will let that extra person go through.

The GAC is for needs so a diagnosis and doctor's do not help. Autism is a wide variety of symptoms that each person does not have usually. You will need to tell them what he needs such as having a meltdown in a dark room.

Often Fast Pass and services/guidebooks like Tourguide Mike will make the wait shorter. Definitely read all the trip reports and information posted at this site that deal with autism. There are lots of tips you would never have though of like using construction ear protectors, using a pill cutter to make tiny gummy worms bits, making a card to hand out that explains his needs, quiet places to go during a meltdown, and places to avoid. From the autism threads I have learned how to handle my quirks and deal with my elderly mother who can at times have her own little meltdowns.

hgus and good luck.

 

[Frankiesmom]

In Aug 2006- our DS- also Autistic- we received a GAC card for 7 people; but we had 5 kids traveling eith us- and not all our kids LOL I think that's why they let us have it for 7.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know if anyone mentioned, but there is a section about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread that should be helpful to you.

 

[flynnmnstr]

But it is really up to the individual CMs on whether they let your party stay together or not. We really try to use FP as much as possible and then there isn't really an issue.

Some rides are tougher than others like Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain because of how the lines work and the loading process.

This trip we are travelling with 12-13 (one is an infant and my DF is only going to be there for a long weekend), so I have no idea how that is going to work. But we get a GAC for both of my boys who are in the spectrum and/or ADHD with sensory processing. We really and truly only use it when we need to keep them in the stroller on the lines; which some days in not at all and other days is every single ride. USE FP it helps tremendously and plan on it taking a little more time to navigate the attractions.

 

[SueM in MN]

I just wanted to clarify that GACs are usually given for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability). If there are special circumstances, the CM issuing the GAC can issue it for more than that if needed (like the person who had 2 adults and 5 kids; or our recent trip where we had DD who needed a GAC, but also had two 80 yr old grandmas with us).
There are some attractions where the waiting or seating area may not accomodate that many people though, so there may be times when you have to split up into smaller groups. If that happens, it's usually for wheelchair accessibility where they may have one wheelchair spot and one spot for a companion.

 

[mamaloya]

This last trip I was the only adult with 7 children. My friend was with us with her 2 kids as well, but she was not always with us. That brought the total to 11. First I must say that while we were there, it was the off off season and the normal line was usually only 15 minutes, so this was not the busy season and I don't think they would have done it during the summer or on holidays. BUT, when there were 11 of us, the let us stay together, but they don't HAVE to, it was just a consideration they showed us because we were 2 single moms with 9 children. Had there been more than 2 adults with us, I don't think they would have allowed us all. They are only supposed to allow a total of 6.

As for the special seating that Sue is talking about. That was where our problems came in. Luckily I had a couple of teenagers with me that could sit seperately with the kids, but the CMs really did try to accomodate us by sitting the kids in the row right behind or in front of me and not requiring them to "slide all the way to the end of the row". Sometimes I would park and then move to be seated with them. There were places where if I could not walk, there is no way that we could be seated together.

As Kathy stated, the OP will be fine with her group, just others should know that there are rare instances when they do make concessions.