GAC at DCA

[mjaynes288]

Yesterday I went to DCA for the first time. The day started with the CM at guest relations refusing to give me the GAC I needed. I need an alternative place to wait away from other guests becuase 1.) I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and perfume causes my airway to swell 2.) I am hypersensitive to touch and it feels like a large electric shock when I am touched unexpectedly. When I told this to the CM she asked me repeatedly what I needed assistence with. Then she told me, "If you have concerns about standing in line rent a whelchair." I said I did not need a wheelchair and I was not worried about "standing" in line I was worried about breathing. She went into how the whole park is ADA complient and totally accessible(ha, I have never seen anywhere totally accessible). I explained many times during this conversation that I did not expect get ahead of anyone with the card. Finally she gave me GAC for accessible entrances which is useless at DCA to get me to go away.

Luckily the park was empty and there were no lines so I did not need the GAC except at Muppets 3D. The CMs there were excellent. They had to make many calls and paged someone because their lead was at roll call. Eventually I got to go in the exit and nobody came all the way across the theater so no problems with perfume sitting near me. The CM there also warned me that Bugs Life and Soaring use sents as part of the ride. I was planning on going on Soaring next but decided not to risk it. I had a wonderful time and would not change it but I did end up in the ER with trouble breathing on the way home.

Have other people had trouble getting a GAC at DCA or was this just a CM that needs more training?

Meredith

 

[JenJen]

I have never had a problem but At DCA as you said it really does not make a differance with a GAC because there is really not alternate entrance because of the way it was designed. Most the time you go through fast pass. I am just wondering where you went in for Muppets because to get through exit they have open up two ver heavy hydrolic doors. If you went through the entrance they could have had you wait to the side away from the crowd like they do with our group. I have an adult friend that is metally unstable and can not be around guest so he is a stamp and a note on his pass that states to keep him away from the guest. We wait the same amount of time most of the time but just away from the guest. Most of the attractions there just do not have a alternative entrance so fast pass is the quickest way to get in.
Sounds like it must be very difficult for you to go to public places that must be very hard. I have a condition called fibromyalgia and I am very chemical sensitive and very sensitive to the touch as well. If someone touches me on the body I can feel it for up to an hour. It also makes it difficult to ride many of the rides now because if they bump me it is painful. Also Ihave to be careful because I have brittle bones.SO I have some Idea what you are going through.
All I can suggest next time you go is to tell the cast member at the ride that you do not mind waiting the legnth of the line but you need to be away from the guest. That is what we do and they are always very helpful. Sometimes the stamp and pass do not help us at all s we need to verbally tell the cast member our needs. After we explain to them that it is not an issue of waiting but being away from the guest the accomidate us.
When I have my kids it is a differant story and there are differant needs but they can see that they can not wait when we get there and get us on quickly. If it is just me and my adult friend it is not an issue of waiting so things are handled differantly.I hope this helps.

 

[mjaynes288]

The problem at muppets was there was not enough air flow through the room you wait in. There was a lot of perfume in the group that came right after the show before closed. Their perfume was the kind that stays behind to brighten the day of every one after them. I was worried I could not hold my breath from where you get your glasses to the inside of the theater.

The doors did not open specially for me. I went in accompanied by a CM when the group before was coming out(would be hard if there were a large crowd). There was no line (the park was really, really empty) so I went in only a few seconds before when I would have if gotten in if I waited with every one else. We sat near the doors in case the perfume came wafting over but didn't have a problem.

Yes, life is hard. I have hypermobile joints that dislocate for no reason at all so I stay on the more tame rides. My favorite ride yesterday was Flik's Flyers. Its just my speed as long as it is up wind of the chew chew.

Meredith

 

[LindsayDunn228]

What is DCA?

 

[Selket]

What is DCA?

Disney's California Adventure I think (haven't been there).

 

[SueM in MN]

What is DCA?

Disney's California Adventure.

It sounds like the problem the OP had was that the CM in Guest Services didn't understand what it was that was needed.
The 2 things that you told her really didn't mean anything to her (the reason she kept asking what you needed assistance with). Since she couldn't come up with anything else, she offered what she had (an accessible entrance stamp and the suggestion of a wheelchair).
A wheelchair didn't really fit your needs, but is sometimes a very appropriate accomidation for someone who needs to be separated from other guest, even if they don't have problems with mobility (it sort of provides a "cushion" of space around the person so that there is some private space).

Most CMs do want to help, but just knowing the diagnosis doesn't really help them to come up with accomidations. Even for things like autism, where the CMs are pretty familiar with the needs, there is a range of needs. Some might need a GAC for almost every attraction, some might be able to use Fastpass and not need a GAC. Some might be fine in the regular line, as long as they can have a wheelchair or stroller to sit in. So, just knowing the diagnosis, usually doesn't really help much with what is needed. If you can explain what you have difficulty with, it really helps to come up with the appropriate accomidations. (Although, not all accomidations are available at all attractions).

Also, as JenJen said, the GAC and the stamp on it give a general idea of the needs, but you may have to explain a bit to help the CM see what your specific needs are for their attraction. (And it sounded like you did have a good experience with them accomidating you once they knew what you needed).
Another suggestion is that when you have a GAC that seems to meet your needs pretty well, take that one with you and show it to the CM in Guest Services on your next visit. Be ready to explain that it was very helpful (and if there were problems, what your problem was). The old GAC at least gives the CM a place to start with.

 

[JenJen]

I really do feel for the OP because Even though I have chemical sensitivities and certain smells give me Headaches and make me throw up it does not block my airway. How scary that must be for you.

We went to Disneyland on Sunday and we had to leave because the crowds were too much for my friend. It had nothing to do with the lines just too many people in general. We decided we would go back this Weds and bring his two daughters. His daughters seem to calm him and Weds are less crowded.

Some people say "Why do you even bring someone that has issues with people and can be agitated with guest?" and I understand where they are coming from. But we both LOVES Disney and he does enjoy the parks and is something he looks forward to every month. I know when he is having problems and is not tolerating crowd's so that helps, I know when it is time to leave the environment that is upsetting him. I am so happy that Disneyland makes the parks enjoyable for all!!! I have never seen a system that caters to each persons needs the way Disney does. We run in to those few cast members that are rude because he is an adult and looks normal until there is an issue. But in the end it is worth it.

Before he was diagnosed as Bipolar, Schizophrenic, RA, and a number of other conditions we were engaged. I was heart broken and because he was not medicated right he said things to me that were enough for me to leave him. But we have formed an awesome friendship and I would not change our friendship for the world. These conditions are just heartbreaking and rob people of there lives but there is one place where we can go to get away from the reality of his and my issues and for those few hours there is nothing wrong with us.

I have no idea why I told all of you this but I just get so frustrated when some cast members and guest look at us like we are cheating the system some how. We try not to use the pass and get fast pass but even some fastpass lines are too much so we get the fast pass and show them the pass so we do not have to endure the long looks that we have not waited the Que. Most cast members are great but there are those few that can turn a great day into a guilt trip.

I guess I just wanted you all to understand why we get a pass for an adult that is normally given to a child that has a hard time waiting in line.

I am really excited about taking his girls to Disneyland so they can have a fun day with there dad without the worries. Just a carefree day. We decided to go on a Weds. and pull them out of school for a bit so we can accommodate his needs better and there are no issues with the girls there. One of his daughters has SIDS so his pass will help her too. I am assuming we do not need to get two passes if the one he has would be the same one she would get unless it would be differant in some way.

Is there anyone one else here that deals with an adult with severe mental disorders? I would love to talk to someone that understands what I am going through. You all are great here. I have been to several other message boards for Disney and whenever you bring up A GAC you get ripped apart. I have never been to a site that is so understanding and so helpful. Thanks to whoever started this site and thank you sue for being such a great guardian angel.

Okay I am done rambbling sorry I went on and on. Sometimes it is nice just to know someone is listening

 

[mjaynes288]

I tried to be very clear on what I needed when speaking to the CM. The first thing I did was ask for an alternative place to wait away from other guests and explained why(breathing, touch). She kept asking what I needed assistance with. I restated, "I need an alternative place to wait away from other people," as many ways as I could think of but it did not seem to get through. I felt that the CM took one look at my forearm crutches and decided I was there for a stamina issue hence suggesting a wheelchair. She did not lissen. I felt like I was talking to a parrot.

Meredith

 

[SueM in MN]

I tried to be very clear on what I needed when speaking to the CM. The first thing I did was ask for an alternative place to wait away from other guests and explained why(breathing, touch). She kept asking what I needed assistance with. I restated, "I need an alternative place to wait away from other people," as many ways as I could think of but it did not seem to get through. I felt that the CM took one look at my forearm crutches and decided I was there for a stamina issue hence suggesting a wheelchair. She did not lissen. I felt like I was talking to a parrot.

Meredith

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood what you said to the CM.