GAC at Disneyland

[DizLushLvr]

Hello,

We are going to DL in June for the first time. We usually get a GAC card at Disney World. I was just wondering if they have them at DL as well. If so do we get them at Guest relations? Any advice on the topic would be great.

 

[MBW]

So I've been doing a lot of research on the subject. We would not be able to "do Disney" without the GAC, particularly the "alternate entrance" accommodation, so I've wanted to be clear that such was also available at DLR. (I even read the 29 pages of thread on the subject, dating back to 2004, on MousePad...yikes!)

I think it really depends upon your needs - because of the rampant abuse of the previous SAP (Special Assistance Pass) as a "FOTL pass" for anyone and everyone with so much as a stubbed toe, DLR cracked down, perhaps too much, particularly when they were in transition. Now it appears that they've pretty much come into line with WDW's need-based (versus diagnosis-based) GAC. For people with endurance and mobility issues, DLR recommends using a wheelchair and Fastpass as much as possible. For those with "invisible disabilities", DLR provides other accommodations on a case-by-case basis. From what I understand, if you do not feel the CM in Guest Relations is addressing your need/accommodation effectively, you should ask to see a manager. (I figure if I have any problem, I'll just leave my profoundly autistic seven-year old with them for an hour - that'll give them a clue )

The only thing I'm slightly concerned about is the assertion by some DLR-veterans that attraction-level CMs have too much say over how they'll "interpret" your GAC and thus, your need for accommodation. The idea that somehow we can go up to an attraction with FP, get a FP and then leave is just not ever going to happen - my son cannot understand that, and I don't believe he should be forced into a severe meltdown so as to prevent/punish those who take advantage of the GAC. But until that happens, I'm going to take Disney on good faith that my children's needs will be accommodated as best (for them) as they can be.

 

[DIS-NH]

Thanks for the info....We're trying DL for the first time in August. I was also wondering about the GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

So I've been doing a lot of research on the subject. We would not be able to "do Disney" without the GAC, particularly the "alternate entrance" accommodation, so I've wanted to be clear that such was also available at DLR. (I even read the 29 pages of thread on the subject, dating back to 2004, on MousePad...yikes!)

I read it in 2004 as it was happening - very interesting.
I think you did a good job summarizing what I have seen about the subject.
The old SAP was the same for eveyone. No matter what your needs, you ended up with the same Pass - which meant everyone using the "Handicapped Entrance" (no matter what their needs were).
For people with mobility disabilities, the Handicapped Entrance was often the only one that was accessible. The areas these entrances led to were small, which meant long lines. I read that before the changes, people often were waiting way longer in the handicapped lines than even in the standby lines. So, it didn't really meet anyone's needs (they were as busy as the regular lines, crowded and a long wait).

From what I have read more recently about the Special Assistance Card at Disneyland, it seems to be working quite well and is pretty much the same as WDW's GAC (DL still has a different name than WDW uses as far as I know).

The idea that somehow we can go up to an attraction with FP, get a FP and then leave is just not ever going to happen - my son cannot understand that, and I don't believe he should be forced into a severe meltdown so as to prevent/punish those who take advantage of the GAC. But until that happens, I'm going to take Disney on good faith that my children's needs will be accommodated as best (for them) as they can be.

For some people, getting Fastpasses works fine - especially if they have a member of their party who can go ahead without the person with a disability to get one. We do that when we can (my DD is not autistic, but she has some major problems with waiting and can get aggressive at times).
The problem comes if that is the only accomidation offered because some people do need more than that.

 

[cupcake]

They will not tell you ahead of time, either, if there is a stamp that will help you. Ironically, I only need help with sun rarely at WDW (during Food & Wine) bc lines are shaded, but DL does not offer a sun sensitivity stamp and is laoded with sunny lines plus you have to line up for shows well in advance and stand in the direct sun. No can do! (medication induced tendency to sun poisoning, an umbrella and RX sunscreen only go so far when exposed to too much sun at a time). The CM actually told me that "it's just a fact of life that it's sunny on California" so I should just avoid any sunny lines. Thanks, that helped! I agree with Sue, it's almost like they are trying to overcompensate. It's not going to lessen my wait time if they help me. I just want to wait in the shade! But it's not required, so it's their choice. It makes me appreciate how nice WDW is in trying to help everyone really enjoy their trip and see everything that others can see. So just wanted to note that what you experience at WDW may not be the same as at DL.

Cupcake

 

[cmwade77]

Things have changed a bit recently, virtually anyone can get a "Wheel Chair" stamp now, if they have a true need for it, which at Disneyland works the same way the old SAP did basically and at DCA it is supposed to provide: A seated location in a shaded area to wait for the length of the line, many times if the lines are fairly short they will simply will allow you to use the fastpass que without needing to get one, but otherwise you will either need to get one or wait in a seated shaded spot, either way they seem to be fairly accommodating, just tell each CM what your need is they will try to find a way to help that is fair for both you and those waiting in the regular lines as well.

 

[cindysteve]

We went to DL in 2005 and received a card like the GAC we get at WDW. We used alternate entrances, and occasionally the was the Wheelchair entrance (especially in Fantasyland), but more often than not, it was the fastpass lane (or the exit on Pirates). I have a DD10 with bipolar disorder and a DS12 with High functioning autism. They tend to "feed" off of each other. He gets upset, she starts to escalate... As far as sun exposure goes, I don't recall the specifics of each ride, but most of our waits were not in the sun.

 

[cupcake]

Things have changed a bit recently, virtually anyone can get a "Wheel Chair" stamp now, if they have a true need for it, which at Disneyland works the same way the old SAP did basically and at DCA it is supposed to provide: A seated location in a shaded area to wait for the length of the line, many times if the lines are fairly short they will simply will allow you to use the fastpass que without needing to get one, but otherwise you will either need to get one or wait in a seated shaded spot, either way they seem to be fairly accommodating, just tell each CM what your need is they will try to find a way to help that is fair for both you and those waiting in the regular lines as well.

Just to clarify, if you are in a wc or ECV, will this still allow you to wait in a shaded spot, or are you viewed as being accomodated since you are using mobility assistance? The last time we were at DL, Guest Services and CMs were singularly unaccomodating with my request to be able to wait in the shade and the sunny lines were a real problem. I am more than happy to wait but direct sun is not my friend.

Thanks!

Cupcake