GAC Benefits

[zoedot]

Hi.

Can GACs get you to the front of the queue? I once heard that they didn't benefit you in that way.

Can anybody help?

Thanks.

 

[nobodies36]

Hi.

Can GACs get you to the front of the queue? I once heard that they didn't benefit you in that way.

Can anybody help?

Thanks.

GAC or Guest Assistance Card is designed to tell the castmember about a need due to an invisible disability (rather than having to explain to every CM at every ride that you may need to leave the queue and re-enter as you have bowel problems, for example). There are many GAC stamps and include using a stroller as a wheelchair and be allowed to take it in the line, or being able to wait in the shade for the same lenth of time you would be in the line.

The only people that get to go to the 'front of the line' are Make a Wish Kids and kids from Give Kids the World (these children have life threatening illnesses).

If you have a need that is not evident then go to Guest Services and tell them what you need to be able to have the same experience as everyone else without said need and they will do their best to help. For more information the disABILITIES board is full of helpful advice.

 

[earthelves]

From What I Can See A Guest With Autisim Or Similar Special Needs Can Get A GAC..See Here

http://allears.net/pl/dis_aut2.htm

 

[alisonbestford]

Easter 2006 DH had a GAC stipulating that he needed to queue in the shade, preferably seated (he had a brain tumour)

There were only 4 or 5 rides he wanted, or could, do but, on each one, the Cast Member helped minimise our wait to the best of their abilities

For us this was invaluable as the only way Phil would have been able to queue, for over an hour, would have been to lie down and go to sleep-stubborn devil refused to entertain a wheelchair.............

 

[SueM in MN]

From What I Can See A Guest With Autisim Or Similar Special Needs Can Get A GAC..See Here

http://allears.net/pl/dis_aut2.htm

There are quite a few things in that article that are incorrect:
They emphasize needing to get a doctor's letter (or at least that it is important to have one). But, in actual fact, it is against the law in the United States for anyone to require a letter or proof of a disability. If someone chooses to show a letter, that is OK, but in most cases, the CMs won't even want to look at a letter if the guest has one.

The article says
"The Guest Assistance Card is a special pass designed to allow you to wait in a separate, un-crowded holding area apart from the regular queues at most attractions."
The Guest Assistance Card is not a pass; it is an information card as nobodies36 mentioned. The article makes it sound like almost every attraction has a separate holding area, but that is not the case.

"UPDATE 1/28/04 -- There have been a lot of questions lately about whether there's been a change in the WDW Special Assistance Card policy -- many folks are concerned that the new Disneyland policy has now also become WDW's policy, and that autistic children in particular will be excluded from this special pass."

Again, the GAC is not a special pass.
What they are talking about was that DisneyLand had gotten rid of a card called a Special Assistance Pass and there was a lot of confusion about it. The Special Assistance Pass (SAP) had actually been given based on the person having specific disabilities - for example, someone with cerebral palsy or autism could get a SAP, just because they had that diagnosis. It didn't matter whether or not they had any needs; the diagnosis was enough to get the Pass. And, everyone got the same pass; no matter what the needs were, everyone was treated the same and went thru the ride exit.
Disneyland didn't actually get rid of the Special Assistance Pass; they revised it to be the Special Assistance Card. It was no longer enough to just have a diagnosis - the guest needed to be able to explain what needs they had because there were different stamps that could be put on the card to meet the needs. Because they could not just say their child had autism and get a pass, a lot of people thought the whole program had been gotten rid of.
Interestingly, the changes at Disneyland were made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which says the person has to have needs related to a disability and that the assistance given had to be related to the needs. The ADA also says that the person can't be required to provide proof of their disability or even be asked what it is. The Disneyland changes were also made to be consistent with the changes that had already been made at WDW about 12-18 months before.

"We visited Studios and Epcot Guest Services, and they were unaware of any recent changes. They did receive *new* Special Assistance Cards recently, with a reduced number of supported "needs" printed upon them - but autism is still one of the six needs they do support. It's true that they're no longer issuing SACs for typical wheelchair disabilities - FastPasses are recommended in those cases. SACs are issued for those needs that are not immediately visible to the naked eye of the ride operators (bring doctor's note, as usual).

"We were quite clear when we asked. We said, 'A friend of ours has an autistic child and is planning a trip. She heard there was a recent policy change regarding the Special Assistance Cards. Is there anything we can tell her?' They didn't want to list the six specific needs they currently support, but they were emphatic that autism is supported, and that the SACs are still very much with us."
WDW had changed the name of their card from Special Assistance Pass to Special Assistance Card. One of the reasons for that was guests thought a PASS meant they would get immediate access. Since that wasn't what the card was for, they changed the name to CARD.
The writers also seemed to think there were 6 different diagnoses (like autism) that the card "supported."
There were actually 6 different stamps that could be added to the card - some of the 6 were (and still are), using a stroller as a wheelchair, a place to wait in the shade if the queue is in the sun for a prolonged period, a place to sit.
So, while some of the hints on that page are quite helpful, the information about GACs is not correct. There is information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread in post #6 (there is a link to that thread in my signature). I am not a CM, but all the GAC information in that thread has been reviewed for accuracy by WDW Guest Relations CMs, so I am sure it is accurate.