GAC & Bus Question

[iluvmickey2008]

My 4.5 year old is on the autism spectrum (non-verbal and developmentally delayed). We are planning a Disney Trip in 2014 (hopefully!!). Comparing to the way he is at local amusement parks, I think we will be ok using the GAC and Fast Pass or even the regular line, depending on what time of the year we go (and depending on his mood that day!).

What about the bus lines? Would we be able to board first? The thought of us standing in line and not getting on and the bus driving off without him would set off a tantrum like Disney has never seen! I guess the best thing to do would be to rent a car, but since we are going with other families, there might be a chance of us taking a bus.

Just wondering how Disney normally handles.

Thanks!

 

[PatsMom]

Someone with more knowledge than I will be along shortly I am sure. But the GAC does not apply to busses. When I was there recently, wheelchairs went through the regualr line in most instances. Even if you have a stroller as a wheelchair GAC, it won't help at all with the bus situation.

The only thing I could suggest is to go with your alternate plan and rent a car. If you go at a busy time, there are bus lines and there is no avoiding them that I know of. And since no one would really understand your situation, I don't know that they would be real understanding if you tried to send a member of your party through the line while you waited to the side with your son and joined in at the last minute. Especially at park closing, people tend to be tired and a bit short tempered in the bus lines!

Although if you avoid peak times like opening and closing, you may not experience lines to any great extent. We don't typically spend much time in line except at those times. Last trip was a bit more because I could not stand so there were at least two times that we passed on a bus and waited for the next. But there was standing room both times.

Also be aware that you will not be allowed to leave your son in the stroller on the bus. So if having that "safe space" is very important to him, that might be another argument for renting a car. There is no way to safety tie down a stroller on the bus. You can leave him in it all the way through the line and fold up at the last minute.

 

[KPeveler]

The GAC is not observed on the bus. For that matter it is also not used for character interactions, even those with set queues, restaurants, fireworks (nor is there a wheelchair viewing area), street entertainment, or anything at DTD or the resorts.

Your best bet for waiting for a bus is to go at off peak times of day. Avoid times like rope drop and right afternoon fireworks.

You should know that at a bus stop at the resorts you will DEFINITELY see buses come and not get on them. This is because all destinations share the same bus stop at the resort. You may see several stop, load guests, and leave before you are able to get on your buses
Also good to know is that large parties often have to split up on different buses.

The GAC has a limit of 6 people, so if you are traveling with other parties you will be splitting up often anyway.

If he must have a seat or cannot be touched by strangers, rent a car. The GAC and all the planning in the world cannot help with that one unfortunately.

 

[disney david]

At most resorts they dont have ques so when you seeth bus you line up so as long as your close to the curb you should be some what first. At the parks like pp said is to travel off peak times because if their a line already you won't be able to get tithe front of te line. Your best bet would rent a car if you think it be a problem waiting in line. The only park that you have a problem is mk because you have to take te monorail or ferry and their hey have a line and if crowed they could be worse then the buses.

 

[EMTyarn]

Having done both the bus and bring/rent own car route, we can say -

Pro for the bus -
1. It's free.
2. It's handy, since it's free.
3. No need to worry about pick up, drop off, gas, etc.

Pro for a car -
1. Unlike the bus, it's there when you are.
2. No waiting for 30 plus minutes for it.
3. If you are staying on site, no parking costs (bring your resort pass)
4. You can go park-to-park, which buses do not do.
5. What swung us to not using a bus again... It's our own space. Our youngest is severe, and needs that comfort zone of his own space, making a rental car a must when we travel.

A side note on strollers - If you are using a special needs stroller/pushchair, and it is rated for automotive tie down, then you can stay in the stroller on the bus. If it's a regular stroller, it can not use the tie downs for wheelchairs.

 

[KathyRN137]

Well, I had what I hoped would be a helpful response, but then Dagny answered it perfectly!

You are smart planning your trip during a lesser crowded time of the year. I think the biggest mistake parents make is assuming that the GAC will take care of all their needs.

Have an amazing trip... your family is going to fall in love with WDW!

Kathy

 

[bookwormde]

If you are going in less crowded times it is almost a non issue especially at the moderates and deluxes.

WDW must provide accomimdation if you child cannot manage the lines, even the bus lines. I have never seen anyone care if a child and a stroller stands aside if the rest of the family is in line, it is when they roll up at the last minute that there might be an issue.

We have done this when our child was olders, and just gave a quick heads up to the others close to us in the line.

Relax have fun, and I am sure if there is a melt down it wil not be the most dramatic, they happen all the time with our kids

bookwormde

 

[jworkkul]

I just returned from a very long weekend at WDW and I rented and I rented an ECV to use during the parks. I stayed at Saratoga Springs and when waiting for the bus, there is a box painted on the waiting platform with WC marked inside of it. I would go there and wait for my bus. When it pulled in the bus driver saw me and I mentioned I am waiting for that bus so they would know. Never a problem. Now coming back from the parks, I did not have to go through the usual queue line. There usually is a handicapped spot marked off. I would wait there and again, no problem. I did not have to go through any queue lines.

 

[disney david]

The GAC is not observed on the bus. For that matter it is also not used for character interactions, even those with set queues, restaurants, fireworks (nor is there a wheelchair viewing area), street entertainment, or anything at DTD or the resorts.

Your best bet for waiting for a bus is to go at off peak times of day. Avoid times like rope drop and right afternoon fireworks.

You should know that at a bus stop at the resorts you will DEFINITELY see buses come and not get on them. This is because all destinations share the same bus stop at the resort. You may see several stop, load guests, and leave before you are able to get on your buses
Also good to know is that large parties often have to split up on different buses.

The GAC has a limit of 6 people, so if you are traveling with other parties you will be splitting up often anyway.

If he must have a seat or cannot be touched by strangers, rent a car. The GAC and all the planning in the world cannot help with that one unfortunately.

On a side note you going to camp out June 14 to be the first official Guests in cars land. Unless your got to go to an ap preview but it still be cool to say you was their June 15 if your schudle allows it.

 

[Reddy]

Disney has seen the tantrums - from my son when they loaded a ECV instead of letting him on - the bus driver looked over & told us to board, DH tried to tell him we could wait, we would get on but everyone in front of us insisted (speical ed teacher at the front of the line might had something to do with it)

oh my son was/is 16 that had the tantrum so don't worry - most will over look yours since he is so young - figure he would just be tired like everyone else.

work on line waiting any place you can - I prefer to blend in as much as possible & not over use the GAC (life isn't always fair so it helps at other places)

 

[buffettgirl]

If you are going in less crowded times it is almost a non issue especially at the moderates and deluxes.

WDW must provide accomimdation if you child cannot manage the lines, even the bus lines. I have never seen anyone care if a child and a stroller stands aside if the rest of the family is in line, it is when they roll up at the last minute that there might be an issue.

We have done this when our child was olders, and just gave a quick heads up to the others close to us in the line.

Relax have fun, and I am sure if there is a melt down it wil not be the most dramatic, they happen all the time with our kids

bookwormde

Maybe Sue will chime in here, but I don't think they MUST provide a guest with an accommodation that will get them on the bus first. I can understand why a guest would need this, however, it really isn't the same as using an alternate entry way. In this case I believe it falls into the category of a situation where it would provide a level of service which is greater than what other guests have and in doing so does not fall under ADA rules for providing accommodations. A wheelchair or ECVs are not required to be loaded first, however, for ease they often are.

 

[disney david]

Maybe Sue will chime in here, but I don't think they MUST provide a guest with an accommodation that will get them on the bus first. I can understand why a guest would need this, however, it really isn't the same as using an alternate entry way. In this case I believe it falls into the category of a situation where it would provide a level of service which is greater than what other guests have and in doing so does not fall under ADA rules for providing accommodations. A wheelchair or ECVs are not required to be loaded first, however, for ease they often are.

They don't just a place to wait so one member of the family can wait in the que and they can wait to the side. So when the one member eeaches their turn to load Disney must let their other member load to. I think that the accomadtion they have to make their no laws saying they must load any one first. Your right about the wheelcahirs they load them first for safety but if cant then they try to get them on.

 

[buffettgirl]

They don't just a place to wait so one member of the family can wait in the que and they can wait to the side. So when the one member eeaches their turn to load Disney must let their other member load to. I think that the accomadtion they have to make their no laws saying they must load any one first. Your right about the wheelcahirs they load them first for safety but if cant then they try to get them on.

gotcha. But even this doesn't require a GAC, right? I mean I often see a party get in line for the bus and then elderly dad / stroller mom/ mom with disabled child waiting off to the side. And I have really never witnessed anyone make a stink.

Am I missing something?

 

[KPeveler]

Something to note is that there are NOT cast members at bus stops. There is no one present to adjust the usual bus line process. Yes Disney must provide accommodations _for equal access, but that does not mean that accommodation will be front of the line access. You may be able to have a family member wait in line while another waits with the child to the side. But I am not sure that an equal access accommodation would mean front of line access or a guaranteed spot on the first bus.

The practical fact remains that there are no CMs at bus stops so it would be up to you to coordinate any changes in the boarding procedure. This may not be something you are wishing to do. I wuld rent a car to avoid the many hassles of the bus. Even if you get on the first bus, they are often packed like clown cars. He may well have to stand or have plots of strangers bump into him.

 

[disney david]

gotcha. But even this doesn't require a GAC, right? I mean I often see a party get in line for the bus and then elderly dad / stroller mom/ mom with disabled child waiting off to the side. And I have really never witnessed anyone make a stink.

Am I missing something?

No you won't need a gac for that they don't use gac for buses at the park stops their are most of the time but not always other bus drivers waiting to switch out another driver you could always ask talk to them thu be more then happy to help you in anyway they can. At night they started puting drivers at park bus stops with ornange vest and lights at cross walks of you like you could ask them any question you like about transportation.

The other problem would be the monorails at mk I am not sure what they can do sinfe it one long que I guess have them to through the exit but the. Your be fighting the crowds coming down and they might not let you wait at the exit. Even the ferrys not sure what they would do those two are no like the buses because the buses each has a que with a place to wait to the side. The ferry and monorails have one long que and if busy it a long line.

 

[crashbb]

They don't just a place to wait so one member of the family can wait in the que and they can wait to the side. So when the one member eeaches their turn to load Disney must let their other member load to. I think that the accomadtion they have to make their no laws saying they must load any one first. Your right about the wheelcahirs they load them first for safety but if cant then they try to get them on.

Except that it doesn't seem like that would help the situation for the OP. Her son could still be standing there, waiting and watching a bus go by that they aren't getting on. It's not like they could wait out of sight of the bus (since they wouldn't know that their family got to the front of the line if they did that).

 

[disney david]

Except that it doesn't seem like that would help the situation for the OP. Her son could still be standing there, waiting and watching a bus go by that they aren't getting on. It's not like they could wait out of sight of the bus (since they wouldn't know that their family got to the front of the line if they did that).

your right the only way it work is if one member waits in the que when that member gets to the front and ready to load they all rejoin and get on the bus. if the bus is full then they could wait for the next one then they be the first ones on. they could wait by the gap in between the stops but it dose sound like the best option would be to rent a car.

 

[buffettgirl]

your right the only way it work is if one member waits in the que when that member gets to the front and ready to load they all rejoin and get on the bus. if the bus is full then they could wait for the next one then they be the first ones on. they could wait by the gap in between the stops but it dose sound like the best option would be to rent a car.

I think we're all on the same page here.

 

[disney david]

I think we're all on the same page here.

Thanks your right we all are the same page.

 

[livndisney]

Disney does not provide a way to "be first" on the bus. Nor is it required to as this would not be "equal access". (ECV and medical strollers are usually boarded first, but even that is not guaranteed-due to full bus, broken lift etc.)

As many have pointed out, buses come and go past bus stops. At the parks and the value resorts there are formal lines(metal barriers, chains etc). The moderates and up do not have those at the resorts.

I would have to agree, OP your best bet may be to rent a car.