GAC card at RSR

[closetmickey]

Has anyone used a GAC card at RSR? or know how it is working for that ride? Thanks!

 

[ValpoCory]

In case anyone is wondering, GAC = Guest Assistance Card.

http://www.diz-abled.com/Disney-Resources/Articles/Disney-Guest-Assistance-Cards.htm


The handicapped procedure is to have a separate loading area.

 

[DLR29]

I know they were directing people with GACs to wait in the FP line until you get to the point when you merge with the regular line...then the guests with GACs go to that separate boarding area.

 

[Disney4us2]

I have used my GAC for RSR. It depends on what stamp you have on the card. I have the one with the arrows for alternate entrance. I go through the fastpass line. I am also scooter bound and am directed to the wheelchair loading area. I only have used the card early in the day. Once the fastpass line fills up, it can be an hour wait even with the GAC.

 

[closetmickey]

I know they were directing people with GACs to wait in the FP line until you get to the point when you merge with the regular line...then the guests with GACs go to that separate boarding area.

Thanks! Does that mean we need to get a FP first?

 

[DLR29]

Thanks! Does that mean we need to get a FP first?

No need to get a FP, but Disney4us2 mentioned, the FP line has been getting really long recently for RSR so you'll still have to wait quite a bit with a GAC.

 

[closetmickey]

A quick update....when we were there last Friday, we approached RSR with our GAC card around noon and we were given a handwritten fastpass for our group to return at 4:15. They said they are limited as to how many GAC passes they can allow on the ride per hour. So just to note, if you are not planning to spend the entire day at the park for whatever reason, you should still go to RSR on the early side to obtain a fastpass in case they are keeping this procedure.
Also- the fastpass line was only around 20 minutes when we returned to use it.

 

[starshine514]

I have used my GAC for RSR. It depends on what stamp you have on the card. I have the one with the arrows for alternate entrance. I go through the fastpass line. I am also scooter bound and am directed to the wheelchair loading area. I only have used the card early in the day. Once the fastpass line fills up, it can be an hour wait even with the GAC.

I haven't been yet, but I'm assuming that's only the procedure for those with GACs? It appears that those with mobility problems (using an ECV or WC, without a GAC) will be in the regular line (per the mobility guide):

Radiator Springs Racers
Enter through the standard queue. A separate loading area is available.

http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/help/Mobility_201206.pdf

Also, is the mobility guide followed for FP rides in general? I normally follow it (and always get FPs for any of the FP rides that DH or my mom are willing to ride - which is pretty much Soarin' (for both) and GRR (for DH)). I've read here about putting people in the FP line for Star Tours as well (can't attest to what actually happens here. DH only rode it once and then I gave him my FP to ride and I sat out). I often give my FP for Soarin' to either my mom or DH (since they are never in the parks at opening, so they don't normally have the same number of FPs as the girls and I do). I'm just wondering if I have been sitting out for no reason if they were actually allowed to use the FP line anyway.

 

[MotoXPrincess99]

A quick update....when we were there last Friday, we approached RSR with our GAC card around noon and we were given a handwritten fastpass for our group to return at 4:15. They said they are limited as to how many GAC passes they can allow on the ride per hour. So just to note, if you are not planning to spend the entire day at the park for whatever reason, you should still go to RSR on the early side to obtain a fastpass in case they are keeping this procedure.
Also- the fastpass line was only around 20 minutes when we returned to use it.

This is how it was on Sunday as well. My mom has a GAC with the arrow and when she came back at the given time she had to get in the FastPass line. Also they only let her ride it 2 times that way. (I think they wrote it on her GAC.)

 

[closetmickey]

Sorry, but I can't speak to the mobility question.
As for riding it more than once, we didn't attempt to do so. It just didn't feel "right" given that regular fastpasses had already run out.

 

[Zane21]

This could be an issue for a kid with autism....being told to come back...
Hello MELTDOWN

 

[dsneygirl]

They must have changed the procedure because earlier in the week (Mon, Tues) everyone was a GAC was being sent right into the FP line which was already nearing an hour long.

 

[closetmickey]

This could be an issue for a kid with autism....being told to come back...
Hello MELTDOWN

Yes. Or for one who cannot last too long at the park. It's still a wonderful accommodation, though, so everyone should just plan accordingly!

 

[Minuet888]

A quick update....when we were there last Friday, we approached RSR with our GAC card around noon and we were given a handwritten fastpass for our group to return at 4:15. They said they are limited as to how many GAC passes they can allow on the ride per hour. So just to note, if you are not planning to spend the entire day at the park for whatever reason, you should still go to RSR on the early side to obtain a fastpass in case they are keeping this procedure.
Also- the fastpass line was only around 20 minutes when we returned to use it.

This is what we got
my son and us normally go through fastpass and with the line being three hours long we had a time written on our pass to come back in three hours BUIT IF THE RIDE BREAKS DOWN AND YOU ARE IN LINE AND HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE YOUR CHILD IS AUTISTIC YOU HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN
we did....THREE TIMES, and yes I'm still pissed about it
Not about the writing the time about having to start all over again when the ride CONSTANTLY breaks down
When Star Tours first opened they did this too but they aren't doing it anymore

and yes to the poster a couple above me my son is autistic, he doesn't do well with crowds VERY claustrophobic and doesn't do well with waitign and ADD ADHD paitence type things, we normally spend extra for Fantasmic and World of Color for this very reason. When the ride broke down for an hour and forty five minutes he started to have a meltdown, we had to get out of line and walk around get him some buttons when it opened up again we were told to come back in another three hours SAY WHAT!?! I asked for a lead and everything but because we got out of line we had to start all over again and like I said this happened three times I thought we were never going to get on that ride!

The third time I asked for a supervisor I WASN"T coming back for a fourth round and they let us thru the fastpass line we waited about 1/2 hour then it broken RIGHT as we were about to get but lucky it was a quick 15 minute fix

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

This is what we got
my son and us normally go through fastpass and with the line being three hours long we had a time written on our pass to come back in three hours BUIT IF THE RIDE BREAKS DOWN AND YOU ARE IN LINE AND HAVE TO LEAVE BECAUSE YOUR CHILD IS AUTISTIC YOU HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN
we did....THREE TIMES, and yes I'm still pissed about it
Not about the writing the time about having to start all over again when the ride CONSTANTLY breaks down
When Star Tours first opened they did this too but they aren't doing it anymore

and yes to the poster a couple above me my son is autistic, he doesn't do well with crowds VERY claustrophobic and doesn't do well with waitign and ADD ADHD paitence type things, we normally spend extra for Fantasmic and World of Color for this very reason. When the ride broke down for an hour and forty five minutes he started to have a meltdown, we had to get out of line and walk around get him some buttons when it opened up again we were told to come back in another three hours SAY WHAT!?! I asked for a lead and everything but because we got out of line we had to start all over again and like I said this happened three times I thought we were never going to get on that ride!

The third time I asked for a supervisor I WASN"T coming back for a fourth round and they let us thru the fastpass line we waited about 1/2 hour then it broken RIGHT as we were about to get but lucky it was a quick 15 minute fix

Thanks for the heads up with this. My 5 year sounds very similar to your child with Autism, and I'm hoping that we don't have to restart due to it breaking down. That would ruin the day for him and he's so linear thinking that having to stop, change and regroup would really put him over the edge. Of course, I keep hoping that the magic of Disney will kick in and that he'll understand that we'll just go do something else fun, but it does concern me. I know he'll love the ride, so the stress of this should be negated in the end if it happens to us.

I'm so glad that it worked out for you!

 

[cmwade77]

Those with Autistic kids would hate me, if I ran things. First let me preface this with the fact that I need to use a GAC myself and I go to multiple theme parks, as I am lucky enough to live in So. Cal. As a result, I have seen how various parks handle the cards and have found ways to prevent the abuse that is becoming more and more rampant at Disney.

The abuse falls into two main categories in Disney:
1. Letting someone else use your GAC - This is actually easy to solve, simply require ID at every attraction or use the old AP cameras and print the person's picture on the pass.

2. Those who don't really need it that get one to take advantage of the system - This one is a actually easy to fix as well. There are two options: either provide a return time pass equal to the length of the line or put a barcode on the GAC and scan it when you enter the line and say that you will not be able to use the GAC until the length of the regular line has elapsed.

Universal Studios follows this structure and also will ask for ID, if they suspect something. If you are using someone else's card, they will remove you from the park.

So, this structure has everyone waiting the same amount of time and since there is no percieved benefit, fewer people will abuse the system. Yes, there will always be some that will try, but this would benefit everyone a lot, as when there is less abuse, it makes it easier to ge the assistance that you need.

Oh, the exception to number two above should be Make a Wish, I firmly believe they should be able to get on as fast as possible.

 

[radskd]

I have two children with ASD. Thanks for posting about the RSR. We will be there on Sunday, and I'm hopeful we'll be able to get on. Waiting in line for anything over a half an hour is not an option at this point for my kids.

I have to admit the abuse of the GAC has become such a pet peeve of mine. I have heard people in the GAC line talk to their children about how lucky they are their Dad got the wheelchair so they can go to the front of the line, i've heard families talk about who wants to hop in the wheelchair before the next ride. I would love for Disney to set up something to stop the abuse.

I am thankful we get to use it. Although my son will only ride a handful of rides and runs from parades and characters, we love Disneyland and would never get to go without it.

 

[dsneygirl]

I rode RSR 3 times in the fast pass line last week. From my observations there were MORE GAC holders than there were FP holders in this line. FP are surrendured people hold onto their GAC. I was in line behind a group of 10 and the CM said a GAC is only good for (5 or 6 ( can't remember) and then said "on no problem we have 2". I don't want to point out specifics but there were clearly many many people who were abusing it.

 

[Minuet888]

I wouldn't hate you.
I agree people abuse the system, I think it should be legal for them to ask for proof, even though I knew we didn't need it I brought a letter from our doctor AND his IEP from school which designates a lot of his problems in detail.
I had NO problem showing it to the CM's I mean if you need it why not prove it?
My mother was a HUGE advocate of the ADA and was in a wheelchair due to a heart problem but looked healthy on the outside she also had no problme showing proof of her disability.
I mean to have a handicapped parking permit you need to show proof right??
I also agree about waiting the time allotted which if why at first I had no problem coming back in three hours the first time there are a lot of rides that have shorter wait times that my son can handle (like the fairybook rides) we don't go in the exit of those if the line is short enough we wait in it.
There are people getting a GAC just becuase they have kids and the CM gave it to her!!!

oh by the way Universal Studios doesn't do it that way as we use a GAC there as well and it is pretty much the same at Disneyland, in fact we did the preview to the Transformers ride and walked right on as there was no one in the handicapped line. We actually went on twice, I was totally ready for "come back at this time" though which is why we did that ride first so we could come back later. Universal also never asked for proof (though we had it again) and never asked for id.

Sometimes the CM's will ask who is Tyler? and my son always responds in a second "I am Tyler T-Y-L-E-R' (he likes to spell his name)

Please don't confuse me I have no problem with coming back later it was the constant coming back later after the ride broke down that ticked me off.
My son is ADD/ADHD (part of his autism) and needs to move around so we will walk around visit characters whatever and come backl I don't use the card to skip lines I use the card to make his time their easier we can't walk around AND stand in a line at the same time (plus as I mentioned he is cluadtrophobic) Indiana Jones is the hardest line for him but one of his favrotie rides. We go through the fastpass but it is all in caves and he starts to feel it and depending on the day sometimes he can do it and sometimes he can't

 

[toocherie]

This is how it was on Sunday as well. My mom has a GAC with the arrow and when she came back at the given time she had to get in the FastPass line. Also they only let her ride it 2 times that way. (I think they wrote it on her GAC.)

What does the arrow stand for? I've gotten them with the stair designation before?

The abuse falls into two main categories in Disney:
1. Letting someone else use your GAC - This is actually easy to solve, simply require ID at every attraction or use the old AP cameras and print the person's picture on the pass.

2. Those who don't really need it that get one to take advantage of the system - This one is a actually easy to fix as well. There are two options: either provide a return time pass equal to the length of the line or put a barcode on the GAC and scan it when you enter the line and say that you will not be able to use the GAC until the length of the regular line has elapsed.

I stood by the exit of Luigi's Flying Tires last Saturday and was shocked by the number of people using GAC's to enter through the exit. It was a steady stream--they had one CM stationed there to do nothing but check GAC's. Some were families with children; some were adults in wheelchairs. What I didn't understand was why people in wheelchairs couldn't go through the mainstream line. My understanding was that if there were endurance issues then rather than issue a GAC that someone couldn't wait in line, Disney would suggest either a wheelchair or ECV (and that means you go in the REGULAR line as long as it accommodates the wheelchair/ECV --which most at DCA do)

I have to admit the abuse of the GAC has become such a pet peeve of mine. I have heard people in the GAC line talk to their children about how lucky they are their Dad got the wheelchair so they can go to the front of the line, i've heard families talk about who wants to hop in the wheelchair before the next ride. I would love for Disney to set up something to stop the abuse.

This peeves me too. I use an ECV but prefer those rides that are mainstreamed because I don't want people thinking I am getting "special" treatment. In fact, if the line is not too long, I will park the ECV outside and walk the line if it is not ECV friendly (so long as there are no stairs). I also wouldn't mind providing "proof" of a disability. It really irks me when I see people switching in and out of wheelchairs (and yes, I understand that maybe both people have endurance issues, but in most cases I think they are just abusing the system).

ETA: based on this thread, I am assuming that if I get a fastpass for RSR, when I get to the front of the line I can be directed to the handicapped loading area, right? I've been asking this question on several sites and no one seems to know--but if they can direct GAC users from the fastpass line to the handicapped accessible area they would direct someone with a fastpass on an ECV, right?