GAC card at RSR

[MotoXPrincess99]

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

I'm not sure what it stands, I think it says "Alternate Entrance" under the stamp. I know in DL it works the same as the wheelchair stamp (or being in a wheelchair) but in DCA since the rides are wheelchair accessible they will usually give you a hand written FP to come back at a specific time that is equivalent to waiting in the regular line.

My mom's been having hip issues and that's the card they gave her at City Hall.

 

[toocherie]

I'm not sure what it stands, I think it says "Alternate Entrance" under the stamp. I know in DL it works the same as the wheelchair stamp (or being in a wheelchair) but in DCA since the rides are wheelchair accessible they will usually give you a hand written FP to come back at a specific time that is equivalent to waiting in the regular line.

My mom's been having hip issues and that's the card they gave her at City Hall.

ok thanks! I hadn't seen that one before so wondered what the arrow stood for--was thinking maybe it was a substitution for stairs . . . .

 

[kjscrafts]

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?

Yes, we used fastpass each day last weekend and when we got to the front with the wheelchair they directed us to the access loading area. TheyWhere collect the fastpasses right where they direct those from the regular line to it or up to the regular loading area line.

 

[disney-super-mom]

My son, who is autistic, gets a GAC. I can honestly say, for some attractions (where we can enter through the exit), it really helps him. However, using a GAC at attractions that have a fastpass line isn't as helpful for him because there are still so many people around him in an enclosed space and/or in switchbacks. Sometimes he's fine in the fastpass line. Other times he'll hyper focus on something or someone while in line (people breaking the rules, kids swinging the chains back and fourth, etc) and he can get stuck on that one thing for hours. That's when we have to take a break and get outta Dodge for a while - lol.

That being said, I hate him having or needing a GAC. Why? Because I know there will be people thinking he doesn't need it....that he's just faking to take advantage of the system. It makes us feel kind of...guilty, even though he's using the GAC legitimately. I know I shouldn't care what other people think, but I can't help it. I do care.

That's why I would LOVE it if Disney did require proof. I would be more than happy show Ryan's letter of diagnosis, IEPs, or whatever else is necessary. That way people can't take advantage as easily, and those who actually need a GAC won't be glared at with suspicion.

On the bright side, because Ryan hates having to use a GAC (he feels it makes him "different" than everyone else) he has worked hard and made great progress in not becoming hyper focused as often.

Kind of ironic that someone who needs a GAC hates having to use one.

 

[Minuet888]

My son, who is autistic, gets a GAC. I can honestly say, for some attractions (where we can enter through the exit), it really helps him. However, using a GAC at attractions that have a fastpass line isn't as helpful for him because there are still so many people around him in an enclosed space and/or in switchbacks. Sometimes he's fine in the fastpass line. Other times he'll hyper focus on something or someone while in line (people breaking the rules, kids swinging the chains back and fourth, etc) and he can get stuck on that one thing for hours. That's when we have to take a break and get outta Dodge for a while - lol.

That being said, I hate him having or needing a GAC. Why? Because I know there will be people thinking he doesn't need it....that he's just faking to take advantage of the system. It makes us feel kind of...guilty, even though he's using the GAC legitimately. I know I shouldn't care what other people think, but I can't help it. I do care.

That's why I would LOVE it if Disney did require proof. I would be more than happy show Ryan's letter of diagnosis, IEPs, or whatever else is necessary. That way people can't take advantage as easily, and those who actually need a GAC won't be glared at with suspicion.

On the bright side, because Ryan hates having to use a GAC (he feels it makes him "different" than everyone else) he has worked hard and made great progress in not becoming hyper focused as often.

Kind of ironic that someone who needs a GAC hates having to use one.

I am 100% with you. My son doesn't do well in all fastpass line (Indiana Jones) and throws a fit if someone is breaking the rules (something he gets in trouble for at school),
I personally have no problem showing proof, I don't know why they don't require it.
I've heard CM's ask people that have problems walking to get a wheelchair instead of using the GAC card but then I also saw a CM give someone a GAC card because she had two small kids and couldn't standit standing in line with them it was just too hard, ...and the CM gave her the GAC card, I couldn't believe it.
Then there is all the teenagers out there taking turns hopping in and out of the wheelchairs

 

[tweedlemom]

My son, who is autistic, gets a GAC. I can honestly say, for some attractions (where we can enter through the exit), it really helps him. However, using a GAC at attractions that have a fastpass line isn't as helpful for him because there are still so many people around him in an enclosed space and/or in switchbacks. Sometimes he's fine in the fastpass line. Other times he'll hyper focus on something or someone while in line (people breaking the rules, kids swinging the chains back and fourth, etc) and he can get stuck on that one thing for hours. That's when we have to take a break and get outta Dodge for a while - lol.

That being said, I hate him having or needing a GAC. Why? Because I know there will be people thinking he doesn't need it....that he's just faking to take advantage of the system. It makes us feel kind of...guilty, even though he's using the GAC legitimately. I know I shouldn't care what other people think, but I can't help it. I do care.



That's why I would LOVE it if Disney did require proof. I would be more than happy show Ryan's letter of diagnosis, IEPs, or whatever else is necessary. That way people can't take advantage as easily, and those who actually need a GAC won't be glared at with suspicion.

On the bright side, because Ryan hates having to use a GAC (he feels it makes him "different" than everyone else) he has worked hard and made great progress in not becoming hyper focused as often.

Kind of ironic that someone who needs a GAC hates having to use one.

Totally understand. Exact same situation with us and our DS.

 

[Jacie]

That being said, I hate him having or needing a GAC. Why? Because I know there will be people thinking he doesn't need it....that he's just faking to take advantage of the system. It makes us feel kind of...guilty, even though he's using the GAC legitimately. I know I shouldn't care what other people think, but I can't help it. I do care.

That's why I would LOVE it if Disney did require proof. I would be more than happy show Ryan's letter of diagnosis, IEPs, or whatever else is necessary. That way people can't take advantage as easily, and those who actually need a GAC won't be glared at with suspicion.

On the bright side, because Ryan hates having to use a GAC (he feels it makes him "different" than everyone else) he has worked hard and made great progress in not becoming hyper focused as often.

Kind of ironic that someone who needs a GAC hates having to use one.

Ditto. I'd rather wait in 3 hour lines every time we went somewhere if it meant my daughter could handle crowds, people, and emotions better. I'd give anything for her to just be completely happy. Don't get me wrong- I love her just the way she is. But for HER sake, I wish we didn't need GAC.

I think it's the same with disabled people. My mom had ankle surgery and needed a disabled placard for her car for a bit, and she told me several times that she'd rather walk a mile to the front door over the pain, and disabling that her ankle caused her.

 

[Aladora]

My son, who is autistic, gets a GAC. I can honestly say, for some attractions (where we can enter through the exit), it really helps him. However, using a GAC at attractions that have a fastpass line isn't as helpful for him because there are still so many people around him in an enclosed space and/or in switchbacks. Sometimes he's fine in the fastpass line. Other times he'll hyper focus on something or someone while in line (people breaking the rules, kids swinging the chains back and fourth, etc) and he can get stuck on that one thing for hours. That's when we have to take a break and get outta Dodge for a while - lol.

That being said, I hate him having or needing a GAC. Why? Because I know there will be people thinking he doesn't need it....that he's just faking to take advantage of the system. It makes us feel kind of...guilty, even though he's using the GAC legitimately. I know I shouldn't care what other people think, but I can't help it. I do care.

That's why I would LOVE it if Disney did require proof. I would be more than happy show Ryan's letter of diagnosis, IEPs, or whatever else is necessary. That way people can't take advantage as easily, and those who actually need a GAC won't be glared at with suspicion.

On the bright side, because Ryan hates having to use a GAC (he feels it makes him "different" than everyone else) he has worked hard and made great progress in not becoming hyper focused as often.

Kind of ironic that someone who needs a GAC hates having to use one.

Ditto to everything here except my son doesn't understand the GAC and the fact that it makes him different. We have taken him to DL twice so far, just after his 6th birthday and then again, 7 months later. We used a GAC both times but only when we needed to. There were some rides that we were able to wait in the regular line for and some that we could not. Even when the line for Roger Rabbit was short, we still needed to go through the exit, the enclosed hallways freak him out.

I really, really wish DS did not qualify for a GAC because that would mean he didn't need one...

All that aside, because I don't want to derail this thread into a GAC debate, I'm going to keep watching this thread...we are planning our next trip to DL in April and I am really interested in how the GAC is dealt with for RSR.

 

[disneychrista]

It really depends on what you GAC is for. I had one for avoiding stairs, which only affect unloading. I waiting in line until CM that is collecting FP's and then they had our group go to the left to the accessible loading area. The cars return to this area and do not have to go up & then down 2 flights of about 15 stairs each.

 

[noga]

Depending on what kind of GAC card you need, the CM issuing the card to you will tell you how to handle it at RSR.

 

[JacksGirlz]

My nephew is Autistic and we get a GAC for him each time we visit the Disney parks. He also wears shirts that we iron-on this saying onto the back "Hi. I am Autistic. I have trouble waiting for the fun to start. Please be patient with me." He looks like a normal kid but then will start flapping his hands, reciting verbatim from Disney movies or shouting out "Hey, leave me alone" when he gets stressed. Having this saying on his shirts turns the irritated stares into looks of understanding.

Thank you to all the previous posters for reports on the use of GAC for RSR. I have shown my nephew the ride through for RSR on youtube and he is very excited to try it out when we visit DLR this October.

 

[llump41]

I have a GAC card that used to be for stair avoidance. Now the annotation is just a wheelchair. We were going to do single rider but when we got to the merge they directed us to the alternate loading. 25 minute wait total and we got to ride together.

 

[SUNNYVEE]

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[Grumpy~N~Dopey]

we were there about two weeks ago when the wait was at 90 minutes in the regular line and I was given a "fast pass" to come back in an hour to go through the fast pass line. The half hour was to accommodate the wait time in the fast pass line. I do not always have a GAC card as I am usually using a cane and it is not required when you are using a cane, but they asked me for my card at RSR. (I showed the cane and it was accepted without the card)

I also have a disease that is "invisible" I have a very hard time standing and moving in the way a person needs to in regular lines. I look normal but, It causes me pain, a lot of pain actually! But if I can wait in a line I will! after getting my "fastpass" for RSR I sat on a bench by Flo's and waited untill I could get back in line and when I got there, two sets of older teens were in front of me, both groups were bragging about how they lied to get their GAC's just so they could go on this ride over and over!! It was so aggravating!! I to wish Disney would require proof of disability!! If only the abusers had to walk in our shoes for a day at Disney!