GAC early on first day-EPCOT

[Phlip]

Hi-
We (7 of us, 4 grownups, 3 kids 2 14yo and a 9yo) will be in WDW in June. While looking at the crowd calculators, speculation etc, blah, blah-I had planned our first park to be Epcot on Sunday the 19th. Planned on entering through WS, and being at Soarin' for rope drop, or shortly thereafter. I didn't 'remember' that I needed to get a GAC for my son and that I could only do it at the front entrance. So....anyone have a crystal ball-will I be ok going to Soarin' and then making my way to get the GAC or should I make another plan? DS needs the GAC to be away from people for extended wait times. If the wait for Soarin' isn't that bad early he should be ok. But then again, I don't want him to wig out and then be miserable for the rest of the day.
The other option is to go the day we get there, Saturday afternoon/night and just get the GAC at the front entrance, or drive from the Dolphin to the front entrance Sunday morning-and start from there.
What would you do?

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. Does he have difficulty waiting in line surrounded by lots of people? Are you looking for an alternate waiting area? My son has a LOT of problems waiting and we use a GAC. But, Soarin' doesn't have an alternate area - just the fastpass line. That's not so great since the way it loads means you'll still be waiting 20-30 minutes in a line that's not moving much, if at all.

We don't do Soarin' anymore because of that. He gets really anxious, starts stimming like crazy and generally is exhausting to try and keep him from bumping or annoying other guests.

On a late night, or light crowd time of year, we'll still do it. But that's it.

 

[Phlip]

He's ok--if we are in a bigger space, like at the end of the line for Soarin'
and we are with a crowd for maybe 20-30-and that's a big maybe. He did ok last time we went for Soarin'-that was 3 years ago, but really had a huge problem with waiting for TSM at HS with the GAC. Just too much going on. I think we may just wing it with the idea of getting out of Dodge to Guest Services if there's a problem. I just don't know what rope drop wait times are like for Epcot attractions.
Thanks-

 

[Piper]

There is a guest services at the world showcase entrance. It is small, but they are able to issue GACs. Also, I usually go the evening that I arrive to DHS to get my GAC. It is a nice boat ride and the location is outside the park (on the left side.) I don't know if going to a park and not going in would be something your son would do.

BTW-if you haven't already done so, read the FAQs at the top of this board. It contains a lot of good information.

 

[Phlip]

Piper-
Thanks for that! I didn't think they could issue them there. We may not need it this trip, but we have used them the past 2 trips.
Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it-and yes that FAQ is great!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I've been told that I can get our GAC at the International Gateway at Epcot. I'm counting on it in August. That being said, I'm not doing it at RD. We're staying at YC so after checking in we'll walk over to the IG and get the GAC then. After getting the GAC we'll just wander around the WS a bit to soak up some atmosphere and get used to being at WDW but even if we weren't going into the park, I'd still rather get the GAC when there aren't a lot of people around rather than at RD. This past February that's what we did. DD13 and I took a leisurely monorail ride over to MK when we first arrived (we were staying at Poly) while DH and DD10 stayed at the resort. We got the GAC at that time and just headed back to the resort afterwards. It was a quiet and easy trip over to get the GAC just the two of us and no line at Guest Relations. I definitely like it this way.

 

[Sandy321]

I can confirm that in 2010 you could get a GAC at the entrance to WS - there are windows where you can purchase tickets - and I had asked where I could get a GAC, and they said here!

(same procedure in the sticky, must tell them your needs, and your child must be with you, no doctor letter needed)

Also know that rope drop is the same time at the entrance to Epcot - and at WS - only its further to walk from WS to Soarin than it is to walk from rope drop at Epcot to Soarin (I should add that is the way it was in 2010)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are four windows outside International Gateway. One of these is always Guest Relations. If only one is open, it is both ticket sales and GR. Note that ticket sales there tend to be very light as normally the only people entering there are Resort Guests.

 

[dawnball]

On a slightly related note, at MK on Sunday they told us that they only did GACs at City Hall now, not at Guest Relations outside the gate.

 

[SueM in MN]

On a slightly related note, at MK on Sunday they told us that they only did GACs at City Hall now, not at Guest Relations outside the gate.

There have been situations in the past where they temporarily have stopped giving GACs at the area outside the gate. In the past, this has been temporary stops due to large volumes if people needing to use the Guest Relations spot outside for picking up tickets at the Will Call window.
Since that has to be done outside before entering the park, they take care of those who would not be able to get into the park there and send other guests to Guest Relations inside the park.

So far, that has been how it has worked.

Also, depending on if you need something besides a GAC, they may not have those things except at the Guest Relations inside the park. This would be things like assisting listening devices, translators, and aids for guest with vision and hearing related needs.

 

[EvangelineG]

I have been wondering about this myself, except about MK. We want to take advantage of the lighter crowds by being at MK at RD on our first morning and heading straight for our sons' favourite rides to make the most of the low crowd time, but we need to speak to guest relations about the needs of 3 members of our party. I am concerned about how much time this is likely to take at City Hall guest relations and if there is a better option?

So there are guest relations windows that can issue GAC's outside of each park at the ticket window?

Do the CM's at the windows have the same training as the CM's at Guest relations inside the parks regarding special needs and GAC's (specifically Autism and Aspergers in our case)?

I also have some concerns about privacy. My sons sometimes, understandably, become agitated if they hear people talking about their needs and limitations to strangers/in public. I imagine that there would be throngs of people around these outside guest relations windows?

 

[SueM in MN]

I have been told (and Cheshire Figment, who works at WDW, has confirmed that Guest Relations CMs rotate to the different locations, including those outside the parks.

You are correct about privacy though. There are not necessarily throngs of people, but the stations are pretty close together. Since you talk to the CM thru a small open circle in the glass, it seems less private and it seems to me like I have to talk louder to get heard.

 

[EvangelineG]

Thanks for your response. I guess we'll play it by ear when we get there, depending on how many people are around and how my sons feel about it.