GAC enough to make afternoons ok??

[mom2aandj]

We are going with a big family group in June, including my 6 year old niece who has autism. My plan was to hit the parks early, eat lunch and then leave before they got mobbed. My niece will only eat a certain kind of gluten free noodle for her lunch though and it needs to be freshly prepared, not reheated. So my SIL is now considering just staying at our condo all morning, making my niece her lunch and THEN going to the parks and using the GAC card in the afternoon. My initial reaction was that this would be a hot, sweaty,crowded and miserable experience, but I have no actual experience with a GAC card so I thought I'd best check and see if it actually does make going to the parks in the afternoon more bearable (ie, not having to stand in line for an hour and a half for everything??) before I start trying to gently persuade her to come up with some way for all of us to go to the park in the morning together. Anything I can tell my SIL is much appreciated.

 

[Schmeck]

A GAC will not work with a big family group - only a small number of family members can go with the guest using the GAC. I don't remember the exact number.

A GAC is not meant to shorten wait times in general, I believe it is stated right on the card to not expect that? It would most likely offer a quiet place to wait, etc. It could be that you get right on, but I hope your SIL is not expecting front of the line access.

I think starting out early would be best, and could she prepare the noodles at the first aid stations? Or, at least a few hours in at the park, go back to the room for lunch, and then back to the parks? Do any of the restaurants serve gluten free noodles?

 

[1stluvispooh]

First of all I understand you wanting everyone to go to the parks together but please do not try and "persuade" your SIL to change what she feels is best for her ASD child to make your vision of vacation come true. Trust that she knows her child's limits and what is best for her. Personally my DD is also on the spectrum and every time I have gone against my gut it has turned around and bit me in the butt and no one had a good time. Also remember your trip is over 5 months away which is a long time in the life of a child. Things may change and probably will. Keep an open mind and have a wounder full vacation

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/7_Children/general/baby_care.htm

Can she use the Baby Care Centers for heating the meal? I wonder if their microwave and kitchen would suffice. It is a long shot but have you tried the restaurants to see if one would make the noodles. I think the baby center is a good bet but then again noodles are not my forte.

Since you are dealing with a 6-year-old many rides would be off limits to the child. She will probably be able to go with the family on rides like Splash Mountain. Large groups have to stand in line except for a few people with the disabled guest. You could tell the CM that you are part of a large group and would like to wait for them. They may or may not and the wait may be too much for a little kid anyhow.

You have the vision of a big happy family outing but maybe it is best for the kid to be with a few close members instead. Maybe rotate the family so each gets an hour with her. Thiink outside the box.

 

[mom2aandj]

thank you all for the insight and tips! much appreciated!

First of all I understand you wanting everyone to go to the parks together but please do not try and "persuade" your SIL to change what she feels is best for her ASD child to make your vision of vacation come true. Trust that she knows her child's limits and what is best for her. Also remember your trip is over 5 months away which is a long time in the life of a child. Things may change and probably will. Keep an open mind and have a wounder full vacation

this is very true--who knows what the next months will bring! I of course will respect any decision my SIL makes, but as she has never been to WDW before and has not done any research on what the GAC does and doesn't do, I don't want her to be blindsided walking into a miserably hot and crowded park.

 

[Andyjo0930]

We went last August with my 5 year old son who is autistic. We got the GAC card and its different for each ride. When you get to the line, there will be a CM and they will advise you on what to do next. It is only good for the person being issued the GAC and up to 5 guests. My son is on a regular diet, so eating in the parks were not an issue, but I know that Disney is really good about accommodating everybody and your SIL may be able to get her something gluten free right in the park. I hope you enjoy your vacation.

 

[mechurchlady]

Both you and your sister-in-law need to get a reality check. You are painting the picture with gloom and doom where as she is seeing no possible obstacles on her trip. There are 6 months of planning still left in order to get things planned and things could change as she ages. The parks are not always hot and sweaty in June.

You need to have two trip plans made. First is your way of doing WDW in the mornings and maybe even an all day event if you use restaurants or the baby center to make the meal.

The second plan is to do it her way and you plan for the crowds and stuff. Know what the kid cannot do like Space Mountain, when shows and parades are, and where everything is located. You have 6 months for her on her own to realize there are companion bathrooms, baby centers, nurses stations, cool CMs, this board and other online help, GAC and so many WDW features she could use to make the trip special.

People tend to dig their heels into the ground and not change unless they willing do so. Give her time. I do not have kids but read the boards and know some of the problems parents of autistic kids can face. I doubt your SIL has taken the time to think about how to get the most out of the trip while preventing meltdowns. It is 6 months away so she might be one of them people who days before a trip finally are starting to do any trip related stuff.

hugs and think happy trip thoughts.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, there is a section of information about GACs. There are also some links to past threads and other information in the disABILITIES FAQs that should be helpful - including some past threads about travel with someone with autism.

Besides the suggestions you already got, another possibility would be for the whole group to go early in the morning and then the family with the child with autism leave before lunch. It sounds like something you will need to play by ear and be flexible about.

Also, about large groups. From personal experience, I would suggest not trying to stay together. Trying to keep a large group together is a lot like herding cats - the cats don't 'herd' very well and it's hard and frustrating work for the herder. With a large group, there are always people who are tired and want to rest, need to go to the bathroom, see an item they just need to buy while the group is passing thru an area, etc.
It's better (at least from my experience) to have everyone go their own way for the most part and meet up for specific things - such as everyone gets a Fastpass for some specific ride. Meet up there and go on the ride. Another possibility is splitting into smaller groups and changing the members of the groups from time to time so everyone gets to spend time with everyone else (this may not be popular with the child with autism, who may need 'his' group to keep certain members.

Not staying all together also gives more to talk about when you do get together.

Also, keep in mind that a GAC may help with giving a more appropriate place for the person to wait while they are in lines, but if the park is generally busy, you still have to contend with all the people and crowding to get from place to place, crowds in lines for bathrooms, to eat, etc. The GAC won't help at all with those situations. Waiting in lines is just a small proportion of the time spent in the parks.

If you want to stay together as a group, I'd strongly suggest using Tour Guide Mike (a Theme Parks Board sponsor) or some other touring plan to help you know what areas are busy when so that you can avoid them. Even if you split into smaller groups, advice like that would be helpful for the group with the member who has autism.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As well as all the suggestions you've got so far, I'd like to add that getting a stroller might be a good idea. Not only will it give your niece some time to rest and conserve her strength, it will also give her a 'safe place' to go to, and provide some protection against the crowds. You can get a GAC that includes 'stroller as wheelchair', which means that she can use it in lines.

Sue's suggestion of using Tour Guide Mike is a good one. I've not used it myself, but have heard many positive reviews of it.

Above all, try to keep your plans flexible. If she's having a bad day, she may just want to hang out in the pool; or she may want to ride IASM 15 times in a row (good luck with that one! ). Leave space in your plans for them to do what she needs at that moment in time, and I think everyone will have a much more relaxed holiday.

Good luck and have a wonderful trip!