GAC Experience at Disneyland

[mytripsandraces]

I just got back from visiting Disneyland with my parents. My father cannot walk or stand for long periods of time, but is resistant to the idea of a wheelchair. The CM who gave him the GAC was pretty rude about it and made my father feel bad. He didn't want to do anything for a while after that experience. When we got to DCA, the CM at the FP line gave us a return FP (recovery card?) for the wait time. We were able to sit on the seats outside of Taste Pilots until our return time. The same happened at most of the rides we went on with him. When he didn't go, we used the standard line or FP line (just making sure it's understood we didn't use the GAC except when he went on the ride with us).

At Disneyland, it was a different story. We were told that he would have to go through the line with us, because of what the CM who gave him the pass had written. She gave him the wheelchair accessible card (I guess she wanted to prove a point to him, even though he is not in a wheelchair), but the CMs at the ride would let us go through the line, then he could join us at the door, rather than having to stand up and walk the whole time.

This is the first time he's been made to feel bad about his limitations (either in or out of Disney). His experience at Disney World was much more positive, in terms of personal interactions with the CMs providing the GACs, but I really liked the way they handle the lines now (i.e., letting him sit out the wait time, so we don't jump the line). We all love Toy Story Midway Mania, so it was great to be able to ride it as a family (one car - so I could get Best in Vehicle over all of them ). He couldn't manage Buzz, because the line has to be longer than 15 minutes before they let GACs in through the old FP line, so my brother and I rode it while my sister's family did Star Tours and my parents rested on the benches between the two rides.

 

[cm8]

I just got back from visiting Disneyland with my parents. My father cannot walk or stand for long periods of time, but is resistant to the idea of a wheelchair. The CM who gave him the GAC was pretty rude about it and made my father feel bad. He didn't want to do anything for a while after that experience. When we got to DCA, the CM at the FP line gave us a return FP (recovery card?) for the wait time. We were able to sit on the seats outside of Taste Pilots until our return time. The same happened at most of the rides we went on with him. When he didn't go, we used the standard line or FP line (just making sure it's understood we didn't use the GAC except when he went on the ride with us).

At Disneyland, it was a different story. We were told that he would have to go through the line with us, because of what the CM who gave him the pass had written. She gave him the wheelchair accessible card (I guess she wanted to prove a point to him, even though he is not in a wheelchair), but the CMs at the ride would let us go through the line, then he could join us at the door, rather than having to stand up and walk the whole time.

This is the first time he's been made to feel bad about his limitations (either in or out of Disney). His experience at Disney World was much more positive, in terms of personal interactions with the CMs providing the GACs, but I really liked the way they handle the lines now (i.e., letting him sit out the wait time, so we don't jump the line). We all love Toy Story Midway Mania, so it was great to be able to ride it as a family (one car - so I could get Best in Vehicle over all of them ). He couldn't manage Buzz, because the line has to be longer than 15 minutes before they let GACs in through the old FP line, so my brother and I rode it while my sister's family did Star Tours and my parents rested on the benches between the two rides.

I am sorry for the way your father was treated. I won't assume the reason they gave your father the stamp for wheelchair instead of the other one. Disney's usual response for mobility issues are to utilize the WC's or ECV's, your father chose not to utilize either. There was not anything different that they could do since they can't make him use either. I'm glad that you all were able to still enjoy the time you spent together!!

 

[mytripsandraces]

I wasn't with him when he got the card, so he may just have been overly sensitive (though my sister, who was with him, confirmed it), but he's had GACs before and they didn't have the wheelchair access stamp on them. I don't remember what they said, exactly, but it looked different this time. Most of the CMs at the rides were very nice and explained how those with limited access were able to get on the rides. We just did our best to make sure he didn't overdo it.

I want to say, too, that I am grateful for the boards, because I'd never heard of a GAC card before 2010 and in the past (since his injury), he's just sat out the rides, because they were too difficult to get to. Now, he can ride at least some of the rides he enjoys, especially because he loves seeing his grandchildren's faces while they're enjoying the rides. My favorite ride this trip was sitting between my nieces (5 and 7) on Big Thunder Mountain, trying hard not to crush either of them, watching them laugh and scream in delighted terror.

 

[mytripsandraces]

That's strange - my second post is in response to cm8's, but it appeared before it in the thread. Next time, I'll quote. Sorry about that!

 

[Midnightred]

We too had an overall bad experience with the GAC at Disneyland. I have 2 boys ages 8 and 9, both with autism. The younger one has severe problems, does not even speak, and bites himself frequently. We were shamed everytime we tried to use it, so we didn't for the most part. I knew we must use the GAC for the Nemo Sub due to the line being incredibly long, so I insisted. I will still ask for a GAC for my youngest next time we go.

Midnightred

 

[Love Tink]

There was not anything different that they could do since they can't make him use either.

There was absolutely something else that theyt could do. They could give him a different stamp - the one my husband with mobility issues gets - which would have been more helpful. Why would you bother writing a post just to say there was nothing they could do when you don't know what you are talking about?

I feel so sad for both the posters on here who had bad experiences. We've had nothing but good experiences at Disneyland with GAC (we've never yet used one at WDW). It's unfortunate that something as simple as CM luck of the draw can affect a family's entire trip. Please remember that you can always ask to speak to someone else, or come back later, if a CM isn't being helpful. Chances are the next one will treat you better.

 

[Sunnywho]

Why would getting a wheelchair accessible card make him feel bad about his limitations? He wanted a GAC that came with more privileges than what was needed? I would feel bad for asking for something that is reserved for people whose issues cannot be solved with a wheelchair.

 

[mytripsandraces]

There was absolutely something else that theyt could do. They could give him a different stamp - the one my husband with mobility issues gets - which would have been more helpful. Why would you bother writing a post just to say there was nothing they could do when you don't know what you are talking about?

I feel so sad for both the posters on here who had bad experiences. We've had nothing but good experiences at Disneyland with GAC (we've never yet used one at WDW). It's unfortunate that something as simple as CM luck of the draw can affect a family's entire trip. Please remember that you can always ask to speak to someone else, or come back later, if a CM isn't being helpful. Chances are the next one will treat you better.

The conversation with the GAC CM was upsetting for my father, but we were able to find ways to get him on the rides he likes (and some of the rides his grandchildren like, because he likes to ride with them). I think it's hard enough to have to use a GAC, without having CMs make it worse. Next time, I'll go with him and have the conversation, since I can probably be a better advocate for him, anyway. Our GAC experience was generally positive, once we determined which rides he could go on and which we had to avoid, because of the type of GAC he was given.

Why would getting a wheelchair accessible card make him feel bad about his limitations? He wanted a GAC that came with more privileges than what was needed? I would feel bad for asking for something that is reserved for people whose issues cannot be solved with a wheelchair.

It wasn't the card that made him feel bad. It was the attitude of the person he spoke with. He didn't want a GAC that came with more privileges than he needed, but he got one with less than he needed, because wheelchair access still requires you to go through the line, which he can't do, because he's not wheelchair bound and doesn't feel comfortable using one. We found that our experience at DCA was a little easier than at DL, but our overall experience was good. There have been complaints that people are using GACs to jump lines; my post was designed to show that Disney is addressing those issues by creating ways to give people equal access (i.e., he waited until it would have been his turn if he had waited in line), not preferred access (we did not jump the line or go in alternate entrances, except where we needed to avoid stairs).

 

[Sunnywho]

Mobility impairments can be solved by mobility devices. Feeling uncomfortable about using a wheelchair is not a disability.

 

[Love Tink]

Mobility impairments can be solved by mobility devices. Feeling uncomfortable about using a wheelchair is not a disability.

I hate to break it to you, but despite your abrasive and thoughtless post, you aren't the ultimate arbiter of what is and is not a disability and what choices people are "required" to make during their Disney vacations.

Disney makes the decisions about what help they will give people with mobility issues. Suggesting a wheelchair is one thing they do, but they would never insist someone rent a wheelchair. Neither should you.

Emotional/mental health is as important as physical health. Thankfully, the people who actually make the laws and policies are more compassionate than you seem to be.

 

[livndisney]

I hate to break it to you, but despite your abrasive and thoughtless post, you aren't the ultimate arbiter of what is and is not a disability and what choices people are "required" to make during their Disney vacations.

Disney makes the decisions about what help they will give people with mobility issues. Suggesting a wheelchair is one thing they do, but they would never insist someone rent a wheelchair. Neither should you.

Emotional/mental health is as important as physical health. Thankfully, the people who actually make the laws and policies are more compassionate than you seem to be.

The law requires reasonable assistance. In the case of mobility issues, Disney provides assistance in the form of wheelchairs and ECVs. They have made most areas able to handle those mobility devices.

As a guest I don't have the right to tell Disney exactly how I WANT them to meet my needs. Not waiting in line or a front of the line pass is not assistance Disney offers-it is not reasonable.
(Law provides for reasonable assistance)

You are right, I don't have to rent a wheelchair-but if that is what I need to do to enjoy the park, then I can't complain when I choose not to.

I spent years visting WDW with a very stubborn father. No way was he going to use an ecv. He missed out on a lot, not because Disney refused him, but because he refused himself.

 

[mytripsandraces]

This post was meant to show that Disneyland is addressing the concerns of people who viewed using a GAC as line-jumping. The experiences we had were similar to fast pass, except that it worked on all rides, not just the fast pass rides. He was given a return time that equaled the time he would have waited if he had stood in line, i.e., equal access. As I mentioned above, if the accommodations allowed by the GAC were not enough for him to be able to get on the ride, he skipped the ride. He has no sense that he is entitled to do anything and everything, but is grateful for the accommodations Disney as a company makes to help him experience the parks.

 

[bouncycat]

Yikes!!! I was hoping Disneyland's policy was like Disney World's. We frequent WDW, and I have a GAC. sometimes I walk, sometimes I don't. It all depends on how I feel that particular day. We're close to WDW right now, but we are a military family getting ready to move to San Diego this summer, so we figured we'd try out Disneyland and CA Adventure. I guess I'll have to wing it with the GAC. I do know what to ask for, having been getting a GAC every 2 months for the past year.

 

[Love Tink]

Disney provides assistance in the form of wheelchairs and ECVs.

No, they absolutely do not. They provide ACCESS to wheelchairs and (sometimes) ECVs. Providing them and providing access to them are not the same thing.

As a guest I don't have the right to tell Disney exactly how I WANT them to meet my needs.

No, but you do have a right to tell them if the accomodations they provide do not meet your needs.

Not waiting in line or a front of the line pass is not assistance Disney offers-it is not reasonable.

Couldn't agree with you more. I've noticed that all the naysayers chime in with this regularly on this board - usually not in response to anything anyone else has said. Neither the OP nor I said anything - ANYTHING - about front of the line access. So why bring it up? (Over and over and over)

 

[livndisney]

No, they absolutely do not. They provide ACCESS to wheelchairs and (sometimes) ECVs. Providing them and providing access to them are not the same thing.

Disney DOES provide ecvs/wheelchairs(they can be rented at the parks and borrowed at the resorts) and access for them

No, but you do have a right to tell them if the accomodations they provide do not meet your needs.

"Not meeting needs" is not the same as "I don't want to do that"


Couldn't agree with you more. I've noticed that all the naysayers chime in with this regularly on this board - usually not in response to anything anyone else has said. Neither the OP nor I said anything - ANYTHING - about front of the line access. So why bring it up? (Over and over and over)

If you look at my comment the "front of the line" comment was part of a larger statement. What I posted was "Not waiting in line or a front of the line pass is not assistance Disney offers-it is not reasonable. "
I stated Disney policy.

 

[Lisa71]

First, I am so sorry for what happened to your Dad. Second, we visit DL frequently with our son and he has a mobility issue. He literally falls down if he has to stand or walk for long periods due to his muscles. We always explain we need to use "the alternate entrace" due to this and rarely have had a problem. We have seen an increase in abuse of the GAC card (young people hopping in and out of a WC pretending it is theirs for example), so maybe that is the reason, but still no excuse. Be sure to complain in detailed writing so the problem is addressed.