GAC for a long term stay

[Buckeye Princess]

So we always need to get a GAC for our trips and are used to using one. However, myself and DD are about to accompany my DH to Tampa for a month while he does a rotation there. After his month we'll be spending a week at Kidani, but during his month I am expecting she and I will spend most of our days while daddy is at work going to Disney. Essentially she and I get a month at Disney only staying offsite, and we all get a week onsite.

Will I need to go to Guest Services each time we do a day trip for a new GAC, or can I explain that we are basically there for a month long trip, just offsite in a way and get a GAC that will cover our entire time. If I have to go each day so be it, but since I think we'll be there 3-4 days a week it'd be handy to go once and be done. (Plus I won't keep taking up their time.)

Thanks!!

 

[bookwormde]

GAC do not expire, but from year to year they can change format and notes. For a month+ I think you should be fine with just getting one and using it throught the period. If it needs updated it is easy to visit guest services if it becomes an issue.

bookwormde

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Ok. For some reason I thought they put down the length of your stay on there but I could be getting confused with other parks. Thanks!

 

[KPeveler]

They do put length of stay on it, but if you are going to annual or season passes (which I assume you will if you are there for that long), they will give them for longer (my GAC was issued for 3 months because I had an annual pass).

This is not to say that ALL GACs would be issued for that long, but i am pretty sure they would issue it for longer than just the day.

 

[livndisney]

GAC do not expire, but from year to year they can change format and notes. For a month+ I think you should be fine with just getting one and using it throught the period. If it needs updated it is easy to visit guest services if it becomes an issue.

bookwormde

A Gac does expire and will need to be renewed. They do ask you how long your trip is. When you speak to GS explain you will be in the area for a month and they should be able to help you. They may ask to see your tickets.

 

[SueM in MN]

They do put length of stay on it, but if you are going to annual or season passes (which I assume you will if you are there for that long), they will give them for longer (my GAC was issued for 3 months because I had an annual pass).

This is not to say that ALL GACs would be issued for that long, but i am pretty sure they would issue it for longer than just the day.

A Gac does expire and will need to be renewed. They do ask you how long your trip is. When you speak to GS explain you will be in the area for a month and they should be able to help you. They may ask to see your tickets.

Every time we have gone, they have asked how long our trip is.
As livndisney and KPeveler noted, they do write an expiration date on your GAC and it is not valid after that date.
Since they know someone with an annual or season pass is likely to be back more often, they often do put a longer expiration date on those.
After you explain your situation, they may put a date for a whole month, or they may do it one or 2 weeks at a time. They for sure won't make you come back each day.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

Great! Thank you all for your help. One less thing to worry about as I'm stressing over packing up our lives to city hop these next few months. (DH is a med student and we have 3 away rotations in a row. At least the first is near Disney!)

 

[SueM in MN]

Hope you have a fun trip and he has some great rotations.

What are his rotations in?

 

[bookwormde]

Checked an old one and it did not have an expiration date, but I had an Annual pass so I do not know if that makes a difference of if the CM just missed filling it in. Sorry or the bad info.

bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

Checked an old one and it did not have an expiration date, but I had an Annual pass so I do not know if that makes a difference of if the CM just missed filling it in. Sorry or the bad info.

bookwormde

I think you have one where the CM forgot to add the date. We have gotten one twice a year since about 2000 and they have never forgotten. We do have annual passes, so I know the date is on with an annual pass too. In fact, I am surprised it didn't get caught the first time you used it. The CMs at the attraction usually check the number of people, the stamp and the date pretty carefully. I could see one CM maybe missing an expired one, but a blank date spot would be pretty noticeable.

 

[bookwormde]

We only used it a couple of times and I gave a verbal indication of the issues so the CMs really did not even looks at it. I guess that since I am very "up front" with specifics about DS's needs that has an impact and that I have to refuse any "quicker entry" due to DS has created longer conversations than might be typical.

bookwormde

 

[seashoreCM]

deleted f

 

[SueM in MN]

deleted f

I can think of 3 reasons offhand.

1) some are given for temporary conditions that the person will not have on their next trip.

2) Things do changeperiodically, so having it expire gives them a chance to change what is on the card.

3) For the same reason they put expiration dates on AAA parking passes, to prevent people from passing it on to others to use.

 

[Mary976]

Seeing as how you are going to be in Tampa, I highly recommend the Lowry Park Zoo. DD and I took a trip to Tampa to visit Busch Gardens, and the Zoo was the highlight of the trip. Also, you don't mention how old your DD is, but if she's younger she might like some of the kiddie areas at Busch. A big part of the park is thrill rides, but the new Sesame Street area looked nice for the younger ones. Plus, Busch has a deal on the annual passes where you can pay them off month by month, so the initial investment isn't a high.

Good luck!
Mary