GAC for Disneyland?

[Ember]

In a few days I am taking my mum to Disney. She has terminal cancer. While she can walk and move okay, she gets fatigued very easily and needs to sit down often. She also reacts strongly to being in the heat for too long.

Our plan is to do to the parks for a few hours in the morning, then go back to the hotel for the afternoon, returning at 7 or 8 pm when it's cooler out. I have contacted a company about an ECV, but right now she's insisting she doesn't want one... I'm not going to push, but I'll be ready to get one on short notice if she changes her mind.

What I was wondering is would it be appropriate to try and get a GAC to help minimize time standing in lines? I don't want to not wait our turn, but if there was a place she could be sitting rather then standing to wait it would probably make a big difference in her experience.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can ask, but Disney's recommendation for any stamina issue is to rent a wheelchair or ECV.

 

[Pomlover2586]

DH and I also use GAC for a similar stamina issue.......no worries. Just tell the CM that your mom has a hard time standing still in one area for long period of time [long lines] and you need a GAC so that CM's can help you find a [place to sit while you wait, or give you a pass to come back at a certain time after you've "waited your turn". We've done this the last 4? trips and no problems

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The problem is that even at Disneyland most of the alternate entrances do not have seating available. The official Disney (both WDW and DLR) policy for stamina and/or mobility issues is the recommendation of rental of a wheelchair or ECV. And a rental from offsite, whether chair or ECV, would have two advantages rather than renting from Disney. One is there is more (and guaranteed) availability and the other is the wheelchairs are probably more comfortable and the ECVs are easier to maneuver than Disney's.

And one other problem is not so much the length of the lines, but also the distance between attractions is where the real travel comes in.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Bottom Line....Disney CANNOT force you to use a wheelchair.....they can recommend them, and they CANNOT refuse to give you a GAC pass.......it would be illegal.

They may try to dissuade you with "Oh it wont get you onto the ride any sooner" etc but if you are consistent and firm with what you need they cannot say No......

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Bottom Line....Disney CANNOT force you to use a wheelchair.....they can recommend them, and they CANNOT refuse to give you a GAC pass.......it would be illegal.

The first part is correct. Disney cannot force you to use a wheelchair or ECV.

The second part is not correct. Disney does not have to give anyone a GAC. Under ADA Disney has to make accommodations for people with disabilities. The Disney accommodation for people with mobility/stamina problems is to make wheelchairs and ECVs available.

What do you do when there is no seating available and the queue is very long, as for Soarin'? Where the exit is as long as the entrance, and there is no alternate entrance available.