GAC for Visual Impairment

[inkkognito]

My brother had a ruptured brain aneurysm and stroke this summer that causes some mild paralysis on his left side and severe vision impairment. We're trying to get him down to FL for some R & R, which of course would mean going to WDW. Would a GAC help him with the shows? I know the handicap seating is often in the back, which would be just the opposite of what he needs. He is almost blind in the one eye and has some problems with the other one, although he can see well enough to get around.

It will be an interesting trip, as he can't see well enough to drive an ECV and doesn't want to be in a wheelchair. He gets around with one of those canes like Carl in "Up" and insists he would rather walk; he's the stubborn type that you don't argue with. I'm a little concerned because he can be unsteady at times and sometimes comes out with inappropriate things so it should be an interesting adventure.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not time to write much, but my reply to mommy2allgirls on this thread may be helpful.

If you look in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are some links to past threads about touring with visual disabilities that might also be helpful.

 

[Shock13]

I am visually impaired (blind in one eye too) and use a cane. My first trip to WDW was this past January. Here have been my experiences with the shows I attended.

Fantasmic: My mom and I attended a 2nd showing and it was very crowded as they kept everyone behind a rope until I think 20 min before the show. I didn't see a CM to ask about at an alternative entrance but spotted a roped off walkway to the far left that several people in wheelchairs were using. We decided to take a chance and sure enough that was the way to go. We were able to bypass everyone waiting and were escorted to the first few rows of the theater. We did get a little spray from the water but we didn't care.

Beauty and the Beast: They had the first few rows roped off so even with the crowds we were able to go down and get a close seat. The Indiana Jones show had the same MO.

FOTLK: We waited in a separate line than the general crowds and were again seated first before everyone else and escorted to our seat by a CM. We sat 2nd row from the center. There were no stairs for this one.

Nemo: We showed up 10 minutes before for the show and expected to be seated in the back but one look at my cane and the CM escorted me to the 2nd row from the stage.

With shows that had an actual screen (Bug's Life, Muppets, etc.) I didn't really care where I sat since the show is all around instead of just in front but usually I just waited in front of the doorway that I knew would be a little closer to the screen and my mom guided me inside.

Because it takes me a long time to walk up/down stairs, it was very nice with most of these shows I could take my time and not be jostled around while trying to find a closer seat. Since this was my first time at WDW (I'm a DLR vet) I asked often about seating in front and all of them were very courteous and very organized! I also didn't have to present my GAC since my red/white cane was enough.

I hope this helps!

 

[DCDisney]

A GAC would definitely help him in terms of dealing with lines and being unsteady on his feet, stairs, possibly needing extra time to get on rides, and show seating. I found that a number of shows had 2 reserved areas one for the wheelchairs and another up frontish. I just had to show them my GAC and they found me a spot that worked for my issues. He may have to decide for a few shows if being up front is better or not doing stairs in some of the big stadiums where wheelchair seating is on the entry level.

 

[inkkognito]

Thanks! Shock, that is particularly helpful as he won't be able to do many rides due to his physical condition. It will be mostly shows, and a lot of the rides he'll be able to do will having the moving belts so he's probably going to need more time to board. That's an especially good point about sitting close vs. maneuvering stairs. He can do stairs as long as he has enough time, so he should be good if a GAC allows him to enter before the stampede.

I haven't seen him since he got home from rehab since he's in IL and I'm in FL, but my husband was out there today and took him out to dinner. Should be...er, interesting...at Disney as he has his "moments." For example, he was trying to eat his bread with a fork and knife. Then he complained about the taste of the ribs until my sister-in-law gently pointed out that the main course hadn't even arrived yet. He also flails his left arm when he is talking so we may have to form a bit of a human barrier around him to protect others in line. Still, he was only given a 30 percent chance of making it through this so he's actually doing much better than expected.