GAC help for new issues (PM request - long)

[KPeveler]

I am having some real problems which are fairly new, and I am uncertain how to handle disney this time. I am going to post my issues below. Can people with similar experiences PM me with how a GAC did/did not help them? I am unsure if it would help, but I know that I need to do something differently this time, or I will never survive (much less enjoy) my honeymoon trip!

Let me start this by saying I know that the GAC is not designed to shorten wait times.

I am getting a powerchair (Quantum 600 with power seating and specialized cushions), and I will be bringing both that and my manual chair to Florida. We are staying onsite, renting a car, bringing/renting a ramp, and buying food off-site as well as eating on property.

I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which causes random joint dislocations with minimal pressure (I have always had this, and know what rides to avoid). However, in the last year I have been having problems with an as yet undiagnosed neurological condition which has sent me from using a cane to using a powerchair in 6 months. While I have problems with muscle weakness, a lot of my sensory functions have become super sensitive. I am having real problems with noise and touch, which makes me dread some queues (especially Buzz, tt, and Soarin). I have always had some sensory issues (probably SID/SPD), and now its just terrible.

I don't want to avoid lines, just avoid the queue spaces I know will be impossible for me to do.

I also have severe stamina problems, even with the wheelchair, and I need to avoid mobs (I am already making appropriate plans for fireworks, etc, where the GAC does not help).

Ok, now that you have all read my novel, can people help me with ways to cope? Anything about the GAC can be sent in a PM, so we don't break any rules!

I am going to disney for my wedding (booked before this neuro problem got so bad), and I really want it to be a good honeymoon!


I will gather all the PMs I receive into one document, send it to Sue, and then let her decide what is okay to post on the boards. I know that specific information about the GAC is discouraged, to avoid potential abuse. I hope this is an acceptable solution.

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[dclfun]

First of all, congratulations on your wedding/honeymoon! I wish I had some good suggestions for you. There really isn't anything to put on a GAC that I can think of that would help you avoid the queues. If you are worried about being bumped into or touched, perhaps your husband can walk a few paces behind you when the line is moving to give some space around you, and you can be sure to ride a little ways back from the person in front of you. Which particular queue spaces are you concerned about? I do know that if you get to a line that has a waiting space, such as Little Mermaid, Country Bears, Dinosaur, to name a few, where there are lots of people without lines, waiting to the side by the wall away from the entrance door is a good strategy as most people are trying to get through that door quickly. I have stamina problems as well, and also use a power wheelchair and often take advantage of resting in First Aid, even just to find an area to tilt my chair back into a lying down position, something it's difficult to do elsewhere. Sometimes a little bit of rest will give me a boost, or at least allow me to then exit the park more easily. Hope you have a great trip and as few challenges as possible.---Kathy

 

[KPeveler]

The queues that scare me the most are TT (dunno if i can do that ride anyway), buzz and Soarin (the interactive games make it a bit of a zoo).

I can do some rides that are sensory stimulating, like buzz, but they are about 2-3 mins long. I am mostly scared of having to wait for 2 hours in the crazy queues.

thanks for the advice I am mostly just looking for coping strategies from people with more experience than mine!

 

[peemagg]

In order to help with your waits, I would definitely use the fastpass system. This will help with Buzz and Soarin and others like it.

For issues with noises I would bring ear plugs or noise reducing ear muffs. You can get them at hardware and home improvement stores.

I too have issues with touch (touch= lots of pain for me) and as long as I was using my scooter, I didn't have any problems with it. I did use the fastpass system when I needed to and never did get a GAC. I never found that I waited to long for any ride. Quite often it was just the opposite, but that was just probably a fluke of luck.

Congratulations on your wedding and honeymoon. I know that you will enjoy yourselves not matter what. Hehe

 

[KPeveler]

I definitely will use the fastpass system. I may talk to CMs about alternative waiting areas - I don't mind waiting, but I am afraid of getting mobbed...

hopefully the powerchair will help - I will sit higher than when I was in a manual, so hopefully people will see me better and stop squishing me! thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

I definitely will use the fastpass system. I may talk to CMs about alternative waiting areas - I don't mind waiting, but I am afraid of getting mobbed...

hopefully the powerchair will help - I will sit higher than when I was in a manual, so hopefully people will see me better and stop squishing me! thanks

a power wheelchair will provide you with more of a 'bumper' between you and other people in line just because it is physically larger and I know my DD's power wheelchair 'sticks out' farther away from her than her manual wheelchair does.
Most of your problems with Test Track, Soarin and Buzz Lightyear will be greatly improved by using Fastpass. The time will be much less (usually 10-15 minutes) using Fastpass and less crowded. Soarin's Fastpass line does not have any games and there are walls between that line and the regular line, so you don't see the games.

One other thing people have posted really helped them was using services for planning like TourGuide Mike and RideMax. People have posted numerous times that they never waited more than 10 minutes for anything by following the advice of those kind of services.
The GAC will only help with attractions, but using one of those services will help you toavoid the park and part of the parks that are busy. This would be really helpful to you since ther is possibly more potential for you to get bumped outside of lines even than you would in lines.
I know from personal experience at WDW during busy times like Spring break and New Years. Even at those very busy times, it is possible to go on attractions without wait.

 

[KPeveler]

I will probly get a GAC to avoud sun anyway - my new meds are making me VERY sensitive, so I need to make sure the few outdoor lines are avoided. I have heard that a lot of lines end up outside due to refurbs (like IASW right now), and I am going to need a place in the shade!

I am just afraid between social anxiety, sensory, and stamina problems, this trip will be overwhelming... I am glad to hear so much reassurance!