GAC--I'm still confused!

[Julia H.]

When we got a GAC last summer for our two teen DD's who are in power chairs, I explained to the cast member that they can't walk, they fatigue easily, and one has trouble with heat intolerance. I've read here that some guests with GAC's are invited to go through the fast pass lines without a fast pass, but whenever we showed the card at rides, we were always told to go get in line with everyone else.

When we go back, I'd like to maximize what little time the girls can handle in the parks, if possible; besides the heat problem, we deal with meds, doubling back to the companion restrooms, frequent stops for meals of specific foods because of a metabolic problem, trying to get the chairs through the crowds, etc. It's hard to explain to people that even getting fast passes is hard for us because it either means a lot of backtracking with the wheelchairs or sending my huband off to get the passes, leaving me alone with two kids with high needs.

Is it reasonable to ask this time for the ability to go through the fast pass line or some other accommodation so the girls can do a little more in the amount of time we can spend in the parks before they get too hot or tired? What would you guys suggest we say or ask?

Thanks!

 

[teri]

Do you still have the GAC from last summer? What stamp was on it? Having the right stamp on your GAC makes a difference. It sounds like your daughters needed 2 stamps (possibly 2 GACs), one for waiting in shaded areas, and one for using alternate entrances.

There is information about the GAC on the Disabilities FAQ. My guess is that you were sent into mainstream lines when alternate entrances may have been more appropriate. On the other hand, some attractions don't really have an alternate entrance -- not every attraction has a "back door" for disabled guests. Also, some very popular attractions have a long queue of disabled guests who are also waiting, and there are safety considerations on the rides - only 1 or 2 seriously disabled guests can be on some attractions at one time, for safety reasons in the event of an emergency.

I understand and agree with you about doubling back for using FastPasses... our family can do it when we have a runner (usually my husband or me) go ahead of everyone else and get the Fastpasses, but I found that when it was just me and my kids, that was beyond our ability, we ended up just missing out, wearing out, breaking down, leaving early. On this last trip to Disneyland in June, we were allowed to use the FP entrances without getting the FP tickets, and it made things much easier. We still didn't get to do everything in either park, but we did have an easier time.

 

[Talking Hands]

My GAC states that I may go through fast pass lines without a fastpass and use alternate entrances. One problem I had in the past was castmembers viewing my power wheelchair as an ECV. This happens a lot with younger CM. Mine also states that they must provide reflective captioning.
I had to get a new GAC this trip and things can be really inconsistant. In March the GAC I received was good until June, 3 months. This time the CM would only write it for 1 week. He had a very snotty attitude about it when I asked why when it was for 3 months before. Sometimes I just don't get it. It is not like it will change anytime soon.

 

[SueM in MN]

As teri and Lisa mentioned, there are different stamps they can add to the GAC and you may not have had the appropriate stamps. Only some of the GACs are stamped to use the fastpass line. The standard GAC says you are expected to use fastpass as much as possible. Even if you have the correct stamp, there is also small print that says you can use it "if the wheelchair acces is thru the mainstream line." The CMs sometimes consider their ride to not have aminstream access when we think it does.
Also, some lines don't have an alternative entrance and if you want to go on those, you go thru the regular lines with everyone else. In addition, some of the CMs don't read the stamps, they just look at the card and say "OK, you get to use the wheelchair entrance."
You can always go back to Guest Services with your GACs and tell them that the modifications they have put on are just not working for you. That happened to us once when the CM told us he was "giving us the same GAC stamps" as we had before. We didn't look at the card carefully and found that all he stamped was that we could use the wheelchair entrance (which you don't need a GAC to do) and wait in shaded areas. Our DD has similar needs to yours, so that GAC didn't really help us much. We went back and explained our problem to another CM, who helped us to get what we needed.

 

[teri]

Lisa, I am surprised they gave you one for 3 months... I have always been told that the GAC (or SAP at Disneyland) is only valid during the length of your stay. Some other theme parks do have a stamp or sticker on people's APs.

It is a pain to get it renewed each time, but I have never had a problem.

 

[Julia H.]

Thanks for all your replies. I found our old GAC, and all it says is that the person and his/her party can go through the wheelchair entrance--nothing about using fastpass lines or waiting out of the sun. I guess I need to be more specific in what I ask, huh? BTW, we actually went back a couple of days after we got the GAC and explained our situation over again to a different cast member, thinking the first one just didn't understand what we needed, but he just made us a new one with the exact same thing stamped on it.

 

[SueM in MN]

It sounds like they gave you the basic GAC that lets you use the wheelchair entrance. Since you have 2 girls in power wheelchairs, you would be using that entrance even if you didn't have a GAC.
If you look at teri's FAQs, there is one about GACs that lists all the wording for stamps that we are aware of. That might be helpful.

When you go next time, keep your old GAC in your purse and don't show it to them. Explain the problems you have with waiting in line with your 2 girls and see what they give you. You are right that you need to be pretty specific. Some of the CMs are really good and others don't really have a clue of what might be helpful. Look the card over before you leave and if it's not clear to you what help it will give, restate the problems and ask what this card will do to help.

 

[Julia H.]

Thanks, Sue. Sounds like a plan!

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's some pixie dust for a wonderful trip. 4 doses; one for you, DH and one for each of the girls.
Have fun.

 

[Julia H.]

Bless your heart, Sue. It's been a rough year, and we could use a pixie dust-coated vacation.

 

[HALLOWEENTOWN]

Several times in this thread someone has said some rides do not have an alternate
entrance and if there isn't a separate entrance everyone has to wait in line. My son is
ADHD/Bipolar. Waiting in lines makes him agitated and he has melt downs if he stands
in line for more than a few minutes. He can't stand to be standing that close to people for
too long, and he can't stand still very long either. Will we just have to skip these rides?
Will they allow us to wait outside the line? Thanks.

 

[SueM in MN]

Some of the lines don't have another way in. The one I can think of right now is Pirates. For that ride, going in the exit won't work because there isn't a way to board at the exit and ride thru to the beginning. For some of the other rides where the normal entrance means going thru the line, it might be possible for him to wait somewhere else and then come in thru the exit. You would need to explain that to the CM in guest Services and then at each ride ask what the procedure would be.

If you use fastpass, your wait will be much shorter; less than 15 minutes. If you return right as the fastpass window of time on your pass begin, you might find it very busy. Sometimes waiting a few minutes into the time period makes a big difference.

Another thing to remember is that the line usually keeps moving, so you will seldom actually be standing in one spot in line for long. The exception is shows or rides that load in batches. At each park there is a "status board" that tells what the wait is right now for individual attractions. The CMs there are a wealth of knowledge that most people are not aware of. They can tell you which rides to go on right away and also when the slow times are for individual rides. Sometimes that might mean going on rides at times when a parade is going on (tying up lots of people who might otherwise be waiting in line). We have seen rides with a 2 hour wait early in the day have a "just walk in" slow time late in the afternoon. So, timing can make a lot of difference.

Some people have found that renting a wheelchair works well for the situation you are describing (even though he doesn't need it for mobility) because it gives a little bit of personal space that he can bring along with him.

Hope this help you and maybe stimulates some more ideas or questions.