GAC info needed

[PhatalFool]

I hope that someone here can give me some information. I will be at DL with 8 developmentally disabled adults and I talked to guest services and they said to come and get GAC for them if I felt they were needed. I am wondering what the situation is for the lines they would wait in as I know that most of them will not be able to stand in the regular lines due to various behaviors that would make them as well as other guests uncomfortable. Are the alternate waiting areas faster? less people? places to sit in a more quiet area? Any info you guys have will help us out as this is large group of 19 with a one to one staff/client ratio with an additional nurse.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is information about GACs. It was written about Disney World and I noticed you are going to Disney Land, but the information about how GACs work is similar.

GACs are not meant to shorten or eliminate waits in line. Sometimes using a GAC will even make your wait longer, but the wait will not be in the usual line.

Many attractions, especially at MK have boarding on one side of a ride track or waterway and the exit is one the other side. In order to make sure that mobility devices are on the same side as the guest when they exit, people with wheelchairs and ECVs board at the exit (usually after waiting in the regular line). Sometimes people with special needs who do not have wheelchairs also board at the exit because it means they can wait in a place with less people.
Small World at WDW is an example of a line that works like this.
This may sound good, but the handicapped line is often backed up because of the number of people with special needs who are waiting to board. We have been in the handicapped line waiting to board Small World for 25 minutes at a time when the 'regular' line was posted as a 5 minute wait and some boats were being sent out not totally filled because people were not walking up fast enough.
If any of your clients are using wheelchairs, they will probably have to use these lines because the 'regular' line will not be accessible in Disneyland. The lines at Disney's California Adventure are wheelchair accessible because the park was built after the ADA was enacted.

Because Disneyland is an old park, each attraction is going to work a little different. I would expect that there will not be places to sit unless your clients have wheelchairs or walkers with seats with them.
At least at WDW, the alternate waiting areas for shows are a part of the preshow area that has been separated off from the rest of the room with a chain or rope. It will usually be in sight of the 'regular' line, but separated a bit from it.

So, my advice would be to look at the regular line and decide at each attraction if that would be a better option for your group. Hopefully, someone with recent Disneyland experience will speak up and help you out.

 

[PhatalFool]

Thanks for the information. I am just concerned like I said about some of the behaviors or our clients if they are confined with a lot of other guests so I guess we will see what the situation will be on each ride. Some clients will be in wheel chairs while others simply have some offensive behaviors that I think would scare some younger guests if they were in very close proximity. They are all very excited to go and I am just trying to be prepared the best I can to make it a great trip. Thanks again.

 

[mechurchlady]

You have not said that any are physically disabled. You can use the drop off area on the west side and walk into the park. You would pass Space Mountain and the kennels on your right. The Mickey and Friends garage will allow you to park in the flat area near the trams. If they are mentally challenged in some way then have the guardians set on the outside of the tram to prevent them from getting off early.

Disneyland does not have waiting areas that I can remember. The best thing to do is to make a list of the disabled people and their needs such as no stairs, no sun, cannot wait in lines (fidgetting excessively), etc. The caretaker can hold the GACs and use them as needed. You are going in the slow season thankfully. Go up to a CM and explain that you have persons in your group who have special needs. The CMs will probably help you avoid the lines for most of your the disabled people. Many rides require waiting at an exit, going through an exit or entering from a side entrance.

On Pirates you can send one person ahead to talk with a CM then cell phone the rest of the party, in theory. The exit for Pirates is just wide enough for a fat lady or two models but the disabled must enter through that exit hallway and it can be a rather bit of jostling. Same for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad. Most of Fantasyland is via exits as is the rocket jet ride. The big train is fun and all station are via the left entrance.

The one thing I miss about Disneyland is the CMs who usually worked very hard to accomodate disabled guests. October and November until Thanksgiving is very slow except Friday nights, Saturday and Sunday afternoon and even then rather slow.