Thanks! I had no idea about the FA rooms. Thats awesome.
I always save my old GACs. Funny you said that a letter is not necessary. My docs always send a letter to any patient that goes to Disney. (thats alot of patients) The first time I told her I was going I had no notion of needing a GAC and letter, or anything. My doctor said I'm sending you with a letter to get a GAC to hopefully shorten your waits in lines to prevent you from getting exhausted. I said oh, no thanks. The thought of it was embarassing to me at the time, to admit. She said no, that if I didn't get one, I "couldn't" go to Disney. Having experience now, I'm surprised that letters from a doctor aren't mandatory since 'joe blow' can theoretically walk up and say they have anything.
Now I don't go into my Cf, I go into my needs. I've been told by CMs since that a request for shorter wait times based on medical needs can be requested-BUT NOT guaranteed based on many factors. I won't state what my letter says. But one thing it does say now is that because I have young children to please allow if possible an adult helper to accompany me on rides with my young children. That means that I'd need a pass for 4 people (myself, husband or helper, DD and DS).
Now what the CM from 'the bad year' did do was deny for NO legitimate reason allowing me to have a helper. From what I've been told they can give you a GAC for up to 6, typically. And yes you are right there was miscommunication on both sides. However, sometimes people are having bad days. Sometimes you get the new girl, or the inexperienced person. Sometimes you just get someone that forgets for the moment that they are dealing with customers, not inmates.
If anyone reading this wants more information about GACs, post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread was written by me, but reviewed by a number of experienced Guest Relations CMs.
Many doctors write letters for their patients, but Disney does not want to see them for a number of reasons:
- - one is that ADA says you can't require proof of disability as a condition of providing accommodation ( there are exceptions for things like handicapped parking permits, which do require proof and discounts, which are allowed to require proof).
- - another is that many doctors write letters that are not helpful in deciding what is needed for the reasons I already mentioned.
- - doctors often promise things that are not available, like no wait for any attractions and shortening waits in line. I have seen people arguing because they had a prescription from their doctor that said they needed to get on attractions without waiting. It is true that 'Front of the Line' access is only available for kids on Wish trips ( which is apparently what she thought you were asking for and said, but in a rude way).
- - the ADA does allow for asking the nature of the disability ( I think that is the exact words) because people with the same diagnosis can have very different disabilities or needs associated with that diagnosis.
- - people do write their own letters, using forms they find on the Internet.
The more complicated it gets, the more likely the CM won't 'get' it. They normally ask how many are in your party when issuing the GAC and the usual number for a GAC is up to 6 (5 plus the person with a disability). Getting a GAC issued for more than 6 requires an explanation, but is even do- able with good reason ( for example, 2 parents with 5 small kids; or we have gotten one for 7 with our immediate family of 5 plus my elderly mother and mother in law).
So, it doesn't make sense for the CM to hassle you about making the card out for only 2 instead of 4.
I wonder if the CM thought you were expecting WDW to provide a helper for you ( which might be a reasonable assumption if a single adult with one or two children came in with a letter that said they needed a helper in lines). If that was her assumption, I can understand why she would only give you a GAC for 2, although she should have verified what you meant instead of making an assumption.
I agree that sometimes a CM is having a bad day or is inexperienced. They also sometimes get abused by the guests ( which is no reason to be rude to the next guest).
In the case of the woman I saw with the prescription, when the CM asked what her disability/needs were, the woman said "Listen, my doctor wrote this prescription and you need to do what it says." The CM said she needed to know a little more about the woman's needs and the woman started swearing at her loudly ( this was a MK, with many people with children present).
On our last trip, I went into Guest Relations with my daughter (who has multiple special needs) to renew her GAC. The woman ahead of me told e CM that she had come to "get one of those cards so I don't have to wait. I need it for 10 people."
The CM said that there is not a card like that, but if the woman would explain her disability, she would see what type of assistance WDW could provide. At that point, the woman said she did not have a disability, but her nephew was with her and had CP and since he could not get out of his wheelchair he "deserved a pass like that."(the woman was alone at Guest Relations).
The CM said that there were quite a few attractions that could be enjoyed in a wheelchair and gave the woman some guide maps for guests with disabilities. As she was pointing out the features of the mapped, including the 'mobility entrances' and that most attractions had Mainstream Lines, the woman interrupted her.
She said that if the CM would not give her a card for no waits, it would ruin their trip. She said her nephew would have to be waiting long periods in line for his cousins to ride while he could not ride, so they needed a card so the cousins could ride right away. The CM said that if the nephew needed a GAC, he would have to be present to request it since she would need to find out his needs and issue one in his name. She also explained it could only be used on attractions he was actually riding because the card was to meet his needs.
The CM really kept her cool, but each thing the CM said was met by yells and pounding on the desk by the woman, then she started swearing, finally threw a bunch of guide maps for guests with disabilities at the CM and ran out.
That CM went to take a break, which was probably a good thing because I'm not sure after that how she would have been able to be civil to the next guest.
My DD and I had no trouble getting a GAC and when I came out, my husband asked if I had seen the angry woman. He said, she came out and had a group waiting for her, said "It didn't work" and they all left. He said there was no one with a wheelchair in their group.
These were 2 examples, but I have seen similar scenarios played out quite often ( I don't camp out at Guest Relations, but we go to WDW twice a year and usually stop at Guest Relations once to get DD's GAC renewed plus one or 2 times for otHer things).
So, unfortunately, bad things do happen in Guest Relations sometimes and sometimes innocent guests get treated in ways they should not because CMs have been abused by other guests.
for relaxation
This is pretty common with people that have Cf. Its sad and a big frustration.
