GAC Question

[quiltymom]

Are the GAC cards issued for particular instances, or are they a global thing? I'm not thinking that we will really need one, but I'd like to have one in case DS has a meltdown and we need to get away to a quiet spot for him to calm down (he has Aspergers/ADHD). We wouldn't need it for anything else, more just to let the CMs know we would need assistance in this particular area.

Is this possible, or is the GAC only for those people who need accomodation for waiting in lines, etc. If the latter is the case, then we'll just skip getting one all together.

Thanks!

 

[DIS-NH]

I suggest getting one when you enter the park (Guest Services), and have it for the duration of your trip. If you need it, you'll have it.

Present the GAC to the CM outside the ride. Where available, they will allow you to enter through the FP line. The GAC can not be used for resteraunts or transportation.

Good Luck

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't already looked at it, there is a section about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
They are more for situations in lines/waiting.
For your situation of having a child who is already in a melt down and you need a quiet spot, a GAC probably will not be helpful because there is no "message" for that sort of thing. It would be easier to just have a member of your party ask the CM to direct you; or, someone once posted they had made up a kind of business card ahead of time that explained in a few words that their child was autisic and what they needed.

 

[quiltymom]

If you haven't already looked at it, there is a section about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
They are more for situations in lines/waiting.
For your situation of having a child who is already in a melt down and you need a quiet spot, a GAC probably will not be helpful because there is no "message" for that sort of thing. It would be easier to just have a member of your party ask the CM to direct you; or, someone once posted they had made up a kind of business card ahead of time that explained in a few words that their child was autisic and what they needed.

No, I haven't seen the thread, but I'll take a look at it. It seems that we won't be neeeding a GAC (which I was suspecting anyway) since DS is a "typical" kid who doesn't want to wait in any line at all! Gotta get on those rides, NOW.

We won'd have any need to move to the front of the line at all. Thanks for the idea of typing up a card ahead of time. That is all we will need - if we'll need it at all.

 

[SueM in MN]

No, I haven't seen the thread, but I'll take a look at it. It seems that we won't be neeeding a GAC (which I was suspecting anyway) since DS is a "typical" kid who doesn't want to wait in any line at all! Gotta get on those rides, NOW.

We won'd have any need to move to the front of the line at all. Thanks for the idea of typing up a card ahead of time. That is all we will need - if we'll need it at all.

We have been to WDW several times with my nephew who has ADHD. One of the things we found with him was that he was much more able to wait if it was something he wanted to do.
He had a "sit on the floor and I'm not moving thundercloud" meltdown when he was forced to wait for Country Bears. He did NOT want to see Country Bears and was just not willing to wait at all for something he didn't want to go to.
On the other hand, he was very interested in Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and would have waited hours in line for that (although after 15 minutes of waiting with him in the Fastpass line, I was ready for earplugs because he was just non-stop talking).

(My youngest DD also has ADD, but she has other issues in addition).

 

[quiltymom]

SueM,

Thanks for all of your advice and help. We did take one previous trip to WDW before DS's diagnosis, and things went well. DS is kinda like the Energizer bunny on steroids - he never stops! I am planning on having games like 20Q with us for line waits. I'm also letting he & his sister help me plan the trip, mostly which rides they want to do the most. I'm hoping that this, and just the fact that they'll be at WDW, will allow for a smooth visit.

I've been brainwashing my children with anything Disney from a young age. I'm such a bad mommy! They can do Disneyland from opening to closing and cry when it's time to go leave. They're so excited about this trip - and so am I - that I just want to try and circumvent any potential stumbling blocks before they happen. I'm not anticipating a bad time, but I always work best when I've thought things through first.

Thanks!