GAC question

[Emagine]

I am very familiar with the ins & outs of the GAC and so on, we use it for my two Autistic boys. What I am not sure of is the amount of ppl that can be on it. Here is why I ask.

I have a Grand Gathering coming up the week after Turkey Day and another family is coming with us. Their two boys have several medical issues as well and clearly fall under the GAC but can the 8 of us (2 sets of parents and 4 kids) be put as the number at the bottom of the card? Does that make sense?

I am wondering if we would be split up or how it would work with extra in tow mainly for those 'I will watch the boys or take them on this ride for you' experiences. Not sure how to play into that because they have never been to Disney and we worked them into our DVC this year so they could go.

Any experiences in this would be grateful.

 

[maroo]

You would have a total of 4 GAC's, right? So I would think you are good for almost any attraction.

You could get split up into different cars for rides...

And I could see the group being possibly split up if there is a limit to the number of disabled people that can go on a ride at any given time...(for evacuation purposes)...not sure how they could GAC's for this, though?

 

[Emagine]

I am sure some rides this would be the case. But say I have her two boys with my two on the very addicting flying elephant (we ride that over and over - repeat) my GAC usually reads 4 at the bottom but I would have 1 or 2 little extra munchkins with us. I did not know if they would/could list 8 or if there was a limit? I am trying to play it all in my head to beat those tantrums and issues that could easily be avoided if I had learned before hand lol. KWIM?

 

[clanmcculloch]

The GAC belongs to the person for whom it was issued. If you're taking all 4 of the kids who need GACs then you should have those 4 GACs with you. Showing the individual GAC for each chid will more than take care of the problem you're describing with bringing each other's children on rides.

The maximum number of people that can accompany a GAC holder is 5 meaning 6 people entering at one time.

 

[Emagine]

You lost me on individual as we have always been given one with a stamp to fit us and I wear it in a medical lanyard pouch that is see through with other info. It has 4 at the bottom. So my current thinking would be either we would be issued 2 GACS with a 4 or an 8 on them, one for each family.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The maximum on one GAC pass is the person whose name it is in and 5 others. We were there last week and the CM's were very rigid with this ruling. You can not get a GAC for 8 and they will not allow extra's on with you.

If you have more than one person who needs the GAC pass, get one for each person and state 6 persons on each one. That should cover you. Note that all GAC passes are not alike and will be handled based on the reasons given per card.

 

[clanmcculloch]

My point on the 4 GACs was that you have 4 kids that all have their own special needs. Normally when you travel with your 2 kids who are both autistic you should really have 2 separate GACs for them. This way if you split up each boy has his GAC. With the 8 of you you'll probably be perfectly fine with 2 GACs, one per family, IF all of the kids have the same needs. If they have different needs then get different GACs for the different kids so that whomever each child is with will have a GAC to take care of that particular child's needs.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are situations where the CM may put 8 on a card, but that would be very unusual and would normally be something like a set of parents who happen to have 6 children.

You don't have to get each child their own GAC; if their needs are similar and you don't plan to split up, each child would not need their own GAC. At very least, you should request a GAC based on the needs of one child in each family and request 6 as the total number. That way, since there are 8 total of you, if all of the people with special needs are riding, but 2 parents are not, you will still have a number that covers all of you. The CMs do look carefully at the number written on the GAC and will not allow more than that number.

There are some situations where one ride car will not hold your entire group of 8 anyway, so you will need to split into 2 groups at times in order to fit on those rides.

Another thing to think about - you said you might go with all the children on Dumbo by yourself. You might want to reconsider that. What if one of the 4 has a problem. You will be by yourself with 4 children with special needs - one of whom needs your entire attention at the time. I don't know how old/big the kids are, but children under the age of 7 have to ride with an adult. And, it's been a long time since I rode with small kids, but each Dumbo only holds 2 adults or big kids.

 

[Emagine]

There are situations where the CM may put 8 on a card, but that would be very unusual and would normally be something like a set of parents who happen to have 6 children.

You don't have to get each child their own GAC; if their needs are similar and you don't plan to split up, each child would not need their own GAC. At very least, you should request a GAC based on the needs of one child in each family and request 6 as the total number. That way, since there are 8 total of you, if all of the people with special needs are riding, but 2 parents are not, you will still have a number that covers all of you. The CMs do look carefully at the number written on the GAC and will not allow more than that number.

There are some situations where one ride car will not hold your entire group of 8 anyway, so you will need to split into 2 groups at times in order to fit on those rides.

Another thing to think about - you said you might go with all the children on Dumbo by yourself. You might want to reconsider that. What if one of the 4 has a problem. You will be by yourself with 4 children with special needs - one of whom needs your entire attention at the time. I don't know how old/big the kids are, but children under the age of 7 have to ride with an adult. And, it's been a long time since I rode with small kids, but each Dumbo only holds 2 adults or big kids.

TY hon for helping. I was lost on the more than one GAC as we have always been given one and been going 2 times a year for about 7 years lol. I did not even know that was an option. While it worked a good bit in the beginning, now that I think about it there are times I pull it off and DH takes DS 8 on a ride that his brother can or will not ride leaving us to sit (usually in tears or my bag of tricks) So that helps in that manner and I thank you guys!

I know I will have to have another adult but I am not sure at this point who will ride what and back out of other rides. I really want to avoid the whole glaring of eyes that scream 'can you hush that kid' or something about their behavior if a melt hits. KWIM.

Anyways just getting my ducks in a row and I ty all. I am praying for a wonderful trip and hoping the kids have fun.

 

[disneygourmet]

I don't know how old/big the kids are, but children under the age of 7 have to ride with an adult. And, it's been a long time since I rode with small kids, but each Dumbo only holds 2 adults or big kids.

Can an older teen substitute for the adult? I have two children under the age of 7 and am Pooh sized so may not be able to fit both children with me.

 

[bookwormde]

Just so you know there is no "legal" basis for the limit of 6 it is a practical one, to keep from overloading the accomidations. If there is some reason why not being able to stay together would not allow your children the same accomidation family without children with disabilities then WDW has to allow larger groups. For some children with certain manefestation, "splitting up" can be exceptionally anxiety producing, so that would be an example, just remember that for may attracations, splitting up in in the "nature" of the ride so WDW can not do anything about that.

As other have said I think that multiple GACs will get you through OK

bookwormde