GAC question

[tinkrbel]

can you get the GAC at the resort or do you have to get a different one for each park? My husband has MS and will be using a manual wheelchair with me pushing him ..he can use a cane for short distances ( like getting from the chair into a ride)
but he cant take the heat or sit out in the sun in a long line .. I read another post about this card and that they will get you out of the heat.

 

[dclfun]

GAC's aren't available at the resorts, so just go to Guest Relations at the first park you enter- it will be good at all the parks...no need to get one for each. Guest Relations also has the "Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities"...one for each park, which you can pick up. They describe each attraction briefly with symbols to indicate what you need to do for access. I hope you and your husband have a great trip! My only suggestion would be ECV rental if your budget could include it. Pushing a chair, esp. in hilly Epcot might wear you out! When I was walking I pushed my father once in a chair for one day only and it took me a few days to recover from the pain in my upper back. ---Kathy

 

[tinkrbel]

thank you so very very much. I dont think its going to be to bad with me pushing him .. I could use the exercise actually and we made a test run to the zoo the other day ..which has some really steep hills. we learned to expect stares .. because I guess he looks healthy to most people but if he were trying to walk he would be stared at because they would think he was drunk. my biggest worry has been the heat. we are going august the 8th - 15 .

 

[Nanajo1]

Heat is the enemy! Keep hydrated! Both of you. I think the mister fans are a great way to keep cool. I believe you can request ice chips at most of the counter restaurants. Also take a bandana that you can wet and drape over the back of the neck. A wide brimmed hat is helpful. Remember sun screen on hands and knees! These hints are for both of you!
I am a big fan of ECVs for the independence it gives me. But I'm sure you can have a good trip with a w/c.

 

[JudithM]

You should have no problem stopping at Guest Relations at the first WDW park you enter. City Hall at the MK & to the left of the entrance at the Studios are the two stops I have made. And Nanjo is so correct - stay hydrated. We usually bring a water bottle for each person. You can always ask for ice &/or water at any fast food eatery & at some carts. It will be hotter & more humid than you probably expect or are used to.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was away for a few days and just wanted to welcome you to disABILITIES and add a bit to the good advice you have already gotten.
A GAC is issued for your entire length of stay; you don't need to stop and get a new one each day (you would probably think of that question on your way to WDW.
If you need a spot to get out of the heat and sun, the counter service restaurants are a good place to just sit during the "non-peak" meal times. Also, there is a First Aid station at each park (look for it on the maps). Those are cool and quiet. If you don't need an individual dimly lit cubicle and cot to rest, there are chairs in the waiting area and it's OK to just sit and cool off there. They see a lot of people who are having some problem dealing with the heat and humidity and would rather have you come and sit in the cool than have to help you out with heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

 

[tinkrbel]

this has been a huge help.

 

[Earstou]

I used a cooling scarf when I was at WDW a few weeks ago. I picked it up at Walmart (near the ponchos in the outdoor section for around $2) after I had trouble my 2nd day at the park with heat. I wore it for the next week and didn't have anymore trouble. I was very impressed with the scarf.

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by Earstou
I used a cooling scarf when I was at WDW a few weeks ago. I picked it up at Walmart (near the ponchos in the outdoor section for around $2) after I had trouble my 2nd day at the park with heat. I wore it for the next week and didn't have anymore trouble. I was very impressed with the scarf.

oh I have to find one of those!! that sounds like something that would really be great.
update .. he now has an electric wheelchair.. so there will be no one pushing him and he can use his cane when getting from the wheelchair to a ride ..but what do the CM's do with a personal wheelchair while your on the ride?

 

[SueM in MN]

but what do the CM's do with a personal wheelchair while your on the ride?

For some rides there is a special car that the wheelchair can fit right in and your DH will ride right in his wheelchair.
For rides where he will need to transfer to a ride car, he will board at the exit and his wheelchair will be waiting at the exit for him when he is finished. He will need to tell the CM what would be helpful to him; does he need to pull the wheelchair very close to the ride car, can he walk 5 feet or 25 feet, does he need the moving walkway stopped? etc. Here's a link to a thread about boarding that should be helpful.

 

[Nanajo1]

I think your DH will feel more independent with his own power chair. I know since I got my PC I've been able to do so much more in the way of shopping and just getting around. I don't feel like everyone has to do what I'm doing or that I hold anyone back. I don't take my PC to WDW . Can't seem to get over the fear of it being damaged in flight. So I rent an ECV off-site for my trip. The advice to stay cool and hydrated is still important. From my experience don't forget sunscreen on the hands and knees! Can you tell I've been burned before? LOL
Have a great trip.

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by SueM in MN
For some rides there is a special car that the wheelchair can fit right in and your DH will ride right in his wheelchair.
For rides where he will need to transfer to a ride car, he will board at the exit and his wheelchair will be waiting at the exit for him when he is finished. He will need to tell the CM what would be helpful to him; does he need to pull the wheelchair very close to the ride car, can he walk 5 feet or 25 feet, does he need the moving walkway stopped? etc. Here's a link to a thread about boarding that should be helpful.

thanks so much for the link !! as long as he has support like his cane and he can find a focus point he can walk slowly for a good bit, the fatique (spelling?) and lack of balance together can really take a lot out of him very quickly. I didnt know they would stop the moving walk way !! that will be a big plus and help him walk from the chair to the ride, he has been worried about how he will manage the moving walk ways. I was thinking that maybe the fact he wouldnt have to "walk" would be a plus really. He really has to concentrate ( one of the things MS has taken away from him is his ability to concentrate on more then one thing at a time though) and cant be distracted even using his cane.
we plan MK for the first day ... one of his favorite rides is the People Mover, do you think this would be a good "first test" to see how he can handle the walk way and getting into the rides?
Nanajo1
we are prepared with the sun screen we live in texas and we know all about heat and humidity ..thats why its so important to keep him as cool as possible ... his neuro really insist he avoid the sun and heat as much as possible, specially the day after his injections.

 

[tinkrbel]

Originally posted by Earstou
I used a cooling scarf when I was at WDW a few weeks ago. I picked it up at Walmart (near the ponchos in the outdoor section for around $2) after I had trouble my 2nd day at the park with heat. I wore it for the next week and didn't have anymore trouble. I was very impressed with the scarf.

I found the cooling scarf at wal mart and these are just great .. they were over in the exercise equipment area though
Aqua Cool was the name. Thank you soooooo much!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by tinkrbel

we plan MK for the first day ... one of his favorite rides is the People Mover, do you think this would be a good "first test" to see how he can handle the walk way and getting into the rides?

I would not suggest People Mover for a first try. It has a steep moving ramp that goes up to (and back down from) the second story loading level. I'm not positive if they can stop that ramp - In the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, it says you must be able to go up and down the moving ramp, but it doesn't say it can't be stopped (like Peter Pan clearly states in the description of that ride). Even if the ramp can be stopped, he's still have to deal with going up and down a rather steep ramp.

I'd suggest Haunted Mansion for a first try. It has a flat moving walkway and even if they don't stop it, you have quite a bit of time to get on since you will board at the exit and will be walking in the opposite direction that the walkway is moving. (If this doesn't make sense now, it will when you get there).
Another hint: Pirates has a steep moving walkway when you get off, but there is also an elevator. Ask about using it before you get on and they will relay a message to the unload point.

 

[Safari Steve]

: Pirates has a steep moving walkway when you get off, but there is also an elevator. Ask about using it before you get on and they will relay a message to the unload point.

No need to ask. When you show up at the entrance to Pirates with a personal power chair, they will explain the boarding process to you and you will have to "trade" for a manual chair (they have their own stock expressly for this purpose) to go through the queue and to get back from the exit (via elevator that the CM will show you to) to the entrance.
Like Sue's explaination of loading at Haunted Mansion, this really doesn't make sense now, but it will when it happens... and they will tell you/help you with everything when you get there, so there's really no need to worry about it. Just know that Pirates, like many other WDW attractions, has it's own procedure for guests with disabilities. The CMs have been trained to help you and all you should worry about is answering any questions as best you can and following the simple boarding instructions (such as "please wait here," "Ok, you can get in now," and "Follow me, please.")

 

[tinkrbel]

so Haunted Mansion will be our first attempt with getting on a moving walk way. and thats fantastic info about the Pirates, we saw the movie last week (2x)
while we have been to WDW for years ..this is our first time since my husbands big attack last summer which left him with out balance. Last year while we were there he had periods of imbalance and stumbling, we thought it was just because he was tired or the heat, but at that time we had no idea what was causing it .. now we know he was building up to exacerbation.

 

[SueM in MN]

No need to ask. When you show up at the entrance to Pirates with a personal power chair, they will explain the boarding process to you and you will have to "trade" for a manual chair (they have their own stock expressly for this purpose) to go through the queue and to get back from the exit (via elevator that the CM will show you to) to the
entrance.

We haven't taken a personal power chair on, but we have been on with a non-folding wheelchair (and many times with a folding, though not easy to fold, wheelchair). We've only been told about the elevator once or twice and usually have to go up the ramp with the wheelchair.

 

[tinkrbel]

We haven't taken a personal power chair on, but we have been on with a non-folding wheelchair (and many times with a folding, though not easy to fold, wheelchair). We've only been told about the elevator once or twice and usually have to go up the ramp with the wheelchair

ok so if its not offered should we ask? DH has a regular plain old electric wheelchair, while it can fold up, first you have to remove the heavy batteriers.

 

[Talking Hands]

Your husband will have to transfer from his power chair to a manual wheelchair for Pirates of the Caribbean. When you get off they should point you to the elevator. If not ask. It is to your left just before the moving walkway. I use it even if I am walking since I don't always have the balance.

 

[Safari Steve]

I believe there is a wheelchair symbol on the door that leads to the elevator.
Non-folding chairs need to be traded too.
I'm glad you didn't get hurt taking a chair up the speedramp. It's very dangerous to do (the hair on my neck stood up when I read that!)
It's not always offered, but I think there are signs on the door...
Ok, now everyone knows, I guess.