Getting GAC at MK

[livie1205]

Most attractions do not have a separate handicapped entrance.
The instructions printed on the GAC say to show it to the CM at the attraction entrance and you will be instructed what to do.

They also do not need to let someone ride repeatedly over and over. There was a woman who tried to do this Tower of Terror. The news stories actually indicated she was taken out of the park by security after multiple rides on Tower of Terror using a GAC.
That is important to realize before you promise your child they can ride repeatedly.
If the ride has no wait, guests can just keep going into the regular line - my family has done this at the end of the day at Kali River Rapids, when there was no wait and everyone was boarding as fast as they could walk thru the line.
But, if there is a wait, you should expect to be able to use the GAC only once on that attraction.

I have never seen that happen...i have never seen them keep track of how many times you ride with the GAC ...unless maybe you go 5 times in a row....I always seen CMs be very nice and helpfull with people using a GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have never seen that happen...i have never seen them keep track of how many times you ride with the GAC ...unless maybe you go 5 times in a row....I always seen CMs be very nice and helpfull with people using a GAC.

That would be it.
They are probably not going to notice someone using a GAC twice within a short time, but they are aware of who is using them. Probably not keeping a tally for each person, but especially if it is a very busy attraction, they will say something to returning guests using GACs in a short time.

 

[lovethattink]

OP, we have a PAP and my son's GAC is good for 2 months. We take the expired GAC with us to guest relations to get the new one. We have never had a problem. We have been asked if his needs have changed.

(Universal, IOA, Sea World, and Busch Gardens have a more sophisticated system. They keep track by computer who gets their version of a GAC and why; and it makes it very simple to get a new one when the old one expires.)

We have found different strategies that work for him to calm down. We try to make sure we have chewing gum or apples with us at all times. I usually have a lego or something Star Wars with us (his area of hyperfocus) to redirect his attention if need be. I carry a small flash light or glow stick for dark areas. (We got stuck on Spaceship Earth for close to 30 minutes in the darkest area. All I had was my cell phone for light. He rolled into a ball on the floor of the car. TTA-people mover is another attraction where he needs light if it gets stuck.) Having a medical stroller with a sun shade has been helpful to us too. It gives him a sense of privacy and he can more easily block out the people around him if he needs too, out of sight out of mind sometimes. We also allow him to rock if he needs to.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[livndisney]

I have never seen that happen...i have never seen them keep track of how many times you ride with the GAC ...unless maybe you go 5 times in a row....I always seen CMs be very nice and helpfull with people using a GAC.

Actually, we have had a CM comment/keep track. We showed the CM the GAC and we were directed where to go. We headed in, but then had to turn around and leave. The CM did not see us leave. We came back a short time later and showed the CM the GAC. (It was the same CM) he asked if we had just come though.

 

[alice99]

My son just had surgery on both knees and his elbow. He is not permitted to stand for more than 5 minutes... due to reconstructive surgery on the knees.

Our doctor gave us a letter for my son to get a GAC. This will be my first experience with the GAC , and I am getting nervous they can deny it??

My husband , of course, is telling me not to worry about it, it will be fine.... but this thread has me a bit concerned.

Opinions!??

 

[crashbb]

My son just had surgery on both knees and his elbow. He is not permitted to stand for more than 5 minutes... due to reconstructive surgery on the knees.

Our doctor gave us a letter for my son to get a GAC. This will be my first experience with the GAC , and I am getting nervous they can deny it??

My husband , of course, is telling me not to worry about it, it will be fine.... but this thread has me a bit concerned.

Opinions!??

There is no GAC that will prevent your son from standing for more than 5 minutes - it takes much more than 5 minutes to get from one ride to another.

WDW's answer to problems with mobility (such as your son) is to use a wheelchair/stroller as a wheelchair (if you son is small/young).

 

[alice99]

I have a wheelchair.....
I am talking about AT the rides, he cannot wait on an hour long line or walk up and down the stairs in some of the attractions' lines.

 

[crashbb]

I have a wheelchair.....
I am talking about AT the rides, he cannot wait on an hour long line or walk up and down the stairs in some of the attractions' lines.

He can stay in the wheelchair at the rides. Most lines are mainstreamed (wheelchairs can go through the line). If the line is not mainstreamed, they will have a separate entrance that the wheelchair can get through. There is no need for a GAC to use these entrances (the wheelchair makes it obvious that it is needed!).

 

[alice99]

He can stay in the wheelchair at the rides. Most lines are mainstreamed (wheelchairs can go through the line). If the line is not mainstreamed, they will have a separate entrance that the wheelchair can get through. There is no need for a GAC to use these entrances (the wheelchair makes it obvious that it is needed!).

Thanks so much!

 

[crashbb]

Thanks so much!

You're welcome.

Sue has a great sticky with FAQs. It has some specifics about the different lines and some photos.

 

[alice99]

You're welcome.

Sue has a great sticky with FAQs. It has some specifics about the different lines and some photos.

Thank you... I will check that out now.

 

[SueM in MN]

He can stay in the wheelchair at the rides. Most lines are mainstreamed (wheelchairs can go through the line). If the line is not mainstreamed, they will have a separate entrance that the wheelchair can get through. There is no need for a GAC to use these entrances (the wheelchair makes it obvious that it is needed!).

Exactly.
There are some attractions where he will need to get out of the wheelchair for boarding, but you will be able to take the wheelchair to the point of boarding. If the unload area is at a different spot, the wheelchair will be brought there.

You're welcome.

Sue has a great sticky with FAQs. It has some specifics about the different lines and some photos.

Thanks

There is a post on the first page of the disABILITIES FAQs thread that lists all the 'Mobility Entrances" - in most cases, this is the regular line. If part of the regular line or boarding area is not accessible, you will be routed somewhere else.

Post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread is about Guest Assistance Cards.

Posts 18-22 on page 2 of that thread lists a lot of accessibility information for each park.

 

[The_Alice]

Out of curiousity, and not to hijack the thread, but is there a specific procedure for someone using a GAC who might want to ride again? Or is it really a case by case basis?

For instance, I fully understand and agree that you shouldn't be allowed to say, ride TOT 17 times in a row if you are using a GAC, but how would they handle someone saying "I'd like to go again". Do you have to exit the building and reenter? Wait X number of minutes? Go to the back of the line of other people using GACs assuming there ARE other people waiting with them?

We were allowed to ride two times in a row on Haunted Mansion due to my son screaming to the CM "Welcome Foolish Mortals to the Haunted Mansion!" and made a spooky sound. I quickly explained this was his favorite ride and she told the ride operators at the exit to let us stay on two times in a row.

But other than that when the ride was typically over we exited on to other things.

 

[SueM in MN]

We were allowed to ride two times in a row on Haunted Mansion due to my son screaming to the CM "Welcome Foolish Mortals to the Haunted Mansion!" and made a spooky sound. I quickly explained this was his favorite ride and she told the ride operators at the exit to let us stay on two times in a row.

But other than that when the ride was typically over we exited on to other things.

We usually are asked if we want to ride twice in a row at Test Track if there is no one else waiting at the more accessible boarding area. CMs have said that is because they can see how difficult it is for us to get in and the CMs watching the ride cameras can see how much DD likes it. She got a special card there one time from a CM because he said he had never seen anyone who looked like they were having o much fun.

We have also ridden twice in a row at Buzz Lightyear and at Haunted Mansion because the CM who put us on changed stations while we were on and they forgot to stop the moving walkway to let us get off.

 

[livndisney]

We usually are asked if we want to ride twice in a row at Test Track if there is no one else waiting at the more accessible boarding area. CMs have said that is because they can see how difficult it is for us to get in and the CMs watching the ride cameras can see how much DD likes it. She got a special card there one time from a CM because he said he had never seen anyone who looked like they were having o much fun.

We have also ridden twice in a row at Buzz Lightyear and at Haunted Mansion because the CM who put us on changed stations while we were on and they forgot to stop the moving walkway to let us get off.

I think being allowed to ride again happens more often with wheelchairs than those with just GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think being allowed to ride again happens more often with wheelchairs than those with just GAC.

I agree.
A couple of reasons -
If there is a dedicated wheelchair car and no guests who need that ride car are waiting, it will usually be sent thru empty anyway, so it makes sense to let the person who is riding use it twice.

If there is not a dedicated wheelchair car, the CMs are more likely to let someone ride a second time if it is a difficult transfer. Because it is hard, the guests are not likely to come back and ride a second time.

And the not stopping the moving walkway is not likely to be a problem as much for someone without a wheelchair.

 

[livndisney]

I agree.
A couple of reasons -
If there is a dedicated wheelchair car and no guests who need that ride car are waiting, it will usually be sent thru empty anyway, so it makes sense to let the person who is riding use it twice.

If there is not a dedicated wheelchair car, the CMs are more likely to let someone ride a second time if it is a difficult transfer. Because it is hard, the guests are not likely to come back and ride a second time.

And the not stopping the moving walkway is not likely to be a problem as much for someone without a wheelchair.

Which makes complete sense.

When it happens, it is nice but should not be expected (or demanded).

In the case of the TOT person. Last I heard she was trespassed from WDW.

 

[SueM in MN]

Which makes complete sense.

When it happens, it is nice but should not be expected (or demanded).

In the case of the TOT person. Last I heard she was trespassed from WDW.

I agree.
it is a nice bit of pixie dust when it happens, but not to be expected and especially not demanded.

I heard that too about the TOT woman.

It's also not likely to happen on high demand attractions.

 

[lovethattink]

I agree.
it is a nice bit of pixie dust when it happens, but not to be expected and especially not demanded.

I heard that too about the TOT woman.

It's also not likely to happen on high demand attractions.

It's wonderful when there's extra pixie dust! We've had that in the standby line at TTA and Buzz Lightyear a few times at evening EMH, when nobody was in line.

Last week we rode TSM, and the queue for wheel chairs was the longest I had ever seen it. Tip for the poster who said about not being able to stand long, TSM is definately an attraction to have wheels if you can't do steps AND can't stand long (especially if you are there during peak crowd levels).

 

[brown1442]

We were offered to ride Toy Story Mania a second time but I declined. The lines outsides were 1.5 hours long and I just couldn't justify repeating. My older son was crushed but it was a good learning experience for him. We did go back 3 hours later and ride it again though

My younger son is in a wheelchair and has classic autism. We've never had any issues dealing with CMs throughout the park. I've been unbelievably impressed with how well they go over the top to make it a successful week for our family.

I will say it does help dramatically to have my son in his stroller/wheelchair when waiting. He too has extreme social anxiety and sensory processing disorder but having his own space really helps keep him calm.