Guest Assistance Card after back surgery

[atksn]

We are leaving for our 10 day trip to WDW 3 weeks from today!

I have some "just incase" kind of questions, that I am hoping to get some help with, as this is something we have never had as a concern while visiting any Disney property:
How does one get this card? What type of "proof of need" is required? What does it exactly help with?

I recently had back surgery- well, actually what ended up being 5 surgeries at once, as it was much more extensive than thought once they opened me up. I am doing VERY well considering what was done, but am starting to have some concerns about endurance/pain during our trip. I actually do better walking vs. sitting for any duration, so I am not looking into any type of wheelchair or ECV, and I do plan on taking my brace (just incase)- which I haven't worn since a few days post op.

I don't want to take advantage, or work the system, but I also want to be able to enjoy my trip. Would this kind of circumstance be a valid one in the eyes of Disney? I feel akward, or that I will tick other people off or get nasty looks/comments if I use this- judging by all outward appearances I would seem to be a healthy, fit, active woman in her 30's. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

 

[mariepapa]

You need to head over to the Disabilities Forum. They have great information on any question you will ever have. Sue is the moderator and she knows her stuff. Hope you get better. I had a tumor removed from my back in September and am still on the mend.

 

[mfd25wife]

We are leaving for our 10 day trip to WDW 3 weeks from today!

I have some "just incase" kind of questions, that I am hoping to get some help with, as this is something we have never had as a concern while visiting any Disney property:
How does one get this card? What type of "proof of need" is required? What does it exactly help with?

I recently had back surgery- well, actually what ended up being 5 surgeries at once, as it was much more extensive than thought once they opened me up. I am doing VERY well considering what was done, but am starting to have some concerns about endurance/pain during our trip. I actually do better walking vs. sitting for any duration, so I am not looking into any type of wheelchair or ECV, and I do plan on taking my brace (just incase)- which I haven't worn since a few days post op.

I don't want to take advantage, or work the system, but I also want to be able to enjoy my trip. Would this kind of circumstance be a valid one in the eyes of Disney? I feel akward, or that I will tick other people off or get nasty looks/comments if I use this- judging by all outward appearances I would seem to be a healthy, fit, active woman in her 30's. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

We got mine at City Hall. They do not require proof, but they do stamp them for the limitations needed.

 

[KPeveler]

The Guest Assistance Card can be obtained at Guest Services in any park. They are not available at the hotel or DTD.

Let me just say first, it does NOT reduce or eliminate wait times.

I am not certain what the GAC would be able to do for you. There is a way to not walk on stairs in lines, which may be helpful after back surgery. It will not reduce wait times, but they route you around the stairs like they do the wheelchairs. I am not certain what else could be helpful...

Check out post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs.

 

[tinka-belle]

Disney's recommendation for stamina issues is to get an ECV or wheelchair. The GAC is generally used for issues that wouldn't be solved with the wheelchair or ECV. You could still get one for other issues if needed, no proof is required.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board.

 

[gilesmt]

A GAC card can be picked up at City Hall. You need to tell them what your problem is and what your limitations are, no need of proof. You really need to think about what you need. Because if you are not sure how it will help or what you need, you may be told you do not need one, or to rent a w/c.

For examples, I am visually impaired and usually have either a cane or a service dog. My cane allows me to use alternate routes without even getting a GAC card, just like a w/c would. So when I asked for my card, I tell them that when I am using my dog I still can not go up stairs because besides being visually impaired I have also had knee surgury limiting my flexibility in my knees. So my card will be marked with two stamps, one is for stairs, allowing me to go around stairs in lines that have them, and yes this sometimes makes the wait in some rides longer and in others a little but not significately shorter. The other stamp will tell them to sit me up front on rides or in shows that would make it posible for me to see better.

As for the GAC card with the stamp with the stairs every cast member seems to know what that means. As for the stamp that tells them to sit me up front, many if not most cast members do not seem to know what that means. I many times have to remind them. In most rides it does not matter to me because if the ride goes at any speed I can not focus enough to see what is going on anyway. But for shows it can make a lot of difference to me, and since most cast members look at the card and then sit me where w/c's go, and most of the time this is in the back. I have to very regularly be assertive in a friendly way that I need to sit up front.

When reading this one thought came to mind, since both me, my ex and my DD have mobility problems that are not to bad and usually stairs is the real problem but one time when my ex had knee replacement, I had my knee problems and my DD with CP had had surgury all within a year of going to DL. We rented one w/c and the one of us would push it, it gave us something to hold onto, if one needed to sit in a line or walking we had it. Yes sometimes we got stares because we kept rotating but we did not all need it, and we could park it at times and not use it from ride to ride. But it was there, and believe me sometimes just having something to hold onto as you walk can help your mobility, not even so much riding in it.

Hope that answers some of your questions. Please think of what you need and make sure you can explain that to the cast members at guest relations in City Hall.

 

[atksn]

I don't think a wheelchair or ECV are anything that would alleviate any discomfort for me- as I am in more pain with prolonged sitting, as well as standing in one position.

Walking (in moderation) is actually the best thing for me. I think my biggest concern would be standing stillfor any duration, i.e. lines. But from what it is sounding like, this would not help me in anyway with that issue. Not that I am trying to skip the line, or milk the situation- I don't want it to sound like that. I just do much better with the ability to keep moving/alternate positions frequently (even when I sleep I wake up uncomfortable and have to reposition countless times a night.

Sounds like I am just going to have to rely on hoping that going during "off season" the lines are not going to be that bad, take full advantage of Fast Passes, remember to pack my brace (and maybe even pain meds, which I haven't taken since a day or two after surgery), and continue to work my rear off in physical therapy between now and then!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Along with using FastPasses to your best advantage, you might want to look into subscribing to something like TourGuide Mike for this trip. Quite a few people have reported good things about using that sort of trip planner to reduce wait times.

 

[Piper]

You may also want to consider the fact that many of the rides with long lines may not be doable for you--they may be to Jerky or put too much pressure in the wrong places.

 

[SueM in MN]

I see that KPeveler already pointed you to post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is about GACs. I would also suggest you check out some links to past threads about attractions where guests need to stand - there are links in post 3 of the FAQs and also (I think) in post 6. Most of those are shows or attractions that load guests in batches. In some cases there are a few seats, but they are first come, first served and having a GAC will not help you to get a seat I'd they are already taken. You can't really do anything about the wait for those, but at least being aware, you can space them out a bit.

I am on my iPod with acting little screen, so I can't easily check, but one of the posts in the FAQs thread also lists those attractions with warnings for guests with back issues.
There are 2 attractions without warnings which many people with back problems have found can be painful. They are Hanted Mansion and Spaceship Earth. Both are very slow moving, tame rides, but include a part where your ride car is turned backwards going down an incline. It may not bother you, but some guests were not prepared and said the would have put a sweatshirt behind their back or leaned forward to avoid pressure.

 

[gilesmt]

When you wrote the second time you did state exactly what you need to tell them and I am not a WDW going, this is only my second time but at DL one of my brothers finally got a pass like this so it is worth asking.

He explained to the cast members that he needed to keep moving and not standing still, he finally got a pass that allowed his family to go on thru the line and then waiting (walking around) until they were close to the front and then joining them. Of course if you eliminate most of the wait thru touringplan or ridemax than this option may not be needed. But you did word it just right and that would be how you ask for a pass.