Guest Assistance Cards ending, to be replaced with Fastpasses?

[jcb]

Perhaps there is another way to the ground floor of The Land but this photo (from May 2013) was of folks waiting to get onto the elevator which might hold 2 ECV's or wheelchairs.

 

[disney david]

It's sad when what had been a very illuminating thread degenerates into name calling.

Yeah the. The thread get closed down and everyone upset and they don't understand why the moderator closed it. Then they start another thread after another thread and they all turn into name calling. In a tough topic people don't like to wait and see they rather name call bash autism speaks and Disney before even getting to use it. The dis should hire lawyers to speak for disers so they keep it under control and have a judge hat over sees it Judge jack maybe.


Disers let come together be nice to one another we all have the same common goal to enjoy Disney. Their no need to fight each other you can disagree with out being rude or name calling. As nikkibell says their a human on be other side of the screen if you wouldn't say it to their face then don't say it on here. It a form of cyber bullying and we all don't a a to teach kids it okay to go on Internet boards and call people names. R-E-S-P-E-C-T-I-N-G each other will get you respect and get your point across better. We start fighting and name calling then we forget what the topic was and it help no one.

 

[SueM in MN]

Perhaps there is another way to the ground floor of The Land but this photo (from May 2013) was of folks waiting to get their ECV's into the elevator which might hold 2 EVC or wheelchairs.

That is the only way that doesn't involve going backstage.
There is a door to the outside by the restrooms on the bottom floor. Hat is an emergency exit, but we also used it when the elevator was not working.

 

[Granny square]

Perhaps there is another way to the ground floor of The Land but this photo (from May 2013) was of folks waiting to get onto the elevator which might hold 2 ECV's or wheelchairs.

Ot: Lol, once took that elevator to the bottom. Interesting! Wished I could go explore!

 

[Gracie09]

In my own (not honest) opinion,,Disney (or any company) should be able to deal with anything,,busy or not. And if they can't then I say something is wrong.

Right but if you are rolling out a new program that will involve educating guests as well as cm having new responsibilities and systems why not roll it out on a less busy day so that the cm at least gets comfortable using it before the larger weekend crowds.
I once implemented a totally new registration system at a university. We did our first live run during summer registration instead of fall because the user group was smaller so any unforeseen issues were easier to handle. It's actually a very common way of rolling out new systems.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My son has mild autism (Asperger's). We got a GAC when he was 5 at Disneyland in 2000 because we didn't know how he would handle the whole experience. We went at such a non-bush time that we found we didn't really need to use it. On subsequent trips, we didn't even bother getting one. He had his moments, but nothing we couldn't easily deal with. He is now 18 and perfectly capable of waiting as long as we plan well, make use of Fastpasses, etc. We've taken him to WDW twice and Disneyland many, many times.

What still shocks me is the number of people who encourage us to get a GAC, even when I explain that we don't need one. The principal of his special needs school said we should get "the card the helps you skip the lines." I told him my son can wait just fine and getting one would be cheating. I don't want him to think his disability will get him special privileges that he doesn't need. The principal couldn't believe I wouldn't get one anyway. I've had numerous others tell me to get a GAC since, technically, we qualify for one. I've tried to explain that GACs are based on need, not diagnosis. And my son doesn't "need" one. I guess I shouldn't be shocked because I know people regularly game the system. However, I didn't know there were so many people I know who are willing to do so.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

I think Disney should have a special GAC fastpass machine (like the regular ones) that you would put in your GAC card and get a return time instaed of having to go to guest services everytime you want to get a return time stamp.

 

[Gracie09]

I think Disney should have a special GAC fastpass machine (like the regular ones) that you would put in your GAC card and get a return time instaed of having to go to guest services everytime you want to get a return time stamp.

Based on the released information they will have special kiosks through out the parks staffed with a cm who will give the return times. No need to visit guest services for every ride.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Based on the released information they will have special kiosks through out the parks staffed with a cm who will give the return times. No need to visit guest services for every ride.

I think a machine would be easier and it would free up the CM's to be needed elsewhere

 

[babydoll65]

Perhaps there is another way to the ground floor of The Land but this photo (from May 2013) was of folks waiting to get onto the elevator which might hold 2 ECV's or wheelchairs.

Ok, lol I remember using this elevator in The Land but forgot why we needed to use it. When you walk into that pavilion, are you already on the second floor? I'm wondering if my mother can handle leaving her scooter outside and use the escalator to get down to Soran and that boat ride? It's not that much of a walk is it?

 

[doconeill]

Ok, lol I remember using this elevator in The Land but forgot why we needed to use it. When you walk into that pavilion, are you already on the second floor? I'm wondering if my mother can handle leaving her scooter outside and use the escalator to get down to Soran and that boat ride? It's not that much of a walk is it?

Yes, you have to go down a level to get to Soarin'/Living With The Land/Sunshine Seasons.

The problem with the escalators is that one of them is frequently not working (and last month, NEITHER were working), and they can be VERY crowded and busy.

And I'm not sure the elevator can easily accommodate more than one ECV...

 

[babydoll65]

Yes, you have to go down a level to get to Soarin'/Living With The Land/Sunshine Seasons.

The problem with the escalators is that one of them is frequently not working (and last month, NEITHER were working), and they can be VERY crowded and busy.

And I'm not sure the elevator can easily accommodate more than one ECV...

Oh well, guess will just wait it out with the rest of them. Been setting up my fp+ for our trip in November and we will be doing Soarin so I'll get there early so she has use of the scooter. I wouldn't want to get her to the escalator to find out its not running. With only one elevator and escalators not working all the time seems a little unsafe.

 

[Chuck S]

I've seen two standard sized ECVs use the elevator, with maybe 2 people standing. But it is a tight fit. I would also suggest backing the ECV or chair into the elevator, as the lower level elevator access/exit makes an immediate turn. Backing OUT of the elevator on the lower level is very difficult. It would have been nice if Disney had installed a larger elevator while removing Kitchen Kabaret and installing Soarin' The best fit is a standard wheelchair, which should load first, backed in and wiggled off to the side, and then an EVC backed straight onto the elevator.

 

[babydoll65]

I've seen two standard sized ECVs use the elevator, with maybe 2 people standing. But it is a tight fit. I would also suggest backing the ECV or chair into the elevator, as the lower level elevator access/exit makes an immediate turn. Backing OUT of the elevator on the lower level is very difficult.

Thanks so much. When I took her in 2011, it was her first time using a scooter. Needless to say she stunk at it. I made her practice in the parking lot of the resort so she could get the hang of backing in and keeping her speed down. It drives me nuts seeing people on scooters driving full speed. And I do enough running around without having to keep up with her.

 

[Granny square]

Thanks so much. When I took her in 2011, it was her first time using a scooter. Needless to say she stunk at it. I made her practice in the parking lot of the resort so she could get the hang of backing in and keeping her speed down. It drives me nuts seeing people on scooters driving full speed. And I do enough running around without having to keep up with her.

if she is small, we rented the tiniest of scooters last time. My mom found it so much easier to deal with.

 

[Justin Jett]

Perhaps there is another way to the ground floor of The Land but this photo (from May 2013) was of folks waiting to get onto the elevator which might hold 2 ECV's or wheelchairs.

That is the slowest elevator on property. Lol

 

[jcb]

That is the slowest elevator on property. Lol

I think I took this the day we met up to tour Mexico with the ducks. I sat on the bench watching folks line up to use the elevator, completely bewildered as to why this is the primary access to the ground floor.

 

[babydoll65]

if she is small, we rented the tiniest of scooters last time. My mom found it so much easier to deal with.

Hope she's not reading this but no, she's not small. She's not extremely over weight either. She got a regular sized scooter and by the middle of our last trip she was doing pretty well. She uses one regularly now so it should not be a problem. As far as that particular elevator in The Land,I think it really is the slowest on property.

 

[Granny square]

Lol, didn't mean to be offensive at all! I just loved the smallness of our last one. It is me and my sister lifting that thing in and out when we do girl trips. Now my boys could just lift it up and in...

 

[mjaclyn]

For those interested, there is currently an online petition with over 30,000 signatures asking Disney not to implement these changes. Here is the blog of the woman who started it. I really think everyone should read this post, especially if you are fortunate enough not to have a child with special needs or use the GAC. As a mother of two healthy children, it sickens me to think of some of the comments that have been made by people who have no idea what these families go through on a daily basis.

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