Guest assistance for M&G's

[Scarlett81]

Hi,
I use a guest assistance card every year bc of my cystic fibrosis. Is there any way of finding out if I can get assistance for the M&G's?
The card has been very helpful for us to do disney even with my health limits. But, there's certain attractions where the card doesn't really help and we just have to skip them each year. For example, I've never done M&G's for my daughter bc I just can't stand in the long lines. But I have to do one for her this year, and want to be with her more than anything-she's 4 and its her dream to meet Rapunzel.
thoughts?

 

[kath2me]

What is M&G ?

 

[SueM in MN]

What is M&G ?

Meet and Greets, where guests can meet for characters , pose for pictures and get autographs.

Officially, Guest Assistance Cards are not used for Meet and Greets. That is true of the outdoor meet and greets that are just set up at a spot and have no specific place that they occur.

For the indoor or permanent location meet and greets, the CMs ( cast members) might be able to make some accommodations. Whether they can, or exactly what they can do depends on what is available at that site at that time.

One thing they can sometimes do is have the guest wait somewhere else in a more appropriate location that meets their needs. The wait is usually going to be the same or similar as the guest would wait in line.
If the wait is less than about 20 minutes, they may not make any accommodations.

Specifically for Rapunzel, guests without any special needs gave been reporting they were allowed to have a single member of their group wait in line to hold a spot. Since they are allowing that for guests without special needs, it should not be a problem.

Also, a recent change - the Princesses and Mickey and Friends are in the Exhibition Hall at the end if Main Street, near the train station. The waiting area is all indoors in air conditioning. They also have Fastpass available, which greatly shorten the wait.

 

[SueM in MN]

Bumping so original poster will see it- this was posted last night, with a reply.
A duplicate was posted this morning. I deleted the duplicate.

To the original poster - be aware if you get any information sent by private message that exactly what accommodations are available may differ, depending on the circumstances at the time. This can be even the same day with people with very similar needs. So take any advice as a possible accommodation, not necessarily what will happen.

 

[Scarlett81]

I know how Rapunzel is allowing a single group member to hold a place in line. However, since its myself, my husband and 2 small children, that doesn't really help me. (unless anyone has an idea I'm not thinking of)
I can only be outside for several hours at a time, typically in disney. So if hubby waits that leaves me alone in the heat with 2 little ones.

 

[crashbb]

I know how Rapunzel is allowing a single group member to hold a place in line. However, since its myself, my husband and 2 small children, that doesn't really help me. (unless anyone has an idea I'm not thinking of)
I can only be outside for several hours at a time, typically in disney. So if hubby waits that leaves me alone in the heat with 2 little ones.

You don't have to wait in the heat - you (and the little ones) can wait somewhere that is inside and air-conditioned. You'll have a general idea of the wait time, so you can come outside when it is close to being your turn.

 

[clanmcculloch]

There are many of us who can only handle a few hours in a park per day for a variety of reasons. It is what it is and we've learned to accept this. At M&G, it starts at a specific time. That's just how it is. Since your DH could wait in line, you could go maybe to Cosmic Ray's (especially if it's not near a meal time) and sit down to wait in the air conditioning and listen to the fun music until you're getting closer to the show time. The best way to avoid a line for Rapunzel is to head over there right away when the park opens since this is so important to your daughter. This will get you in and out much quicker.

Something you should really consider is a good touring plan service. This is how those of us who can only spend a few hours in the parks each day manage to accomplish a lot in little time. A good touring plan helps you avoid lines in the first place. A good touring plan will also help you keep track of the time so that you can leave the park before the heat of the day gets bad. We use a GAC for DD13 but a good touring plan has done so much more for us than our GAC ever could. These days, the one I like best is easywdw. I used to recommend TourGuide Mike but this site has gotten more and more out of date while easywdw uses very similar methodology, and even better, is free. A GAC can only do so much. I'm not saying to not get a GAC. Rather, I'm saying that building a good touring plan can maximize your experience and your GAC becomes just one more tool to help you rather than the crutch that enables you to tour.

 

[SueM in MN]

You don't have to wait in the heat - you (and the little ones) can wait somewhere that is inside and air-conditioned. You'll have a general idea of the wait time, so you can come outside when it is close to being your turn.

That was what I was thinking. If your husband has to wait in line, you don't have to stay outside. The most convenient air conditioned place to wait would be Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland. You would know what time to come back when your husband gets in line, but could wait until then out of the heat.
(each of you having a cell phone is also helpful).

There are other alternatives that you may be offered when you are actually there, but we can't guarantee what those could be and they may differ depending on when you come, how many people are already in line for the next show, etc.
The 'one person waits in line' is an accommodation they have been offering all parents, so there should be no problem getting it and you can count on it. If it accommodations are not offered, I would suggest showing the GAC and offering that your husband could wait in line.
When we went in April, we showed our daughter's GAC to the CM at the entrance and asked what accommodations they could give to meet her needs. They did come up with something that did not involve her sitting put in the sun. Exactly what doesn't matter, and if we came again, it might be a different accommodation. It just has to meet the guests' needs regarding the time waited - it doesn't necessarily mean a shorter wait.

 

[Scarlett81]

Thanks for all that info! I didnt realize that the m&g have schedules. That will work out fine bc i should be able to reschedule my physical therapy around that day so we dont risk missing rapunzel. We love cosmic rays so depending on the day we'll go there to wait or see what the day brings. I hope it works out!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I realize that I wasn't clear. Certain M&G like Rapunzel are on schedules. Ones like Mickey & the Princesses you grab a FP and go back any time after your FP time comes up. Others that are just hanging around (see Steve Soares' site for times) are really just waiting around with short breaks between M&G. For Rapunzel this type of waiting would work well. If you're looking for somebody like Alice who doesn't have a schedule, I'd urge you to book character meals. That way you don't need to give up precious park time for the characters and you can schedule the meals around your treatments. You have to eat anyway, right?