Guest Assistance Pass Question

[Mich Mouse]

I wil be traveling to WDW on August 19th with a friend who has recently received chemo-therapy for metastic melanoma. She is currently receiving Interluken therapy in NYC. She describes the chemo as "A walk in the park" compared to the Interluken.

Anyway, my question is How do I obtain a Guest Assistance Pass for her? I remember reading about them, and I am sure that she would qualify for one, if they are still being offered.

How do we go about getting one and what type of provisions may be made for her?

Thanks for any information you may provide.

 

[AJKMOM]

You need to go to any Guest Services at any park. They issue the Guest Assistance passes there.

Search the DIS for a forum called disAbilities. They answer all sorts of questions about the passes.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you follow the link in my signature, you can get directly to the disABILITIES Board.
It is the Guest Assistance Card (you will see it abbreviated as GAC to avoid typing so much).
Here's a summary of information about GACs:

• Have your friend go to Guest Services in any of the parks and talk to the CM there about her problems and needs. The diagnosis is not really that important because people with the same diagnosis can have very different needs. The GAC is not given based on diagnosis at all (for example, there is not a "list" of appropriate diagnosis for a GAC); the GAC is given based on needs and the accomidations that meet those needs.
  The GAC is usually given for up to 6 people (5 plus the perrson with a disability) and is valid at all the parks for your length of stay (you don't need to get a new one at each theme park).
  A few other things
• the GAC is not meant to be a pass that gives immediate access. In fact, about 6 years ago, they renamed it to Card because when it was called a Pass, people thought it mean front of the line access. It says right on the card that it will not shorten or eliminate waits in line.
• it is meant as a tool to tell the CMs what the person's needs are so that they can provide appropriate accomidation for the person it was issued to. Some examples of accomidations might be a quieter place to wait, a place out of the sun (for those times when the line is in the sun for a prolonged period of time).
• because what is stamped on the GAC is based on needs, not all GACs say the same thing.
• think of the GAC like an insurance card, not necessarily needed or used all the time, but there for when you need it.
• even on the same attraction, the GAC is not always handled the same each time. Exactly what happens depends on how busy it is, how many other people with special needs are there at the time and staffing. Some times you may be sent thru the regular standby line, occassionally the fastpass line; sometimes the person with the GAC and a member of their party will be given an alternate place to wait while the rest of the party goes thru the standby line - and then meet up with them when they get to the front. Sometimes you might be given a slip and told you can come back at the time written on the slip (usually equal to the standby time); very occassionally, you might be taken right in. It depends on what they call "attraction considerations" (which is basically the things I listed in the second sentence).
• Fastpass is a good way to avoid waits in line. You don't have to be present to get a fastpass, you can send one member of your party ahead with all the park passes to get fastpasses. When you report back to the ride at your fastpass return time, your wait will be 15 minutes or less.
• I'd strongly suggest she consider renting a motorized scooter (also called ecv). The distance and time spent going around the parks is much greater than the time and distance spent in line. With an ecv, she will always have a place to sit and can conserve her energy for fun, instead of just getting around. There is information about ecvs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board. Most lines are wheelchair/ecv accessible.
• If she gets tired and needs to lie down in air conditioning for a while, there is a First Aid station in each park. They have cots in individual cubicles for resting.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Thank you so much for the informative answers!

I am glad to see that each situation will be evalauted accordingly, and that the CM's will help meet my friend's individual needs. It was also good to read about the first aid station....I really would not have thought of that as an option.

Thanks Again!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you so much for the informative answers!

I am glad to see that each situation will be evalauted accordingly, and that the CM's will help meet my friend's individual needs. It was also good to read about the first aid station....I really would not have thought of that as an option.

Thanks Again!

One other thing to think about.
Just because the GAC says something (like "provide a shaded place to wait" or "place to sit"), doesn't mean it is available at every attraction. Most attractions don't have places to sit once you enter the queue (especially the lines that keep moving). Some of the shows have limited numbers of seats in the preshow or waiting area, but you will be competing for those seats with whoever is there before you. The CMs are not able to make someone who is seated get up because someone else has a GAC. That's one of the reasons why a wheelchair or ecv is a good idea for anyone with endurance concerns.