Guest Assistance Pass Questions

[pixeemom]

Hi all, I know this has probably been asked a million times...sorry!!
We are less then 45 days away and I am getting a little nervous about the "new" changes in Disney.
My friend scared me yesterday and told me Disney is not giving out the GAC's as easily any more (which I am ok with) but she is telling me I need TONS OF PROOF.
My son has ADHD so what proof if any do I need and my husband suffered a heart attack and now has difficulty breathing in the humid weather, what would we need for him?
I am not looking for a super advance ticket to get on the rides, we only really use it if the lines are more then 60 mins or more.

any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you

 

[Gracie09]

You don't need proof, you need to be able to explain why they can't wait in a line and why something like a wheelchair or ecv wouldn't help your husband. Just saying he spent want to use it isn't sufficient

 

[pixeemom]

gotcha I'm more concerned for my son with his ADHD for my husband we will most likely rent a scooter Thank you

 

[lanejudy]

If you haven't already, please check out the WDW Disability Access Service Card thread that is stuck near the top of this forum. It has all the basic information.

PP is correct -- as with the GAC there is no "proof" required and likely CMs will not look at anything such as a doctor's note or medical records. You will have to explain the NEEDS (not the diagnosis) and how those needs relate to waiting in a standard queue. For you husband, they are likely to recommend a wheelchair or ECV for mobility or stamina concerns, unless he has other needs as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[pixeemom]

If you haven't already, please check out the WDW Disability Access Service Card thread that is stuck near the top of this forum. It has all the basic information.

PP is correct -- as with the GAC there is no "proof" required and likely CMs will not look at anything such as a doctor's note or medical records. You will have to explain the NEEDS (not the diagnosis) and how those needs relate to waiting in a standard queue. For you husband, they are likely to recommend a wheelchair or ECV for mobility or stamina concerns, unless he has other needs as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

awesome, I will def. go look at the sticky now thank you

 

[lanejudy]

You'll also want to make sure you have scheduled you FP+ each day, as most are finding the DAS works best when used along with FP+.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[pixeemom]

If you haven't already, please check out the WDW Disability Access Service Card thread that is stuck near the top of this forum. It has all the basic information.

PP is correct -- as with the GAC there is no "proof" required and likely CMs will not look at anything such as a doctor's note or medical records. You will have to explain the NEEDS (not the diagnosis) and how those needs relate to waiting in a standard queue. For you husband, they are likely to recommend a wheelchair or ECV for mobility or stamina concerns, unless he has other needs as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

LaneJudy, can you link me to the thread your talking about thank you

 

[pixeemom]

You'll also want to make sure you have scheduled you FP+ each day, as most are finding the DAS works best when used along with FP+.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

LaneJudy, can you link me to the thread your talking about thank you

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3178976

It's a long thread, but you really only need the info from the first post or so...the rest was just discussion, and sometimes assumption, before and as the new program rolled out.

 

[SueM in MN]

Funny!
I was going to be first to answer, then had to go do one thing quick. When I got back to reply, pretty much everything I was going to say had been written already.
And, I got interrupted while writing this, so there may be more replies by the time I actually post it.

The first post in the link lanejudy provided is factual information. The thread started out before the DAS program actually rolled out and included a lot of rumors and updates.
The very first post was a DAS FAQs post and always has been updated with information all along. So, that is what you want to look at.

GAC (Guest Assistance Card) program was much different than DAS (Disability Access Service), which leads to less people getting DAS than got GACs.
Many of the things that were included in stamps with GACs are handled in different ways with DAS - for example, avoiding stairs, seating near the front of attractions, using a stroller as a wheelchair - were all handled by stamps on the GAC.
DAS has only thing - the ability to wait outside of the regular queue. All those other things that were handled by GAC stamps are handled in different ways now.
Some people who got GACs, but have needs that are covered in different ways and did not qualify for DAS are assuming they did not get DAS because they did not provide enough 'proof', but that is not correct.

 

[ttintagel]

All those other things that were handled by GAC stamps are handled in different ways now.

Or, not handled at all, depending on whether the CM you happen to get feels like handling it at the time.

 

[Mariep26]

Agree with everyone else... one of the things that really hasn't changed is the proof needed. I always tell people that you need to be ready to articulate why the disability creates an issue for the individual to wait in the queue. It is kind of like an elevator speech for the disability -- should be brief, focus on the issues around waiting and be prepared to do so without relying on a doctor's note or documentation. It is quite different than the usual since I am accustomed to being overwhelmed with paperwork (IEPs, progress reports, etc..) with regards to my son's ASD dx.

Hope your mind is a little more at ease on this. I would just have your summary ready to go!

 

[pixeemom]

Agree with everyone else... one of the things that really hasn't changed is the proof needed. I always tell people that you need to be ready to articulate why the disability creates an issue for the individual to wait in the queue. It is kind of like an elevator speech for the disability -- should be brief, focus on the issues around waiting and be prepared to do so without relying on a doctor's note or documentation. It is quite different than the usual since I am accustomed to being overwhelmed with paperwork (IEPs, progress reports, etc..) with regards to my son's ASD dx.

Hope your mind is a little more at ease on this. I would just have your summary ready to go!

Awesome thank you!!!!! I will for sure be ready..... its more for my son who has adhd and he is currently on summer break from meds even on his meds he still isn't 100% controllable

Funny!
I was going to be first to answer, then had to go do one thing quick. When I got back to reply, pretty much everything I was going to say had been written already.
And, I got interrupted while writing this, so there may be more replies by the time I actually post it.

The first post in the link lanejudy provided is factual information. The thread started out before the DAS program actually rolled out and included a lot of rumors and updates.
The very first post was a DAS FAQs post and always has been updated with information all along. So, that is what you want to look at.

GAC (Guest Assistance Card) program was much different than DAS (Disability Access Service), which leads to less people getting DAS than got GACs.
Many of the things that were included in stamps with GACs are handled in different ways with DAS - for example, avoiding stairs, seating near the front of attractions, using a stroller as a wheelchair - were all handled by stamps on the GAC.
DAS has only thing - the ability to wait outside of the regular queue. All those other things that were handled by GAC stamps are handled in different ways now.
Some people who got GACs, but have needs that are covered in different ways and did not qualify for DAS are assuming they did not get DAS because they did not provide enough 'proof', but that is not correct.

terrific thank you so much

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3178976

It's a long thread, but you really only need the info from the first post or so...the rest was just discussion, and sometimes assumption, before and as the new program rolled out.

thank you for the link