Handing in last years GAC?

[3DisneyBuggs]

Will I need to explain everything again or can I just hand them last years GAC to get one for this trip?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think a lot will depend on the person at the counter at the time.

Technically you are supposed to be asked the needs, but if you say something to the effect of "last year when I was here this is what I received and it covered my needs" it will probably speed things up considerable. But some may be bureaucratic and ask all the quesitons.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We were at WDW in July. I gave the 2007 GAC to the CM at Guest Relations in MK. She gave me a 2008 one with the exact same stamps on it. There was no problem at all. Enjoy your vacation!

 

[scojos]

We were at WDW in July. I gave the 2007 GAC to the CM at Guest Relations in MK. She gave me a 2008 one with the exact same stamps on it. There was no problem at all. Enjoy your vacation!

me too

tracy

 

[della]

Me too!

 

[dclfun]

I usually say something to the CM such as Cheshire Figment mentioned..noting the accommodations I recieved in the past and asking to have them again. Unfortunately with people selling GAC's on ebay, anyone can hand in someone else's GAC and ask for another one and thus some CM's are careful to ask, which I personally think is a good idea. Also things may have changed ( I once was told I could no longer have the accommodation I had in the past as now it's only for children ) and your needs may have changed from your last visit. ---Kathy

 

[Belle1962]

That's the worst part for me explaining again my needs---I can still tear up even ten years after the accident. I don't like explaining myself if I think there are too many people within earshot--which is why I always use the inside guest services. Outside you just have to talk louder. I love the different little "desk areas" at the Studios--it gives you more privacy then the counter type situations at the other parks. (I have never used AK but at MK and EPCOT it is more bank teller type counters and the person next to you can hear everything). 1--it's no one else's business and 2--I don't want to give anyone else ideas/verbiage for them to falsely use.

Heck, I wouldn't even mid if they asked for id to verify you are the person on the GAC being turned in. I don't think asking for id would violate anyone's privacy or law/regulation, it is the same as asking for id at the gate when your finger scan doesn't work. But it might give people a second thought if they knew id was required or use a combo name for kids: Bob Smith for Bob Smith Jr.

 

[cmwade77]

I have been asked for ID on a few occasions when getting a new one at Disneyland, but generally I find that if you are nice when you come up and ask how their day is going and such, then when they ask how they can help just tell them that you need a new one for your current stay they rarely ask too many questions, yes some might, but most won't you also don't need to go into too many details.

 

[Iggipolka]

We were at WDW in July. I gave the 2007 GAC to the CM at Guest Relations in MK. She gave me a 2008 one with the exact same stamps on it. There was no problem at all. Enjoy your vacation!

Me too. The CM also asked me for my ID.

 

[dclfun]

Showing an ID along with your past GAC sounds like a much easier idea than having to explain everything again. My needs are apparent, but for many it's not the same case, and I'd think many people wouldn't want to explain their needs- lots of folks have mentioned on this board that it's a painful subject not only for themselves but also for their children. I agree that others w/in earshot don't need to hear what I or others have to say about our special needs! Showing an ID lets a CM confirm that it *is* our own old GAC and all they have to ask is if the needs are still the same. ---Kathy

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I got back last week and although I think the cm were a lot more informed and considerate this trip about having /using a GAC - I think the it was a harder experience getting my GAC renewed (so to speak). My last time at Disney my child could only tolerate a few hours at the parks and I was very apprehensive this time as she also had extreme behavior issues at the hotel after returning from the parks at night. I think she spent 8 hours total at the parks last trip over the course of the vacation.
Anyway - I sent my husband over to the building at Magic Kingdom with our old GAC, A Doctor dote from the neurodevelopemental doctor and an actual prescription that was wrote asking for her stroller to be used as a wheelchair. My husband was turned away with the cm stating they wanted to actually see my child in person. My husband trudged back down the main street up to the castle where we at and retrieved us. I ended up bringing my child who decided to have a meltdown because we had to go into the building and my poor girl screamed her head off, I started to cry to the CM (most likely with apprehension for our trip) - I pointed to our stroller and we then got our NEW GAC.
As I said though, the CM at the rides were much better informed about a GAC and helpful this trip round, which was nice.

 

[dclfun]

One of the most important things to note is that the guest who needs the GAC MUST be present when it's requested. It sometimes makes things more challenging, esp. for parents who would prefer to explain their child's special needs within their earshot, but it is part of the policy and procedure. I do think it's an appropriate policy, but am sorry it made it more difficult for one of us.---Kathy

 

[della]

Last January we were at DHS. My little guy (then 2) has no formal diagnosis yet (although he has a few "pending"). Often he can be so typical, but when he's not-he's not. We already get GAC passes for our two visually impaired kids and decided to "try" the little guy without the stroller as a wheelchair GAC. The first two days he was able to transition in /out of the stroller really well. Day three was a different story. He went into full melt down mode at DHS. We were there basically to see the shows. We were unable to contain him. The Guest Services area inside this park is a bit crowded. I didn't dare bring him in. He stayed outside with DH. When it was my turn I explained that he was just outside but I did not feel it was safe for other guests. She looked at the blood streaming down my very bruised arm and I explained that happened when I was re-loading him into the stroller. She quickly peeked outside where he was still flailing about wildly. (He does not calm easily). She disappeared into the back and returned with a bandaid for my arm and the big red label for the stroller/GAC card for my son. We weren't able to see the shows that day but we were able to go back the next day and have a great experience. I am not sure what we would have done if we were at MK where the CM's are behind that big counter.

 

[SueM in MN]

One of the most important things to note is that the guest who needs the GAC MUST be present when it's requested. It sometimes makes things more challenging, esp. for parents who would prefer to explain their child's special needs within their earshot, but it is part of the policy and procedure. I do think it's an appropriate policy, but am sorry it made it more difficult for one of us.---Kathy

They DO need to see the person the GAC is being issued to.
It is given for a specific person, so that person needs to be present, even if just for the CM to look at outside as a previous poster mentioned (otherwise, there are some unscrupulous people who would request a GAC for someone who may not even exist).

I guess the best advice is to be prepared to re-discuss the needs to the CM.

 

[scottsod]

ok so i went relooking for this thread as i just found last years gac's

we have 3 kids 1 with cp who gets a gac
the other younger kid we just got the stroller as wc as he autism like symptoms so he was young enuff for just stroller as wc wich they gave us a
gac and the tag so when we go back to renew in 4 weeks yay!
i will just show the old ones and ask for the gac as he is old enuff to get out of stoller if he isnt melting down
stroller as wc helps for like epcot were alot of pavilions you cant bring a reg stroller in

ps my old gac were stored in my luggage so i remeber them when we got suitcases out for anuall disney trip and p.s.s we use a nice lanyard we got
in wdw that has a clear plastic pouch big enuff for the gac if u fold it in 1/2
so they can see stamps on both sides and it clips on your collar or belt and retracts on a cable so you can pull it out to show cm and whip it right back

 

[livie1205]

I hand them my old one and they give me a new one with no problem...also my son never comes in with me and they have never said they had to see him.I do not think you will have a problem.good luck, this is the only way for us and the kids to see anything in the parks....

 

[SueM in MN]

I hand them my old one and they give me a new one with no problem...also my son never comes in with me and they have never said they had to see him.I do not think you will have a problem.good luck, this is the only way for us and the kids to see anything in the parks....

They are supposed to require the person the GAC is issued to be present, so you getting one without your son being with you is an exception to the rule.

They may not ask a lot of questions, but it is important to be prepared to have the person with you and be able to explain their needs.

 

[livie1205]

well he has used one for six years and for the past 5 yrs they have never one time asked me where he was.I am sure it depends on the cm but I have never been made to walk outside to get my son.I always keep my sons card and take it to guest services when I get there and they stamp a new one with the same stamp and we go on our way,it is alot better than having my son wait in the long line at guest services...if they ever want to see him I will just call my dh and have him bring him in.no biggie