Has this happened to you at the Land?

[Emmaline Lola]

A couple of weeks ago, my sis was visiting and we and my then 4 1/2 month old dd went to Epcot for the day. We had reservations for dinner in Mexico and decided to go to the Land for lunch.

My dd was sleeping in her stroller and I was not about to carry 13+ pounds of "sleeping baby" around the pavillion while I attempted to eat lunch. So I starting walking through the doors w/ my stroller. Well, the greeter at the doors practically jumped through my skin and told me NO STROLLERS!!! I calmly asked what a person was to do who had a baby that could not walk. There was no way I could hold my dd the whole time we were inside.

The CM thought about it and told me I had to go to Guest Relations and get a GAC card and then I would be able to bring in my stroller. So we "schlepped" all the way over to Guest RElations and I explained what had just happened to the CM there and she very politely told me, that I actually didn't need a GAC card, but that she would give it to me anyway.

So we go back to the Land, where another Door Nazi CM says NO STROLLERS!!!!!!!!!! I whip out my GAC card , and he says Oh.....go ahead. Later on in the afternoon we returned to the Land to use our FP for Soarin and another Door Nazi CM AGAIN says NO STROLLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, once again I whip out my GAC card , and she says Oh......ok.

So my ? for all my dis families........has this happened to you before? I go to the parks numerous times a week, and this is the 1st time this has happended to me. Will I need a GAC card EVERY time I enter EPCOT until my dd can walk, just in case I want to go to the Land?

Curious to hear the responses! Thanks!

el

 

[smfritz03]

Awwwww---your baby is soooo cute!!!!!

 

[EthansMom]

Yes, we got told, "No strollers!" at The Land in April. It was a pain to have to carry our daughter in, but I don't really think the building is set up well for strollers.

 

[justhat]

We were also told no strollers last month (though the large amounts of parked strollers sorta made that obvious anyway). That made it kinda hard to get a baby swap pass for Soarin' when our daughter was sleeping. We could have carried her in to show we had a baby and then carried her back to the stroller outside, but she would have almost definitely woken up.

We asked the CM at the door what we do about that and he called down to the ride and they said once we rode they'd give us the pass, but no way were we taking that chance of waiting 45 minutes in line and then be told after that they need to see the baby if we want the pass. So we skipped it, or tried to go in to get the baby swap pass right before we knew she'd nap.

Kinda weird cause the Living Seas lets you bring in your stroller so who knows why the Land doesn't.

 

[SueM in MN]

Probably the reason that the Land doesn't allow is that there is one small elevator to get down to the bottom level (and then back up to get out of the building). We have already waited for 3 or 4 elevator trips to get into the elevator because there were so many people using it. We don't have an option besides the elevator because my DD uses a wheelchair.
Besides, as someone else mentioned, there are lots of strollers parked outside; if they were all inside, there wouldn't be room to move.

The (GAC) Guest Assistance Cards are meant as a tool for CMs to see what sort of accomidations are needed by people with invisible disabilities. The "use a stroller as a wheelchair" is used by people who have children who are old enough to walk, but can't (or can't walk well) because of a disability or by people who have a disability themselves that prevent them from being able to carry their young child.
There are other options available to people with children who are too young to walk - things like sling or backpack baby carriers because strollers are not allowed in lines or inwside most of the attraction buildings.

 

[meandtheguys2]

They gave you a GAC so you wouldn't have to carry your baby?! That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Those are for people who NEED assistance. Not for mom's who just cant be bothered with carrying their children.

 

[cymomtx]

I understand your need to not wake your child, but as a mother of two children with disabilities, your use of the GAC is an abuse of the system. The GAC's are meant for people who have needs other then to not wake a child.

 

[ophie]

Personally, I LOVE that there are no strollers in the Land, but I understand the hardship for those with wee ones who don't walk yet. But, that pavilion is simply not set up for strollers... I mean, could you imagine the elevator line?? I did run into a lady though who brought her papoose sling for just that reason.

 

[justhat]

Ah, thanks! I forgot about baby carriers! On our trips with Madison at almost 3 and almost 4 months, she lived in her Baby Bjorn. She wasn't the type of baby who wanted to be put down in her stroller for a meal back then (or really put down ever at that age!) so I carried her in the Bjorn literally all day, unless I went on a ride she couldn't go on. She lived in it most of the day at home too, so I was very skilled at eating while she was in it.

We also used the Bjorn a good deal at 6 and 9 months, and even though she was walking on our last trip at 13 months we used it when she fell asleep a few times too.

 

[crisi]

They should have never given you a GAC for a stroller. And no, strollers aren't allowed in the Land. There are plenty of counter service restaurants in Epcot outside that you can get food at with a stroller.

 

[tmfranlk]

That is why I always took my Baby Bjorn or Hip Hammock with Disney for DD. There are many buildings, lines, etc where strollers are not allowed. I actually think that 13 pounds of sleeping baby is easier than awake baby. On our last trip, DD was 14 months, 27 pounds and did not walk yet. You can bet that was a lot of baby to carry around The Land, ride lines and anywhere else that we couldn't take the stoller, but carriers or slings do a wonder of good in helping with that. I personally would never get a GAC card just to keep my stroller for my healthy baby and self. I would either carry her or wait until she was awake again.

 

[faeflora]

As a person with a disability who utilizes a wheelchairit is really important to our family and to other families like mine that the GAC, Guest Assistance Cards be used for the purpose that they were intened, which is to assist inidivudals with special needs and families of individuals with special needs. This CM was wrong in giving you a GAC for the purpose that you stated. Having been to the Land several times I have to second SueM in MN's comment on waiting for the elevator. I have had to wait for several loads and unloads at the Land before the elevator was empty enough for me to slide on.
tmfrank, the idea of the Baby Bjorn or HipHamock (a side from having very cool names) is a wonderful idea to take with you if you have a child that is too young to walk it. Very cool idea and great tip.

 

[SueM in MN]

Ah, thanks! I forgot about baby carriers! On our trips with Madison at almost 3 and almost 4 months, she lived in her Baby Bjorn. She wasn't the type of baby who wanted to be put down in her stroller for a meal back then (or really put down ever at that age!) so I carried her in the Bjorn literally all day, unless I went on a ride she couldn't go on. She lived in it most of the day at home too, so I was very skilled at eating while she was in it.

We also used the Bjorn a good deal at 6 and 9 months, and even though she was walking on our last trip at 13 months we used it when she fell asleep a few times too.

Actually, that's what we did until DD got her first wheelchair when she was just short of 3 yrs old. We figured if people with children who didn't have disabilities were carrying their child into the the attractions, we should too (and she was small enough to still fit into her carrier until she was almost 3).
Most of the people I know of who have gotten a GAC to use a stroller in buildings/lines either have older children with disabilities who are too heavy to carry more than a few feet or their children have positioning needs that make it very uncomfortable or dangerous for the child to be out their stroller with special inserts.

 

[JudithM]

As a person with a disability who utilizes a wheelchairit is really important to our family and to other families like mine that the GAC, Guest Assistance Cards be used for the purpose that they were intened, which is to assist inidivudals with special needs and families of individuals with special needs. This CM was wrong in giving you a GAC for the purpose that you stated. Having been to the Land several times I have to second SueM in MN's comment on waiting for the elevator. I have had to wait for several loads and unloads at the Land before the elevator was empty enough for me to slide on.

Well said, thank you!

 

[Talking Hands]

When my daughters were babies they were in a Snuggli until they could walk. GAC are for providing access to people and families with special needs and not as a convenince for mothers of small children. This type of abuse only makes it harder on those of us that have special needs. More abuse by those not needing accommodation the less willing Disney is to accomodate those really needing it.

 

[welovedis]

Hi el-
Very cute pic!

As you may have guessed the ability to obtain a GAC is sometimes easier than others. Some people whose family members need that pass find it difficult/troublesome at times to obtain one. I hope the responses to your post didn't make it seem as if you did something wrong. The CM should not have granted you the card just because your child was sleeping and you didn't want to disturb her rest. Unfortunately The Land does not allow strollers (unless they are being used in place of a wheelchair) and therefore should not have allowed you to enter.

I'm curious as to why you used the card again later in the day to use your Soain' FP? Was your DD sleeping again or you just figured you'd utilize it since they gave it to you? I'm trying to discern if the CM who gave you the pass at Guest Relations even explained what the pass is supposed to be used for.

Speaking from a perspective of a mom who gets one for her child because he needs it, I'd appreciate it if those who are merely inconvenienced by something would think twice before attempting to obtain one of these.

 

[Ali]

IN defense of the OP, the CM told them to go get a GAC - so they did what they were told to do. I don't think they intended to abuse the system, just wanted to eat dinner without having to hold a sleeping baby. It would be a lot easier for parents of non-walking baby's if there were some kind of sleeping-high chair-car-seat carrier type thing to use when you were eating in places where they won't let you take your stroller.

I know I have skipped over the Land pavillion many times because I didn't want to wake up my sleeping child, and I have been turned away at sit down resturants because I wouldn't move him out of his stroller when told I would have to. But those are choices I made. I valued his rare sleep over eating/seeing the sights.


My DS is now 4 and I have debated the whole stroller as wheelchair things because of his Appergers and SID - massive inability to handle people getting near him in lines, but so far I haven't done it because I would rather wait until he is a little older and try to make it in the lines. I know if we start using the stroller in lines he will always expect to do it, that rigidness, you know !

The ideas of baby carriers are great, if you happen to have one and are accustomed to using one. But, it seems that this wasn't a time where one was available. I just want everyone to think about what they are typing, there are other peopel with feelings on the other sied of the screen who may be hurt by being called abusers.

Alicia

 

[txgirl]

This thread is a reminder of how important this board is! If I took a trip to Disney (without these boards) I would assume that I could take my stroller most places and probably wouldn't bring along a sling. I would ask as the OP did and take the advice of the person in charge. I'm thinking (could be wrong ) that the OP didn't think this was inappropriate because those in charge instructed her to get this pass.

I have learned so much from these boards (like the fact that I am seriously hooked! ) and I can't imagine people going to DW without all this valuable info!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Fair enough. Hopefully now she understands this is NOT the intent for these passes, per her statement about now needing one every time she goes to Epcot.

 

[welovedis]

IN defense of the OP, the CM told them to go get a GAC - so they did what they were told to do. I don't think they intended to abuse the system, just

I didn't mean to imply this by my post either. Before I read about the GAC on the disABILITIES forum, I was unaware it even existed. If a CM told her to get one and she really wanted to eat at The Land, then I totally understand. Hope the OP didn't take offense at what I posted and my questions!