Has this happened to you at the Land?

[Emmaline Lola]

Justhat has said it all! Thank you!

 

[gary4jenn]

Give me a break! She can walk the parks all day, but not carry her baby to the eating area where she had someone to help her, even, because of a heart condition?

Babies come with their own set of problems. Sometimes adjustments need to be made because of them. Ragging on the CM's who were doing their job correctly was rude.

And anyone who has spent any time in a park knows that there have always been cards for peole who have health issues. And I only go once a year.

I also have a heart problme that would be affected by carrying my heavy baby for 45 min. in addition to my purse and stocked diaper bag. Imagine carrying 4 -5 lb bags of sugar- wouldn't that be a stress on your body too?

I would suggest Disney add a notation to the park map regarding the Land so at least some people will see it and be fore-warned.

AND- TO ASSUME THE WORST IN PEOPLE AS MEANDTHEGUYS2 SEEMS TO, THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO OUT AND ABUSE THE GAC SYSTEM IS APPALLING. ALSO TO ASSUME THE THE OP POSTED JUST TO "STIR THE POST" IS REALLY QUITE SOMETHING.

I have always felt that the "spirit" of these boards to help us become knowledgeable in the Disney way-not to lurk around to find ways to be deceitful and sneaky.

I sincerely hope that the OP does not take any neg. comments personally and I am glad she posted.

I learned:
1. The Land is not stroller accessable,
2. What a GAC card is and what they are for,
3. Never to ask for a GAC unless vital to mobility,
4. never accept one if not needed.

Thank you EL for helping me learn somwething new!

 

[justhat]

Also guys, it is called a "Guest Assistance Card" right? I mean not "Handicapped Guest Assistance Card". So that would imply to the average guest, say me if I had not read this thread, that it is for any guest who needs assistance in one way or another.

 

[nwdisgal]

This thread in general has been a real good source for clarification and education on the GAC. Really, I do feel that the the CMs should have been more up to date on the intent of the pass. Its purpose is of too much importance to people who genuinely need to use it. I don't blame the OP though. It sounds like she walked into this, well meaning, but misinformed by the CMs. I've been a mom who's done my share of building biceps toting my kids around in arm, and wishing I had a stroller solution . That said, I also have a child with Special Needs (which has opened my eyes to the whole world of raising a kid that has special requirements). Although, my child doesn't have a mobility issue, I strongly support and empathize with people that require or that have children who are wheelchair or stroller bound by disability, or medical condition. The posters who've pointed out the importance of reserving the GAC for those who actually require special assistance are right on. Really, that is what the pass is for, first and foremost. Every child should have a chance to enjoy WDW.

 

[TinkerBellz33]

Hi!! I'm brand new to the boards, and have been lurking around reading all this wonderful info all of you have to share. I'm so happy to have found a place where there are so many other people that enjoy Disney as much as I do. But, i do have to confess, I've actually been very hesitant to post anything up because of some of the topics that can get very out of hand. On this particular post the OP was just asking a very simple question, and she got brutally flamed for it. Some of the replys, in my opinion, being quite rude. ~Not very Disney like attitude~
Sorry if I offend anybody, but just thought you might want to know what it looks like from an outsiders point of view.... Don't get me wrong, I'm already addicted to these boards, and plan to check them most everyday, but I think a little pixie dust could be thrown the way of the more grumpy posters. The wonderful woman I met the other day, who actually recommended this board to me, said she was to shy to post up on here, because some of the more mean comments that some people like to say, and the debates that get out of hand.
Ok, my flame suit is on, and I have the extinguisher handy....fire away....But all in all, this site is wonderful, and was very excited to find it! Just please keep it happy, and encouraging to all
Nicki

 

[Stimpy]

Tinkerbellz33, Welcome to the DIS! Please don't be afraid to post. Most everyone here is well meaning. It just seems that there are certain topics that get strong reactions on both sides of the issue. There are some members here....and in most internet forums.....that take their view/side of an issue very seriously. Not that there is anything wrong with that (unless sometimes you are the OP with the unpopular side of the issue ) It is helpful to others who don't know to read both sides of an "arguement". Certain topics are just bound to turn ugly...refilllable mugs, room occupancy, certain parenting issues etc

Please remember, I am talking in General....I am not referring to just this thread. Again, I do agree OP was wrong and I am sure she knows that now too.

 

[TinkerBellz33]

Thanks Stimpy for the warm welcome , and I definetly agree with you....I have been doing a lot of reading about all the different post and threads (I had a lot of catching up to do!!!) And I think everybody is entitled to their opinion....as long as people can talk about it respectfully with others. It was just one certain poster on this topic (I'm not going to name names) that really made me wonder about the Dis Boards. They were down right nasty to the Op, which I think was wrong . But talking to so many of you nice Disers out there, has made me realize that you are a wonderful group, and I can't wait to post more...
Nicki

 

[SueM in MN]

Also guys, it is called a "Guest Assistance Card" right? I mean not "Handicapped Guest Assistance Card". So that would imply to the average guest, say me if I had not read this thread, that it is for any guest who needs assistance in one way or another.

It does say on the card in quite a few places that it is for guests with disabilities and it makes mention of wheelchairs and accomidations for people with disabilities. It is usually not easy to get one - you have to explain your needs to the CMs in Guest Services, who will often have other suggestions besides a GAC (the OP did note that she was told she did not need a GAC, but then they did agree to give her one anyway, even though they said she didn't need one).
Here's the sort of Guest Assistance Card 101 that I posted on a thread on the disABILITIES Board in response to a question today.
Here's what the WDW Guidebook for Guest with Disabilities has to say about Stamina or Endurance concerns
Stamina or Endurance Concerns

Some Guests may be concerned that they do not have the stamina to wait in our queues. We strongly suggest these Guests consider using a wheelchair, personal scooter or Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV), as the distance between our attractions is much greater than the length of our queues.

That is actually very good advice because the amount of time and distance spent waiting in lines is very small compared with the amount spent just getting around the parks. Many queues involve a fairly long distance walking even when the wait is short - the Kilamonjari Safari, It's Tough to be a Bug, Fantasmic - are some where you will walk a fairly long distance even if you can walk right in and don't have to wait. And, there are many situations where you wait and a GAC would not be useful, such as waiting in queues to buy food, etc.
Just for thought - It's about 1.3 miles to go around the waterway at WS in Epcot and it's at least an equal distance from the park entrance to that point.

Check into the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board for more information about renting wheelchairs and ecvs.

So, that said, what is a GAC?
First of all, it is not a Pass (that implies immediate or better access). The name was changed from Guest Assistance Pass to Guest Assistance Card about 5 years ago so people would know it didn't allow immediate access.

The GAC (Guest Assistance Card) is a tool for CMs to have some information on what accomidations are needed by someone with an invisible disability. It says right on the GAC card that it is not meant to shorten or eliminate waits in line, just to provide necessary accomidation.
It is also printed on the card that if the guest wants to avoid waits in line, they should make use of FastPass.
The accomidations are based on the needs that the guest explains to the CM at Guest Services in the park. There are several stamps that can be added to the GAC to give sort of general instructions, (things like "avoid stairs", etc). The cards have icons and the different messages are stamped in different colors so that the CM can glance at the card and see what general needs there are (they don't need to read the whole card and are not being lazy if they don't - they can get what they need by a quick look).

How to get one - the guest with a disability needs to go to Guest Services in any of the parks and be able to explain their needs - you don't need to give a diagnosis or specific medcial information; what the CM needs to knwo is what the problems are and what sort of accomidations would help with that situation. The GAC is usually issued to be valid for your entire length of stay and the GAC you get at one theme park is valid at all the other theme parks (not Disney Quest or the Water Pardks though). The GAC can be for up to 6 people - 5 plus the peson with a disability. There are times when you may be asked to split into smaller groups - 1 or 2 plus the person with a disability because either the waiting area or the seating area for people with special needs is limited in size.
Not all attractions offer the same accomidations - most don't have any place to sit and wait (some may have quieter places to stand and wait, but if you need to sit, you are not guaranteed that unless you have a wheelchair or ecv).
When CMs let someone with a GAC bypass part of a line, it's usually for what they would call "operational reasons", i.e. right at that time, they may be better staffed and/or have no one with special needs on the ride, so it is easier for them to have you board right away.

All queues are wheelchair accessible and most are ecv accessible.
AK and the Studio were built with Mainstream Access which means that the regular lines are accessible and wheelchair/ecv users wait in the same lines with eveyone else. MK and Epcot are older parks, so not all the queues were able to be upgraded to Mainstream Access, but all Fastpass queues and newer rides are mainstream.
Someone who can get out of their wheelchair/ecv and walk a few feet will be asked to park it and walk from the wheelchair holding area to the attraction car. For those who can't, the wheelchair/ecv can usually be pulled up to within 1 to 2 feet (or often even closer) to the ride car.

As was already noted, people using a wheelchair or ecv don't need a GAC because the CM can see that they need to use an accessible entrance. The exceptions would be someone who has additional needs that are not met just by having an accessible entrance and children with strollers they are using in line or special needs strollers (many of them look like regular stroller and are not recognized as a mobility device by CMs without a GAC that says they can be used as a stroller).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And anyone who has spent any time in a park knows that there have always been cards for peole who have health issues. And I only go once a year.

We go very frequently and we never heard of the cards.

My mother uses a "scooter" when she goes--for legitimate reasons--but she likes to park it to access attractions as she doesn't like the special treatment. Her condition requires her to be mobile about half the time and sitting the other half. In the "old" days--it took forever to get around the park with her. In any case--she's never been told about nor asked for a card.

 

[SueM in MN]

We go very frequently and we never heard of the cards.

My mother uses a "scooter" when she goes--for legitimate reasons--but she likes to park it to access attractions as she doesn't like the special treatment. Her condition requires her to be mobile about half the time and sitting the other half. In the "old" days--it took forever to get around the park with her. In any case--she's never been told about nor asked for a card.

It would be very possible for someone who uses a scooter or ecv not to know about the card since they would likely not need to use a GAC.
If she doesn't need any special access while in line (like to avoid stairs or to have the moving walkways slowed or stopped for her), she would not need a card. If she chose to use the ecvv in lines, in most cases she would just be waiting in the regular lines. But for those attractions that have special handling for ecvs or wheelchairs, they could tell she needed that because they can see the ecv (like being able to park the ecv at the exit so it is there when she gets off).

 

[justhat]

I don't want anyone to think that I meant that the card is for any guest, not just guests with a need. What I meant was that if some CM told me to get a "guest assistance card" then I'd think it's for any guest who needs any sort of assistance. I would not have thought it was reserved for disabled guests only.