Has this happened to you at the Land?

[disneydreamer98]

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.

I think that was a bit harsh...maybe she didn't know what the "GAC" card stood for. I for one did not until it was stated on this thread. She just followed the directions of the CM. There is a lot to do in The Land Pavillion and I can completely understand her concerns about carrying a 13 pound baby around...as well as I can understand Disney's rules about keeping the strollers outside. I will be facing this same dilema in 2 weeks. I certainly do not think that she was trying to take advantage of the system or realized the impact that this may have on those who really NEED the GAC card. Live and Learn.

 

[lsteadman]

The Land does not have enough space for all of the strollers and people. We had a hard time getting down to Soarin and the line for the elevators was so long for people in ECV (sp?) and wheelchairs. You can fit only 2 wheel chairs and 2 people in that small elevator. I notice this because we had to cross all the people waiting in line for the elevator to get to the ladies room.

It might be an inconvenience but I like no strollers in the land.

 

[justhat]

Okay, I understand why everyone is upset that if we all got GACs for our kids in strollers the Land would be a nightmare! But also, I don't think we should all attack EL. She had never encountered the problem before and did what a CM told her she could do. Not like she lied to get it, stole someone else's GAC, or anything else. She explained her problem and they gave it to her so I don't think there's any reason to be so mad at her.

I have to add though, consider yourself lucky with a 13 lbs. baby, EL! My daughter was 12.5 lbs. on our 1st trip and 20 lbs. on our last trip and wow did I feel that difference!!

 

[Emmaline Lola]

Okay, I understand why everyone is upset that if we all got GACs for our kids in strollers the Land would be a nightmare! But also, I don't think we should all attack EL. She had never encountered the problem before and did what a CM told her she could do. Not like she lied to get it, stole someone else's GAC, or anything else. She explained her problem and they gave it to her so I don't think there's any reason to be so mad at her.

I have to add though, consider yourself lucky with a 13 lbs. baby, EL! My daughter was 12.5 lbs. on our 1st trip and 20 lbs. on our last trip and wow did I feel that difference!!

thanks justhat for your support here on this one! (and to everyone else who pm'd me!)

Madison is one cutie pie! 20 pounds already!? they do grow fast! I am sure before long I'll be wishing she was "only" 13 pounds! btw we were at the dr's last week-15 pounds & growing!!

she's a beauty!

EL

 

[justhat]

Your welcome. No need for people to get so worked up over such a small issue, and in this case especially since you did as you were told.

Yep they do grow up quickly, 20 lbs., well about 21 lbs. now at 15 months. But she's in the 25% for weight now, so I guess I should be thankful she slimmed down cause she could have weighed even more. Though really, it's not so much the weight that gets me, but her length, at least for baby carriers that is. When I'd put her in the Bjorn so she could nap and we could still go on with the day, her feet would be kicking my knees as I walked. Still though, much easier to carry her that way than just slung over my arms as 'dead weight'.

Oh, and don't think once your pretty little girl is walking that it will get any easier! Madison was 13 months (and walking) on our last trip and so she did NOT want to be in her stroller, but those little legs only go so quick.... And then she decided 13 months is old enough to not hold Mommy's hand anymore.... So of course she spent a great deal of time in our arms everyday, it was either that or watch people give us dirty looks for pushing a stroller with a screaming baby in it!

 

[bizeemom4]

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.

Amen to that. That was my immediate reaction. Is there an icon for *shaking my head in disgust?* Oh, here it is....

 

[seashoreCM]

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.

How can it be an abuse of the system when she is not using the GAC to get to the front of a ride line ?

 

[LisaBi]

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)..

Us too. We carried our son until he was just too big (age 5 or 6) THEN started using the stroller, and eventually a wheelchair.

Lisa

 

[meandtheguys2]

How can it be an abuse of the system when she is not using the GAC to get to the front of a ride line ?

It is a bad precedent. Pure and simple. How many people have read this thread now will attempt to get a GAC for this frivolous reason? How many will come back whining about it if they don't. How much harder will it be for those who actually do need this service?

 

[bizeemom4]

In the initial post, the OP was whining that she would HAVE to get this card every time she wanted to do something that banned stroller access. It IS an abuse of the system. She didn't feel like holding her baby during lunch. AND she used it again later so she wouldn't have to carry the baby to the Soarin ride. Everyone else has to but she didn't want to so she got a handicapped access card. THAT is an abuse of the system. It wasn't that she COULDN'T - it's that she didn't WANT to do what everyone else has to do.

 

[txgirl]

In the initial post, the OP was whining that she would HAVE to get this card every time she wanted to do something that banned stroller access. It IS an abuse of the system. She didn't feel like holding her baby during lunch. AND she used it again later so she wouldn't have to carry the baby to the Soarin ride. Everyone else has to but she didn't want to so she got a handicapped access card. THAT is an abuse of the system. It wasn't that she COULDN'T - it's that she didn't WANT to do what everyone else has to do.

Don't you think that the cm has the greater responsibility? Hypothetical:

If you went to Wal-Mart and couldn't find a parking spot so you asked an employee what to do and they directed you into a handicapped spot shouldn't the employees be accountable?

If she lied and said her daughter was diabled (she did not) then we could say, "yes, she is a bad bad girl". BUT she didn't lie. She said my daughter is asleep in a stroller, what can I do? They said, "do this" and she did. I'm not sure how this is abuse? I would be curious to see what the protocol is when you ask for one of these cards without a disabled need. Do you think that the CMs are totally uneducated about the procedure?

I wholeheartedly agree with previous posts that no one should ever take advantage of a service that should be offered solely to those in need of it. Being on these boards is a wonderful thing and I have learned so many things. One biggie is there are people who want to tear down rather than build up.

OP-let the negative comments roll off! By the way, your baby girl is precious!

 

[meandtheguys2]

No, I wouldn't park in the HC spot at Walmart in your situation either. Just because someone says it is okay doesn't make it so. People need to take personal responsibility for their actions, IMO.

 

[crisi]

But she didn't know it wasn't ok. She was doing what she was told by two(!) CMs. That CMs would hand out GAC cards for such reasons is silly.

 

[meandtheguys2]

UM..she did say that she has a heart condition......Give her a break. I say good for her....been there with a sleeping baby and two small children trying to go into the Land to eat, what a pain and I have a healthy heart!!!

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.

 

[Merriwind]

To me, the CMs did have the greater responsibility to do the right thing in this instance. Two of them did not. They suggested and provided a GAC rather than deal with an unhappy guest.

While the OP's tone may have been off-putting to some in this thread's first post, she has since reappeared, stated her ignorance of the GACs and assured all that she would never use one in that manner again. `Nuff said for me. I certainly don't know everything, so I certainly give her the benefit of the doubt and believe her assertions.

Plus, perhaps she has done a service in starting this thread. Now, many people who didn't before know about GACs and how they should not be used.

 

[disneydreamer98]

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.

You know what? Since the OP has a heart condition I would say that she qualifies for the GAC!!! Even if it is to assist her with her baby. I cannot believe that this is still going on. She said she was sorry, that she was not aware of what the GAC was for and that she will never "abuse" it again. What more do you want? Her signature to a sworn affidavit in blood?!?! Get over it!

As far as being rude...that's like the pot calling the kettle black. You were not very nice in your OP!

BTW....I am a lifelong WDW visitor with over 30 trips under my belt and until I came across this thread I did not, nor would I have known what "GAC" stood for, so to assume that "anyone who has spent anytime in a park" knows is just ignorant.

I just think it is wrong to keep going at the OP....

 

[txgirl]

You know what? Since the OP has a heart condition I would say that she qualifies for the GAC!!! Even if it is to assist her with her baby. I cannot believe that this is still going on. She said she was sorry, that she was not aware of what the GAC was for and that she will never "abuse" it again. What more do you want? Her signature to a sworn affidavit in blood?!?! Get over it!

As far as being rude...that's like the pot calling the kettle black. You were not very nice in your OP!

BTW....I am a lifelong WDW visitor with over 30 trips under my belt and until I came across this thread I did not, nor would I have known what "GAC" stood for, so to assume that "anyone who has spent anytime in a park" knows is just ignorant.

I just think it is wrong to keep going at the OP....

ditto... and on that note, I'm outta here. The constant berating of someone for no reason simply blows my mind.

 

[Stimpy]

I think the anger is a little misdirected here. Yes, she did the wrong thing, and I am sure she knows that now.
The people that were really wrong in this situation are the 2 CM's. First a CM TOLD her to go get the card and then another CM GAVE her the card! If anyone really deserves a lecture here it is the 2 CM's. The OP was wrong in using the card, but she was doing what Disney CM's told her to do and allowed her to do.
Personally, we would never have used the GAC card since we know what it's really for. Actually, we would have never thought of it, no strollers means no strollers to us. We would have either had someone stay outside with the baby (Or taken her to Living Seas for A/C) or taken her out of the stroller. Our DD is 1 yr old & 20 pounds and she took a nice nap on her PopPop's lap in a corner inside the building while we went on Soarin'.

 

[justhat]

Really, I think she has gotten everyone's point. No need to continue 'lecturing'. Also, the fact that someone has a heart condition and can walk says nothing about carrying a baby. My grandmother had a quadruple bypass and aortic valve replacement. She came with us to Disney twice (she has since passed away) and she could walk around all day with us, albeit very slowly and with frequent breaks. In the heat she was worse (luckily took her in March and November). We got her a wheelchair cause she truly needed it as the walking all day the 1st day took a toll on her, but she wanted to do it not to burden the family. Now, if we had asked my grandmother to carry a 15 lb. object, no way could she have done it more than a few minutes. So yes, it is quite possible that the OP can walk around just fine on her own (maybe she goes slow and stops a lot, who knows) but can't carry a baby long periods of time. Until you walk in someone else's shoes, you can't comment on their abilities, and there's no reason to judge.

 

[DZNYMGCFAM]

The constant berating of someone for no reason simply blows my mind.

Amen, I am with you!!!! Especially AFTER she apologized!!!!!!