help with a disability???

[traceycooper]

i have a friend going to universal at easter - her hubby is a disabled badge holder - he can walk ok but cannot stand for a very long period - how would they go on with queing for rides?
He had part of his foot amputated & is waiting for knee surgery
any help/advice for them would be great
thx

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Does he have a wheelchair Tracey?

The Guest Assistance Cards are invaluable for disabled visitors, we get one for Joshua.
Once the cast member is aware they will be able to provide guidance there and then, it often depends on the ride itself, the guests ability to be able to walk onto the ride and other permutations too.
Often you would not have to queue for an attraction with a GAC, this applies to for instance myself, Julie and Joshua if we want to go on a ride together, or alternatively a shorter queue, kind of like a fastpass.
To be honest we prefer to queue if we can do, it just depends on the wait time - improves Joshua's patience. Though I appreciate it may be different for your friends husband.

The access can vary depending on the ride, I could give a pretty good explanation but it may be best reading up on this instead:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

 

[Pegasus928]

i have a friend going to universal at easter - her hubby is a disabled badge holder - he can walk ok but cannot stand for a very long period - how would they go on with queing for rides?
He had part of his foot amputated & is waiting for knee surgery
any help/advice for them would be great
thx

As you have asked specifically about Universal then I can say that if you go straight to their Guest Relations office just inside either of the parks, or the Guest Relations window just before the entrances, then you should have no trouble getting the assistance you require.
It differs slightly from Disneys in that you have to go back each time you visit, but you are given an Express Pass for each of the people in the group (up to a maximum of 6 I belive it is). It does have some restrictions on the back - for example it couldn't be used on Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket when we got them in October - but we find it invaluable when we are there.
Once you have been issued them for the first time you could also do what we do, and that is to ask that the information is recorded alongside your ticket details on their system, that way when you come back the next time you won't have to explain it all again. Just show them your old 'express passes' and they will do the rest.

Kenny

 

[JohnnySharp2]

oops didn't note the Universal specifics, sorry Tracey.

Serves me right for doing some DIS stuff whilst at work.
The GAC does work differently for Universal as Kenny says, to be honest I am baffled as to why they do not have a more specialised card as it just looks like a standard express pass, and having to get another each visit is a pain to be honest.

Same 'values' should apply in the assistance the guests should receive.

 

[Pegasus928]

The GAC does work differently for Universal as Kenny says, to be honest I am baffled as to why they do not have a more specialised card as it just looks like a standard express pass, and having to get another each visit is a pain to be honest.

To be honest Johnny I prefer the card that Universal issue as it looks like every other Express Pass when seen from the front, meaning there is no stigma attached to it - which at my sons age is very important.
Although the GAC is a marvellous tool which helps us to provide a stress free holiday for our son (and consequently the rest of the family) you can't help but notice the 'looks' whenever you get it out to show the CMs - not from the CMs of course, they have never been anything short of brilliant, but from other guests in the queue who have seen the wheelchair symbol on the GAC and are now looking you up and down trying to figure out which one of you in the group is disabled.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I know what you mean Kenny. It would be nice for us though not to have to keep going back and getting another one each time.

Like I said earlier we actually prefer to queue, if it's a reasonable wait time, as we just want to do what everyone else does and it's better for Joshua we feel.

The one thing we find with the Universal GAC, depending on the CM or attraction, is you often have to explain yourselves about the disability factor whereas at WDW the card is instantly recognisable as a special assistance card.
One year at ET we arrived at a fairly quiet time but wanted to skip the pre-show, produced our GAC (express pass) and after a brief explanation were shown in through the back door and everything was fine, Joshua wanted to ride it again , once more no problems.
However, on wanting to go on it a third time (don't ask!), the CM had changed and wasn't as co-operative, he wanted to go and speak to his manager about it, and we were like it was ok in the past 2 times 10 minutes ago! There was no queue whatsoever he just couldn't handle the fact it was a special needs GAC and not just your regular express pass.

A lot of it therefore comes down to the knowledge and friendliness of the CM.

I completely agree about the 'looks', bearing in mind Joshua gets out of a wheelchair and walks, we have started using some nice Autism awareness T shirts purely for him, one's that look cute but have a message also.
We didn't feel comfortable at first with them though.

We just try and focus on the enjoyment of the situation , we used to be a lot more sensitive about it than we are now, if we thought and looked for what other people did all the time it would be a nightmare and just spoil the fun, so if we can queue we do.
He will patiently wait now, much more so than previously.
The thing others need to understand is like I say we just want to do what everybody else is doing, it's just not always possible, Joshua doesn't look disabled at all, but that's Autism for you.

We even had a run-in with a CM in 2006 after comments they made about him, and there was a time we were kind of looking around for problems or reactions from people, kind of like waiting for it, which isn't ideal at all, especially for them as I might have throttled someone!

 

[traceycooper]

Thx - hes not in a wheelchair & is ok to walk - just cant stand for long periods, should he take his disability card?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Thx - hes not in a wheelchair & is ok to walk - just cant stand for long periods, should he take his disability card?

Yes absolutley, won't do any harm having that to hand - though Guest Services will definitely be able to issue GAC - he may as well take it with him.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thx - hes not in a wheelchair & is ok to walk - just cant stand for long periods, should he take his disability card?

If you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find information about Universal’s Guest Assistance Card (GAC) in post #9.
The Guest Assistance Cards are issued according to the needs of the person. In your case, since he can’t walk or stand for long periods of time, the Universal or Disney GAC may not be all that helpful. They will allow him to avoid things like stairs and other things that may be difficult to walk on, but the distance walked will be about the same, with or without a GAC.

I would suggest you may want to consider renting an ECV (electric mobility scooter) for use in the park. The parks are all very large and involve a lot of walking.

 

[PJB71]

Hi

Hope you dont mind me joinin inxxx

I have a disibility and can only walk a short distance with the aid of 2walking sticks and take my own ECV with me to Orlando every year.

I have had some really bad experiences with Universal over the years with regard to GA passes (a few years ago I was furious as I was grilled by a very snooty employee who wanted to know the ins and outs of my disibility which is blanently obvious and I felt she had no right asking). I have since just taken my blue badges with me when I have one to GS and had no problems since.

I have never had a problem with Disney and they have always gone out of there way to help.

I would also recommend that you get the US Handicapped bagde for parking if you are hireing your own car

Hope you have a great trip

 

[SueM in MN]

I have had some really bad experiences with Universal over the years with regard to GA passes (a few years ago I was furious as I was grilled by a very snooty employee who wanted to know the ins and outs of my disibility which is blanently obvious and I felt she had no right asking). I have since just taken my blue badges with me when I have one to GS and had no problems since.

Just so you are aware, in the US, businesses are allowed to ask what your needs are (for example, my DD needs to avoid waiting in the sun and heat and she can't stand or walk so needs to use her wheelchair in all lines until we are directly at the boarding area).
In the US, they can legally ask things like that or things like whether you are able to climb stairs. What they are not allowed to ask is WHY you can't do those things or your medical diagnosis.