andrews_dad
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 1,986
Just back from 10 days in Orlando, 5 days spent in the 4 main parks of Disney. We are Disney freaks, our first trip in 1999 was a whopping 34 days (stayed at a Cast member's house and was about to get in free with him) and have gone for about 14 days per year since, two trips of a week per year or so. The past 8 years we've taken my father, who is now 84 years old and has multiple disabilities and dementia. In the past we've always gotten a GAC card when we have him, which is 100% needed with his bank of issues for the comfort of himself and guests potentially around him in lines. Well, we started in Epcot. In all of my trips we've never gotten a GAC/DAS at Epcot, so I asked the man overseeing the gates the nearest Guest Relations. He asked what I needed, saying he could help me right there. I replied, "Oh, no, I need to get the new disability assistance card for my dad (who I was pushing in his wheelchair)." The cast member retorts, smugly, "Well, I can help you right here. There is NOTHING that we can do to help. We got rid of the old GAC card and now there is NOTHING available to skip lines anymore. Don't worry, it's early in the day so there won't be lines anyway." I say, "I am aware of the changes. I need to talk with Guest Relations about his needs. Which directions?" He says, "I will tell you right here and now, you can talk them them til you are blue in the face, there is NOTHING we do for mobility issues. You will be wasting your time." I stay calm and just smile and replay, "Here is the thing, there is NOT any mobility issues. He can transfer and he can walk short distances. There are multiple OTHER disabilities I'd like to discuss with Guest Services about." He breaks eye contact with me, sighs in disgust, and says .. "Go left of the big silver ball.
Easter week, so Guest Relations line is oppressive. We stand outside in the sun (already warm) in a line that heads down the street. It takes a solid 35-45 minutes to get to the front. The cast member is busy, rude, and not willing to listen. My father is now fast asleep in his chair (we parked him with my wife inside the building to avoid the sun). My wife started talking and mentioned we used to get the GAC card for him and ..... the cast member cut her off at the word and. "Sorry, ma'am. No more GAC's. No more line access. There is nothing we can do to help." While standing in line, are heard the same line being told to guest after guest, including one Mom who left in tears as her son who was spastic and in a restraining wheelchair was told there was nothing that could be done to help. My wife happens to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy and knows her stuff, so she stayed calm and explained my father's needs. The cast member stayed the course, saying there was no GAC type option. She offered us a fast pass for Captain EO or Figment, saying she would NOT give us a Test Track since we already had a FP+ for Soarin pre reserved. She clearly was spying us a line cutters and was combative. My wife asked for the manager, but so had 3 other folks needing/wanting a DAS. So, another 35 min wait ensued as the manager worked her way through the 4 of us waiting for her. All 4 of us waiting for the manager received a DAS card, and all legit reasons from what I could hear. The manager was polite and worked fast.
When the first person was getting the Ipad photo for the DAS via the manager, my wife coyly asked the cast member ... I thought there wasn't any DAS or GAC type card anymore? The cast member said, well we've been told those are for EXTREME cases only and we are to tell guests there are NO options. That is for only a case by case situation as is not to be an option for 99.9% of guests."
The manager was the only one who issued any DAS while we were there for our LONG adventure. It seems clear that the new mindset is the first line of defense is to deny, deny, deny. If you make it to the manager they relent instantly and act kind and accommodating.
It is clear that the cast members are waging war with disabled and treating them like 2nd class citizens. My Doctor wife was disgusted, and said that if she was documenting and recording what the cast members said that lawsuits would be open and shut against the Diz. The discrimination is oozing out.
The DAS itself worked as it states. Honestly it still does not meet the needs of many folks, but that is a whole other debate.
Disney should be shamed and they may be sued if they keep this up, IMO.
Easter week, so Guest Relations line is oppressive. We stand outside in the sun (already warm) in a line that heads down the street. It takes a solid 35-45 minutes to get to the front. The cast member is busy, rude, and not willing to listen. My father is now fast asleep in his chair (we parked him with my wife inside the building to avoid the sun). My wife started talking and mentioned we used to get the GAC card for him and ..... the cast member cut her off at the word and. "Sorry, ma'am. No more GAC's. No more line access. There is nothing we can do to help." While standing in line, are heard the same line being told to guest after guest, including one Mom who left in tears as her son who was spastic and in a restraining wheelchair was told there was nothing that could be done to help. My wife happens to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy and knows her stuff, so she stayed calm and explained my father's needs. The cast member stayed the course, saying there was no GAC type option. She offered us a fast pass for Captain EO or Figment, saying she would NOT give us a Test Track since we already had a FP+ for Soarin pre reserved. She clearly was spying us a line cutters and was combative. My wife asked for the manager, but so had 3 other folks needing/wanting a DAS. So, another 35 min wait ensued as the manager worked her way through the 4 of us waiting for her. All 4 of us waiting for the manager received a DAS card, and all legit reasons from what I could hear. The manager was polite and worked fast.
When the first person was getting the Ipad photo for the DAS via the manager, my wife coyly asked the cast member ... I thought there wasn't any DAS or GAC type card anymore? The cast member said, well we've been told those are for EXTREME cases only and we are to tell guests there are NO options. That is for only a case by case situation as is not to be an option for 99.9% of guests."
The manager was the only one who issued any DAS while we were there for our LONG adventure. It seems clear that the new mindset is the first line of defense is to deny, deny, deny. If you make it to the manager they relent instantly and act kind and accommodating.
It is clear that the cast members are waging war with disabled and treating them like 2nd class citizens. My Doctor wife was disgusted, and said that if she was documenting and recording what the cast members said that lawsuits would be open and shut against the Diz. The discrimination is oozing out.
The DAS itself worked as it states. Honestly it still does not meet the needs of many folks, but that is a whole other debate.
Disney should be shamed and they may be sued if they keep this up, IMO.
Now the results are what you see today. There is never a good reason to be rude but I do feel for the CM's having to deal with these new rules. It can't be magical for anyone.
