How does the Guest Assistance Card work?

[mzliza3]

In December, we're taking our very special DS cousin Cindy to Disney for the holidays. I have read in a few guidebooks about the guest assistance card. How exactly does it work? Although Cindy has visited the park 3 times before, we never heard of this card before. I read that guest with the card are ushered to specified entrances for the attractions. If anyone has used this card before, we would love to hear about it! Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including about Guest Assistance Cards.

Basically the card is to alert Cast Members to "invisible" disabilites so they can provide the proper assistance. They are based on the needs of the individual.

If you wish to explain what Cindy's problems are it may be a lot easier for us to make suggestions.

 

[Piper]

You don't say what your cousin's needs are, so it is difficult to tell if a GAC is right for her. Since she has been 3 previous times without one, she probably won't need one now.

Also, most people with a GAC card (or those that use an ECV) are mainstreamed into the regular lines--there are a few exceptions. Having a GAC card doesn't mean that you get to ride before others. It often means that you actually wait longer to get on the ride.

Read the FAQs at the top of this board for further information.

 

[SueM in MN]

Some people with DS (I'm assuming Down Syndrome) might have needs that a GAC would help with, others don't. The GAC is given based on needs, not diagnosis. She may not actually have any needs that a GAC would be helpful for.

Start out with reading the GAC information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
That is a summary of GAC information from DIS posters experience and information from CMs.

The Guidebooks that said that a GAC allows guests with the card to be ushered to specified entrances for the attractions is not really correct. That makes it sound like there is one GAC that always allows the same things to be done for everyone who has one. It also makes it sound like people with disabilities are always ushered to specified entrances, which is also not correct.
In actual fact, there are many different GACs that allow different things. Each GAC has a message stamped on it that is appropriate for the needs of the person the GAC was issued to. Exactly how it works depends on the needs of the person/what is stamped on the GAC and what is available to meet those needs at the attraction.
For example, for some children, being able to stay in their stroller might be a reasonable solution to their needs. If that is what their GAC allows, they would be able to stay in it in the regular line and have it treated the same as a wheelchair (sometimes they use a sticker for the stroller).

You should have a better idea of how GACs work after reading the GAC information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

NOTE TO POSTERS: PLEASE DON'T POST THE SPECIFIC WORDING ON GACS OR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WORDING ALLOWS.