If I have GAC, do I need fast passes?

[AnneUCSB]

In 20 days I will be traveling to DLR for 4 days in the parks, arriving only 3 days after I complete chemotherapy for breast cancer. I already spoke with guest services about my situation and they rec'd I obtain a Guest Assistance Card (including entering the lines at a separate entrance). My family (husband and 2, 5, and 7 yr olds) will be with me and usually we try to take full advantage of fast passes. However, if I have a GAC, does that mean I will not need to collect FPs? I just want to make this trip as easy as possible for me and my family, given all we've been through in the last four months.

 

[nikkislaght]

Hope all goes well with the chemo.. it can take a lot out of you..

The Gac is great for aiding in reducing time in the main line, due to you being able to wait at the exit or wheelchair entry.. but it is not a front line pass..
Sometimes due to the amount of people using the other lines it may take you longer to get on the ride...

I use a Gac and get fast passes.. and then weigh up which line is longer.. if I dont use the fast pass , I then pass it onto someone else.. which gets some weird responses sometimes..

Make sure you get a separate Gac for CA, most rides there are disable compliant and the one from DL they wont let you use there.. well thats what happened to me anyways..

Anyway,, good luck, hope all goes well , and hope you have a great time...

 

[cpster]

How mobile are you? I kind of think that for some rides having a FP may be faster than going through the GAC entry. One ride that comes to mind is Big Thunder Mountain RR. On our trip just a few weeks ago, I think I was on and off BTRR in 15 or 20 minutes with a FP and I noticed how long the BTRR GAC line was. You can always ask the CM at the ride entrace which option would be faster. I wish you well in your recovery.

 

[AnneUCSB]

Thanks for your well wishes. I'm pretty mobile, it's more of a stamina issue as well as joint/bones aches and pains due to the supplemental shots given after chemo (to help bone marrow recover from the chemo treatment). I think it's a good idea to still get the FP if possible and see which is shorter. I assume though, I don't need a FP for WOC as there is seating for people with GAC, correct?

 

[Malcon10t]

FP is definitely faster, in most cases. It will depend on the GAC you are given.

 

[Stitch35]

We get the GAC for separate entrance when we go due to my youngest child's condition. Usually the "alternate entrance" is either the fast pass line or exit. The GAC does state on it that you should obtain fastpasses for fast pass rides. However, even when we didn't have fastpass, we were sent through the fastpass line. There are attractions that are much longer waits in GAC lines, ie POTC. Just look at the line and see what will be quickest for you. The cm at the line entrance is always super helpful, if you have any questions at all! Have a great trip!!

 

[ballarinamom]

We were there with my MIL two years ago when she was in an ECV. She didnt need a GAC all she had to do was show her key to the EVC. Is that still the case?
I will tell you where this really helped was on rides like Space Mountain or Star Tours where the que had ALOT of walking. Space MT has you go through the exit area as does Star Tours. Pirates and Splash Mount. If Indiana Jones is up, the que is a mile long. They let you ride right up to the car via an elevator...
It will cut some time off just by not walking so far. But agreed, get FP anyway just incase

 

[ArchOwl]

Thanks for your well wishes. I'm pretty mobile, it's more of a stamina issue as well as joint/bones aches and pains due to the supplemental shots given after chemo (to help bone marrow recover from the chemo treatment). I think it's a good idea to still get the FP if possible and see which is shorter. I assume though, I don't need a FP for WOC as there is seating for people with GAC, correct?

I just want to say, you do need a FP for WOC. There are different colors of FP and they have different handicapped areas with benches. You need a FP and to show the GAC.

As for the GAC, it depends on the stamp on the GAC how accommodation will work. There is not only one kind of GAC.

 

[mouseymommy]

Would you consider using a wheel chair to help get you between lands? It may save some of your strength. I hope you have a great time, your family deserves it!

 

[madigraham]

The only rides it causes more of a wait for us potc and sometimes Peter Pan. make sure to ask them for the alternative access pass and not the wheel chair access pass. The pass will have two arrows on it. I think getting fp while having gac is pointless. It will get you where you need to go. Be sure to remember rsr gac is a fp with a return time. But it is not run off the fp system so they will not run out

 

[AnneUCSB]

Would you consider using a wheel chair to help get you between lands? It may save some of your strength. I hope you have a great time, your family deserves it!

Yes, I'm actually planning to rent an ECV from an offsite vendor so that I can use it to park hop and get through Downtown Disney (as well as back and forth from the HoJo). My 3 boys have big plans to see everything and I don't want to slow them down

 

[sonnyjane]

Yes, I'm actually planning to rent an ECV from an offsite vendor so that I can use it to park hop and get through Downtown Disney (as well as back and forth from the HoJo). My 3 boys have big plans to see everything and I don't want to slow them down

If you have an ECV then you don't even need to get a GAC card. The ECV "speaks for itself". You will just use it to use the alternate entrances for the rides that are not accessible, and then you can use a fastpass with the regular line for rides that are accessible. DCA rides were made to be accessible for wheelchairs/ECV's, but many rides in the older Disneyland park still have alternate entrances.

 

[llump41]

A FP with a GAC will definitely get you on some rides much faster. I always get one for Star Tours as it completely eliminates the wait. Other rides will get you to the front of the GAC entrance. Since most, if not all, of the DCA rides are ADA compliant already, the normal queue is accessible for wheelchairs and ECV. You really want a FP over there.

 

[Mousequake]

A FP with a GAC will definitely get you on some rides much faster. I always get one for Star Tours as it completely eliminates the wait.

Could you clarify what you mean by this? We have an alternate-entry GAC for DD5, and that routes us into the regular FP line. How does a combo of a GAC and FP get you on the ride immediately?

 

[starshine514]

If you're using an ECV, I would still collect FPs. DH uses one and the only FP rides he will ride (RSR, GRR and Soarin') are all in CA, which has integrated lines throughout (my mom is in a WC and waited in a 70 min standby line for RSR). Be aware that you will nearly always wait longer in CA than the folks in the regular line do (most lines are integrated and then branch off, so you're then in a disabled line that moves very slowly), as well as longer than the regular line whenever crowds are super low (such as first thing in the morning when rides are 10 minutes or less) - some CMs treat those using an ECV as people trying to cheat the line, so you'll end up waiting longer than those in the regular line. Other times, there are regulations about how many disabled folks can be on a ride at once, which also increases the wait time.

If the lines are really short and you feel you can stand for that long, you might want to use the regular line. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[llump41]

Could you clarify what you mean by this? We have an alternate-entry GAC for DD5, and that routes us into the regular FP line. How does a combo of a GAC and FP get you on the ride immediately?

Immediately may not be the right word. For example, Star Tours outside queue is ECV accessible. You would need to wait in this queue until you come to the bldg entrance then break off to the elevator. With a FP you would skip the outside queue. People with FPs jump to the head of the GAC line at SM.

This may not be applicable to your specific FP. I have a 'wheelchair' endorsement. Arthritis in my knee makes stairs out of the question. If I wear jeans you can't even see the unloader brace I wear. I know there are different endorsements and this may not be applicable to the endorsement of your DD5's.

 

[Mousequake]

Immediately may not be the right word. For example, Star Tours outside queue is ECV accessible. You would need to wait in this queue until you come to the bldg entrance then break off to the elevator. With a FP you would skip the outside queue. People with FPs jump to the head of the GAC line at SM.

This may not be applicable to your specific FP. I have a 'wheelchair' endorsement. Arthritis in my knee makes stairs out of the question. If I wear jeans you can't even see the unloader brace I wear. I know there are different endorsements and this may not be applicable to the endorsement of your DD5's.

Makes perfect sense-- thanks! We don't have a 'wheelchair' designation, so we don't break off to the elevator.