It's A Small World ?

[disneyworldmama]

Sorry I am just full of questions today. Last time we went to WDW we had a GAC card for my daughter who has albinism. Generally we found everyone to be understanding and helpful. Well, the only problem we had was It's A Small World. They CM wouldn't let us wait in a shaded area and then jump in line with our family or anything like that. We had to wait in line in the sun and then we were able to use the card once we got to the handicap gate, at that point we didn't need it b/c we were finally out of the sun. Anyways, she ended up in pain b/c of the sunlight and got a little burned. She loved the ride and I don't want her to miss it on our next trip. Is there something I could say to the CM to let us jump in with our family or just wait near the handicap section? We have no problem waiting our turn and don't want to abuse it but we do want to avoid the sun as much as possible. Oh and we have since had another daughter and she too has albinism so we will have two girls to deal with this time.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

LOVE the photos of your girls - they are gorgeous!!

First, remember to use the word "NEED", not "want". Your girls NEED to be out of the sun as a requirement of their medical condition. If you say "want", your point may not get across.

If a CM doesn't get it, speak with another CM or ask for somebody higher up. Make a big loud deal of it, if you have to. They have no right to cause your children physical pain by making them stand in the sun and get sunburns.

When you get the GAC, you may want to explain the reason the girls can't be in the sun - if they don't have a stamp about staying out of the sun, maybe they can stamp it with the closest match and write with a pen on the card about the girls needing to be out of the sun.

Also, have you thought about bringing umbrellas? I don't know if that would help your girls or not (don't know much about albinism, sorry), but if it would, it might be useful for when you walk from ride to ride.

Another suggestion: Make the most of evening EMH, even if it means keeping your girls up way past their bedtimes and letting them sleep late. Not only are the lines short, but it is dark out, too. If you're not going to EMH, you can at least leave the rides with outdoor/partially outdoor lines towards the end of the day. When I was there in May, I went just before the fireworks shindig began and practically walked right on to "it's a small world" - no line!

 

[disneyworldmama]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help on both of my threads! I will def demand more help next year.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't yet, check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is a section about GACs there.
Also, you may already be aware of sun protective clothing, but in case you are not, there are companies on the internet that sell it. If you do an internet search for 'sun protective clothing' you will find quite a bit.
Here is a link to a page about sun protection clothing on the Cancer society website. There is also a product that you can wash your clothing with to add some UV protection. Even if you have a GAC and everything goes well with it, having sun protective clothing will help while you are not inside.