Just back today. The good, bad and did that really happen.....

[HeatherLassell]

I thought GAC's aren't supposed to get you to bypass lines.

They say that the GAC gets you to a special quieter holding area. It doesn't gauruntee you will get on faster because you have it.

I can't believe that lady did that. My sisters son does have Aspergers which is described as a "higher functioning form of autism" and that angers me that this lady used a lie to try and skip the lines.

I'm so glad you had a great trip!!! Are you doing a Trip Report?

~Heather~

 

[Eljay]

I think I would have changed seats at that point and told her I couldn't listen to her any more because she was a detestable human being.

I agree.

 

[StitchSpawn]

I read in a Walt Disney World book that some federal law (I think it was ADA) prohibits WDW from requiring a doctor's note before issuing a GAC. I think that lady is setting a very poor example for her children. It reminds me of something my boss told me about when she and her son with leukemia were visiting WDW with a group of children with cancer. They were allowing them to bypass lines since they were on a "Make a Wish" type vacation. A woman who was waiting in line began complaining loudly that she didn't understand why this group was allowed to bypass the lines. There were kids in this group in wheelchairs and with IV's. It was obvious that they were very ill. My boss said "Ma'am we would be happy to trade places with you. What kind of cancer would you like to have?" That shut the woman up. Unfortunately there are rude people in this world who think they are entitled to special privileges.

I would have loved to see that woman's face. She is also an idiot.

 

[newmommy_2010]

Glad to hear you had a great trip! I can't wait to be there next October!
As for the lady, she really disgust me! I can't believe someone would have the nerve to lie about their child just to save a few minutes in a line. Sad what the world has come to.

 

[kirasaurus]

There were kids in this group in wheelchairs and with IV's. It was obvious that they were very ill. My boss said "Ma'am we would be happy to trade places with you. What kind of cancer would you like to have?" Unfortunately there are rude people in this world who think they are entitled to special privileges.

I had an experience like this. On one trip there was this family on a make-a-wish trip patiently waiting at the special entrance for their turn on peter pan,and one group of people started loudly complaining that they got to "cut" the line. It was obvious that the child was not healthy, and they had make-a-wish hats, buttons, tshirts, etc... As we rounded the corner to get on the ride, my dad gave him our prayers and apologized for the rudeness, and the father said "I would gladly trade places with them. We'd rather be a normal family, waiting in line like everybody else"
It's so sad how people are so quick to complain that *they* aren't getting "special treatment" when these children have terminal illnesses, and would jump at the chance to not be able to have a make-a-wish trip...

 

[POOHsie]

Glad to hear you had a great trip! I can't wait to be there next October!
As for the lady, she really disgust me! I can't believe someone would have the nerve to lie about their child just to save a few minutes in a line. Sad what the world has come to.

I believe the world has always been this way. Nothing new. Some people have made short-cuts a life-long habit, going back to childhood. Disappointing, but not surprising. I prefer to hang out with grown-up adults, and I guess her crowd would consist of fellow cheaters who would share laffs over what they put over on other people. If a person admitted that lousy story to me, I would make my disapproving thoughts about it very loud and clear.

 

[Rekenna]

To the OP-glad you had a safe and fun trip. Sorry about the heat, I am a wuss when it comes to heat so we only go in late Oct/Nov or early Spring, I just can't take it-I admire you for your stamina!

As to the person you met on the monorail or whatever-that's just appalling! My DS4 has autism-it is an insult to him (and he is the sweetest person on the planet) for someone to do something like that. I don't blame Disney, they can only do so much and they work so hard to make special accomodations easily available to spread the magic to those who really need it.

"What goes around comes around."

 

[jayandstacey]

Ok...so we were on the bus and this woman was telling us how she went to guest services at MK and told them her child has "high functioning autism" so they would give her some pass that allows them to fast pass EVERY ride all day long. She was so proud and thought she was helping us by giving us this info and told us we should do it too. I was appalled! Why would someone lie about their child having a disability...for the simple fact that she didn't want to wait in line??? Can you say KARMA? If you don't want to wait in lines, then don't go to Disney!!

Just to play devil's advocate...

Did she actually say her own kid did NOT have autism? Your choice of words indicates that she was suggesting you could make the claim even if your kid did not have autism...but is there at least a small chance she was truthful about her own child?

FWIW, our daughter would qualify for certain accomodations via a GAC, but we've never gotten one. A) we'll let others less fortunate use it more appropriately and B) we're glad that Disney offers such a program, despite whatever abuses happen.

 

[HersheyKisses]

OMG...She's lucky she told you that and not me because I would've slapped her . I really would have slapped her sorry *** . You dont lie about a disability that so many children have so you and your little snowflakes can skip the lines! Abusing the system like that just really gets under my skin . This is why the soda fountains are being monitored now so many people trying to cheat the system! I personally saw people filling up 1 liter jugs of soda and using non Disney mugs.

 

[Karbase8]

Just back also. We stayed at all star sport. Contrary to what was told on here we had our own bus service to and from the parks with little to no waits! I did see the major attractions such as Splash for 80 minutes but we used fast pass. I can't believe that lady I saw some poor behavior down there so it doesn't surprise me.

 

[kaligal]

Just back today from our 7 night POP vacation. Amazing time had by all!

The good: the parks were VERY manageable. The longest line we waited in was 35 minutes for Everest. The average wait time was 15 minutes! Great time to visit!!
The hotel was clean, fun, and not obnoxiously crowded even though they said they were sold out. The bus waits were minimal as well.

The bad: it was HOT walking around the parks! Pirates of the Caribbean kept breaking down....that was annoying. the monorail was down for one of the days and getting to the Grand Floridian for dinner was awful! Long bus waits.

The "did this really happen":
Ok...so we were on the bus and this woman was telling us how she went to guest services at MK and told them her child has "high functioning autism" so they would give her some pass that allows them to fast pass EVERY ride all day long. She was so proud and thought she was helping us by giving us this info and told us we should do it too. I was appalled! Why would someone lie about their child having a disability...for the simple fact that she didn't want to wait in line??? Can you say KARMA? If you don't want to wait in lines, then don't go to Disney!!

Overall....amazing trip....can't wait to go back!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and Yup, it sure is hot in Orlando in August!!

As for the lady, it happens all the time.

I don't believe in karma and am not superstitious in any way. Plenty of people aren't, so that wouldn't stop them. I can say, "karma" - I just don't buy into that concept.

But if it helps any, I think the thing about the pass she got that allowed them to FP every ride, all day long, was a total lie.

 

[nicoleakr]

I think that is appauling!!! I have two children who are diabetic and the heat makes them have lows blood sugars. One of those children is also mental handicapped and we do request GAC. However I do not brag about it and in fact I only use it for rides that require an outside wait!!

 

[Pats Dragon]

Actually ADRs sometimes do not accommodate guests even with someone asking for a supervisor.

 

[Gorechick]

Another mom here who is appalled about the bragging mom! My son has autism and is high functioning. As much as I've been longing to go to WDW, I've held off until I felt he was ready to handle it, able to wait in lines, eat diverse foods, focus and follow directions, etc... I'm planning to go when he is 8 (decided to wait for FLE) and am not sure I'll need a GAC but I'd like to have it just in case he gets anxious or we see that he needs more space during wait times. If she lied about her son I hope she gets what she deserves.

 

[Mamapapa]

How bad was the rain during your stay? How often did it rain and for how long? Glad to here you liked Pop, I should have been arriving today, but thanks to Irene I won't be there until Tues!

 

[RainK]

How bad was the rain during your stay? How often did it rain and for how long? Glad to here you liked Pop, I should have been arriving today, but thanks to Irene I won't be there until Tues!

It rained in the afternoon for 4 of the 8 days but only for 1 hour or less. It was not bad! It did not rain at all on Thursday or Friday.
The only day we had to use ponchos was Tuesday...it rained heavily for most of the afternoon and evening...but it was refreshing to not have to walk around the parks in the heat and HS was empty! We walked on just about all the rides when it was raining. LOVED THAT!

 

[autismmom1]

I so wish I had been there when this lady started bragging. Like many of the other posters, I have a 9 year-old with high functioning autism. We've used the GAC in the past and it was the main contributing factor in having an enjoyable vacation.

As mentioned, you do not get a "head of the line" pass; the only guests who get to do that are the Make-A-Wish families. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning every individual with autism is affected differently, regardless of how the individual physically appears. It is sometimes called an "invisible" disorder, because so many affected seem just like everyone else...until you get them in a situation which may set off a trigger.

My son LOVES Disney, but it has to be on his terms...I'm okay with that. Thank God Disney understands and is willing to offer families like ours an alternative way to experience the fun and excitement of the World.

I pray that this woman's deception will not endanger the program. Statistically, this lady is likely to one day experience the world of autism herself, be it through a grandchild or other relative, and I hope she revisits her lie with shame and the same disgust we feel towards her.

 

[bouncycat]

Yea, I do hate people who lie about the GAC's. I have one, but I have Muscular Dystrophy. I also will GLADLY exchange my body for a good one that can handle standing, even sitting for long periods of time. I do have a chair that I use part of the time, but it does help for me to walk, and the GAC helps when I do walk, to not get me fatigued as quick. There are different stamps, sometime they'll have stamps that only allow you to use the handicapped entrance, and in lines like Splash, you go thru the regular line until you get to the HC point. I saw a guy using that once in the FP line, and the CM directed him to the regular cue. He was right in front of me, and argued until he huffed off. Then was appalled that I got to go thru with my card, that says use alternate entrance. It does NOT mean you wait shorter. Like for example TSMM, that wait is ALWAYS longer, because of the HC ride vehicle. I can't climb stairs, so I HAVE to use that side. I wait, no biggie, but usually need a break after that ride. We usually wait for that one last. So, karma is a you know what.....and I don't like hoping someone's child gets ill, but some ladies who abuse systems like that diserve it!! And those are usually the parents who wouldn't be able to handle a special needs child. I have a child also, he's 13, and is special needs, and it takes a VERY strong woman to deal with that!!!

 

[XGrumpy1]

It is too bad people will resort to activity like that, especially when the lines are not that long. Crazy people. I can't dream of teaching my child to do something like that. Very bad parenting.

 

[jennine]

Put me down for another person on the disgusted list.

Some people just do not get it. They don't realize the daily struggle that some of us go through. While my kids don't have autism, I do have twins that both have Cerebral Palsy and it is not a piece of cake. People have the illusion that the GAC is something that it definitely is not.....ugh I just can't even write everything I want to write because this just makes me so mad....