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

[vicb]

I have 2 kids on the Autism spectrum and this really upsets me as I can see them decideing to do away with this if people are misusing it. It has helped us so much with our kids and we greatly appreciate the fact the Disney offers this and we never take advantage of it. We only ride a ride once unless the line is short anyway and if it is a fairly short line we will not use it. It helps cut some of the wait time as our kids have a very hard time standing in lines and getting bumped by people also being surrounded by so many people is also hard on them. Also we have found going the week of labor day the parks are not as packed so that helps as well.

Oh I forgot to mention that our kids see a pediatric neuroligst for their Autism and we always get a note from her though we did not see her before this trip so our note this year is from last year so I am hoping that will be OK.

I would glady trade shoes with anyone and wait in the longest lines if my kids could no longer be on the Autism spectrum.

I just wanted to offer my support to you and your family (via computer anyway). I think families with any special needs children have a harder time traveling than the rest of us. I believe you when you say you would trade with any of us if your kids could be off the spectrum.

That woman who lied should be ashamed of herself!

 

[scion5220]

Yep that's me the passive aggressive one. I've had to deal with jerks my whole life and until someone stands up to them and lets them know that they are wrong , they will continue to do it. Think about it what is the real reason you don't do "bad" stuff? Probably because you grew up knowing mom/dad or someone was watching you and would pass bad judgment on you. No one is held accountable for their actions anymore I'm just pointing out the facts. I also want my kids to know that they don't need to stand there and let others walk all over them like I did until I got a voice. Call it superior or judgmental if you want but I'm making sure my kids know that that kind of behavior is unacceptable and it will be judged by someone. JMHO take it or leave it.

I think the other poster was just pointing out that saying something loudly TO YOUR CHILD is not exactly confronting the person who was exhibiting the rude behavior. It's actually a PASSIVE aggressive way to handle the situation, just hoping they will overhear and figure out you are talking about them...which we all know will likely not occur to them because they think their behavior is perfectly acceptable and can't figure out why some woman is yelling at her kid!

 

[MNDisney2268]

As a person who is high functioning on the autism spectrum, I am appalled. And no I don't need a GAC card because I am high functioning. If you are high functioning, why do you need one?

First I am appalled that anyone would make up a disability to do something like this. However, I am also not so happy with this quote either. High functioning autism does not mean that you don't have meltdowns, or get over stimulated when in enclosed spaces, or that you don't freak out when a bunch of strangers touch you. High functioning means you are more able to hold a conversation, or more able to be understood. There are so many faces of this disorder, that describing high functioning autism as not needing these things is just inaccurate and insensitive. There are thousands of children and adults that the GAC is a God Send and they are high functioning autistics.

My son was diagnosed at 11. We joked the very first day that now we could use a GAC at Disney. It was a way for him to find a little humor. We have since been 2ce and neither time did we use it. He is very aware of what his limits are and we are able to manage those without the GAC at this point. He knows what is appropriate and not appropriate. And that is a lesson that I am grateful for.

 

[MYD714]

We were in WDW at the same time and we missed our dinner when the monorail went down...luckily, we were able to rebook for another night.

I think this was the hottest August trip I've ever taken, and I was so annoyed that Pirates kept closing. Luckily, it was working on our last night, and I was able to make it my very last ride of the trip.

 

[Adlergray]

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!!

We just got back Sunday as well and had a similar experience exp for it was by a CM We parked are stroller and were chatting with the CM went on a couple rides and came back to get the stroller and after making nice with the CM again she turns to us and says that we should go to guest services and do this. That most kids don't like waiting in lines and she tells all the nice families she meet to do this. (WTH) Seriously if I have to wait in line for pushy family's that did this with healthy kids I will be livid(not that I would know but you get my drift) DH and I just stared at each other said thank you and walked away feeling like we had bad karma just from being told that.

 

[Adlergray]

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!

I love the weather at WDW! Were were here the same time and tuesday we only saw a bit in the late afternoon, wed was perfect, thursday the poncho's and stroller cover were on again off again starting at 10am, friday was nice and Saturday stunk. I had to laugh Wed too on the bus to the MK the weather looked dark and i looked at the weather warning and animal kingdom was getting pounded and hail and we had dark clouds.

 

[Epaima]

We encountered a similar situation on our trip three weeks ago. A woman on the bus with us told us to go to Guest Services and tell them that either I or my sister have ADD or something similar to it to get a front of the line pass. I was appalled that someone would even suggest doing that when there are others with a true need for the GAC pass. The longest line we had to wait in was 30 minutes for Space Mountain one night when we really had an urge for it. Everything else was very short, if you used your fastpasses smartly and went to rope drop or stayed till park closing on a non-EMH night.

 

[racefanof88]

We encountered a similar situation on our trip three weeks ago. A woman on the bus with us told us to go to Guest Services and tell them that either I or my sister have ADD or something similar to it to get a front of the line pass. I was appalled that someone would even suggest doing that when there are others with a true need for the GAC pass. The longest line we had to wait in was 30 minutes for Space Mountain one night when we really had an urge for it. Everything else was very short, if you used your fastpasses smartly and went to rope drop or stayed till park closing on a non-EMH night.

I have ADHD and never in a million years would I even think of getting a GAC card because of it. I don't know what I would need it for. I am really confused as to why anyone would need a GAC card just because of ADD or ADHD.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

"Just back" and other trip report threads are a better fit for our Trip Reports board, so I've moved this thread.

 

[bouncycat]

I have ADHD and never in a million years would I even think of getting a GAC card because of it. I don't know what I would need it for. I am really confused as to why anyone would need a GAC card just because of ADD or ADHD.

Nah, not for that. I finally got one about a month and a half ago, and it sure does make a difference when I walk!! I can walk farther, and do more things. It's awesome!! I find I walk more WITH it, than I did without it. Standing still hurts worse than walking!! Sitting in my chair for a long time makes me stiff. So it's a nice middle for me. You'll see next time you come!!

 

[racefanof88]

Nah, not for that. I finally got one about a month and a half ago, and it sure does make a difference when I walk!! I can walk farther, and do more things. It's awesome!! I find I walk more WITH it, than I did without it. Standing still hurts worse than walking!! Sitting in my chair for a long time makes me stiff. So it's a nice middle for me. You'll see next time you come!!

You definitely deserve it. I can't wait to get back down there and see y'all .