My first GAC problem...

[MommytoMJM]

There is a WC sign on the exit to Aladdin. MJ also has her chair and a GAC. When she has to be on her feeding pump full time (most of the time) she also has to wait for the accessible carpet.

 

[DaisyD]

There is a WC sign on the exit to Aladdin. MJ also has her chair and a GAC. When she has to be on her feeding pump full time (most of the time) she also has to wait for the accessible carpet.

Thank you. I knew I wasn't crazy about the WC sign. That is even how the CM first described to us where to go. He said go to the gate with the WC sign over on the other side. That sign has been there for a few years as far as I can remember.

 

[SueM in MN]

Well, now I'm disappointed
The CM I asked didn't tell me there was an accessible carpet! I can't step up and down too far, so after looking in from near the exit and seeing the distance from ground to carpet, I figured I couldn't get into one. Phooey! Now I'll have to go back.

Some people have posted in the past that their wheelchair did not fit into the accessible carpet. My DD's manual wheelchair does. Her wheelchair is about 24 inches wide and about 46 inches long (I don't have time right now to measure it, but that's pretty close).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks, everyone! Nope, I'm not concerned about getting the ECV through the mainstream queue (said the woman who took it all the way through the regular line at Tower of Terror ) and I can walk, but I can't step up more than about seven inches. Gotta go back...

 

[disneygal66]

Speaking as the parent of 2 boys with special needs, Autism and ADHD, the GAC is a godsend for us. My boys can not wait in line for long periods of time. The GAC that we have used in the past has given us access to rides without the long waits. We also do not abuse the card or expect to go to the front of the line. If there is a particularly long wait and can't use FP, then we may use the GAC. We also try to go to WDW during the value seasons and when it is not so hot, in case we do have to wait in line. just because a person looks "typical" doesn't mean that they don't have invisible disabilities.

 

[disneydenisel]

Last year, my autistic DD7 went on 1 ride during our entire stay. If not for the GAC, that number would have been 0. She cannot wait in long lines and gets very anxious and upset, and finally runs out of the line screaming. Having the GAC to use the FP line was a great help.

This year, the first ride we tried was the Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. She loves Nemo and this ride was supposed to be really mellow. We showed the CM our GAC and asked for the alternate entrance. She told us that there wasn't one and that we had to wait and then eventually there would be a place that forked off. The waiting area is dimly lit with very little to look at. It weaves back and forth and we probably did this for 15 minutes, all the while watching my DD get more and more upset as time went on. I finally passed a CM and showed her the card, and she ushered us through another gate which led to the WC accessible entrance. By the time we made our way there, my DD screamed and ran off. My DH went on with my autistic DS4, but I had to chase after my DD.

This was a defining moment. I felt that if she did not go on this ride, she would not attempt any other rides during our visit. She was very afraid during the wait and refused to go on the ride. It took me at least 90 minutes of talking and consoling to calm her down. I got to the point of trying to bribe her with toys or something special, but she refused. My son got off the ride and wanted to ride with me, so I got on with him. When I got off, I tried to describe the ride to her...it is so mellow, you just sit there and go very slowly. No ups, no downs. She still refused. Finally, she said, okay, I'll try, and I whisked her off to the WC entrance and the CM let us on. He was the one that saw her sprint off earlier.

I think it was 2 hours total before we rode. It was exhausting. My DH and I were elated, while at the same time very sad that most of this could have been avoided if we could have used the WC accessible entrance to begin with. I understand that they may be making WC accessible lines now, which is great, but that doesn't help the kids who cannot cope with waiting in dimly lit weaving areas. If it had been well lit, it might have been a different story.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But if an attraction queue is 100% ECV accessible (because while most lines can handle a wheelchair, some - like Tower of Terror or Splash Mountain - either can't fit or won't permit ECVs, there may not be a 'wheelchair line'.

 

[Schmeck]

Last year, my autistic DD7 went on 1 ride during our entire stay. If not for the GAC, that number would have been 0. She cannot wait in long lines and gets very anxious and upset, and finally runs out of the line screaming. Having the GAC to use the FP line was a great help.

Would your daughter feel more secure in queues that do not have FP if she was in a stroller? Perhaps renting a larger stroller (if they are available from one of the medical rental companies?) and getting a GAC for stroller as a wheelchair would help?

 

[SueM in MN]

Would your daughter feel more secure in queues that do not have FP if she was in a stroller? Perhaps renting a larger stroller (if they are available from one of the medical rental companies?) and getting a GAC for stroller as a wheelchair would help?

Many people with children on the autism spectrum have posted using a stroller was helpful. It gives a sort of 'safe haven' for the child, cuts down on stimulation and also helps keep runners from going anywhere.

There are some links in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to places that rent special needs strollers (they are like large size umbrella or jogging strollers). The strollers for rent in the parks are made of firm (not hard) plastic that many people have posted in the past worked especially well for children with autism who like firm pressure. (If you are familiar with Little Tikes products, the strollers are similar to that).
There are pictures of the strollers at this link from allearsnet.com. A DIS poster said recently that the strollers from MGM have been changed from the jogging strollers shown in the pictures on that site to the same type of strollers as the other parks. People have posted in the past that the strollers worked for up to a small 12 yr old. If your child needs more space, renting a double stroller for one child works well.

 

[disneydenisel]

Would your daughter feel more secure in queues that do not have FP if she was in a stroller? Perhaps renting a larger stroller (if they are available from one of the medical rental companies?) and getting a GAC for stroller as a wheelchair would help?

We actually purchased a Maclaren Major Special Needs Push Chair/Stroller for this trip. It was expensive, but we really thought we'd need it to go anywhere in the parks. DD7 has low muscle tone and she tires easily. It helped for quick getaway and kept her safe from getting pushed and shoved in the crowds, too . I didn't think to push it through the "Seas with Nemo and Friends" queue. We had been in the habit of parking it with the other umbrella stroller (DS4) and walking to the line, because she can walk.

Anyhow, I'll have to figure out what to do for our next trip, but that's 2 years away so a lot can change (and improve) during that time .

By the way, we were going to rent a stroller from an Orlando company ($58.56 for the week, quite reasonable), but we felt that we needed the Maclaren for the airport, since that is a place where she likes to bolt as well. We ordered from adaptivemall online. The first stroller they shipped to our home did not arrive in time as promised, so they overnighted a loaner for use in our local airport. Then they overnighted a new one to the BCV, to arrive when we checked in, and we put a note on our front door at home to refuse the original first stroller. So, at one time there were 3 strollers moving around the country, just for us .

It is a very solid stroller. I got used to folding it up for the buses, and I could push it on to the ferry boats and monorail. DD was able to watch Fantasmic, Illuminations, Wishes and SpectroMagic (with earplugs) while sitting in the Maclaren. When DD was safe to walk and roam, the Maclaren was great for holding our carryon luggage and packages !

 

[disneygal66]

I am sorry that you had such a hard time with just one ride! I can totally relate to that. We are renting one of the Maclaren strollers for this upcoming trip and I think I may use the stroller as a wheelchair with the GAC. I think it may help my DS6 feel more comfortable and have his own space as needed.