Necessary Documents?

[mom2taylorandemily]

I have read a few threads about how Disney is making it a little more difficult to receive a GAC, which I understand they don't want people taking advantage. My DD has epilepsy, last year she had a gran mal seizure while on a bus to AK from our resort. At the hospital the Dr. suggested we go to Guest Relations and see if she qualified for a GAC. We did this and it was given to us. This was so nice to have, after her seizure, I was very nervous about her having another while we were there and in a park, or worse standing in line.
That being said, what documents will I need to receive a GAC again this year for her? I would like to avoid a seizure in line again this year as we did last year. I can provide a letter from a neurologist if necessary.

Also, we were thinking that we need to change our resort from POFQ to POR and ask for a room in AB. Those rooms have the trundles and I would feel better if she could sleep on a bed lower to the ground in the event that she has a seizure in her sleep and keep her from falling out of bed. Most of the beds at WDW are considerably high off the ground and I fear her falling and hurting herself. The trundle would be ideal for her, I know that there are bed rails but she is 8, not 3 and the rails would be a bit humiliating for her. She knows she has epilepsy, but she doesn't always like the upfront in your face reminders that the bed rails might be perceived as.

Thanks!!!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

WDW isn't allowed to ask for documents, so they don't. Answer one question for yourself; has she got needs that aren't met by the standard options like mainstream waitinglines etc. If the answer to that is 'yes', she might benefit from a GAC. Just go down to Guest Services and explain her needs and ask what can be done to make sure she's ok. It'll be taken from there.

About the beds; is there a difference in safety if she were to have a seizure? I can imagine the trundlebed not being totally on the floor (don't know though!), so she'ld still make a -smaller- fall. On the other hand, if she does have a seizure in a bed with bedrails, she might hurt herself hitting the bedrails. My total ignorance would think it's safer to be in a trundlebed, but that's just me being ignorant. If there isn't a big benefit with regards to her safety, I would go with whatever she prefers. It's her holiday also afterall.

If you do so, talk to (or let the CM talk to) special reservations. They'll put note on your ressie and actually block a room for her that meets her need for a trundlebed. If that option is indeed safer than bedrails, explain that and they really should meet her need for that. This way you wont be in for a nasty surprise at check in, finding out you requested a trundlebed and not getting it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You do not need anything from a doctor. Not only is it illegal to ask, but even if you had one there is no way to verify that it is from a doctor.

All you need to do is have your daughter with you and state something like this: "My daughter has medical problems and needs to have x, y, and z accomodations to make her enjoymnet of the parks the same as a similar child without her problems."

The person in Guest Relations will make a determination of the accomodations necessary to meet these needs and put the necessary stamps on a GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

The information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread is still correct. They can't legally require any proof.
as far as bedrails, I would do /ask for whatever you feel best. I would not consider using bedrails to be humiliating and your DD might not either. That would be something for your family to decide. I'm not sure, but I think the trundkle beds are not full size. She may decide she'd rather have a bigger bed even if it means brdrsails (sorry, if I try to fix spelling on my iPod it erases everything). Another thing to keep in imind is that no one outside your room would know about the bedrails.

 

[AG CASWELL]

They can not ask and won't

 

[MightyMom]

If you are afraid that standing in lines for prolonged periods might trigger a seizure, try to consider what you would do at home given the same situation. Perhaps a wheelchair will help so she wouldn't be fatigued and perhaps avoid a seizure..... if this is the case you wouldn't even need a GAC because most lines are mainstreamed and accessible.

Many people with disabilities use bedrails. My son is 9 years old and physically disabled.... he still uses bedrails when we are away from home. He has never felt humiliated when we use them.... he understands they are for his own safety. And honestly.... he's asleep when they are in use so it's not like he's giving it a whole lot of thought anyway!

I see bedrails in the same category as a seat belt...... kids may not like them... but they are for their own safety so they don't get to decide whether or not they have to use them.

 

[SueM in MN]

Many people with disabilities use bedrails. My son is 9 years old and physically disabled.... he still uses bedrails when we are away from home. He has never felt humiliated when we use them.... he understands they are for his own safety. And honestly.... he's asleep when they are in use so it's not like he's giving it a whole lot of thought anyway!

I see bedrails in the same category as a seat belt...... kids may not like them... but they are for their own safety so they don't get to decide whether or not they have to use them.

that's a better way of saying what I was trying to say.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Thank you all, we decided to stay at POFQ and requested rails. I explained to her, that they are there to keep her safe. The wheel chair might be a more than I was looking for. We live in Williamsburg, and at Busch Gardens, if the line is really long we will come back another day, but at Disney we only go once a year so I can't say we'll come back another day and ride it. If we are there, she wants to ride. But, at home if she is tired and showing signs of fatigue, I have her rest and take a small nap. But I can't exactly do that at Disney, where woudl I send her for a nap, going back to the resort will happen once a day for us, but standing in longs lines just scares me, I'd hate to see her having a gran mal in line at BTMR or any other ride. We'd have a very hard time getting her out of there in a post-tictal state.

 

[clkelley]

Thank you all, we decided to stay at POFQ and requested rails. I explained to her, that they are there to keep her safe. The wheel chair might be a more than I was looking for. We live in Williamsburg, and at Busch Gardens, if the line is really long we will come back another day, but at Disney we only go once a year so I can't say we'll come back another day and ride it. If we are there, she wants to ride. But, at home if she is tired and showing signs of fatigue, I have her rest and take a small nap. But I can't exactly do that at Disney, where woudl I send her for a nap, going back to the resort will happen once a day for us, but standing in longs lines just scares me, I'd hate to see her having a gran mal in line at BTMR or any other ride. We'd have a very hard time getting her out of there in a post-tictal state.

There are first aid centers in each park that have full size beds and they will happily allow your daughter to take a quick rest right there in the park if she needs it.