Need Help - GAC and Fantasmic and other Questions

[Kim in PA]

Hello,
I am looking for information on the Guest Assistance Card specific to Fantasmic as well as some general information about the GAC.

Our family is me - Kim 47, DH Greg 43, Kaitlyn 12, Jessica 12, and Ashley 7.

All of my girls were adopted. Ashley is our youngest, and has a number of special needs including spina bifida (walks without assistance) PDD-NOS (autism spectrum), failure to thrive, and neurogenic bladder. She also has a MicKey button after Nissan fundiplication surgery for GERD.

We did not request a GAC the last time we went to Disney because Ashley was 4, and easier to manage. This year we decided to request one, but only plan to use when absolutely necessary.

Ashley has a combination of needs - if she gets tired of waiting, she often runs away, and has no fear of strangers. Like many kids with ASD she can have major meltdowns when things don't go her way. She walks well without support, but fatiques easily due to her spina bifida. We need to cath her throughout the day, and she has problems with exposure to heat and direct sun due to one of the medicines she takes for her bladder.

Ashley is very small (33 lbs) so I thought maybe the "Stroller as a wheelchair" tag might be useful for some of the lines. We are taking our own stroller (the same one in the picture) as it has a canopy for the sun, and can recline if she needs a break.

We are going to be in WDW in June, and since we did not know we were going to Disney 180 days in advance, I am having some trouble getting all the ADRs I want. The last time we went to DHS / MGM we used the Mama Melrose Fantasmic package so we did not have to wait in the long line for Fantasmic. That worked great, so we had planned to do it again. The problem is, I can get any dinner I want at DHS, but I can't get an ADR that includes the Fantasmic package except for Brown Derby. Ashley could never be quiet enough in there.

So my question is, will the GAC help us in any way with the wait for Fantasmic? We can't keep her from running to strangers if we are in a line for 1 1/2 hours. When she gets tired of standing, she will need to be held or she will lay on the ground. If I knew we would have a shorter wait with the GAC I would go ahead and make a regular dinner reservation. If the GAC doesn't help at all with Fantasmic, I will keep doing what I am doing which is calling 2 x's a day to try to get a Fantasmic package when someone cancels.

I called Disney, and no one can answer my questions. Their answer was wait until the day we arrive and ask at Guest Services. The problem is we need to make reservations now or we won't have any dinner reservation at all! My older girls really want to see Fantasmic. It was their #1 request, and if Ashley meltdown while waiting one of us will have to stay out with her which would really upset the twins.

Please let me know of your experience with waiting for Fantasmic. Would it be possible to have Ashley wait in the stroller, but then still be able to hold her during the show? She will not want to sit in the stroler during the show especially during the scarier parts.

Thank you so much for your help!!

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Hi from another Mom with Asian beauties!
Mikayla is from Hunan and Katie is from Jiangxi!
Mikayla was originally pdd-nos, then anxiety disorder and reactive attachment disorder. I feel REALLY guilty using a GAC but is/has been a real lifesaver. I think mostly I feel bad because people just see a "cute" Chinese girl and don't see anything else.

I don't have an answer to your specific question but just wanted to say good luck with your trip!

 

[Kim in PA]

Hi Wendy,
Your girls are beautiful!

Ashley was actually diagnosed with RAD before the PDD-NOS. I don't usually include it with her diagnosis because most people don't know what it is! We did have attachment therapy, and also had Dr. Buenning in our home for a weekend. Her attachment is much improved, but the RAD is the reason she still runs to strangers. She is in a verbal behavior / autistic support class room with regular kindergarten.

At one point with her rages they were considering early onset bi-polar, so in a way I was happy when they finally diagnosed ASD.

You know the hardest part for me (and even more for my husband and the older girls) is the way people stare at us when she acts out. I always feel like they are judging my ability to parent and they don't know the whole story.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hello,
I am looking for information on the Guest Assistance Card specific to Fantasmic as well as some general information about the GAC.

If you have not looked in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a section in there that is all about GACs.

Ashley is very small (33 lbs) so I thought maybe the "Stroller as a wheelchair" tag might be useful for some of the lines. We are taking our own stroller (the same one in the picture) as it has a canopy for the sun, and can recline if she needs a break.

Given what you have written about her, being able to use a stroller as a wheelchair will be very helpful to you. They may give a GAC for that or just a sticker that is placed on the stroller.
It will keep her contained, give her a safe place, allow her to rest and also prevent her from running away.
When you use a stroller as a wheelchair, the stroller is allowed to go anywhere a wheelchair can go, even if strollers are not usually allowed there.
That can be a big help in lines or in crowded areas (like Fantasmic).

So my question is, will the GAC help us in any way with the wait for Fantasmic? We can't keep her from running to strangers if we are in a line for 1 1/2 hours. When she gets tired of standing, she will need to be held or she will lay on the ground. If I knew we would have a shorter wait with the GAC I would go ahead and make a regular dinner reservation. If the GAC doesn't help at all with Fantasmic, I will keep doing what I am doing which is calling 2 x's a day to try to get a Fantasmic package when someone cancels.

No one actually waits for 1 1/2 hours in line for Fantasmic (even though people who use the dinner packages might think they do).
Depending on the day, a line might start forming outside of Fantasmic about 1 1/2 - 2 hours before Fantasmic begins. The line is there because the CMs are not letting anyone into the area yet. About 1 1/2 hour before the show begins, the CMs start letting people into the show area. Once the line begins moving, it keeps moving into the show area and into the seats. By 10 minutes after the CMs have started to let people in, most of those people who were originally in line have already gotten into the amphitheater and will be getting seated. If you join the line before the 'gate' opens, you will have a wait in line. If you get into line after the gate opens, your whole time in line will be spent moving slowly forward until you are seated.
We have been to Fantasmic 10-12 times and have never spent more than 10-15 minutes in line, even during busy times like Spring Break and between Christmas and New Year.
Once inside, you will be shown to seats fairly quickly. If you got there early, you may have 1 1/2 hours to wait, but most of the time will be while you are seated in your seats. There is quite a lot going on during that time, with all the people coming in, CMs selling things like popcorn and cotton candy. There is also Disney music playing and about 30 minutes before the show, 'the wave' usually starts. Since you are in seats, you can do whatever may distract your children - whether it's eating a snack (you can bring in food from outside or there are snack bars inside), or playing games.

A GAC would not really help you any (except if you need it for using the stroller as a wheelchair or to sit in the handicapped seating area without a wheelchair). My DD uses a wheelchair, so we are seated in that area anyway, but she also has a GAC, which we don't need for Fantasmic since the wait in line is short and is constantly moving.

Would it be possible to have Ashley wait in the stroller, but then still be able to hold her during the show? She will not want to sit in the stroler during the show especially during the scarier parts.

Thank you so much for your help!!

With a stroller as wheelchair, you could bring the stroller in and have her sit in it in the back row. That row is set up for wheelchairs, ECVs, etc with spaces to park and a seat next to the 'parking spot' for a companion to sit on. The 2 rows in front of that row are reserved for the rest of the wheelchair parties or for people/parties who are not using a wheelchair, but need special seating (people who can't go down steps, people with ASD, etc).
You could use the stroller to bring her into the area, but then she could get out and sit on your lap for the show. Because a stroller sits so low, she probably would not be able to see much if she stayed in the stroller for the show. Let the CM know that she will be sitting on your lap and the CM can offer an appropriate spot.
Another possibility would be to bring her in with the stroller, then after you are seated have a member of your party take it to the stroller parking area that is inside the show area, but not quite to the amphitheater. After the show, someone could go get the stroller and bring it back to her if you don't think she could walk that far.
To avoid walking out in the huge crowds, just stay in your seats and let most of the crowd go out. We usually wait until about 80% of the crowd has gone. That allows us to go out in comfort.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Hi Wendy,
You know the hardest part for me (and even more for my husband and the older girls) is the way people stare at us when she acts out. I always feel like they are judging my ability to parent and they don't know the whole story.

Oh my gosh girlfriend! I so understand!!!!
I find that people are so stuck in the "cute china girl mode" that when something happens (or does not happen if I am trying to explain/avoid a situation) that people almost ALWAYS think I have done something wrong.

Sometimes when she is yelling I think people think I have kidnapped her too! Ha!

I had a friend who was questioned in an airport about whether her child was really "hers" or not.... is this your Mommy sort of thing.

-Wendy

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Also, I know a lot of people with kids with autism, or high functioning issues, emotional issues have a hard time using and having their GAC in Disney. I struggle with it too. The point is though that you are trying to make this the best vacation ever for your family. Sometimes even if she is not raging at that given time, you still need it to avoid a rage later, when she is tired and less apt to tolerate it.
Mikayla used the stroller as wheelchair last time and it was great! She could "hide" in it when she was overwhelmed or overstimulated. Crowds can be hard on her. Having said that she LOVES Disney. I just have to take steps to make it the best time as possible.

No one knows your child like you.

For me, no one sees her up at night, EVERY night trying to get her to sleep, to chase away whatever demons followed her from China.

I would like to say to people sometimes, go ahead, wave at my daughter, comment on how cute she is... don't judge me when she does not fit what you think she should be at other times.

 

[livndisney]

Also, I know a lot of people with kids with autism, or high functioning issues, emotional issues have a hard time using and having their GAC in Disney. I struggle with it too. The point is though that you are trying to make this the best vacation ever for your family. Sometimes even if she is not raging at that given time, you still need it to avoid a rage later, when she is tired and less apt to tolerate it.
Mikayla used the stroller as wheelchair last time and it was great! She could "hide" in it when she was overwhelmed or overstimulated. Crowds can be hard on her. Having said that she LOVES Disney. I just have to take steps to make it the best time as possible.

No one knows your child like you.

For me, no one sees her up at night, EVERY night trying to get her to sleep, to chase away whatever demons followed her from China.

I would like to say to people sometimes, go ahead, wave at my daughter, comment on how cute she is... don't judge me when she does not fit what you think she should be at other times.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!
Wendy I could not agree with this more!!!!!!

Hugs to you and your little one!

 

[LarryBoy]

Our DS 7 is autistic and we have used our GAC for Fantasmic. What we did was wait till about 15 minutes before the show started to head into the amphitheater. Show your card to a CM inside the amphitheater and they will take you to a special seating area just for guests with special needs. This was a lifesaver for us. At the time, I don't think we could have seen Fantasmic without the GAC. This is also true for many of the large shows. I know we did this for Nemo the Musical at AK, and I think you could do it for LMA at DS, but we didn't have to use it there. We also used it for the Candle light processional at Epcot, which was wonderful. We would not have been able to do those things if we had to have waited a really long time, or if we had waited till the last minute a stood up. The GAC is a wonderful tool for those who need it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Our DS 7 is autistic and we have used our GAC for Fantasmic. What we did was wait till about 15 minutes before the show started to head into the amphitheater. Show your card to a CM inside the amphitheater and they will take you to a special seating area just for guests with special needs. This was a lifesaver for us. At the time, I don't think we could have seen Fantasmic without the GAC. This is also true for many of the large shows. I know we did this for Nemo the Musical at AK, and I think you could do it for LMA at DS, but we didn't have to use it there. We also used it for the Candle light processional at Epcot, which was wonderful. We would not have been able to do those things if we had to have waited a really long time, or if we had waited till the last minute a stood up. The GAC is a wonderful tool for those who need it.

If you wait until 15 minutes before the show, you do risk not being able to get in, or having all of the special needs seating filled.
When we were at Fantasmic last week, the special needs/handicapped seating was full by that point and that night, by about 10 minutes before the show began, it was standing room only.
I have also been there when we still were able to get a wheelchair spot for DD 15 minutes before the show.
When we went to Nemo earlier last week, all the wheelchair seats and special needs seating were full well before the show began.

You may have no problem, but do need to realize that cutting it to 15 minutes may mean that it is too crowded for you to get in.

 

[pilgrimr]

We have a son who is 6 and also autistic and sometimes has a problem waiting. When we went to WDW a couple of years ago we got him a sony psp. He likes to watch cartoons and the psp plays them. They are small that can be sliped into a back pack. it really helped keep him from wanting to run around. You might also look into it and see if that helps w/ the waiting.

 

[lovetoscrap]

My kids are not special needs but I have found that bringing a large supply of glow sticks that I buy at the Dollar Store and pulling them out during the wait times keeps them very busy. When we were just there we were in the HC area waiting for Wishes ( I use an ECV) and a family came in with a great young man around 11 years old that I am guessing had ASD (I didn't ask). He was having a hard time waiting and with the crowd around him but was very intrigued with my kids glow necklaces. I always bring plenty and we share with those around us so I asked his mom if it was okay and gave him some. He had the best time with them. He spent the next 30 minutes happily putting them together in different ways and trying them on and really concentrated on them. His parents were really surprised with how much he enjoyed them and how quiet and calm he was with them. Dad told me they would be stopping at the Dollar Store before the drive him to get him some more for the car!

My big concern was with him (or any child we give them to) putting them in their mouths. I always ask the parents first. The sticks do say they are non-toxic, but I don't like to put my trust in that. And they do leak occasionally.


Just a suggestion.

 

[SueM in MN]

When we were just there we were in the HC area waiting for Wishes ( I use an ECV)

Glow sticks are great. We had a supply of those too.

I'm curious where the handicapped area is for Wishes?
We were well away from the castle earlier in April when we were at MK at "Wishes time", but when we have gone previously, CMs have said there was not a handicapped viewing area because "it's above you, so you look up." One time, we stayed in the area around the castle where the handicapped parade viewing area was, but they started pulling out the ropes as soon as the parade was over, so it became part of the 'general' area.

 

[zumbergc]

I don't think there is a handicapped section for wishes.

When we go, we like to stay around the wheelchair section. Generally some of the people stay, and we try to line up behind other wheel chairs, ecvs, or people with strollers. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
You never know who is sitting will get up for the show, and sometimes 10 min before the show, people wanting a last minutes spot, will go and stand in front of the ecv, wheel chairs lines up.

Its a crap shoot. Its like for the castle foreground show. Sometimes people will stay seated w/ a bunch of wheel chairs/ecvs, strollers lined up together. Other times people will come in last minute and stand and block.
Or when a parent will stick a kid on top of their shoulders.

The other alternative is to goto the rose garden, and line up next to the railing, so no one is in front of you.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Glow sticks are great. We had a supply of those too.

I'm curious where the handicapped area is for Wishes?
We were well away from the castle earlier in April when we were at MK at "Wishes time", but when we have gone previously, CMs have said there was not a handicapped viewing area because "it's above you, so you look up." One time, we stayed in the area around the castle where the handicapped parade viewing area was, but they started pulling out the ropes as soon as the parade was over, so it became part of the 'general' area.

I am sorry, I misspoke. I meant for SpectroMagic. We all then moved over a few yards together for Wishes. Sorry about that.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am sorry, I misspoke. I meant for SpectroMagic. We all then moved over a few yards together for Wishes. Sorry about that.

thanks for the clarification

 

[LarryBoy]

We too are big fans of dollar store glow sticks. I'm always amazed at the variety that our local dollar store has: necklaces, bracelets, sticks, glasses, and several other thingies and do-hickeys. You do have to be careful though because every now and then you'll get one that leaks.
We have also found that you can get some of the Disney spinning light toys on clearance at the Disney Store. All of these have really helped our son get through the night time shows and fireworks. In fact now, he's a huge fan of fireworks, where they used to terrify him.