New and Acronym Impaired

[HappyStamper]

I am planning our first trip to WDW with my DD15 who has mild cebral palsy with seizures. I have been reading through the disABILITIES forum and am confused as to what GAC, ECV, and SN pass (special needs?) stand for.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Don't worry, I had the same confusions as you when I first joined here! I'll do my best to help, so, here goes:

GAC is a Guest Assistance Card. These are designed for people with invisible disabilities (covering conditions as wide ranging as visual impairment and autism), but are not required for people using a wheelchair (unless they have other, unseen problems, besides mobility issues). The FAQ ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713 ) has loads of information on it, but if you have any more questions, ask away.

And ECV is an Electric Convenience Vehicle (or words to that effect) and is another name for a mobility scooter. They can be rented on or off site, but only for people over the age of 18.

I would guess SN is special needs, but I don't think I've really seen that one floating about.

Also a couple more generic Disney abbreviation that might help you:

MK: Magic Kingdom
AK: Animal Kingdom
DDP: Disney Dining Plan
POFQ: Port Orleans French Quarter
PORS: Port Orleans River Side
AS: All Stars
CBR: Caribbean Beach Resort
CSR: Coronado Springs Resort
FW (sometimes FtW): Fort Wilderness
WL: Wilderness Lodge

etc...

I'm sure I'll think of a few more soon, and add them as appropriate.

Hope this helps !

 

[JCTigger]

I am planning our first trip to WDW with my DD15 who has mild cebral palsy with seizures. I have been reading through the disABILITIES forum and am confused as to what GAC, ECV, and SN pass (special needs?) stand for.

Welcome to the Boards! This site is very helpful in planning trips you basically can find everything you need to know about going to disney by "
playing" on this site....

GAC stands for Guest Assistance Card basically you go to guest service and tell them what you would need it for Ie if you have trouble standing in long lines or being out in the sun in the lines and stuff they will give you a card for the duration of your trip for the members of your party that will allow you to use alternative forms of waiting a lot of attractions will now just use the fastpass system you get a fastpass and use that as your wait time but when you come back you can depending on the ride use the exit as an enterance etc.

ECV is the motorized scooters that you can rent im not sure how much they cost to rent a day but im sure some one on the boards can help you...

there are great places in the parks to rest... the first aide station is always very good to jsut get in there and lay down for a few minutes... you do A LOT of walking as Disney so you may want to consider renting or using a wheel chair to help cut down getting tired so quickly....

I hope I was helpful and if you have tons more questions just ask!! and again WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!!!!!!!!!!

Jill

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Just found this:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

From another thread of a similar nature. Hope it helps!

 

[SueM in MN]

Just found this:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

From another thread of a similar nature. Hope it helps!

Just what I was going to post.
If you haven't checked out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board, that should be your next stop.
There is information in the FAQS Thread about GACs (now that you have the definition ).
There is also information about renting ECVs (it stands for Electric Convenience Vehicle - although for many people it is a necessity, rather than a convenience).

My youngest DD is 21 and has CP and seizures. We've been to WDW many times over the past 20 years - ask any questions you can think of. There are lots of people here with lots of experience.

 

[HappyStamper]

Thanks!

SueM- Has your daughter ever had a seizure while in one of the parks? If so, how did you handle it?

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks!

SueM- Has your daughter ever had a seizure while in one of the parks? If so, how did you handle it?

Oh, yes.
She usually has at least one on each trip. She is in a wheelchair (can't walk), so it's easy for us to get her out of line or where ever we are. Depending on where we are, how tired she is, we sometimes have gone to First Aid and transferred her to a cot there (each park has a First Aid Center with cots in individual cubicles). They are staffed with RNs and in general are quite nice.

My DD doesn't have a reclining wheelchair, but sometimes, we have put the antitippers on her wheelchair up so that we can tip it back. Either my DH or I sit on a bench and lean the wheelchair back against our lap. Her backpack makes a pretty good pillow.