No more 'cuts in line' for many disabled Knott's guests

[krismom]

Hmm- interesting thread. I can't believe it's not locked. My POV is that I have used a GAC for my son when necessary (to keep him from being a danger to himself or others) . The few times we used it - it was where no fastpass was available and only one other person accompanied my son.
I've read actual trip reports here on the Dis where a woman had a Gac for her son who went back to the hotel but she and her other children continued to use it in his absence. I've seen a few Gacs on Ebay listed as "ultimate fastpasses" go for hundreds of dollars. Maybe instead of "proving" how necessary it is- there could be a policy in place where the person who the Gac is issued to has a bracelet or photo image on the card. That would at least prevent "sharing and selling" of the Gac's.
I hope Disney doesn't alter it's policies based on a few bad apples. I think that they have done a marvelous job at making the park experience equally enjoyable for all of their guests.

 

[Planogirl]

Well...at Knott's I have seen a several groups of teenagers use crutches and wheelchairs when they had no need of them for the sole purpose of bypassing long lines. When I have been there (and I've been there a lot), there are always groups of unaccompanied teenagers, mainly boys. I have not really seen it at DL or WDW though.

It sounds like Knott's might have a definite problem. The question is how they should deal with it. This waiting bit doesn't sound fair or reasonable.

 

[busykate]

Since my daughter has had the "disease of the day" for 23 years I just want all of you with kids who are going to go to college, get married, give you grandchildern to go home and hug them. Yes, dd doesn't have to wait very long for the rides at wdw, if she did we would be home, not creating memories for her. There are people who cheat, we all know that. there are cheaters in every part of our lives, tax cheaters, errant spouses (you get my drift) but that doesn't mean that we should change the system. I'd like to think that the cheaters are pretty pathetic people who don't realize how truly fortunate they are not to have someone with a disability in their family. So all you out there who are worried about cheaters, watch for us aug. 27th and be happy that dd isn't standing in line with you, it's a small price to pay so you don't have to hear her squeal for an hour while you wait for a ride on Buzz

 

[KPeveler]

Sorry because I know you're angry but

It's amazing how totally ignorant some people are isn't it? If all it takes is a School Nurse to diagnose a child then I'll stop taking my kid to the Neurologist, Hematologist, Endocrinologist and Gastroenterologist. Forget the genetic testing too. I'll just ask the lady that puts bandaids on kids, dispenses Tylenol and assist the diabetic children with their blood sugar tests if she can just tell me what to do about my child. Think of all that money I will save and all the stressful tests my child will no longer have to endure!!!!!

does that work for college health centers too? can the nurse on duty fix me??? I have been fighting for 7+ years for a diagnosis for my problems which have left me disabled... all this time Nurse Nancy could have told me what was wrong? I guess I dont need that Neuro, Endo, Ortho (4 of them), Rheumy, Opthamologist, World-famous Neuro, Geneticist, Pain Management Specialist, and good old GP. Think of the money i could have saved

j/k

 

[Beccabunny]

Sorry because I know you're angry but

It's amazing how totally ignorant some people are isn't it? If all it takes is a School Nurse to diagnose a child then I'll stop taking my kid to the Neurologist, Hematologist, Endocrinologist and Gastroenterologist. Forget the genetic testing too. I'll just ask the lady that puts bandaids on kids, dispenses Tylenol and assist the diabetic children with their blood sugar tests if she can just tell me what to do about my child. Think of all that money I will save and all the stressful tests my child will no longer have to endure!!!!!

It's frustrating when people have the opportunity to educate themselves on disabilities, but they don't want to, they'd rather just whine about how unfair it is that somebody else got ahead of them in line. Oh, if that could only be my biggest problem! Looks like you and I are going to all the same types of specialists. You think maybe there's more to autism than just behavior? No, not according to the OP.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Now, any takers for the offer I made the other day? I'm started to feel hurt here, nobody wants to tour WDW with me, boohoo. Now that's a different story when doing a amusementpark overhere.

I'd happily take you up on the offer if I could afford it, but I'm a student and funds are tight. Also, I doubt you were aiming that advert at me, as I've already got me own wheels Just imagine the evil looks we'd get trying to get two wheelchairs loaded onto a bus or ride ! (WARNING: this statement is intended as a lighthearted or humourous remark)

Maybe instead of "proving" how necessary it is- there could be a policy in place where the person who the Gac is issued to has a bracelet or photo image on the card. That would at least prevent "sharing and selling" of the Gac's.
I hope Disney doesn't alter it's policies based on a few bad apples. I think that they have done a marvelous job at making the park experience equally enjoyable for all of their guests.

Oh, now that's a good idea! The idea of putting a photo on it, I mean (I feel wristbands might get lost or damaged). They'd have to have a digital camera set up in Guest Relations, so they could snap and print, but that wouldn't be horrendously difficult or costly. You should write to Disney and suggest that one.

 

[Talking Hands]

I think most people are fine with the wheelchair riders boarding first. It makes complete sense logistically. Federal law doesn't dictate that everyone with that person gets to board first and that's where the problem lies at WDW. Have one person wait with the person in the wheelchair in case they need assistance, and have the rest of the party get in the queue with everyone who is waiting. Everyone is happy and we all get to go to WDW.

No federal law doesn't dictate that,but it does say that if the wheelchair person cannot be loaded onto the bus then the bus is full to all at that stop. This is never followed. I can't count the number of times I have been told that there is no room for me and my wheelchair and every able bodied person is loaded onto the bus while I am left to wait for the next bus. Is that right? Don't think so but it is what happens. Or what happened to me at AK last April. I had been left by the previous bus, so was the only one waiting until 2 minutes before the next bus arrived. At that time a large number of people showed up. Bus arrives and the load my chair and the supervisor pulls up another bus and loads that with all the able bodied people then comes and tells the driver on my bus that the other bus is full so they will go straight to the resort and she should go to Blizzard Beach to pick up more passengers there. So everyone who arrived after me arrived back at the resort before me. I was furious to say the least. I was further delayed because I was in a wheelchair and able bodied people could just hop on that second bus and go. I don't see equality in that at all.
Because of the inequality of the transportation system to those of us who are handicapped my husband and I stayed offsite and drove my lift van back and forth to the parks this trip.

 

[Beccabunny]

does that work for college health centers too? can the nurse on duty fix me??? I have been fighting for 7+ years for a diagnosis for my problems which have left me disabled... all this time Nurse Nancy could have told me what was wrong? I guess I dont need that Neuro, Endo, Ortho (4 of them), Rheumy, Opthamologist, World-famous Neuro, Geneticist, Pain Management Specialist, and good old GP. Think of the money i could have saved

j/k

I've been reading your posts for awhile, but I just googled EDS, and I have to say I have the greatest admiration and respect for your attitude, your determination, and your advocacy for those with disabilities! It's inspiring!

 

[Talking Hands]

Actually, I think that by law the able bodied people do have to wait. If I understood the law correctly (and someone can confirm), if the bus has no spaces for someone with a p/c or ecv, then it is considered to have no spaces for anyone - and thus should proceed to its destination without picking anyone up.

I'm not sure if WDW implements this though and I imagine that there would be howling if they did - especially if the person in the p/c or ecv came into the line after other people.

No WDW DOES NOT implement this. They never implement this. I have been left while all the able bodied people go on their merry way to many times to count. Just one time I would like to show the driver that law but the other guests would probably kill me.

 

[KPeveler]

I've been reading your posts for awhile, but I just googled EDS, and I have to say I have the greatest admiration and respect for your attitude, your determination, and your advocacy for those with disabilities! It's inspiring!

Thanks

I've been sick since I was 15, so my mind remembers life before these problems, but my body doesn't, so that makes it a little easier. Since neither of my disabilties shorten my lifespan *g-d willing*, (my EDS is the hypermobiltiy type, not the vascular one, so no danger of dying), I have decided that I have an awful long time to live with these, and I might as well make something useful out of them. I am lucky that I have the ability to argue, and the *oomph* to do it (place term of choice in there). I am living my life the way I want (like going to grad school), and just dealing with it one day at a time (unless of course i am counting to my next disney trip)

None of the rest of my family is disabled, although we all have "challenges" (like my sister's facial paralysis), so I understand the viewpoint of the able bodied person.

I dont think I deserve anything special, like going to the front of hte line, but if I get put on a ride 5 minutes sooner than i would have in hte stand-by line, that is just the way it is. just like i wait an extra hour for some rides. it's just the way it is.

I really do enjoy educational debate, and I dont mind people asking me embarrassing or even somewhat rude questions about disability online (though it annoys me in person), so that I can educate others...

 

[sha_lyn]

Do GACs not have expirations dates on them.
I'm thinking a simple fix would be to issue one for the length of stay, and annual passes could have the GAC attached to them in some way.
It wouldn't solve the problem such as the person using it when their kid went back to their room, but it would solve the problem of selling them on Ebay or handing them off to someone else at the end of a trip.

 

[KPeveler]

Do GACs not have expirations dates on them.
I'm thinking a simple fix would be to issue one for the length of stay, and annual passes could have the GAC attached to them in some way.
It wouldn't solve the problem such as the person using it when their kid went back to their room, but it would solve the problem of selling them on Ebay or handing them off to someone else at the end of a trip.

GACs are currently issued only for length of stay, although I am not sure how the ones for APs work

 

[sha_lyn]

GACs are currently issued only for length of stay, although I am not sure how the ones for APs work

Hmmm... so do the CMs check the dates, or are the people who buy them on Ebay just out of luck when they try to use them?

 

[KPeveler]

Hmmm... so do the CMs check the dates, or are the people who buy them on Ebay just out of luck when they try to use them?

generally the people on Ebay are out of luck, although i suppose some CMs do not check. i have heard in general they are pretty strict

it says right on the GAC that it is not transferrable or for sale, and that the pass is actually property of disney. ebay pulls the listings as soon as they find them

 

[Talking Hands]

No one thinks disabled people are rude and demanding. We think that the select few people pretending to be disabled, to acquire access to certain things are rude and jerks.....truly disabled people should think so too!!

Stopping on rides and having disabled guests use the fastpass or rear entrance doesn't bother me in the least. Also, the bus issue is a non-issue for me b/c I bring a car.

The disabled don't like the fakers anymore than anyone else but the reality is that by making rules like Knott's the only ones to suffer are those who are truely disabled. At Disney people with mobility difficulties are sent through the same lines as everyone else whenever possible. In the Magic Kingdom, alternate access has to be provided on some rides because they were created before ADA. Those you see getting alternate access with GAC have other issues above mobilty problems. It may be they have multiple special needs that require a slightly different accommodation than normal like I do. Even though ECV and PWC may normally placed at the back of a theatre if there is interpreting I need it be placed so I can see the interpreters well enough to be able to read their signs. It can't be too close or too far. A lot will depend on how large the interpreter is signing. WDW works with these needs. Other parks don't.
At Sea World I asked for assistance at a restaurant because the line was inaccessible and was told to just get in line. Huh! My wheelchair would not go through the line. I had to demand a supervisor in order to get a meal. That never happens at Disney.

 

[Talking Hands]

Perhaps, but they don't enforce it. At least not this day, on the multply times I rode BTMRR, thanks to fast pass. There was even one time that they reserved the two front cars because the party was so large at 12 people! I guess it did bother me that some people stood in line for hours and really wanted to ride up front (and were willingly to wait even longer for that seat) but were not allowed because that car was continually reserved.

In all the time I have been going to WDW I have never ridden in the front of BTMRR. I have always been placed in the back car. Nice to know I might get a chance to now.

 

[Talking Hands]

Do GACs not have expirations dates on them.
I'm thinking a simple fix would be to issue one for the length of stay, and annual passes could have the GAC attached to them in some way.
It wouldn't solve the problem such as the person using it when their kid went back to their room, but it would solve the problem of selling them on Ebay or handing them off to someone else at the end of a trip.

They are issued for the length of stay unless you have an annual pass and are local or semi-local (Fla Resident) Those are issued for 3 months. In the past it was a full year but now you have to go every 3 months to get it reissued.

 

[KPeveler]

They are issued for the length of stay unless you have an annual pass and are local or semi-local (Fla Resident) Those are issued for 3 months. In the past it was a full year but now you have to go every 3 months to get it reissued.

thanks - i am going on an AP for the first time this year, so thats good to know. I will probly be starting on meds that mean i have to stay out of the sun, so i may need a GAC so i can wait in the shade for things like lion king or BTMRR... nice to know i dont have to keep going back to GS.

 

[alizesmom]

alizes mom, do you have any suggestions?

I totally admit to having very few suggestions. The agreed problem is the people who are out to cheat the system. The government restricts the park's ability to question those who claim a disability. Something could be done to make the GAC less attractive but not remove accessibility for those of us who truly need it. Ideally all attraction cars would be accessible and eliminate the need for wheelchairs and EVCs to go to another line but I can't begin to imagine the cost. Shaded area for all in line would also be great. For those who can't handle lines due to Autism or other behavioral issues allow a certain number of their party to hold the line while other members sit in a quieter area with the person. The person with the GAC would lose their place if they didn't return by the time the family member/members reached the loading area. My answers are very idealistic because I know that the cost is prohibitive to do these things. I will try to brainstorm and bring more ideas.

 

[alizesmom]

Maybe instead of "proving" how necessary it is- there could be a policy in place where the person who the Gac is issued to has a bracelet or photo image on the card. That would at least prevent "sharing and selling" of the Gac's.

That is a fantastic idea. It would have to be able to hold up to a week at Disney but really great thinking.