Not happy with how Disney has treated my wish child

[SueM in MN]

The CMs in Guest Relations are experienced CMs who have worked in different areas before working there - Guest Relations is not a 'starter' job. From what I have heard from CMs who work in Guest Relations, it is not an easy job to get.

Regarding the 'front of the line pass' for guests on Wish trips - Disney does NOT actually have those because in some cases in the past, guests who were not on Wish trips were being given those cards and the stamp that allowed for immediate entry.

When they switched form the old Guest Assistance Card (GAC) to the new Disability Access Card (DAS), Disney elected to make a totally separate access card for guests on Wish trips. They picture Genie from Aladdin and are ONLY issued and given to Wish kids through the wish granting organization. If the wish granting organization has a relationship with Disney, the Genie card is issued directly from the wish granting organization, along with the other paperwork/documents.

Make a Wish is best known, but there are other organizations, including one in the UK called Dreamflight.
If the wish granting organization doesn't have an agreement with Disney, there is no way to get the card, since Guest Relations does not have them.
In that case, yes, you would be issued a DAS card. They can't require documentation of a disability to issue a DAS card, but they do need the guest to explain their disability related needs that make it not possible for them to wait in the regular line.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I am gonna go ahead and walk away from this post... once the trolls are out there is no stopping them.

Hmm, I've seen no trolls on this thread, just people that understand you can't get FOTL unless it's coordinated and approved by Disney.

If all it took was a "wish" pin, then it would be meaningless.

 

[OurBigTrip]

The CMs in Guest Relations are experienced CMs who have worked in different areas before working there - Guest Relations is not a 'starter' job. From what I have heard from CMs who work in Guest Relations, it is not an easy job to get.

Regarding the 'front of the line pass' for guests on Wish trips - Disney does NOT actually have those because in some cases in the past, guests who were not on Wish trips were being given those cards and the stamp that allowed for immediate entry.

When they switched form the old Guest Assistance Card (GAC) to the new Disability Access Card (DAS), Disney elected to make a totally separate access card for guests on Wish trips. They picture Genie from Aladdin and are ONLY issued and given to Wish kids through the wish granting organization. If the wish granting organization has a relationship with Disney, the Genie card is issued directly from the wish granting organization, along with the other paperwork/documents.

Make a Wish is best known, but there are other organizations, including one in the UK called Dreamflight.
If the wish granting organization doesn't have an agreement with Disney, there is no way to get the card, since Guest Relations does not have them.
In that case, yes, you would be issued a DAS card. They can't require documentation of a disability to issue a DAS card, but they do need the guest to explain their disability related needs that make it not possible for them to wait in the regular line.

That makes perfect sense, thanks for the explanation!

Sounds like Kids Wish Network might not be one of the included groups, based on the fact that there was a pin rather than the card you've described.

 

[SueM in MN]

That makes perfect sense, thanks for the explanation!

Sounds like Kids Wish Network might not be one of the included groups, based on the fact that there was a pin rather than the card you've described.

give Kids the World/Make a Wish also give pins to their families, but it is the paperwork that goes along with the pins that actually are what CMs are looking for to give the benefits (at this time, the Genie at Disney)

If it was just the pin, anyone who had ever been on a Wish trip could easily use it on their other trips (and there were people in the early days of this board who posted they did just that).
There was also at one time a 'black market' in Wish trip pins - people were selling them on International Drive.

Just a few reasons that Disney decided to put the issuing of Wish trip Genie credentials in the hands of the approved Wish granting organizations.

 

[SueM in MN]

And, no more complaints about the OP - they applied to an organization in good faith, and were given a wish trip. They are just trying to get the best trip possible for their child.

Any further comments should be to help them to do that, not berate them for their choice of organizations.

 

[Yoshiandi]

You should be contacting Kid's Wish as they are the ones who set everything up. It's not on Disney, it's on Kid's Wish.

We went through Make a Wish and they gave us everything, and then we got the special GAC from Give Kids the World.

Not every wish organization has the same relationship with Disney as Make a Wish/GKTW.

 

[aaarcher86]

I was talking about the kids that are at the entrance to the rides, that's exactly who they put in those position, and I assume those are the ones who turned there nose up to a kid with a life threatening illness.

If you have a DAS they follow DAS procedures. I haven't had any issues with ride CMs.

If the OP doesn't have the required paperwork to indicate they are with Make A Wish or an approved wish grantor, the CMs at the right are rightfully going to be confused.

This isn't hard to look at logically. The OP does not qualify for the treatment she is looking for because it is offered via an organization she didn't go through. If CMs allowed her to go through, they WERE doing her a favor.

 

[OurBigTrip]

What makes this especially difficult is that the OP, assuming that she would receive FOTL access via Kids Wish, probably didn't know about the many tips available on how to get the most out of using FP+ and DAS together.

 

[mittensmommy]

Please understand I'm not blaming anyone kids wish has actually been great to is. I did not know any of the other info so thank you for clarifying this. I just thought Disney would grant fotl access to any wish child not just maw that's a little baffling for me but now we know

 

[OurBigTrip]

Please understand I'm not blaming anyone kids wish has actually been great to is. I did not know any of the other info so thank you for clarifying this. I just thought Disney would grant fotl access to any wish child not just maw that's a little baffling for me but now we know

Have you been able to book some FP+ reservations? If so, and if you can work your DAS wait times in around FP+, you'll always have a ride "in the pipeline", so to speak.

 

[SueM in MN]

Are there any questions we can help you with for planning the rest of your trip?

Do you have any Disney days left?

 

[SMD]

If the Kids Wish button were meant to be front of the line, he wouldn't have received a DAS.

I think even if someone has a lanyard from GKTW, MAW or any other organization that Disney recognizes and grants FOTL access to, and they also have a legitimate reason to obtain a DAS then they should get both. I don't think it should go the other way around, but apparently Disney is currently dealing with that in federal court...

 

[OurBigTrip]

I think even if someone has a lanyard from GKTW, MAW or any other organization that Disney recognizes and grants FOTL access to, and they also have a legitimate reason to obtain a DAS then they should get both. I don't think it should go the other way around, but apparently Disney is currently dealing with that in federal court...

My point was that if you have FOTL access, why would you need a DAS?

 

[jewjubean]

They made me bring in Dr notes in June, kinda pissed me off....I did not know the system had changed. Went for my honeymoon in Oct and was denied because i did not have documentation. Brought it all in June and got my pass but I was not happy dragging medical records to the happiest place on earth

This is 100% incorrect. They cannot at any time ask for medical documentation as it is against the law per Hippa laws. If they were thrown in our face we can't even look at them.

Sorry this didn't work out- but you need to address your concerns directly with your wish granting agency.

 

[jewjubean]

The CMs in Guest Relations are experienced CMs who have worked in different areas before working there - Guest Relations is not a 'starter' job. From what I have heard from CMs who work in Guest Relations, it is not an easy job to get. Regarding the 'front of the line pass' for guests on Wish trips - Disney does NOT actually have those because in some cases in the past, guests who were not on Wish trips were being given those cards and the stamp that allowed for immediate entry. When they switched form the old Guest Assistance Card (GAC) to the new Disability Access Card (DAS), Disney elected to make a totally separate access card for guests on Wish trips. They picture Genie from Aladdin and are ONLY issued and given to Wish kids through the wish granting organization. If the wish granting organization has a relationship with Disney, the Genie card is issued directly from the wish granting organization, along with the other paperwork/documents. Make a Wish is best known, but there are other organizations, including one in the UK called Dreamflight. If the wish granting organization doesn't have an agreement with Disney, there is no way to get the card, since Guest Relations does not have them. In that case, yes, you would be issued a DAS card. They can't require documentation of a disability to issue a DAS card, but they do need the guest to explain their disability related needs that make it not possible for them to wait in the regular line.

Great quote

 

[lovethattink]

OP, if you are still at Disney, it helps to alternate between FP+ and DAS. For example, when you have a FP+ return time, go and get a DAS return time for an attraction nearby. Some attractions are high capacity attractions and you probably won't need a FP+ or DAS for those.

As for FOTL, even the Genie Card does not give fotl the way MAW children use to get it. It only gives immediate access to the FP+ line. In the past, there were many attractions that had alternate entrances and they'd bring them in through a "backdoor" entrance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is 100% incorrect. They cannot at any time ask for medical documentation as it is against the law per Hippa laws. If they were thrown in our face we can't even look at them.

Sorry this didn't work out- but you need to address your concerns directly with your wish granting agency.

Just for the sake of accuracy HIPAA applies only to medical professionals/institutions and insurance companies. Requiring a doctor's note or other documentation does violate the ADA.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It is a shame that MAW-type families (and others here) don't understand the system.
2) The wish-granting organization MUST have a relationship with WDW to get FoTL access.
3) Once the relationship is made, the wish-granting agency issues the pins, NOT Disney.
4) Disney is pretty choosy with whom they partner.
5) After all, the reputation of Disney and all the other MAW-types are at stake.

NOTE: I am a volunteer coordinator at Give-Kids-The-World, and these types
of questions come up all the time.

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

Coming from the perspective of a former cast member and current wish granter with MAW, the isue is that not every organization grants wishes to kids with life threatening illnesses. There are some that grant wishes for kids with chronic illnesses that are not life threatening. So kids with things like asthma and diabetes which when able to be well-controlled are not life threatening have gotten wishes granted.

The idea as it was explained to me when I was a CM is that we know these kids are very sick and do not have a lot of stamina due to the life threatening nature of their illness. Each organization has criteria that must be met and my guess is that Disney is providing these passes to organizations with criteria stating the illness must be life threatening. Since it is the organization that gives out the pass and not Disney, my guess is that they decided that Kids Wish Network did not meet the criteria which I know sucks for your family.

I would take advantage of the FP+ system and the DAS combined. Get fast pass and DAS return times. As a former CM, I have sort of "fudged" the rules before for a family where it looked like the kid was truly sick, but much of it depended on the volume of guests at the ride. I would certainly not count on that as a touring strategy. Many times rope drop is a great time to go because it can take an hour or two for lines to really form. Another good time for rides in my experience is when a parade is going on if you do not care about the parade.

The thing to remember is that there are many guests who come who have some kind of life threatening condition who are there of their own volition. And sadly, we have many scammers. Many of us used to go by the button alone but then people started making their own or families would sell them to shops on I-Drive. CMs have probably heard 10 sob stories before you about why someone can't wait in line. Some may be true, and some aren't. But that is why the systems are in place. If we let in every person who claimed they were sick without following the established protocols, the lines would become so gummed up that they would be a second standby line.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I was talking about the kids that are at the entrance to the rides, that's exactly who they put in those position, and I assume those are the ones who turned there nose up to a kid with a life threatening illness.

no the 'kids' are doing what they are taught to do which is ONLY recognize FotL access from DISNEY PARTNERS.. MAW is one, KW is NOT.