OT: End of Guest Assistance Cards at Disneyland/WDW

[Jonjo]

The Disney Treasures site have published an article about the end of the Guest Assistance Cards at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The existing Guest Assistance Card program used at WDS and DL, is to end on the 9th Oct and a new program called the Disabled Assistance System is to be introduced

The main difference to the new program is that instead of Disabled guests being able to show their GAC cards at the ride entrance / exit to skip the queues they now have to go to special booths being installed in the parks, tell the CM there which ride they want do and they are then given a pass like a fast pass to enable then to skip the queues at that ride.

As DLP uses the same system as the present Guest Assistance Cards at DL and WDW I wonder if DLP will move over to the new system in time?

 

[Florida2012]

I'm not sure they will. The trouble with the one states side was the amount of misuse that occurred (the report on the Today Show really beamed an unwelcome sight into it!)

I don't think there is a similar amount of misuse over (I may be wrong though, but can't say I've seen it happen!)

 

[MissSkellington]

I think the issue with the stateside parks is that if you're convincing enough, anyone can get a GAC, even if one isn't necessary. Thus, it gets abused by people who shouldn't have one.

As a family that uses a GAC, I far prefer the DLP's requirement to have a doctors note. I have to imagine it helps in keeping scammers at bay. I would love to see the US parks switch to the DLP system.

 

[Jonjo]

I never realised that DL & WDS gave out GAC passes without seeing any documentation from a Doctor. No wonder the system was abused.

 

[moorhunhe]

Jonjo, there's a law in the US that makes it so, so that people with dissabilities won't get discriminated.

Only ride at DLRP where you get a ticket is BTM, I haven't experienced such a system yet with any other ride over there.

As long as they can give you a correct hour, it's a good thing.
Unlike with BTM, where you need to ask the CM how long, and they say "maybe 20 minutes!" and being called to go through after already 5 minutes (so it's not like you can leave the area around the CM and come back in 20 minutes).

 

[Hipster Meg]

When we went to DLP earlier in the year we found that they were doing something similar on some of the more popular ride - on Buzz Lightyear we were given a return time (we were there on a weekend and the park was rammed) and until that time came we browsed in the shops and had a sit down and watched the short films in Cafe Hyperion. The first time it happen DS who is autistic had a mini meltdown but once he was calm we were able to explain to him what was happening and why. While the changes are going to be a bit of a pain if it's all explained to him ahead of time then he'll be fine but then he is high functioning and I can imagine the wait would be be difficult for any children have more severe difficulties.

 

[squirkle]

Yes something similar already happens at DLP on the busier rides, I have been given timed return cards for Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small Worls, Buzz and the Riverboat. Never had one for Big Thunder Mountain though it is badly needed there as the disabled access system in place does not work IMO.

Part of the reason it is in place already for these rides is due to health and Safety and the evacuation procedures in the event of a breakdown. They limit the number of disabled guests on the ride at any one time so they know may need assistance in the event of an evacuation. It would be no good having 20 guest requiring help, if there are only 2-3 CM available to assist them.

 

[moorhunhe]

There's a new line you need to go to for BTM, I don't know how it works now, will see that when I go myself for Halloween, but it's not through the exit like it used to be.

I'm planning on going to WDW next year with a large group, I feel like I'm going to be a huge pain in everyone's butt, because I can only do 1 ride in lets say 90 minutes (like the article says), while the others in the group can go and do something else in the meantime (and then return to the ride I registered for), but I can't do something else in the meantime, as I simply cannot stand in line for more then 20 minutes :/

Though, I understand it was getting out of control, and others need to wait just as much, and I don't mind not being able to go into another ride, but I do think I'll be more on my own the entire time I'll be there, because I don't think it's fair to tell the rest of the group they can't do something else in the meantime and they *must* wait with me, or will have to pull 1 person away from the group each time to stay with me.

 

[squirkle]

The new line and waiting area was in operation on our last visit but as BTM doesn't do timed returns, everyone just has to wait their turn in this area and when the park is busy it soon fills up. my autistic children freak out in confined and crowded areas so it means we have to leave before our turn to ride comes up. This is one of the main reasons why we need to use the disability pass.

I have no problem being asked to wait for the same length of time as the main queue, but we need to be able to do that wait in a calm and relatively quiet place. The timed return cards, like fastpasses, allow this to happen.