parents of autistic kids...ever been refused a GAC..we were

[ez]

MY son will be 4 in July, and he is autistic. We tried to do MVMCP and we were refused a GAC, saying it was a ticketed event and there would be no need, as there would be hardly any people in the park. NOT!!!!It was jammed and chaotic and huge lines for everything and we had to leave without doing anything. I spoke with Disney and they apologized and sent me 4 one day park passes...I'm just hoping when we do go back the same thing doesnt happen again. I did have paperwork form the school with me that had his diagnosis on there, but it is my understanding they arent allowed to ask to see it (they didnt) thanks for your help!

 

[rentingspace]

I walked right up to the window at Magic Kingdom told the lady the I had a 5yr old son with autism and there was 5 of us in the group. She handed over the GAC card without even seeing my son or a note from anyone. I didn't have to get another GAC for anyother park we just kept using that one for all the parks and days we were there.

 

[ireland_nicole]

When we last went in June, we were able to get a GAC w/o difficulty (and oh, my, gosh, it helped immensly) but now that I think about it we did have one difficulty. Both of my kids have different disabilities, but the CM would only give us one GAC and we were told to basically pick the child who needed the most accomodations (which was my DS5(gdd,hypotonia,encephalopathy), who needed stroller as w/c), and that we could not have 2. So there were times that we could not due things b/c my son wasn't tall enough or ready for a ride, and my DD8(ASD,ADHD,Bipolar, Dyspraxia,RAD) could not make it through w/o an alternate place to wait, etc. Also, we could not do any shows at AK b/c my daughter is very photosensitive d/t meds, and couldn't wait in the sun. When I asked a CM at Finding Nemo (he was wearing a dress shirt and tie w/ name tag) if there was a shaded area, he simply said no. Of course, thanks to this forum, I now know to request 2 gacs w/ the different accomodations needed for both, and that there is a gac for shaded waiting...live and learn, I guess-but we still had an awesome trip! I'm sorry about your experience, but hope you still had a good vacation.
Nicole

 

[livndisney]

When we last went in June, we were able to get a GAC w/o difficulty (and oh, my, gosh, it helped immensly) but now that I think about it we did have one difficulty. Both of my kids have different disabilities, but the CM would only give us one GAC and we were told to basically pick the child who needed the most accomodations (which was my DS5(gdd,hypotonia,encephalopathy), who needed stroller as w/c), and that we could not have 2. So there were times that we could not due things b/c my son wasn't tall enough or ready for a ride, and my DD8(ASD,ADHD,Bipolar, Dyspraxia,RAD) could not make it through w/o an alternate place to wait, etc. Also, we could not do any shows at AK b/c my daughter is very photosensitive d/t meds, and couldn't wait in the sun. When I asked a CM at Finding Nemo (he was wearing a dress shirt and tie w/ name tag) if there was a shaded area, he simply said no. Of course, thanks to this forum, I now know to request 2 gacs w/ the different accomodations needed for both, and that there is a gac for shaded waiting...live and learn, I guess-but we still had an awesome trip! I'm sorry about your experience, but hope you still had a good vacation.
Nicole

FYI, for next time you go: The Festival of the Lion King has a small shaded area at the entrance. I have been allowed to wait there. For the Pocahantas show, you can wait out of line in the shade and enter the show area when they open the area. The Bird show is the same way. To the left of the entrance is a shaded area where you can wait and then enter the show once they open the area. I am sending you a PM

 

[Cheshire Figment]

MY son will be 4 in July, and he is autistic. We tried to do MVMCP and we were refused a GAC, saying it was a ticketed event and there would be no need, as there would be hardly any people in the park.

If anything like this happens again, please immediately ask to talk to a supervisor. And normally the GAC will cover a range of days, not just the specific day.

 

[jennydep]

If anything like this happens again, please immediately ask to talk to a supervisor. And normally the GAC will cover a range of days, not just the specific day.

When we were at the P&PP last August, I was told that our regular GAC was not effective for the party. I needed one with a different colored stamp to use that evening. We found this out at Toon Town. We just toughed it out because I didn't want to hoof it all the way to the front of the park.

 

[Schmeck]

I would think that the first two situations/posts both had CMs make mistakes with the GAC? Although, having autism does not mean you get a GAC, as a GAC does not need a diagnosis because its purpose is to allow equal access to attractions. This depends on needs, not diagnosis.

But to issue a GAC without the person present? Is this allowed? Seems that rampant abuse could occur with this!

 

[Hook's Girl]

I would think that the first two situations/posts both had CMs make mistakes with the GAC? Although, having autism does not mean you get a GAC, as a GAC does not need a diagnosis because its purpose is to allow equal access to attractions. This depends on needs, not diagnosis.

But to issue a GAC without the person present? Is this allowed? Seems that rampant abuse could occur with this!

Magic Kingdom Guest Relations does not issue GACs for use at hard ticketed events.

 

[Hook's Girl]

If anything like this happens again, please immediately ask to talk to a supervisor. And normally the GAC will cover a range of days, not just the specific day.

Just a note that Guest Relations hosts and hostesses are highly trained and empowered to make decisions. It could take up to a half hour for a manager to get to the location because these cast members work without managers in their area.

 

[SueM in MN]

I walked right up to the window at Magic Kingdom told the lady the I had a 5yr old son with autism and there was 5 of us in the group. She handed over the GAC card without even seeing my son or a note from anyone. I didn't have to get another GAC for anyother park we just kept using that one for all the parks and days we were there.

The GAC is usually issued to be valid for your whole trip and it is valid for all the theme parks (not for the water parks).
A note/proof is not required, but it is very unusual for them to issue one without the person present. Even if it is a child, it is issued in the name of the person with a disability, so they need to be there.
I have heard of people being turned away and told to go get the person with a disability.

When I asked a CM at Finding Nemo (he was wearing a dress shirt and tie w/ name tag) if there was a shaded area, he simply said no. Of course, thanks to this forum, I now know to request 2 gacs w/ the different accomodations needed for both, and that there is a gac for shaded waiting...live and learn, I guess-but we still had an awesome trip! I'm sorry about your experience, but hope you still had a good vacation.
Nicole

Finding Nemo is one of the few shows that doesn't have any shade in the waiting area. When we went, we faced DD's back to the sun and some of our party stood behind her to block the sun. Sometimes, that's the best you can do.

I would think that the first two situations/posts both had CMs make mistakes with the GAC? Although, having autism does not mean you get a GAC, as a GAC does not need a diagnosis because its purpose is to allow equal access to attractions. This depends on needs, not diagnosis.

But to issue a GAC without the person present? Is this allowed? Seems that rampant abuse could occur with this!

it does sound like the CMs were wrong.
And, the GAC is given for needs, not diagnosis.

I had not heard of a specific GAC for any parties. When we went to MNSSHP, we went on some rides, but it was not busy enough to use DD's GAC, so we have no experience with whether the same thing would have happened to us as to jennydep.

 

[SueM in MN]

Magic Kingdom Guest Relations does not issue GACs for use at hard ticketed events.

Thanks for the information.
Do you know if they use the GACs if someone already has one?

 

[Hook's Girl]

Thanks for the information.
Do you know if they use the GACs if someone already has one?

I think it depends on the GAC. Sometimes because the time and limited number of people in the park a GAC would be ineffective or even unnecessary. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with presenting a GAC to the cast member letting them direct you appropriately.

Sorry if that seems a little vague.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think it depends on the GAC. Sometimes because the time and limited number of people in the park a GAC would be ineffective or even unnecessary. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with presenting a GAC to the cast member letting them direct you appropriately.

Sorry if that seems a little vague.

No.
I understand.
Actually, I have said for years that the same GAC might be handled very differently at different times because of things like how busy it is right then, how many were waiting, etc.
So, what you wrote is just a variation on what I have said before.

 

[livndisney]

Thanks for the information.
Do you know if they use the GACs if someone already has one?

I would think yes, as some people might still need some accommodation. For example, I don't yet use an ECV, but even at a party at WDW I still can't do the stairs at Splash Mountain. I think I am going to look into this further.

 

[merryweather20]

Does this just not make sense to anyone else? This seems the same as if they told me I couldn't ride the Jungle Cruise because they didn't feel like loading wheel-chairs that day

Someone who couldn't use stairs or needed extra time to board would still need those accomodations regardless. I can see procedures for accomodations changing due to crowd levels or staffing changes, but to refuse to accomodate people, especially when they had paid extra for a ticketed event seems unlikely.

As for the Guest Relations CM's I haven't really found them any better informed than any other CM. I recently read a travel book where the authors did an informal test since some of their readers had complained about difficulty in obtaining Gac's. A full one in three at each of the parks except for Epcot which was 1/4 said they didn't know what the guest was referring to. They reported this to Disney, who also recommended that their readers ask for a manager if any of their reader's had difficulty(as Cheshire Figment had suggested). Both the authors thought the numbers were a bit of an aberration, but I think it still shows that there are plenty of GAC uninformed CM's.

 

[livndisney]

Does this just not make sense to anyone else? This seems the same as if they told me I couldn't ride the Jungle Cruise because they didn't feel like loading wheel-chairs that day

Someone who couldn't use stairs or needed extra time to board would still need those accomodations regardless. I can see procedures for accomodations changing due to crowd levels or staffing changes, but to refuse to accomodate people, especially when they had paid extra for a ticketed event seems unlikely.

As for the Guest Relations CM's I haven't really found them any better informed than any other CM. I recently read a travel book where the authors did an informal test since some of their readers had complained about difficulty in obtaining Gac's. A full one in three at each of the parks except for Epcot which was 1/4 said they didn't know what the guest was referring to. They reported this to Disney, who also recommended that their readers ask for a manager if any of their reader's had difficulty(as Cheshire Figment had suggested). Both the authors thought the numbers were a bit of an aberration, but I think it still shows that there are plenty of GAC uninformed CM's.

No it did not make sense to me either. I do not see how they can refuse to accomodate someone, if they have paid for the ticket.
I have also run into a few Guest Services CM's who were "less than informed" on GAC's. One that comes to mind was at Epcot, it did involve calling a manager and they were there within minutes.

 

[MarieS]

We didn't ask for a GAC because my boys use wheelchairs and it seemed obvious that we couldn't use stairs and need the alternate entrance. However, on our last trip to Epcot a CM wouldn't let us into the character greeting area at opening because we didn't have one. The CM told us that people who were "handicapped" needed to get one. I replied that the boys just wanted to wait in line to meet the characters. He insisted we get one. I don't know it there were stairs in the character connection or what the problem was. When we went to guest services I told them what happened, that I didn't think we needed one, but was told to get one. The CM gave me a GAC and stickers for the wheelchairs that said "may use stroller as wheelchair'??? At several shows/rides we were asked to show the GAC before we were directed to the alternate entrance. (The boys never did see any characters that day because by the time we got back with the GAC there was a huge line.)

This makes no sense to me because the need we had was to use an alternate entrance and with the wheelchairs it seems obvious.

 

[SueM in MN]

Does this just not make sense to anyone else? This seems the same as if they told me I couldn't ride the Jungle Cruise because they didn't feel like loading wheel-chairs that day

Someone who couldn't use stairs or needed extra time to board would still need those accomodations regardless. I can see procedures for accomodations changing due to crowd levels or staffing changes, but to refuse to accomodate people, especially when they had paid extra for a ticketed event seems unlikely.

As for the Guest Relations CM's I haven't really found them any better informed than any other CM. I recently read a travel book where the authors did an informal test since some of their readers had complained about difficulty in obtaining Gac's. A full one in three at each of the parks except for Epcot which was 1/4 said they didn't know what the guest was referring to. They reported this to Disney, who also recommended that their readers ask for a manager if any of their reader's had difficulty(as Cheshire Figment had suggested). Both the authors thought the numbers were a bit of an aberration, but I think it still shows that there are plenty of GAC uninformed CM's.

No it did not make sense to me either. I do not see how they can refuse to accomodate someone, if they have paid for the ticket.

I don't think it would be a 'refuse to accomodate' situation in most cases. If it's not busy, the GAC might not be needed to get the accomodation that is needed.
For example, in a number of attractions, there are stairs in one part of the queue, but that part of the queue is not used all the time. An example of a line like that is Spaceship Earth - I have not ridden in years, so I don't remember the stairs, but some posters wrote about going up the stairs, another wrote there are no stairs and then someone who is very familiar with the attraction, indicated that one route has stairs, but that route is not used all the time. So, both posters were right for the time they went.
Other attractions have a way around the stairs - for example, American Adventure has stairs to get to the second floor, but in the same area, they also have escalators.

Some of the accomodations would not be needed in the evening - if the GAC was to avoid sun, that's not a problem at night. Other accomodations might not be needed if it's not busy.
If someone has a wheelchair or ECV, they would not need a GAC to get extra time to board or to have an accessible entrance. The CM can see those are needed just by seeing the wheelchair/ECV.

I have not read the travel book that did the informal survey, but I know enough about surveys that I would wonder how they asked/what words they used to ask for a Guest Assistance Card. People who have posted on this board and other boards I look at over the years have called it a "Handicapped Pass", an "Autism Pass", a "Special Assistance Pass", a "Disability Card", a "Disability Pass", a "Front of the Line Pass", an "Access Pass", etc, etc.
Someone asking for one of those would probably get a much different answer than someone going in and either requesting a "Guest Assistance Card" or explaining they have some special needs that they need help with.

I think if 1 of every 3 CMs in Guest Relations (1 in 4 at Epcot) really did not know about Guest Assistance Cards, we would have had at least some posts about that on this board. We have not had complaints.

 

[SueM in MN]

We didn't ask for a GAC because my boys use wheelchairs and it seemed obvious that we couldn't use stairs and need the alternate entrance. However, on our last trip to Epcot a CM wouldn't let us into the character greeting area at opening because we didn't have one. The CM told us that people who were "handicapped" needed to get one. I replied that the boys just wanted to wait in line to meet the characters. He insisted we get one. I don't know it there were stairs in the character connection or what the problem was. When we went to guest services I told them what happened, that I didn't think we needed one, but was told to get one. The CM gave me a GAC and stickers for the wheelchairs that said "may use stroller as wheelchair'??? At several shows/rides we were asked to show the GAC before we were directed to the alternate entrance. (The boys never did see any characters that day because by the time we got back with the GAC there was a huge line.)

This makes no sense to me because the need we had was to use an alternate entrance and with the wheelchairs it seems obvious.

Your situation doesn't make sense.
How old were your boys and what kind of wheelchairs did they have?

We HAVE run into that situation at Splash Mountain and I know other people have also. There is a point after waiting for quite a while where the regular line gets to a flight of stairs. At that point, there is a 'gate' marked with a wheelchair symbol. The last time we rode, we waited at that gate for a CM to open it. When she arrived, she said she could not let us go thru because that would be 'cutting the line'. I pointed out that the regular line had stairs and that since DD had a wheelchair, we could not go that way. She said that didn't matter, she could not let us 'cut' . We were about to ask for a Supervisor when the CM's supervisor came by and told the CM to let us thru. The CM did, but with lots of grumbling and arguing with her supervisor.
And, ours was not a situation where the CM might have thought we had a stroller. DD was close to 5 feet tall and has a regular custom wheelchair with big tires in the back. We also had a GAc, which the CM had seen, so it's not like she thought we needed a GAC to use that handicapped access, she just was not letting anyone thru.

 

[LauraVV]

Thanks for the information.
Do you know if they use the GACs if someone already has one?

We were just there at the beginning of the month. We got a GAC at the beginning of the trip. We used it at the Pirate and Princess Party.