Pls help, GAC, double stroller, etc.

[jenjersnap]

I've read the faq about getting a GAC card. I just can't decide whether we should bother taking the time to do it and was hoping for some advice.

My middle DS has a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy. (Here's more than you ever wanted to know, if interested: http://childrenscardiomyopathy.org/site/understand.php) He has been fairly stable until the past few months. This summer he has had several bouts of irregular heart rhythms and he is frequently tired and out of breath, so this is the first time I have considered a GAC. His cardiologist doesn't have a problem with us going as long as we limit his physical activity.

Anyway, long story, sorry ... reading the faq, it seems that the reasons we might need a GAC card are the vague reasons that are not adequate excuses - inability to walk or stand in long lines, especially those in the sun or not air-conditioned. We choose the less busy times of the year specifically to avoid lots of line waiting but I am a bit concerned it is going to be busier than we expect this September and certainly hotter than we are used to.

Next issue: I have 17 month old so we cart around a double stroller. Will that be a huge issue if we obtained a GAC to take the stroller through the line? I was worried there simply isn't that kind of space in the queues.

I guess I am trying to determine if a GAC card is something that will be useful to us at all. In a pinch, DH can carry him as long as we choose lines without much of a wait or FP a lot so we can manage, if necessary.

Thanks so much!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

I have Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy so I can sympathize, but must be much worse for a child. Is the stroller the one behind the other type? if so you should not have a problem but will need to have the GAC for that stroller as wheelchair. hopefully the double part won't be an issue. you could also have the out of heat part but very few lines have anywhere out of heat to wait.
Do still use fast pass when you can. it does not take long to stop at City hall to get the GAC and you will need it from the sound. It won't get you through the lines faster but can help with the other issues.

 

[jenjersnap]

I have Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy so I can sympathize, but must be much worse for a child. Is the stroller the one behind the other type? if so you should not have a problem but will need to have the GAC for that stroller as wheelchair. hopefully the double part won't be an issue. you could also have the out of heat part but very few lines have anywhere out of heat to wait.
Do still use fast pass when you can. it does not take long to stop at City hall to get the GAC and you will need it from the sound. It won't get you through the lines faster but can help with the other issues.

It's a side by side stroller, unfortunately. It is one of the more compact strollers around at 29 inches wide, small enough to get through standard doorways.

Thanks for answering!

 

[seashoreCM]

The GAC can certainly be tailored to treat the two youngsters in one double stroller no differently than one adult in one wheelchair, including provision for being kept out of the sun. This would prevent the need to rent one wheelchair for both of them to sit side by side in, possibly resulting in some later arriving guest finding the wheelchairs sold out.

Would a parasol help?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dawnball]

I
Next issue: I have 17 month old so we cart around a double stroller. Will that be a huge issue if we obtained a GAC to take the stroller through the line? I was worried there simply isn't that kind of space in the queues.

The stamp that lets you take a stroller into lines really tells CMs to treat your stroller as if it were a wheelchair. For non-mainstream queues they'd just send you through the wheelchair entrance.

Really, the reasons you have should be perfectly adequate to a gac allowing you to use a stroller as a wheelchair or to wait in a shaded place if there's one available. I'd make sure to take a break during the heat of the day and spend the afternoon seeing as many air-conditioned attractions as possible. An extra-large sunshade for the stroller or a stroller fan may help too.

 

[pcparamedics01]

Anyway, long story, sorry ... reading the faq, it seems that the reasons we might need a GAC card are the vague reasons that are not adequate excuses - inability to walk or stand in long lines, especially those in the sun or not air-conditioned. We choose the less busy times of the year specifically to avoid lots of line waiting but I am a bit concerned it is going to be busier than we expect this September and certainly hotter than we are used to.

Next issue: I have 17 month old so we cart around a double stroller. Will that be a huge issue if we obtained a GAC to take the stroller through the line? I was worried there simply isn't that kind of space in the queues.

I guess I am trying to determine if a GAC card is something that will be useful to us at all. In a pinch, DH can carry him as long as we choose lines without much of a wait or FP a lot so we can manage, if necessary.

Thanks so much![/QUOTE]


No there are no issues! We rented a stroller on this last trip. We would do it again. You do not have to take the stroller though the GAC line. My issue was finding the stroller after the ride. Since I rented it is not detrimental. Disney gets the stoller back.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi! When we went last year we got a GAC for our then 5 year old with autism. We had the stamp that allowed us to use our stroller as a wheelchair. We only used it once as a wheelchair. We had a double (side-by-side) stroller and a GAC for only one of our two children and we did not encounter any problems. Hope this helps. Amy

 

[MousekeMommy]

After taking my child with a heart condition (pacemaker to correct AV Block) in July, I can say that getting a stroller as wheelchair GAC saved our vacation. Both my husband & I are athletic, but carrying a child around really gets tiring, especially in Florida heat & humidity. Your "reasons" for the need of a GAC aren't vague at all--your child has a medical (heart) condition that makes it impossible for him to exert his self walking long distances -- including the lines at the ride (I'm not sure how many "miles" long the line into Pirates of the Carribbean or Splash Mountain is, but I know that my son never would have made it without the stroller! Not to mention the long, steep ramps into Star Tours! The short lines, like Teacups and Aladdin, and the airconditioned shows, were fine for him without the stroller, but those rides and attractions are few and far between! I would encourage you to get and use a GAC--it seems that your child has a legitimate need.

 

[jenjersnap]

Thank you, everyone, for the reassuring advice. Sorry if I sounded tentative, "reasons" vs "needs", etc.; we are adjusting to a new reality shift here, one that part of me denies at times.

SeashoreCM, we bought our DS one of those ridiculous hats that have an umbrella attached on top ... thank goodness he has his father's goofy streak and loves to wear it. We're hoping it, along with the mister fans, give him sun relief.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I am wondering about how well we will do with a double stroller too. (One seat behind the other). Will it be awkward to get through lines? Even the wheelchair ones?

 

[SueM in MN]

The stamp that lets you take a stroller into lines really tells CMs to treat your stroller as if it were a wheelchair. For non-mainstream queues they'd just send you through the wheelchair entrance.

It's a side by side stroller, unfortunately. It is one of the more compact strollers around at 29 inches wide, small enough to get through standard doorways.

I am wondering about how well we will do with a double stroller too. (One seat behind the other). Will it be awkward to get through lines? Even the wheelchair ones?

The 'definition' of a 'standard wheelchair' is that it will fit in a space no larger than 32" inches wide x 48" inches long.
So, as long as your stroller is smaller than that, it will fit in any of the accessible (Mainstream) queues. Some of the queues are smaller than that, have steps or have sharp turns that are smaller than that measurement. Those attractions have wheelchair entrances.

Anyway, long story, sorry ... reading the faq, it seems that the reasons we might need a GAC card are the vague reasons that are not adequate excuses - inability to walk or stand in long lines, especially those in the sun or not air-conditioned.

As the others said, your child's needs are not vague and do need to be accomodated.

If your child was an adult and gave those reasons/needs for a GAC, a wheelchair or ECV would be the main recommendation. Since your child is too small to rent an adult wheelchair in the parks, having a GAC to use a stroller as a wheelchair treats your child the same way as an adult with those needs would be treated.