Question about GAC for brother with CP

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

Back story... My brother is 19, and we are 13 years apart, I'm married with my own DD6, we go to WDW a lot, and I take my brother almost every time... I felt like I should explain so that you didn't think I was his age, and then get responses that my parents should just take care of him...

My brother has CP, and it affects his legs. He wore braces for most of his life, and then was WC bound for about 5 years after a surgery to lengthen his tendons. He is able walk now, and does every day to do things like walk into work, walk from class to class, etc, but walking long distances or standing for more than like 10 minutes is very difficult for him. He requires a WC for WDW. Now we go often, we always take his manual chair, but we have never bothered with a GAC. We've never been questioned in the past, maybe because it's not a rental chair, he wears WC gloves, etc. However, on my last trip, about 2 weeks ago, he did not join us. Being close to someone with a disability you notice how people in WC are treated and I noticed that a LOT of CMs who were requesting to see GACs to have WC in line. REALLY!?!? Who would lug around a WC if they didn't absolutely have to?

So my question is, should I have taken him to get a GAC all along, or were these insensitive CMs? I've always thought of GACs for people who do not have obvious disabilities, people who need to use a stroller as a wheelchair, people who need to wait in quiet places, etc... WC's seem like an obvious reason to need different attention!

If your suggestion is that we should get a GAC, then will he need a note from his Dr? or should we bring in his vehicle hang tag? or will the fact that he is in a WC and his explanation be sufficient?

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Those were insensitive CMs who did not know better.

If a person is in a wheelchair or an ECV or is using a cane that automatically indicates a disability and that the Guest is entitled to whatever mobility-related assistance is needed. Usually this would involve bypassing of any stairs.

You are correct that the GAC is intended for invisible disabilities which do not involve mobility and/or stamina.

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

I just read the GAC FAQ. Technically he should not need one.

Anyone know of a recent policy that would cause so many CMs to ask for a GAC to enter a WC line with a WC?

Thanks again!!

 

[KPeveler]

I just read the GAC FAQ. Technically he should not need one.

Anyone know of a recent policy that would cause so many CMs to ask for a GAC to enter a WC line with a WC?

Thanks again!!

I think they are trying to keep people from going in fastpass lines because they have a wheelchair, when the main line is accessible. I watch an older couple, one of whom was in a scooter, arguing that because of the scooter, they needed to use the fastpass line. they did not have a GAC. Perhaps this is the kind of situation they are trying to avoid....

(i saw all this while waiting for my fastpass time to come up)

 

[aubriee]

I think they are trying to keep people from going in fastpass lines because they have a wheelchair, when the main line is accessible. I watch an older couple, one of whom was in a scooter, arguing that because of the scooter, they needed to use the fastpass line. they did not have a GAC. Perhaps this is the kind of situation they are trying to avoid....

(i saw all this while waiting for my fastpass time to come up)

We saw the same thing this past Dec. At Soarin' as we were waiting the last few minutes before our fast pass time, there was a rather large family that had a lady in an ECV. She kept yelling at the CM that because she had an ECV the whole family got to go through the fast pass line and didn't need fast passes, because they got automatic front of the line pass because of the ECV. She just kept insisting that she knew the rules. Funny thing is we were waiting right there for our fast pass time with my mom in an ECV and had our fast passes out. While she was arguing the clock ticked over and our fast passes became valid. We said excuse us, showed our fast passes, and my mom had to drive around this lady.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think they are trying to keep people from going in fastpass lines because they have a wheelchair, when the main line is accessible. I watch an older couple, one of whom was in a scooter, arguing that because of the scooter, they needed to use the fastpass line. they did not have a GAC. Perhaps this is the kind of situation they are trying to avoid....

(i saw all this while waiting for my fastpass time to come up)

Ding*Ding*Ding*

I think we have a winner here.

There are some clueless CMs out there, but I agree that the majority of these situations are probably people trying to use an entrance that is not the wheelchair entrance for that attraction. I have been on other sites where ECV users expect to use a back door or other way in, even though that is not the designated handicapped entrance.

WDW put out new park maps for Guests with Disabilities in the last few months - the maps actually started appearing a little over a year ago, but they recently put them in the park map kiosks with the regular park maps in all parks. The maps list the wheelchair/handicapped entrance for each attraction, and in most cases, they say to enter thru the regular line or get a Fastpass to use the Fastpass entrance. The maps say that the entrances listed on the maps are the wheelchair/handicapped entrances
My suggestion is to pick up one of those park maps for each park.
If you have any problems with a CM asking for a GAC for what is listed as the wheelchair entrance, you can show them the map and, if you need to do more, ask to speak to a supervisor. Doing those things will correct the CM who is not doing the correct thing.

We have had a few experiences of CMs asking to see a GAC - one was at Winnie the Pooh when we came to enter the line with a Fastpass. The CM said we could not enter the Fastpass line with a wheelchair without a GAC. I said “Uhhhm, we have a Fastpass.” It turned out she was on ‘automatic pilot’ and didn’t even look to see that we did have a Fastpass. That was easily taken care of once she thought about it.
Another time was at Splash Mountain; the line at one point gets to a set of stairs and at that point there is a pull off point marked with a wheelchair symbol. The CM didn’t want to let us thru because she said “that would be cutting. I can’t let you cut.” I pointed out that the wheelchair could not go any further in the regular line because of the stairs and asked what she suggested we do. She just repeated “I can’t let you cut.” Her supervisor came and told her to let us thru and she even was arguing with the supervisor, so she was really clueless.

 

[KPeveler]

Ding*Ding*Ding*

I think we have a winner here.

There are some clueless CMs out there, but I agree that the majority of these situations are probably people trying to use an entrance that is not the wheelchair entrance for that attraction. I have been on other sites where ECV users expect to use a back door or other way in, even though that is not the designated handicapped entrance.

WDW put out new park maps for Guests with Disabilities in the last few months - the maps actually started appearing a little over a year ago, but they recently put them in the park map kiosks with the regular park maps in all parks. The maps list the wheelchair/handicapped entrance for each attraction, and in most cases, they say to enter thru the regular line or get a Fastpass to use the Fastpass entrance. The maps say that the entrances listed on the maps are the wheelchair/handicapped entrances
My suggestion is to pick up one of those park maps for each park.
If you have any problems with a CM asking for a GAC for what is listed as the wheelchair entrance, you can show them the map and, if you need to do more, ask to speak to a supervisor. Doing those things will correct the CM who is not doing the correct thing.

We have had a few experiences of CMs asking to see a GAC - one was at Winnie the Pooh when we came to enter the line with a Fastpass. The CM said we could not enter the Fastpass line with a wheelchair without a GAC. I said “Uhhhm, we have a Fastpass.” It turned out she was on ‘automatic pilot’ and didn’t even look to see that we did have a Fastpass. That was easily taken care of once she thought about it.
Another time was at Splash Mountain; the line at one point gets to a set of stairs and at that point there is a pull off point marked with a wheelchair symbol. The CM didn’t want to let us thru because she said “that would be cutting. I can’t let you cut.” I pointed out that the wheelchair could not go any further in the regular line because of the stairs and asked what she suggested we do. She just repeated “I can’t let you cut.” Her supervisor came and told her to let us thru and she even was arguing with the supervisor, so she was really clueless.

As I remember Sue, wasnt that the person who told you to carry your 18 yr old DD who cannot walk at all through the rest of the line, including up and down the stairs, and just leave the wheelchair behind...?

 

[SueM in MN]

As I remember Sue, wasnt that the person who told you to carry your 18 yr old DD who cannot walk at all through the rest of the line, including up and down the stairs, and just leave the wheelchair behind...?

She just could not see why steps would be a problem.

 

[jmartinez1895]

She just could not see why steps would be a problem.

Well, why would stairs and a wheel chair be a problem? I guess some people just don't think things through.

 

[KPeveler]

She just could not see why steps would be a problem.

What is sad is this was not a random person, but a CM who had to go through training and everything... And Spalsh is one of the hardest attractions to work too (my wife worked it in DL)... oh well... at least the manager helped!

 

[SueM in MN]

What is sad is this was not a random person, but a CM who had to go through training and everything... And Spalsh is one of the hardest attractions to work too (my wife worked it in DL)... oh well... at least the manager helped!

What’s even sadder is that it happened around the same time to some other people.
And, that the CM was still arguing with her supervisor when we went out of hearing range.

 

[cm8]

mow that is sad... I hope she was retrained to be a better helper

 

[GrumpyMom25]

We've always gotten a GAC for our son who is in a special needs stroller, has DS and is Autistic. They always put a tag on his stroller and then we have the card. Last summer I forgot about the card and thought that the stroller tag was all I needed. When I went to take my son into the Buzz ride in MK the cast member gave me a rough time (I had totally forgotten about the card which my husband had taken with him in his pocket to another ride). Finally another cast member ran over and had a little talk to the one who wasn't letting me in. Turned out she also had a child with DS.
So far we've had pretty good experiences with the GAC ... you hit hang-ups here and there (like the 2 bus drivers who left us at Beach Club because they were too darn lazy to us the chair lift ... kept telling us we could get on the next bus ... we should have gotten the drivers names).

 

[lunapnp]

We always pick up a GAC with our DD. There was one trip that we didn't and the ONLY ride we had any problem with was.....you guessed it....Splash! After that, I decided that we would get a GAC at the start of every trip. It saved so much headache on my part to just get the GAC. Sadly, it's obvious by looking at DD she has a disability, so I'm not sure why some CM's want to give us a hard time. I can understand somewhat though because I know the CM's get tired of being the "police." I've seen families of 15 try and illegally get in to rides through fastpass/wc entrances. When we go to Disney, it's only me, DH, and my two DDs. Regardless of the maps, etc, that Disney puts out...I think it's worth a 5 minute stop at guest services to get the GAC for the times that you may encounter the ill-informed CM's.

To answer the question in the original post, you do NOT need a dr's note or his handicap placard.

 

[kaffinito]

When we were there a few weeks ago with DN5 who has CP we were stopped a lot by CM's who wanted to see the GAC before letting us on attractions. I had the stroller as wheelchair tag, but they still wanted to see a GAC. So I had the tag and a GAC stamped with the same message to show CM's.

On the whole though, if I asked what the procedure for wheelchairs was at an attraction the CM's were pretty helpful.

 

[SueM in MN]

We always pick up a GAC with our DD. There was one trip that we didn't and the ONLY ride we had any problem with was.....you guessed it....Splash! After that, I decided that we would get a GAC at the start of every trip. It saved so much headache on my part to just get the GAC. Sadly, it's obvious by looking at DD she has a disability, so I'm not sure why some CM's want to give us a hard time. I can understand somewhat though because I know the CM's get tired of being the "police." I've seen families of 15 try and illegally get in to rides through fastpass/wc entrances. When we go to Disney, it's only me, DH, and my two DDs. Regardless of the maps, etc, that Disney puts out...I think it's worth a 5 minute stop at guest services to get the GAC for the times that you may encounter the ill-informed CM's.

To answer the question in the original post, you do NOT need a dr's note or his handicap placard.

Guest Services often will not give a GAC for someone with a wheelchair where the only need is for wheelchair access. I think the new maps were one way to try to deal with that situation.

My thought is that having a GAC for a wheelchair that says you can bring it in line just sets up the next person with a wheelchair to be asked for one. So, if we are asked, we do show the map and ask for a supervisor if needed. That takes car of the problem and educates the CM.

We have actually only been asked to show a GAC to bring the wheelchair into line in those 2 situations - Winnie the Pooh with a Fastpass and Splash Mountain.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Our son who is PDD-NOS can and does walk but we always rent a stroller from the parks so he can have a place where he feels safe and doesn't wonder off (which he probably would if not in a stroller). He doesn't need a stroller for medical reasons, just safety reasons. His GAC still has the stroller=wheelchair stamp on it. To avoid any confusion or conflict, we always approach the CM at the regular line entrance and show the GAC and ask where we should go for our part of the line. Have never had an issue and we love Disney for this reason. My son looks completely normal but does have needs and Disney help everyone have the most magical vacation they can. And people wonder why we keep going back, umm, let's see, they help everyone have a great time. I have never seen the same level of courtesy and help at any other park, ever.

 

[scojos]

Our son who is PDD-NOS can and does walk but we always rent a stroller from the parks so he can have a place where he feels safe and doesn't wonder off (which he probably would if not in a stroller). He doesn't need a stroller for medical reasons, just safety reasons. His GAC still has the stroller=wheelchair stamp on it. To avoid any confusion or conflict, we always approach the CM at the regular line entrance and show the GAC and ask where we should go for our part of the line. Have never had an issue and we love Disney for this reason. My son looks completely normal but does have needs and Disney help everyone have the most magical vacation they can. And people wonder why we keep going back, umm, let's see, they help everyone have a great time. I have never seen the same level of courtesy and help at any other park, ever.

i agree.
except ds has asd.
tracy