Question about group size and GAC

[princess mom of 4]

I think I read somewhere that 5 other people can accompany the holder of the GAC (through an alternative entrance to an attraction, or for special seating for parade, etc). Anybody know if that is strictly applied? Our next trip will be me, DH, DS-14 (the GAC kid), three DD's , and a grandma along to help. That would be 6 other people along with the GAC holder...Can we still all be together, so need to split up?

 

[LMC]

We were told 6 when we were there in December. We were a group of 7 so we followed the rule and one of us adults sat out at each attraction where need be. I did see groups showing one GAC and entering with more than the 6 allowed and the CM's allowed it. I was appalled at one group of 15 (YES! 15!!!) that entered on one GAC. I posted a message here after our trip to vent as it was upsetting that someone would take advantage so blatantly and we wouldn't even bend the rule for 1 addt'l. Replies to my post were that the CM's would never guestion the guest. So, if you think you must try, you can try and see what happens. The rides were not so much a problem for us but the shows (which are long) were as we didn't want to split for an hour plus. (Wait time, plus show time)

 

[madonna31]

In short, it's really up to the CM at the attraction.

 

[samkj]

We were told 6 when we were there in December. We were a group of 7 so we followed the rule and one of us adults sat out at each attraction where need be. I did see groups showing one GAC and entering with more than the 6 allowed and the CM's allowed it. I was appalled at one group of 15 (YES! 15!!!) that entered on one GAC. I posted a message here after our trip to vent as it was upsetting that someone would take advantage so blatantly and we wouldn't even bend the rule for 1 addt'l. Replies to my post were that the CM's would never guestion the guest. So, if you think you must try, you can try and see what happens. The rides were not so much a problem for us but the shows (which are long) were as we didn't want to split for an hour plus. (Wait time, plus show time)

I agree with you. We split up our group when we have more than the 5 in our family. We use fast pass whenever possible, or some will wait in the regular line and we meet up with them at the end. Its not meant to be used to skip lines anyway, so this works best for us. I saw one of those groups of 12 in Disneyland in November, who yelled(screamed is more like it) at the CMs when they told them their group was too big. The standby line was all of 15 minutes but they objected to waiting at all.

 

[joanchris]

We were there with 7 total on our trip in October, but the 7 was just for 3 park days.....there were only a few (like, 3 or 4 total) attractions that all 7 of us wanted to go on, and all of us going at once was not a problem....... possibly because one other member of our party was Down's Syndrome (in addition to my DD10 in her wheelchair), no one questioned us. The other member of our party was going to get a GAC, as she cannot wait in lines now as she is getting older, she cannot stand and would have needed alternative waiting area, but it proved unnecessary as the few things we all did were the ones where the waiting would have been the worst for her.
I think one extra person, usually would not be questioned, but if it had been for every ride we would not have done it--15 as another poster mentioned it really abusing the system!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My thought on this is a lot depends on two things. One is how crowded the place is and the lines; if it will not inconvenience other guests I would be mor einclined to bend/break the rules. However, the attitude of the requester also plays a large part. Technically my supervisor must stand by my decision if it is what the rules say, but in actual practice my bending or breaking the rules for Guest enjoyment purposes will also be allowed. If the Guest is nasty or demanding I am much more likely to enforce the rules strictly.

 

[AJKMOM]

Several years ago, we saw a man in a wheelchair and 25 people with him, all getting on "Small World" at the handicapped entrance. Granted, the man only had one leg, but still, they filled up an entire boat.

 

[shades]

When we were at WDW last Christmas, we saw a group of about 15 rush into the wheelchair line in the Figment ride. I couldn't believe it when I saw and heard that family - one was saying to the little kids - "we get to use this line because grandma is in a wheelchair." Well, they forgot to bring "grandma" in with them. They were all standing around saying "where's grandma??" - The CM just stood there looking at them and wouldn't let them board the ride until they went and got their grandma

It was so ridiculous and clearly - abusing the system! I had a GAC and I didn't use mine 'cause we were in the Figment ride. There rarely is a wait beyond 1 minute for that ride. Unbelievable!

 

[minnie61650]

Several years ago, we saw a man in a wheelchair and 25 people with him, all getting on "Small World" at the handicapped entrance. Granted, the man only had one leg, but still, they filled up an entire boat.

There is a handicap accessible boat at the "Small World" ride. Guests who need the HA boat all wait together until the HA boat has emptied then they board together.
More then likely that group of 25 people was really several smaller groups who were each with a disable person.

This is how rumors start. Many of the able-bodied guests think WC/ECV users are taking advantage of the system when in fact we are just going to an accessible area so we too may enjoy an attraction.

 

[Schmeck]

The other member of our party was going to get a GAC, as she cannot wait in lines now as she is getting older, she cannot stand and would have needed alternative waiting area, but it proved unnecessary as the few things we all did were the ones where the waiting would have been the worst for her.

I thought WDW policy for not being able to wait in line due to stamina issues was to suggest that the guest use a wheelchair? I didn't know that they'd give a GAC for that.

 

[Charleyann]

I have a son with cystic fibrosis and juveile rheumatoid arthrits....it is NOT always about standing in long line ups. Eliminating the problem by thinking wheelchair will help solve their problem is pure ignorance!

Standing in direct sunlight for a long period and standing on his ankle inflicted with arthritis won't help either. Making him use a wheelchair to avoid long lineups is crazy! Later on, when he is dying, there will be time for wheelchairs! Not at Disneyworld! Not where he is free to be a kid, away from hospitals and doctors..

He tires easily, the GAC allows him to access lines quicker and go back to hotel and rest and come back the next day and next day, to catch what he missed. At a more relaxed pace. GAC isn't just about people who can't walk....there is a story behind every GAC...My sons needs chest physio therapy 3 times a day, with this, there would never be time to do Disney World without the GAC ! He deserves to be able to take advantage of Disney world like any other abled bodied person!

Charleyann

 

[Schmeck]

Charleyann, My mother would benefit from a GAC for not standing in the lines as well - but here on the disABILITIES board there was info stating that WDW policy was to tell you to get a wheelchair, as the walking between attractions was much more demanding than the length of the lines, or somesuch.

My mom's knees are bizarre, to say the least. She can outwalk me on basically flat terrain, but if she sits or stands still for too long, they freeze up and she is in severe pain. Thus, a wheelchair/ECV would be the worst thing for her. As it is, I have to help haul her up and out of many of the ride vehicles, such as the IASM and Splash Mountain types. If she could avoid standing still in lines (you should see her try to 'pace' a bit when we are in one spot too long) she would be able to enjoy her day at WDW more.

My mom has been to numerous specialists, endured painful shots, taken medications that turned her inside out, and still has no relief from the pain. She can't even sleep a full night in an adjustable bed - she has an apparatus now to keep her knees in some elevated, supported position, with some other stuff going on as well. She gets about 2 hours of sleep, has to get up and move around, change the ice packs, etc, and then try to go back to sleep.

I feel like you jumped down my throat Charleyann, for asking a simple question about WDW policy.

 

[DaisyD]

I thought WDW policy for not being able to wait in line due to stamina issues was to suggest that the guest use a wheelchair? I didn't know that they'd give a GAC for that.

My mom gets a GAC because she cannot stand too long. We showed the CMs and were let in the fastpass lines every time. This was in December and October.

 

[Charleyann]

I didn't mean to jump your throat. I thought you meant wheelchairs eliminate the need GAC for waiting in lines....that you were implying there was no need for the card. Go to guest relation and your Mom should be able to enjoy Disney World just like my little boy did this past Christmas and holiday season. He didn't always use a wheelchair either...his problems are invisible, although he has been hospitalized about 100 times since birth. He is only nine.

There are some people who get really testy and don't understand why people can just skip lines....you know, until they live it, they can never possible understand it. I wish you and mom well.

Charleyann

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The normal procedure for stamina and/or mobility issues is to suggest that the Guest use a wheelchair or ECV.

If the need is explained as "She can outwalk me on basically flat terrain, but if she sits or stands still for too long, they freeze up and she is in severe pain." a different accomodation can be made.

At WDW the accomodation is more likely than at DLR. Of course then entire key is that the GAC is not intended for FOTL access but to make sure all Guests have equal access to all attractions.

 

[AJKMOM]

Minnie61650:

We watched all 25 walk in together down the handicapped accessible ramp. They waited at the bottom for the boat. This happened several years ago.

My family uses the GAC with our handicapped son, but we only have 5 at the most, and are careful not to abuse the system. However, we are more aware of how many may, which is why the 25 with one special needs caught our eye.

 

[JenJen]

When I was a cast member I never seperated a family if there was a lot of little ones. I almost always let a group of 7 on with no issues.
Just be polite and there should be no problem. But they will NOT put 7 on the pass it voids the pass.
Jen

 

[SueM in MN]

suggest[/i] that the Guest use a wheelchair or ECV.

If the need is explained as "She can outwalk me on basically flat terrain, but if she sits or stands still for too long, they freeze up and she is in severe pain." a different accomodation can be made.

At WDW the accomodation is more likely than at DLR. Of course then entire key is that the GAC is not intended for FOTL access but to make sure all Guests have equal access to all attractions.

agree with Cheshire Figment.
If you go to Guest Services and tell them that you have problems with walking, they will suggest a wheelchair or ECV because walking around the park will be more of a problem than waiting in line will.
The thing you need to be able to explain is the needs that the person has. And, not to expect the GAC will be a front of the line pass.
We just got back from WDW and notived that on a lot of attractions (especially ones where the standby line was long), they were giving out sort of hand written Fastpasses with a return time written on them.

The GACs are usually written to allow the person the GAC was issued to plus up to 5 members of their party. But, there are situations where that might be bent. I know of a family of 2 parents and 5 children. They were able to get a GAC for a total of 7 because you could not break up their family and tell them to leave one child out.

There are also situations where it may look like a group of 25 are together with one special needs person. I know that happened to us several times where it looked like the people behind us (who also had a GAC and a person with a wheelchair) got to talking to us in line as we waited for the Safari. To anyone seeing us, we would have looked like a large group with 2 people in wheelchairs, but we were actually 2 groups with wheelchairs and a smaller group (who were relatives of the ither wheelchair group) who had a GAC.

 

[princess mom of 4]

I appreciate everybody's input - this must be another of those cans of worms, like swimming in another resort's pool, or bringing back last year's refillable mug, or cheating on your child's true age! I am glad to hear that Disney will sometimes allow a group of 7 to stay together, but we will plan to separate as needed.