Question about the "special assistance" pass or similar

[Rajah]

I'm going to be travelling to WDW with my parents in a couple of weeks, just for a couple of days. My mom has a medical condition that requires her to stay out of the sun as much as possible. I was wondering if, if we were able to get a note from her Dr in the next 2 weeks (and if she'd do it), she would qualify for some kind of pass that would allow her (and possibly my dad or myself) to wait in the shaded/A/C portion of a line (possibly go in the exit or something) while the other member of the party stands in the normal line until we get into the shade / A/C? This really only applies to a few lines, but if we hit a 30 minute wait outdoors at Buzz or something, I'd be concerned about her in the heat/sun.

Any input?

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILTITIES.
What you are asking about is called a Guest Assistance Card (also known on the DIS boards as a GAC). It is meant to give CMs information about what types of assistance people need if they have invisible disabilities. To request one, go to Guest Services in any of the parks and have your mom explain her need. You don't need need (and they won't even want to look at) a doctor's letter. If a GAC is issued, it is usually issued for the person with a disability plus up to 5 members of their party. It's good at all the parks and is usually issued for your entire length of stay. The card does sya it is not meant to give immediate access or shorten the wait in line, just give assistance tthat is needed. It also says that to shorten your wait in line, you are advised to use fastpass as much as possible. They add a stamp to the card that is appropriate for the type of assistance you need. There actually is a stamp to allow the holder to wait out of the sun when the line is in the heat or sun for a "significant amount of time", so your mom will not be the first person who is requesting this.

You are right that most of the lines are shaded and many are even air conditioned (even ones that are outside). If you use fastpass, your wait in line will be 15 minutes or less and almost all of it will be in a buidling or well shaded area.
Also, if you are able to get to the parks early, your waits for popular rides will usually be quite short. DH and I were at WDW in mid July, when it is usually very busy. One morning, we got to MK at a little after opening (not an EE day) and were able to go on Buzz, Pooh, Snow White, HM and Pirates by 11 am (or a little earlier) without rushing or using fastpass.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Hi
I have a question in this same vein. Can you only get the GAC in the parks themselves or can guest services at your resort issue it?
I also have the sun problem as well as MS and I use a scooter with a canopy on it which helps some, and long sleeves and skirts. [great in hot Florida, not!] LOL

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Mickiethepooh
Hi
I have a question in this same vein. Can you only get the GAC in the parks themselves or can guest services at your resort issue it?

The only place you can request one is at Guest Services in the parks. And the person who needs assistance needs to be there at the time (so you can't send someone ahead of you to get one for you). The good parts are that Guest Services is usually close to the front of each park, you only have to go once during your trip; the GAC will be issued for your entire length of stay and is good at all the parks.
I'll hope for some nice cool weather for you so you don't get too hot in your long sleeves. Have fun

 

[bearloch]

Do they give these out for injuries? my Mom fractured her hip and were heading down in 3 weeks She's so so on the walking and were planning on a scotter but she is really worried about standing still. she gets real stiff and then can't walk again when she's still. What could they do if anything promblem also is that if she waits somewhere else my daughter her granddaughter would "freak" and Mom can't handle her along yet with her hip. any advice would be great.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Bearloch,
As I understand it the GAC if you get one is good for up to 6 persons in your party including the one needing it. so you could all wait in the same place. However if she is on a scooter she would stay on that until right before getting on a ride then she would either walk a short distance and get on or transfer to a wheelchair they have there and if you do that you don't need the GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

Mickeythepooh explained very well. There are a few rides where a scooter (ecv) can't come in the line, but for those, she would be able to trade the scooter for a manual wheelchair when she gets into the line.
As long as hse is on the scoter or using a wheelchair, she won't need a GAC.
Here's some pixie dust for a great trip.

 

[hannamaehound]

Question I have a wheel chair any suggestions how secure it while on rides and things in the parks.



Hannamaehound

 

[theladyjess]

Just so the person in Guest Relations doesn't give you a blank look when you ask for a GAC: I was at Disneyland a week ago and they refer to them as a Special Assistance Card. I asked for a GAC and they woman had no idea what I wanted. I had to explain that I have a disability, etc...

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by theladyjess
Just so the person in Guest Relations doesn't give you a blank look when you ask for a GAC: I was at Disneyland a week ago and they refer to them as a Special Assistance Card. I asked for a GAC and they woman had no idea what I wanted. I had to explain that I have a disability, etc...

At Disneyland, they do call it a Special Assistance Pass. At WDW, they used to call it that too, but the name was changed to Guest Assistance Card 3 or 4 years ago. The explanation I got was that some guests thought since it was a "Pass" that meant they got immediate access to the lines. I don't know why they didn't change the name at the same time at Disneyland, but they didn't and it remains a Special Assistance Pass at Disneyland.
if you ask for a GAC, no one will understand unless they read this board. That's the abbreviation we use so we don't have to type it all the time.
If you just explain that you have some special needs that you need some assistance with, they will understand what you are asking about.

 

[Maleficent2]

we will have between 8-11 people?




thanks

Mal

 

[SueM in MN]

we will have between 8-11 people?

If the person in your party has a wheelchair and no other special needs, they will not need a GAC. The Guest Assistance Card is a way to let CMs know about invisible disabilities that need accomidation. If the only needs are mobility or to have an accessible entrance, then having a wheelchair or ecv will be all you need and you won't need a GAC.
They usually will give a GAC out only for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability). They may give it out for more under special situations (decision of the CM in Guest Services)- like if there are a lot of children who would be in a party by themselves otherwise.
For things like parade/fireworks viewing and shows, there are a limited number of wheelchair accessible seats or space. So, they may limit the party to even less than 6. When it was busy, we've been limited in the Illum9inations viewing spots to 2. This is whether you have a GAC or not, just because of space.
For example, for shows like Little Mermaid, American Adventure, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, ITTBAB there are empty spots to park a wheelchair or ecv with a few seats near each spot. For those, they usually ask that the rest of the party either choose a seat somewhere else in the theater or in the row ahead of the wheelchair spots.
For some rides where wheelchair/evc users board at the exit (usually after having waited in line), there is limited space at the exit for people to wait, so they would probably ask that only a few of your party board there. In Haunted mansion, you end up missing the Shrinking Room if you need the accessible entrance, so you may want to only have a few in your party use that way.
If you are able to go to the parks early and use fastpass, you may find that you don't need a GAC at all. Early in the morning, you can get on a lot of rides with very short waits. Even some of the rides with long waits at one time of day, may have a very short to no wait at all later that same day.

 

[cupcake]

You asked how secure a wc is when you leave it to go on a ride. It's fine, you will be parking it in a secluded place, not out with the strollers. Common variants: leave it at the entrance and a CM brings it around to the exit (eg Tower of Terror), you take it with you if it folds (eg Great Movie Ride) or you board at the exit and leave it there (eg Haunted Mansion). I always have a towel for the seat and leave that, and take my other belongings with me.

Cupcake

 

[Maleficent2]

thanks for the reply my SIL has Chronic Fatique Syndrome and has been getting progessivly worse as time goes by. This may be her last chance to do WDW and she is opting for the wheelchair since she can not walk or stand for any period of time.



Mal

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to the DIS page about touring WDW with mobility disabilities. (I can't remember if I posted it already on this thread, but I don't have time to ;look and it never hurts to post it twice).
Also a link to a thread about boarding rides with moving walkways..