Question on using GAC for my little boy?

[JUJU814]

If I have a GAC for my little boy with ADHD, Sensory integration and bipolar, how does this work at the attractions?

I know the GAC isn't an automatic ticket to the front of the line and I'll try to utilize FP whenever possible, but I'm just trying to get a handle ahead of time on if I need to use the GAC, what exactly happens? I will try to get a stroller as w/c put on it but not sure if we'd even use that, although I think it will be helpful for him. He's 6..and a big 6 at that. Likely to get looks....

He has a very difficult time waiting and gets *extremely* anxious, especially in tight crowded areas. I'm working on the waiting with him at home, but obviously it's unavoidable at disney and I want him to enjoy his vacation.

I'm soooooo nervous about even requesting the GAC. I don't know why, but I am.

Julie

 

[SueM in MN]

if you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you should get some answers to your questions.
The short answer is that what happens at each attraction would depend on what is available there, but also on other things you may not be able to see, like how many people with special needs are already waiting, what types of assistance those people may need and staffing at the time you arrive. Because those things change during the day, you may be insticted to do one thing the first time you go on an attraction and somehong else at that same attraction, even the same day.

Another important thing to remember is that the GAC will only help you with attractions. If the attractions are busy, the parks will be busy in general. Being able to use touring plans to help you figure out what is not busy so you can be there will help a lot more than a GAC would.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Don't worry that you will get looks if he is in a stroller. Our last trip my youngest was 6 and by the afternoon in the stroller and several times her 8 year old brother squeezed in the stroller too. It really isn't that uncommon at WDW. There is a lot of walking and even kids without issues get tired and parents put them in a stroller.

 

[busykate]

For my dd the GAC allows us to have an alternative place to wait. Dd freaks out when she's in a crowd so it gives her a quieter, less crowded place to wait. It doesn't always minimize wait times but it does enable her a safe place to wait.

 

[JUJU814]

Can you give me an example of "an alternate place to wait"? where do they put you? How do they know when it's your turn if you're not in the official line? This is one of my son's things..he's very anxious in crowds of people ie; squished together which in this case would be lines I guess.

I am working my butooty off making a touring plan based on least crowded days, rope drop etc.

Julie

 

[Kaler131]

One example is when we went to "turtle talk w/Crush)" , we got a slip with a specific time to come back from the CM when showing her our GAC card (similar to a fast pass). So, we still had a wait (actually a little longer than if we lined up with the others in the queue....) but we waited in a much less crowded area with our son.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a picture of one kind of alternate waiting area; the one shown is from Laugh Floor at MK.

The area on the left side of the chain is used for the majority of guests waiting for a show to begin. As people come into the area, they are told to move all the way to the front, filling in every available space. By the time that show began, the whole left area was filled with people.
The area on the right side of the chain is for people with wheelchairs, ECVs, strollers used as wheelchairs or some types of special needs. This line will be much less congested because there might only be a handful of people using it at any one show. If you need more separation, you can also wait farther back in the separated area, where you may not have anyone in front or to the side of you for 20 feet or more.
Here's a picture of a similar waiting area for Circle of Life at Epcot.

Most movies and theater shows have a similar arrangement. Exceptions I can think of are the movies in Canada and China (which are usually not congested enough to require a separated space) and Voyage of the Little Mermaid (which is in a dimly lit, dark wood paneled room with shiny wood floors and a low ceiling).

Crush actually has a totally separate room that can be used for waiting - it's possible it was already filled when Kaler131's family arrived. We have sometimes been taken to that room, sometimes gotten a handwritten slip with a time written on and sometimes just waited in the line when there were few people for a show. (My youngest DD does not have autism, but she does have ADD and OCD, which can cause challenges with waiting in line, especially if someone gets too close to her wheelchair).

 

[campbellus]

Julie,
I have to say your post reminded me of myself for the last few months before our trip. My son is almost 13 and is Emotionally Impaired and waiting in lines tends to be one of his hardest tasks. I too, worried that people would look at us funny if he was in a Disney stroller but they never did, and hes 12. I must say that the Disney cast members were extremely accomodating and never once questioned our use of the GAC. I too was very nervous about getting one because to most people our son seems perfectly normal and noone thinks there is anything wrong with him...until something happens. That was my fear, people are going to think im just using this card with no good reason. Not ONE Disney person or anyone else for that matter EVER made us feel that way while we were at Disney. I can't tell you what a relief it was to be at the Disney parks. They were so warm and welcoming, even allowing us to use the seperate room and seperate entrance at times, even though we did not require that. I felt totally at ease being on Disney and you will too.
You should not give a 2nd thought to getting a GAC card from guest services and using it. This is your vacation and your family's vacation and you deserve to enjoy at anyone else would. Disney makes sure you feel that way and I know you will be overly pleased at Disney's comfort level. You just tell them what you need or what will be best for your son and they will do what they can to try to meet those needs.
Just FYI, I did bring a letter from our pediatrician, as recommended from a post I had read on the Disboard a while back. I did ask them if they wanted it, they said they did not need it, but I felt better having it, just in case I was ever questioned (and I was at Universal)
On another note, don't plan on going to Universal unless you purchase their "express pass" system as they do not feel they need to accomodate people with disabilities other than wheelchairs. We were made to feel completely horrified at even asking for a baby swap room and half the people didnt even know what we were asking for, the other half were mostly rude and we got done with a day at Universal swearing that we will never go back there with our son again....

Good luck with your trip and feel free to ask me any questions as it seems our children have similar personalities and behaviors and I just returned from 10 days worth of Disney Magic.

 

[Lilogirl]

Julie,
I have to say your post reminded me of myself for the last few months before our trip. My son is almost 13 and is Emotionally Impaired and waiting in lines tends to be one of his hardest tasks. I too, worried that people would look at us funny if he was in a Disney stroller but they never did, and hes 12. I must say that the Disney cast members were extremely accomodating and never once questioned our use of the GAC. I too was very nervous about getting one because to most people our son seems perfectly normal and noone thinks there is anything wrong with him...until something happens. That was my fear, people are going to think im just using this card with no good reason. Not ONE Disney person or anyone else for that matter EVER made us feel that way while we were at Disney. I can't tell you what a relief it was to be at the Disney parks. They were so warm and welcoming, even allowing us to use the seperate room and seperate entrance at times, even though we did not require that. I felt totally at ease being on Disney and you will too.
You should not give a 2nd thought to getting a GAC card from guest services and using it. This is your vacation and your family's vacation and you deserve to enjoy at anyone else would. Disney makes sure you feel that way and I know you will be overly pleased at Disney's comfort level. You just tell them what you need or what will be best for your son and they will do what they can to try to meet those needs.
Just FYI, I did bring a letter from our pediatrician, as recommended from a post I had read on the Disboard a while back. I did ask them if they wanted it, they said they did not need it, but I felt better having it, just in case I was ever questioned (and I was at Universal)
On another note, don't plan on going to Universal unless you purchase their "express pass" system as they do not feel they need to accomodate people with disabilities other than wheelchairs. We were made to feel completely horrified at even asking for a baby swap room and half the people didnt even know what we were asking for, the other half were mostly rude and we got done with a day at Universal swearing that we will never go back there with our son again....

Good luck with your trip and feel free to ask me any questions as it seems our children have similar personalities and behaviors and I just returned from 10 days worth of Disney Magic.

I am sorry you had a bad experience at Universal. But I can say I have had the complete opposite. Guest services at Universal was very helpful in meeting our needs (no wheelchair). I will say, I had to make a couple of trips to GS to get what I needed. But now I have no problems.

 

[SueM in MN]

On another note, don't plan on going to Universal unless you purchase their "express pass" system as they do not feel they need to accomodate people with disabilities other than wheelchairs. We were made to feel completely horrified at even asking for a baby swap room and half the people didnt even know what we were asking for, the other half were mostly rude and we got done with a day at Universal swearing that we will never go back there with our son again....

Good luck with your trip and feel free to ask me any questions as it seems our children have similar personalities and behaviors and I just returned from 10 days worth of Disney Magic.

I am sorry you had a bad experience at Universal. But I can say I have had the complete opposite. Guest services at Universal was very helpful in meeting our needs (no wheelchair). I will say, I had to make a couple of trips to GS to get what I needed. But now I have no problems.

Many people (including my family) have found that the people at Universal were not very accommodating to people who had a wheelchair and additional needs. We were told over and over that their lines were wheelchair accessible and that was all they were obligated to provide. I have been told by some Universal people that this has changed, but we have not been back to test it out and some people have posted in the past year that the same thing happened to them.
On the other hand, most of the people posting on this board whose children have Autism Spectrum Disorders (without a wheelchair) have reported good experiences at Universal.

Also, as far as a doctor's letter goes, it is not necessary and, in fact can't be required by law in order to provide assistance. Some people choose to take one, especially with invisible disabilities, but in most cases WDW CMs will not look at it.