Question with GAC

[Austinsmom068]

I'm taking my nephew who will be 12 to Disney and he has cystic fibrosis. My sister spoke to his doctor to see if it would be ok because she was worried with the high humidity and him being able to take his treatments. The doctor told her it was ok and that she would give him a note to give to me to take to Disney. She said this would help him with the lines. I laughed when my sister told me this and thought it was a joke. Well I recently bought the unofficial guide to Disney 2014 and last night when I was reading it they had a section where a mother wrote about her child having cystic fibrosis and they gave him a GAC card. This is totally new to me. So I'm wondering how does this work? How do I get one of these cards for my nephew? I read somewhere they aren't doing this anymore but not sure if it's true. If they are then it will be a lifesaver. This way I can take him back to the hotel to do his treatments throughout the day wo him feeling like he's missing out on stuff. Plus I absolutely hate the way people look at him when he's coughing all the time like he's spreading a deadly disease. I'm trying to make this a very special trip. Thanks in advance for the help

 

[Gracie09]

The gac program has been discontinued. They now have a das card which gives you a return time and you go through the fast pass line. You can use the first aid center in each park for his treatments so you don't have to go back to the hotel. They will even hold his medical equipment and medicine for you. You do not need a doctors note. Guest services will not even look at it, but you do need to articulate why he can't wait on line. One of the good things about wdw is many of the lines are inside or shaded.

Btw my nephew as a lung disease that causes coughing etc and needs to be treated periodically through out the day. He has never had an issue at Disney

 

[Schmeck]

I'm taking my nephew who will be 12 to Disney and he has cystic fibrosis. My sister spoke to his doctor to see if it would be ok because she was worried with the high humidity and him being able to take his treatments. The doctor told her it was ok and that she would give him a note to give to me to take to Disney. She said this would help him with the lines. I laughed when my sister told me this and thought it was a joke. Well I recently bought the unofficial guide to Disney 2014 and last night when I was reading it they had a section where a mother wrote about her child having cystic fibrosis and they gave him a GAC card. This is totally new to me. So I'm wondering how does this work? How do I get one of these cards for my nephew? I read somewhere they aren't doing this anymore but not sure if it's true. If they are then it will be a lifesaver. This way I can take him back to the hotel to do his treatments throughout the day wo him feeling like he's missing out on stuff. Plus I absolutely hate the way people look at him when he's coughing all the time like he's spreading a deadly disease. I'm trying to make this a very special trip. Thanks in advance for the help

Are you staying onsite? If not, I'd rethink that decision and get a room at a value resort so you can book FP+ ahead of time. If your nephew is going to be using a wheelchair, are there any other issues that he may have that are not met by the wheelchair? If not using a wheelchair, and endurance is an issue, be aware the Disney's standard policy is that endurance issues are met by using an ECV, stroller, or wheelchair.

As the PP stated, the GAC is not longer available. It has been replaced by the DAS. One of the first posts at the top of this forum has lots of great info about the DAS.

 

[SueM in MN]

As the other posters mentioned, the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) no longer exists.
On October 9, 2013, it was replaced with DAS (Disability Access Service). You can find more information about DAS at WDW on post one of this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3178976

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a picture of one of the private treatment in First Aid.

This one happens to be at the Studio, but First Aid in each park has similar rooms. You just go to First Aid and explain you need a room to do a medical treatment. They will ask you to sign in (just name, date & time so they can get a count of people using their services) and show you to a room.
As was already mentioned, they are able to store medical equipment and medication for you.

 

[Austinsmom068]

Thanks for the information everybody. We are staying at CBR. He doesn't use a wheelchair and will refuse to use one. His lung compasity is at 47% but he does walk around. Disney walking is another story. My main concern is standing in the heat for a long time and being able to do all of his treatments. I can handle the awful looks people give but I'm worried about him getting upset over it. We will see how it goes. He went when he was 4 and 6 but that was many years ago and he was a lot healthier. Thanks again for all the information

 

[Schmeck]

Thanks for the information everybody. We are staying at CBR. He doesn't use a wheelchair and will refuse to use one. His lung compasity is at 47% but he does walk around. Disney walking is another story. My main concern is standing in the heat for a long time and being able to do all of his treatments. I can handle the awful looks people give but I'm worried about him getting upset over it. We will see how it goes. He went when he was 4 and 6 but that was many years ago and he was a lot healthier. Thanks again for all the information

There's a lot more walking in the heat than standing in the heat. Most of the queues at WDW are either under cover or interior with AC. Have him look at google maps or bing maps and show him how far it is between the bus stop and the first attraction at each park.

If you are OK with going slowly, stopping in stores on the way to catch a bit of AC (but there will be no place to sit) and just taking it all slowly then he may be able to do some of the parks without a wheelchair. But he's going to be using up a lot of his energy to just get to the park. Ask him if he wants to stay longer in the park with a wheelchair, or just do a little bit of the park and use his energy up with the walking.