Questions about GAC

[davis65]

My family is planning a trip to Disney in April. I am trying to plan all aspects of this trip. This includes making it enjoyable for my DS who will be 7 when we go. He as ADHD, Anxiety disorder, OCD, and his doctors are leaning twords an Autism pectrum Disorder. They know he has one, but he is displaying traits that match 2 different spectrum disorders that are closely related and don't want to diagnose him until they know which one it is or if it truly is both of them. His doctors offered to give me a letter to carry with us just in case I made need it. (In case anything happens) I have been reading about a GAC, but am a little lost on it. My son has a hard time just standing (it's not that he can't physically stand. He just can't handle standing still in a place with alot of people it makes have anxiety attacks.) Some loud noises really bother him (I am planning on packing ear plugs, but he also likes to wear the ear muffs like they use in a shooting range. They block out the noise better for him. Will Disney allow me to let him wear these?) I am unable to let him do anything where I am not allow to be with him because that upsets him greatly, and he doesn't communicate well with children his own age. What exactly could a GAC help us with? I don't expect them to let him cut the line, but what do they mean by letting him go to a quiter area? Is it a sit down area, or do you stand there too? Does anyone have any ideas on how I could make the waiting time easier for him? If he has to wait more than 5 minutes for something he starts displaying his anxiety, and wants to fidget due to the ADHD. any help would be appreciated.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know if you have looked at the disABILITIES FAQs thread information about Guest Assistance Cards, but if you have not, follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread and look in post #6.

If you have not looked in post #3 of that thread, I would suggest you also look there for general information and also for some links related to autism in the area under Specific Conditions or Concerns.

One thing people often find very helpful is to be able to use a stroller in line and you can get a GAC or stroller sticker that allows you to use the stroller in line and have it treated the same as a wheelchair.
Even children who can physically stand find the stroller is a 'safe haven' that allows them to cope better with all the other stimulation. Many kids also find they can have their games and/or 'fidget toys' in the stroller and use them while sitting in line.
If he is too big for a 'regular' stroller, you can rent a special needs stroller from some places listed in post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

You will have no problem with him wearing the ear protector muffs (in fact, you will probably see other children wearing them too).

There won't be any place where he would be waiting and you could not wait for him, with or without a GAC. If he gets a GAC, it is usually made out for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability).

This is an example of one of the quieter waiting places:

This is the Laugh Floor at MK, but many shows have the same arrangement.
The 'regular' waiting area is at the left side at the picture. At the time I took the picture, the area was just starting to fill. A few minutes after I took the picture, that area was filled with people - kind of closely packed to the front of the room.
The quieter waiting area is at the right and is used by people with wheelchairs, ECVs and GACs for special needs. By the time the doors opened to get into the show, there were about 12 people total in that area. There is usually not a place to sit unless you bring it with you.
You may also want to check into tour services like TourGuide Mike or RideMax. THose can help you to be in the quietest park in the quietest area. Many people have posted this was more helpful to them than a GAC and allowed them to see most of the things they wanted with a less than 10 minute wait. That is also useful because the GAC only helps with attractions, while being in the quietest place will allow you to avoid crowds all over.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You just explained your son's need very clearly. This is what you want to explain to the CM at Guest Relations. That CM will determine exactly what accomodation will best serve your son.

One note about the Laugh Floor setup. We've had several CMs tell us to just go in the regular line because it won't get us in the show any faster being in the wheelchair line. They don't understand the purpose of why we're needing to wait in the wheelchair area. We're not trying to get in any faster; we're needing more room so our daughter can wiggle without bumping people because she'll have a full blown meltdown forcing herself to stand still enough to not bump anybody (we do stand on either side of her but that can only work in a line, not in a crowd where there are people all around). We just wait in the queue line that are before the doors and then when we go through the waiting area shown in Sue's picture, we head to the right so she can have the space she needs. We honestly aren't trying to get a better seat this way since you actually get a better seat being in the middle of the big crowd (you have to move all the way to the end of your row and being the first to enter means you're at the far end of a row) so I don't understand why some CMs get this kind of attitude, but this is just how we handle it. If you have the stroller as a wheelchair then you'll automatically be put through the wheelchair line here.

This past trip we used TourGuide Mike for the first time and I really do have to say that TGM helped even more than the GAC ever did and we did get great benefit from the GAC. Because we were able to tour so easily using TGM, we hardly had to use the GAC, and we're talking during Christmas season. I'm a TGM fan for life now. It was the best $20 I ever spent at WDW.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I must agree with you on the laugh floor. The first and only time we went we were told to just get in the regular area. Did you hear the screams where you live? It was terrible! A person bumped into DS and he had a total meltdown. It was hot, there were too many people but even with our GAC they said to just go in the regular wait area. The same for Turtle talk. So now there are two things we just don't do.

What helps us the most is to be there at rope drop, ready to go in when the park opens. We stay far left and let others go in first but then go to fantasyland first and to dumbo, then hit all the rides in FL before the rest of the crowds arrive. It has worked every time for us. We have an early lunch, again no crowds in the restaurant and then leave for afternoon rest. I think TGM also suggests always be at rope drop if you can.

 

[clanmcculloch]

For Turtle Talk, they've had us to wait in a tiny room where people in wheelchairs wait. Though, on our most recent trip using TGM, we were in the very first showing of Turtle Talk and there wan't much crowd so we just went in the regular waiting area for the first time. The kids were actually a bit upset that we went in as quickly as we did because they wanted to see more of the waiting area.

You know, using TGM was a pretty interesting experience. Having used the GAC on our previous 3 trips, there were some lines and waiting areas we never got to experience before. Touring the TGM way, we got to see so many things we never saw before (like the waiting area for Turtle Talk). Crowds were so small that we could use regular lines. We could take our time soaking up atmosphere because there weren't wall to wall people everywhere we went. Even the day after Christmas was an amazing day for soaking up atmosphere crowd free at Magic Kingdom because of knowing how to tour TGM style. Lack of crowds getting from place to place added to the fabulous experience. The GAC can't do that for you.

No, I don't work for TGM. LOL!! I just love sharing my experience.

 

[livndisney]

We just had an "issue" at the Laugh Floor. The CM outside directed us to the roped off area, but the CM inside wanted us to move into the crowded (please fill in all available space) area. I quietly explained our needs and was redirected to the roped off area.

 

[SueM in MN]

We just had an "issue" at the Laugh Floor. The CM outside directed us to the roped off area, but the CM inside wanted us to move into the crowded (please fill in all available space) area. I quietly explained our needs and was redirected to the roped off area.

That is important to remember. The CM only sees the card, which has a very general message.
I will try to get a list of the separate areas together over the weekend.
That way people will know when there is one and can request it.