Special Needs Son @DL

[debm]

Hi. Anyone use a Guest Assistance card recently at DL? We need one for my son at WDW and it is very important to us to help the day run smoothly. We haven't been to DL in about 5 years but the last time we were out there it didn't do much good. Seems people would put their best friend in a wheel chair and ask for a card and then we would end up waiting in LONG lines with 20 wheel chairs----never seen so many people with wrapped ankles. WDW handles that differently . There are different "levels" of the pass. Has DL gotten any better at handling those different types of special needs situations?? Any insight would be appreciated as I'm going out there with him by myself and I'm a bit nervous how he is going to do. Thanks!

 

[jazzatola]

Hi. Anyone use a Guest Assistance card recently at DL? We need one for my son at WDW and it is very important to us to help the day run smoothly. We haven't been to DL in about 5 years but the last time we were out there it didn't do much good. Seems people would put their best friend in a wheel chair and ask for a card and then we would end up waiting in LONG lines with 20 wheel chairs----never seen so many people with wrapped ankles. WDW handles that differently . There are different "levels" of the pass. Has DL gotten any better at handling those different types of special needs situations?? Any insight would be appreciated as I'm going out there with him by myself and I'm a bit nervous how he is going to do. Thanks!

Go to City Hall and ask for a Guest Assitance Card. They will ask for the persons limitations and stamp it. Everyone with a GAC will line up in the same line and it's first come first serve..The lines usually go pretty quickly. We have someone with us who requires a card, doesn't look like it but they do. So please don't judge people who might not look like they do I know some people probably "abuse the system" which is so not fair but it makes the people who do use it and might not look like it..get dirty looks and sometimes just mean comments.. Depending on what day of the week you go sometimes it's quicker to go through the regular line instead of the Handicap line...depends if you can get the wheelchair through or not....Have a great trip!

 

[cwbagne]

We just got back from 5 days at DL on Wednesday. We had 2 boys in our party who had these special passes. They were wonderfully. As the previous posted suggested, go to Guest Relations to get the GA pass and you will have to show it, along with the guest who's name is on the pass (the disabled person, or in our case, the child who was affected with autism). Our GA pass allowed the child with the rest of us ... for a total of 5. Depending on the time of day, the line may still be long through the exit, so be prepared to wait anyway.

 

[nsiordia]

We always have a GAC card for our son with Autism. Sure he looks normal and we get strange looks but if we didn't have the GAC, we would never go to Dland. We went 2 weeks ago and had no problem at all and we will be going tomorrow.

With all that we have struggled with all his issues, this has been a lifesaver. It's too bad I learned about it later than sooner.

GL! and have fun

 

[nsiordia]

Also, the do have have different stamps. There is a wheelchair stamp and a seperate entrance stamp as well as a stroller stamp.

We get a seperate entrance stamp but on the last visit was the first time I had ever seen the stroller stamp.

 

[scrappinbear78]

I personally am not familiar with anything at any of the parks...but please don't judge. I do know that so many people abuse the system, but I am an adult with MAJOR disabilities and my kids have to suffer so much because they are "normal". It actually makes me so mad. I have passed out several times at parks, but people could care less b/c my kids don't suffer...but they do. If I can't be with them, they don't get to enjoy anything.

 

[debm]

Thanks for the help. I was afraid I might be mistaken. I'm not judging---having lived with one child who looks disabled and one that doesn't, I understand. I am just meaning that at WDW the card allows us to go down the Fast Pass line which is SO helpful for my son. Waiting a bit is good for him but what is hard is being grouped with people that are mentally ok but have a card because they have a sprained ankle. The different stamps at WDW allow those that need to use a stroller or wheelchair to take it into different areas that otherwise might not be allowed and the "alternate entry" stamp allows us with children that are harder to deal with mentally to use the FastPass line. Just wondered how it worked at DL. Thanks!!

 

[krash2501]

Do you need to bring anything with you to City hall that shows the kids handycap? I have an 8 year old daughter with slight autisum and aspergers. Last few times we were there we didn't get a GAP because we didn't want "the looks" because she dose look "normal" but it made what rides we rode very limited to rides with 10 mins waits or less. We also had to skip Fantasmic.

I think it would realy help us out this time around and I will just have to deal with "the look" from people. So do I need to bring anything with me to city hall, does my daughter need to be with me?

Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you need to bring anything with you to City hall that shows the kids handycap? I have an 8 year old daughter with slight autisum and aspergers. Last few times we were there we didn't get a GAP because we didn't want "the looks" because she dose look "normal" but it made what rides we rode very limited to rides with 10 mins waits or less. We also had to skip Fantasmic.

I think it would realy help us out this time around and I will just have to deal with "the look" from people. So do I need to bring anything with me to city hall, does my daughter need to be with me?

Thanks

She will need to be with you, and no you don't need proof. You do need to know what she needs, however, so you can tell them. A plain old diagnosis doesn't help them, because people have different needs even with the same diagnosis.

 

[DizMe]

Do you need to bring anything with you to City hall that shows the kids handycap? I have an 8 year old daughter with slight autisum and aspergers. Last few times we were there we didn't get a GAP because we didn't want "the looks" because she dose look "normal" but it made what rides we rode very limited to rides with 10 mins waits or less. We also had to skip Fantasmic.

I think it would realy help us out this time around and I will just have to deal with "the look" from people. So do I need to bring anything with me to city hall, does my daughter need to be with me?

Thanks

My daughter has the same thing. She is 10 now and has HFA/Asperger's. We've been going to DLR since she was 4. We're lucky that we don't need a special card, but we do have to avoid many things that others don't think about much. For instance, self-flushing toilets, parades, Fantasmic, cannons booming (or similar), fireworks, and anything that makes loud noises. For some reason, she isn't bothered by loud music or flashing lights on the rides--normally she is very sensitive to sensory stimulation but I guess the fun of DLR maybe overcomes some of that. She does get very keyed up, though, and resorts to self-stimming behaviors like chewing on her sleeve and toe-walking in patterns. We've learned to bring things along for her to chew on and we just try to go slowly and take breaks. Interspersing less intense things like seeing a show or eating a snack with going on rides works well for us, and we always go back to the hotel for a break. To tell you the truth, I'm somewhat surprised that we don't have problems with lines but I guess she responds to the Disney magic . Actually, she no longer has many of the above issues as she continues to learn coping strategies to manage them.

 

[kiwitravel]

We had a medical issue whilst at DL, after 4 hours wait in an ER room we returned to DL Customer Service and they gave us GAC for our whole party as the person with the issue could not be in a line for more than 10 or so minutes...

We found the GAC invaluable and had no problems with waits to access rides, we did not notice any negative looks and all DL staff were very helpful even though on the face of it we looked very fit and able... We only used the pass when the line was longer than 10 minutes and for popular rides like TSM we only used the pass once a day...

 

[tobikaye]

I personally am not familiar with anything at any of the parks...but please don't judge. I do know that so many people abuse the system, but I am an adult with MAJOR disabilities and my kids have to suffer so much because they are "normal". It actually makes me so mad. I have passed out several times at parks, but people could care less b/c my kids don't suffer...but they do. If I can't be with them, they don't get to enjoy anything.

The GAC is not just for kids. It is for anyone that would need it. Not sure if any of the parks you have been to have any of these types of passes, but if you go to WDW or DL, all you have to do is go to Guest Services and explain the issues you have and they will stamp the card with what services they can provide that they feel they can help you with. Since the GAC is for up to 6 people, as long as you to do not have more than that, then your entire family can stay together for almost everything.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

True, not everyone's handicap or issue is always visible but sometimes it's hard not to judge, especially when you watch a questionable person long enough to witness a miracle , or chair swapping. It's pretty obvious that a lot of people do abuse the system which will only affect those who really need it.

My mother travels in a scooter so I've spent a lot of time in the handicap lines, and the only times I've seen a castmember ask for the card is if the guest is not in a chair or scooter and the affliction isn't all that obvious, usually no questions asked if a vehicle is present. But if your son will not be in a vehicle, yes do stop by for a GAC and don't worry about looks or being judged, do what's best for him.

 

[nemofanatic]

my son also has special needs and the pass works out well for us. This year we are not getting the park hopper. We will be going to calif. adventure park first. Does anyone know how we can get the guest assistance pass for him at ca adventure?

 

[Malcon10t]

Hi. Anyone use a Guest Assistance card recently at DL? We need one for my son at WDW and it is very important to us to help the day run smoothly. We haven't been to DL in about 5 years but the last time we were out there it didn't do much good. Seems people would put their best friend in a wheel chair and ask for a card and then we would end up waiting in LONG lines with 20 wheel chairs----never seen so many people with wrapped ankles.

Please don't judge others. People may be looking at you also thinking "There's another faker."

We use the HA lines. We see a variety of people in the lines. We have no clue what is wrong with them. It isn't our business. Disneyland makes it easier for all to visit.

If you had seen my son 5 years ago, you would have been thinking exactly what you posted. What you wouldn't know was he has Osgood-Schlatter bilaterally, and had severe limitations on his walking abilities. He could go for 2-3 hours, then would need to be off his knees for several hours. If he forgot his pain meds, forget it. You never saw him in the First Aid center icing his knees for an hour so he could keep going. By looking at him, you'd think he was a teenage boy who was faking.

You will learn, as people look at you like you are faking, it isn't any of their business. If someone truly feels cheating to use the HA line is a positive, they have bigger problems in life than whatever you and your son are dealing with.

 

[ArchOwl]

my son also has special needs and the pass works out well for us. This year we are not getting the park hopper. We will be going to calif. adventure park first. Does anyone know how we can get the guest assistance pass for him at ca adventure?

Yes, DCA does have a Guest Relations you can request a GAC from. Due to the construction, the Guest Relations building is currently in a temporary trailer. When you enter the park, you immediately make a right. About half way down the corridor you will see a trailer with a ramp on your left hand side. That is Guest Relations. Many times a line will be formed on the ramp and a CM will escort each party in one at a time due to limited room.

 

[starshine514]

True, not everyone's handicap or issue is always visible but sometimes it's hard not to judge, especially when you watch a questionable person long enough to witness a miracle , or chair swapping. It's pretty obvious that a lot of people do abuse the system which will only affect those who really need it.

I wouldn't completely discount chair swapping either. It is possible to have 2 ppl in your group that both need a chair some of the time. DH uses an ECV, my mom uses a wheelchair, but she has been spotted pushing her empty chair at times as well. I'm not saying they could share a chair (they couldn't), but I see how it could be possible for some. My dad has also pushed both my girls in my mom's wheelchair when she was walking for a few minutes. I'm sure that looked pretty suspicious to bystanders.

 

[Malcon10t]

I wouldn't completely discount chair swapping either. It is possible to have 2 ppl in your group that both need a chair some of the time. DH uses an ECV, my mom uses a wheelchair, but she has been spotted pushing her empty chair at times as well. I'm not saying they could share a chair (they couldn't), but I see how it could be possible for some. My dad has also pushed both my girls in my mom's wheelchair when she was walking for a few minutes. I'm sure that looked pretty suspicious to bystanders.

My son (he was 15-16) did this with my nieces. He would be walking and have them in the chair (they were 4). We would get in the HA queue, and HEY, if he was ok enough to walk, why would we need to use the HA queue. Ummm, my daughter uses a service dog. And we have to use teh HA queue, regardless if he is in a chair or walking.... Luckily, he hasn't needed to use one in about 4 years. But I did get tired of the looks...

 

[Malcon10t]

h children that are harder to deal with mentally to use the FastPass line. Just wondered how it worked at DL. Thanks!!

You might also want to learn to use the FP system. We can't use it and have to wait in the HA line, but when my daughter doesn't have her service dog with us, FP is the better way to go!

 

[Malcon10t]

Do you need to bring anything with you to City hall that shows the kids handycap? I have an 8 year old daughter with slight autisum and aspergers.

My younger daughter also has Asperger's. She was diagnosed about 12 years ago at the age of 10. We found using the HA line was harder for her than using the standby lines. She is almost 22 now, and does very well, except when there is a baby crying in lines. She prefers standby.

You don't need to bring anything. Just go to Guest Relations and explain the situation.