Stroller as a Wheelchair GAC

[chloelovesdisney]

So, I've posted here previously about getting the stroller as a wheelchair GAC for my toddler ds for my chronic back issues. I've gotten it for the past two trips and it was hugely helpful to not have to carry him for the lines (essentially then I would have to skip the rides, I can't do it for that long). It's for no other purpose but so that I can take him through the lines in the stroller, and not have to carry him up and down the stairs for some shows.

We're going back in a week on an extended family trip. There will be twelve of us, 4 kids, myself, 4 grandparents, three adult relatives/spouse.

I would like to still get the GAC so as not to ask one of the two adults to carry him for me repeatedly (one has a chronic wrist issue and can't carry him either). Besides which they may just go off on their own sometimes, rather than stick with the kids and older folks.

Will this be frowned upon because of the larger group? We've never been more than 5 before.

Thank you, I get anxious leading up to the trip having to request it, I have no idea why.

 

[Kellykins1218]

The GAC is good for up to 6 people. They ask you how many are in your party when you get it. If you are just using the stroller in the regular line it won't be a problem because you can all stay together. If you need to bypass stairs, they will only allow up to 6 total.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The GAC is good for up to 6 people. They ask you how many are in your party when you get it. If you are just using the stroller in the regular line it won't be a problem because you can all stay together. If you need to bypass stairs, they will only allow up to 6 total.

Thank you. I can't think of any rides where the stairs are an issue. They allowed me to take him up an elevator for the Lights Motor Action show (I think that's the name), and to sit in the top row for Indiana Jones. If they split us up I guess we will just make a plan for a meet up spot when the shows get out.

Most of the rides they allow me to wheel him to the loading area. I don't go on a lot of the really popular rides myself because they are very jerky. I guess we can do riderswap for Soarin (he wouldn't be allowed on anyway).

For the standing movies like Canada and China they have allowed me to wheel him in and he watches from the stroller. These are the things that would be a bigger problem for me, holding him for a 20 minute movie would be near impossible. Well I could do it at the time, but would likely not be able to get out of bed the next day.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

toy story has steps as does the driving cars in MK come to mind. my guess is the your kids will want to do both of these.

 

[KPeveler]

With a group that large, you are going to have to split up the group for many rides and shows anyway. There are generally only 1-3 regular seats next to wheelchair spots for shows, and most ride vehicles cannot accommodate more than 2-4 people anyway.

Make sure you have EVERYONE's phone number in your phone, and make plans where to meet in each park in case you become separated.

It has also been my experience that getting 12 people to do the same thing in Disney is similar to herding cats - you will likely split up anyway due to different interests, so I do not think it will be too much of a problem anyway.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

toy story has steps as does the driving cars in MK come to mind. my guess is the your kids will want to do both of these.

I don't do the cars since I've been bumped from behind pretty hard. I'm not sure what the minimum age/size is for that ride, but my ds is only 14mo so I think he is too small. In December everyone else went on without us. I went into Cosmic Rays and got a hot chocolate.

Toy Story I guess we will get separated from the group but that's not till the very end of the line so it won't be too bad.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

With a group that large, you are going to have to split up the group for many rides and shows anyway. There are generally only 1-3 regular seats next to wheelchair spots for shows, and most ride vehicles cannot accommodate more than 2-4 people anyway.

Make sure you have EVERYONE's phone number in your phone, and make plans where to meet in each park in case you become separated.

It has also been my experience that getting 12 people to do the same thing in Disney is similar to herding cats - you will likely split up anyway due to different interests, so I do not think it will be too much of a problem anyway.

Thanks, I will be sure to get everyone's number. I'm also guessing that the group will want to start splitting up at some point.

The grandparents are pretty adamant right now that we all stay together, but I think after the first day they will see how difficult that is.

I've been suggesting that one of them get an ECV since she has significant walking issues due to a catastrophic car accident a few years ago (she was hit by someone that should not have been behind the wheel). I'm afraid that after just the 1st day she's going to be in bad shape mobility wise, but as of now she's refusing. She's very stubborn.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, I will be sure to get everyone's number. I'm also guessing that the group will want to start splitting up at some point.

The grandparents are pretty adamant right now that we all stay together, but I think after the first day they will see how difficult that is.

I've been suggesting that one of them get an ECV since she has significant walking issues due to a catastrophic car accident a few years ago (she was hit by someone that should not have been behind the wheel). I'm afraid that after just the 1st day she's going to be in bad shape mobility wise, but as of now she's refusing. She's very stubborn.

I agree with the other posters about the number of people - it is usually 5 people plus the person with a disability on a GAC. Most lines are wheelchair accessible in the regular line, so you would be able to stay together. The exceptions will be those areas that have a special boarding area or the few that have a separate entrance. In most cases, they just don't have space for more than 6.


Most people don't really realize how much walking is involved in a day at WDW.
One suggestion that has helped a lot of the 'stubborn' people is putting the distances into something they can understand better:

Pick a spot she knows well that is 1 to 2 miles from her house and ask if she could walk there. She is likely to look at you like you are being totally ridiculous and say, of course she could not walk there.
If she says she could, ask if she could walk there AND back. She will almost certainly agree she could not. At that point, you would tell her the distance to that familiar place and then let her know that the average guest at WDW walks between 3 and 9 miles per day.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I agree with the other posters about the number of people - it is usually 5 people plus the person with a disability on a GAC. Most lines are wheelchair accessible in the regular line, so you would be able to stay together. The exceptions will be those areas that have a special boarding area or the few that have a separate entrance. In most cases, they just don't have space for more than 6.


Most people don't really realize how much walking is involved in a day at WDW.
One suggestion that has helped a lot of the 'stubborn' people is putting the distances into something they can understand better:

Pick a spot she knows well that is 1 to 2 miles from her house and ask if she could walk there. She is likely to look at you like you are being totally ridiculous and say, of course she could not walk there.
If she says she could, ask if she could walk there AND back. She will almost certainly agree she could not. At that point, you would tell her the distance to that familiar place and then let her know that the average guest at WDW walks between 3 and 9 miles per day.

Oh, this is a good idea, I will try this with her. Thank you.

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh, this is a good idea, I will try this with her. Thank you.

And, if she is using an ECV in line, you would be 2 groups of 6.