The old GAC pass

[Twende]

I am on a FB Disney group and there is a member on it who insists that she was always given Front of the Line privileges with her GAC. She is young like 28 so she would have been like 23 ish and under when she went to DW with hers. She says she was never a MAW child. She is in either a wheel chair or a power wheel chair.

We used GAC back then and even though we had a alternate entrance stamp, it was never front of the line. It could be described as more of a unlimited FP. For us a wheelchair was involved, so if lines were not compatible we went to an area near the exit and entered from there of course waiting our turn with other wheelchair guest. She claims to be always whisked right to the front.

I explained that for us GAC was never FOTLine and that was reserved for MAW children. She is saying I am being hateful because the GAC was strictly Front of the Line.

Am I confused here or is my memory of GAC incorrect? Shoot I remember waiting even longer than non-wheelchair people on attractions like Kilimanjaro Safari. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the unlimited FP, or whatever you called it, mean there were times when we had a shorted wait than others in standby but it is her Front of the Line statement that is really rubbing me the wrong way.

What is your memory of the GAC? Was it Front of the Line on everything?

 

[gap2368]

I have heard a number of people say the old GAC was a front of the line pass, but then I hear a number of people say it was just an unlimited FP, I really think it is what the person thinks it is on how they see it. ( I hope that makes since)

 

[murmer]

Also time of year would have something to do with impression. I know if we went in say January it felt like we went to the front because there were so few people in the park. Go over the summer and it was like an unlimited fast pass.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Your memories of the old GAC are correct. It sounds like you will never convince her that it was never a FOTL pass. Her remarks demonstrate her immaturity, and it will be a huge shock to her when she returns and has to deal with the DAS system. Just keep that image in mind when she rubs you wrong.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

It was pretty close to a FOTL pass for us. In fact, a few times, I stopped the CM from taking us to the front of the line.

But we always traveled during quiet times, so front of the line wasn't much different then unlimited fast passes.

 

[wilkeliza]

It really is semantics. Some people think Front of the Line was what FP is when it isn't. The whole thing that it came off of front of the line is why it went away. When they tried to tighten up the use of the GAC (i.e. no stairs stamp meant you didn't get to use FP line if the line had no stairs, in the shade meant you did not get to use the FP line if the stamp said in the shade, etc) but people still kept insisting their stamp meant they got to skip the line.

 

[arminnie]

I've never had either pass, but when I used an ECV several years ago I was often directed to the front of the line. It was a very slow time (you can tell it was years ago as there's no such thing as a slow time now), and I was alone. It was just a few CMs giving out a little pixie dust.

I have a friend whose daughter has been in a wheelchair since birth. About 25 years ago she told me that they got FOTL access. So I think it may have existed a long time ago. But I don't think they had a GAC as you usually didn't get one with a wheelchair.

It may have even been before ADA was passed in 1990.

 

[Twende]

Thanks everyone! As usual you provide a scenario that I did not think about. We did not often go when it was super slow and I guess if there was no other party with a wheelchair or special needs in front of you, you might feel like you were taken to the front of the line. Can I dream for a moment of times when the parks were not jammed packed? LOL! Oh what a great dream!

 

[SMD]

At DLR where most rides didn't have FP and most at DL had alternate entrances there were stamps that effectively made it a FOTL pass.

 

[bumbershoot]

Many people experienced GAC as FOTL. Many others didn't.

Heck, my good friend went to wdw with her parents last year. Her mom was in a wheelchair. Every single ride they got fotl. That is how they experienced it. They could not be convinced that they had a miraculous pixie dust filled visit. Her 8 year old got seriously cranky the day her grandma stayed at the room and they had to wait in line.

That's how they experienced it, and some people had that with gac, too.

 

[WantToGoNow]

For us it like an unlimited FP. We went in the alternate entrance but did not bypass anyone already in that line.

 

[arminnie]

Can I dream for a moment of times when the parks were not jammed packed?

Last time I remember an empty park was early December 1998. CMs were acting like barkers trying to get people to come in to a ride.

 

[gap2368]

Can I dream for a moment of times when the parks were not jammed packed? LOL! Oh what a great dream!

Yes it is called Disney after hours it is such a great thing I hope Disney dose it next year.