Two guests-One gac???

[Earstou]

There will be three of us, dh, dw(me) and ds going to WDW this summer. Last time I used a wheelchair a little bit to get around, but would park it and stand in line. My Chiari has progressed enough that I won't be able to board the rides with moving platforms, so I will need a gac for that (also Splash is hard for me to walk in the queue).
My ds is ASD. I've never gotten a gac for him, but the last DL trip was a busy time and he did not fare well. Since we are going in July, I think he will need the gac.
My question is, can I get just one gac for both of us? The only time we will split up is on the roller coasters, which I can't ride. Usually I shop during this time, or rest, never ride. So can I get just one gac, or do I get two???

 

[forr2grls]

Hi! As far as I know you need a seperate GAC. You each have your own needs.I hope you have a magical trip.

Paula

 

[MBW]

Even our boys, who are only 19 months apart and both autistic, have separate GACs, as their needs are different.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Obviously, I don't know the details of your condition or how it affects you specifically, so may be completely off target here, but may I suggest that you consider taking the chair through the line with you? That way you can do the queues without problems, and will be automatically directed to the wheelchair boarding entrance (which will often give you more time and space to board rides). The majority of queues now are mainstreamed (meaning the wheelchairs go through with everyone else), so you needn't worry about feeling guilty about 'queue jumping'. As for moving platform rides, a number of them can be slowed down to give you more time to board. See: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=273092&perpage=15 for more information.

Good luck and have a wonderful holiday!

 

[Michigan]

There will be three of us, dh, dw(me) and ds going to WDW this summer. Last time I used a wheelchair a little bit to get around, but would park it and stand in line. My Chiari has progressed enough that I won't be able to board the rides with moving platforms, so I will need a gac for that (also Splash is hard for me to walk in the queue).
My ds is ASD. I've never gotten a gac for him, but the last DL trip was a busy time and he did not fare well. Since we are going in July, I think he will need the gac.
My question is, can I get just one gac for both of us? The only time we will split up is on the roller coasters, which I can't ride. Usually I shop during this time, or rest, never ride. So can I get just one gac, or do I get two???

I would think that your Chiari would prevent you from riding on Splash also.

If it's getting worse have you considered being decompressed?

 

[Earstou]

I would think that your Chiari would prevent you from riding on Splash also.

If it's getting worse have you considered being decompressed?

I was decompressed in 2002. Unfortunately, it's not a cure. The belief is that the longer you have symptoms before surgery, the less the surgery helps. I went undiagnosed for 13 years, then, since Chiari is not well understood by the medical community in this area, I had to find one of the few experts to do the surgery in another state! I've had many improvements, but do still have constant dizziness and trouble walking.
Also am losing my hearing, so will need gac for that, too!
Why don't you think I can ride Splash?

 

[Michigan]

Doesn't splash have the neck and back warnings?

Both of my dd's have the arnold form of chiari but have never had symptoms.

If you want to find another doctor you probably will have better luck with a pediatric neurosurgeon. My girls neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan operate on adults when they request and she is really great.

 

[SueM in MN]

Doesn't splash have the neck and back warnings?

Yes it does.

If you are using a wheelchair in line, you won't need a GAC for yourself since you will be using the accessible entrances and will be routed to board in the exit for those rides with moving walkways. For the hearing part, you may not need a GAC - for the rides, you would not. For shows and movies, maybe it would be helpful. Just be clear in your own mind what sort of needs would require accomidation so that you can explain to the CM.

Even though you and your DS have different needs, with you using a wheelchair and him having a GAC, you would probably need only one GAC (for his needs).
If you haven't already read it, you might want to check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is a section in that thread about GACs.

 

[cymomtx]

The first time we were isssued a GAC for my two ASD children the CM gave us one pass with just my son's name. Well when he did not want to ride a ride, we got into trouble. So we soon learned that we had to have a GAC for each, so that if one was not riding then the other had a valid pass.

 

[Earstou]

If you want to find another doctor you probably will have better luck with a pediatric neurosurgeon. My girls neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan operate on adults when they request and she is really great.

Thanks, but I love my neurosurgeon, Dr. Oro in Denver, plus he is considered one of the few true specialists for adults with Arnold Chiari Malformation. I do need to ask him what my restrictions are now since I had a neck fusion last Oct. Doing so much better I keep forgetting.
But Splash has never bothered me before.

Thanks everyone for your responses! I've been hanging around these boards for a while, so know a lot of this already. Just didn't know if I could combine two gacs into one. Now I know.
Get two!