Universal and something like a GAC?

[MomofLogan&Evan]

We are planning to go to Universal one day on our trip in Sept. I have a question about it though this may need to go in the disability forum. My ds(5) is type 1 diabetic and we always get a Guest Assistant Card (GAC) at Disney because his sugar has been known to go very low - once while waiting for a ride. Does anyone know if there is one at Universal? If so, how does it work? Is it different than Disney. We've been to other amusement parks (Hershey Park, Dutch Wonderland) who have different versions of the GAC so I was hoping that Universal had it too. Any insight would be great.

THANKS!

 

[IdesOmarch]

Sorry, don't know details, but I do believe Universal does have something like this.

 

[JulieSharp]

Just before you go through the gate (on the right) at IOA go to Guest Services and you will be given a card. Guest services at Studios is through the gate and then turn right. Don't forget to take ID.

 

[SilverMickey]

They do have some form of a GAC... However it doesn't work much like Disney. Walk here... get a time punched, walk there at said time, OOPS sent you to the wrong place go over to there... walk some more... I'm sorry I'm not sure how that card works... go back to the front and they will help you...

We would love to go to Universal however the lack of consistency with disabilities was horrid. We feel we would have to stay at their hotel to get a front of the line pass or pay for one to make it bearable to visit again. I do hope this a smoothed out over the years as we have not been in many...

 

[phamton]

It works similar to a fast pass. You first get a card at guest services. Then go to the ride you want to go on. If the line is 15 minutes or longer, the greeter at the ride will write down a return time. When you return, you will then be able to enter the expres pass line. The return time is based on the length of the ride. For instance: you go to Men in Black. It is 10: 00 AM and the line is one hour long. You will be given a return time of one hour (11:00 AM). At 11 AM or after, you return to MIB and enter through the express line. It essentially saves your place in line while you go eat or just rest. You can ride another ride before the return time on MIB but you won't be able to get in the express for that line until after 11:00 AM.

 

[MomofLogan&Evan]

Now I know what to expect going in! Finding out we can't take a taxi (we're a family of 5), having to pay extra for a front of the line pass, and the lack of consistency of knowledge for people with disabilities is making me change my mind about going there this trip.

 

[LUVIOA]

That's a shame to not go because of a few responses. My nephew has type 1 also and we never had a problem managing his sugar at the parks just because he was waiting in line. I'm not sure I understand the need for it and why you won't go. Stay Onsite and you'll have the best experience for everyone

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Mears has Taxis that fit 7 for the price of 1- All you need to do is ask for one either when calling or ask at the bell stand at any resort. You may have to wait a few minutes to get one (as it's a crapshoot what taxis are currently staged at the resort...) but its definitely an option...

As for front of the line- I've been to Uni dozens of times and never felt the need for Front of the Line- (and I HATE waiting in line) I've found that an early (park open) start you can get a lot of rides done with very little waiting esp at the Studios. IOA is similar if you don't start with Potter. Do the rest of the park then hit Potter after lunch when the rest of the park is doing the opposite...

Universal can easily be done with disabilities but yes it does take you having more knowledge about the offerings and how to make their accommodations work for you.

Universal is not by nature designed to be as naturally accommodating for needs because of the caliber of its attractions where very few of its attractions are no-limits (height/health/intensity) and until Potter didn't really have as massive a demand as they currently do over "alternate" access (cause for a lot of their attractions (Hulk, Dragons, Rock-it, Mummy) if you can't wait you probably shouldn't be riding)

They have come a long way rather quickly but yes they are not disney because they don't need to be...

 

[Wadekind]

That's a shame to not go because of a few responses. My nephew has type 1 also and we never had a problem managing his sugar at the parks just because he was waiting in line. I'm not sure I understand the need for it and why you won't go. Stay Onsite and you'll have the best experience for everyone

I agree. In my experience with type 1 waiting in line is never something I have to take into consideration. Don't see the need for a GAC.

 

[phamton]

Now I know what to expect going in! Finding out we can't take a taxi (we're a family of 5), having to pay extra for a front of the line pass, and the lack of consistency of knowledge for people with disabilities is making me change my mind about going there this trip.

There isn't a lack of consistency of knowledge on the GAP pass. The GAP pass was changed about 1 1/2 years ago. It sounds like Silver Mickey went quite awhile ago. The system is down pat, I can assure you of that. There are actual front of the line GAP passes but those are mostly for Make a Wish and Give Kids the World since all of the rides are ADA complaint and wheel chairs can go through the line. Your GAP will work wonderfully. You won't have to wait in lines and can eat or rest instead of standing in line. It will be like picking up a fast pass for each ride. Also you are going in September which is traditionally a slow time and lines will be mostly non-existant. Mears transportation would be a great way to get to and from the parks.

 

[aubriee]

I agree. In my experience with type 1 waiting in line is never something I have to take into consideration. Don't see the need for a GAC.

I also agree! Why not just make sure you have a snack in case he needs it in line. That's what we do (along with misting fans to keep cool) and we have two diabetics in our party. Don't see the need for a GAC.

 

[Schmeck]

What do type 1 diabetics do when the sugar level gets low while they are on an attraction? Wouldn't that strategy work in a line too?

Also, wouldn't checking the sugar level before you get in the actual line work?

 

[jharrowell]

To be quite honest I found US\IOAs version of the GAC to be a pain in the butt.

Nowadays I book a night at a Uni Hotel to get FOTL access for the two days I visit, it's much easier.

I wouldn't suggest this to most people but in your situation, if you can't stay on Uni Property I'd suggest getting an Express Pass. That'll give you a walk through the express line onto nearly all of the attactions once.

 

[MomofLogan&Evan]

This is our third trip to Disney since his diagnosis. He was diagnosed at 15 months old and went to disney when he was 3, then again at age 4 (on a pump that trip) and next time he will be just turning 6. We use a GAC because of his young age and the fact that just because we check his sugar while standing in line it could say 85 and then 10 minutes later it's down to 37 and he can't walk/stand. When he does go low, it can very ugly. That's what happened once when we were standing in line waiting for Mickey's Philharmagic show. Believe me, it's not that we want a front of the line pass, I would rather him not have the disease and wait all day for a ride. It's just that with his age and knowing how he has been at Disney in the past with drastic fluctuations of his sugar levels, a GAC can be helpful to him. This year he will have a continuous glucose monitor on him as well, so I'm hoping that it will help too.

I just wanted information about Universal since I've never taken him before and I wanted to be prepared to understand how things worked there compared to other amusement parks.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

<snip>

I just wanted information about Universal since I've never taken him before and I wanted to be prepared to understand how things worked there compared to other amusement parks.

Do this:

Just before you go through the gate (on the right) at IOA go to Guest Services and you will be given a card. Guest services at Studios is through the gate and then turn right. Don't forget to take ID.

You can also go into the Guest Services lobby once inside the park. It will be on the right. Talk to the TMs there and they will give you the appropriate GAP/AAP.

 

[SilverMickey]

There isn't a lack of consistency of knowledge on the GAP pass. The GAP pass was changed about 1 1/2 years ago. It sounds like Silver Mickey went quite awhile ago. The system is down pat, I can assure you of that. There are actual front of the line GAP passes but those are mostly for Make a Wish and Give Kids the World since all of the rides are ADA complaint and wheel chairs can go through the line. Your GAP will work wonderfully. You won't have to wait in lines and can eat or rest instead of standing in line. It will be like picking up a fast pass for each ride. Also you are going in September which is traditionally a slow time and lines will be mostly non-existant. Mears transportation would be a great way to get to and from the parks.

You are right, we tried it in 2003 and again in 2007. I'm quite please to hear that the system is down pat. (It needs to be) Thanks for the positive!