Universal Guest Assistance Card Question

[HWKI2]

We are normally Disney veterans heading to Universal Orlando in January. We have a grandparent who needs the Guest Assistance type card that Disney offers, as he cannot stay on his feet for long periods of time.

Does anyone know if Universal has something similar and if it functions about the same way the Disney one does?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[phamton]

You need to get it at Guest Services. This is how it works...you go to a ride like MIB and if the wait time is 45 minutes, they give you a return time of 45 minutes. You can then go to a restaurant, store, etc. and eat or shop while you wait for your time frame. That gets you out of the heat rather than waiting in line. It is like saving your place in line so you don't have to stand in the actual line. You can't use the GAP card again until that 45 minutes is up. Then you can use it again at another ride. Wash-rinse-repeat. The guest assitant passes are valid for up to 14 days.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

We are normally Disney veterans heading to Universal Orlando in January. We have a grandparent who needs the Guest Assistance type card that Disney offers, as he cannot stay on his feet for long periods of time.

Does anyone know if Universal has something similar and if it functions about the same way the Disney one does?

Thanks in advance!!

If the grandparent can't be on their feet for long periods of time I would think they would either need a wheelchair or an ECV. Walking a huge parks for 6 or 8 hours is quite a bit of BEING ON YOUR FEET.

Not sure if it is the same at Universal that it is at Disney but if you are in an ECV at Disney you don't need or get a guest assistance card because they are handled at each ride.

 

[irisheyes123]

Was in Universal/IOA less than 2 weeks ago my brother is in a wheelchair so went to Guest Services like we always do They told us they no longer do the Guest Assistance Card you just go up to a TM at each ride for assistance worked out just the same. We had no problems Just to add I don't know if it she same for everyone

 

[dsmom]

just got back- we have a son with autism and got a guest assistance card.

it was wonderful!

 

[phamton]

Was in Universal/IOA less than 2 weeks ago my brother is in a wheelchair so went to Guest Services like we always do They told us they no longer do the Guest Assistance Card you just go up to a TM at each ride for assistance worked out just the same. We had no problems Just to add I don't know if it she same for everyone

You don't need one for a wheelchair as the lines are all ADA complaint and the wheelchair just goes through the regular lines. If there are any stairs, the TMs will direct you to the alternate entrance with elevators. There are still Guest Assistant passes for other issues such as stamina issues, autism, etc.

 

[macraven]

If the grandparent can't be on their feet for long periods of time I would think they would either need a wheelchair or an ECV. Walking a huge parks for 6 or 8 hours is quite a bit of BEING ON YOUR FEET.

Not sure if it is the same at Universal that it is at Disney but if you are in an ECV at Disney you don't need or get a guest assistance card because they are handled at each ride.

it wasn't like that when i was at disney in october.
those in w/c were told by the cm's they needed the gac.

i was w/peeps in a w/c.

 

[SueM in MN]

it wasn't like that when i was at disney in october.
those in w/c were told by the cm's they needed the gac.

i was w/peeps in a w/c.

If that is what you were told, you were told incorrectly.
Guests using wheelchairs at WDW don't need a GAC to use it in lines.

There are some attractions at WDW that are wheelchair accessible, but not ECV accessible. For those attractions, there are wheelchairs that those using ECVs can transfer to for the attraction. No GAC required.


Most of the lines/attractions have Mainstream Access, where the line is accessible. There are special park maps which show the 'Mobility Entrance' for each attraction. The mobility entrances are listed in post 11 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread and, in most cases, it says to use the regular line or entrance.
You can find that thread at the top of the disABILITIES Board or follow the link in my signature.
If you are asked for a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) at any attraction at WDW, check the map and see if you are actually at the area that is listed for access for that attraction. If you are in the correct place, in most cases, showing the map to the CM will take care of the problem. If it doesn't, ask for a supervisor, so that they can set that CM straight.
In many cases where people were told they needed a GAC to use a wheelchair, they were not at the designated mobility entrance, but we're trying to come into the exit or somewhere else.

 

[macraven]

i hear you Sue, but when a cm told our group we need to go to gs for the gac, we didn't argue.
no point in that.

would be nice if all the disney cm's were on the same page.

 

[SueM in MN]

i hear you Sue, but when a cm told our group we need to go to gs for the gac, we didn't argue.
no point in that.

would be nice if all the disney cm's were on the same page.

I understand your point, but people have also gotten all the way to Guest Relations and then been informed they didn't need a GAC. It's easier to just take care of it at the attraction.
I’m not suggesting arguing, but unless people question things that are not correct, that CM will continue to be doing the wrong thing. That means the next time a wheelchair group comes to that CM at that attraction, the same thing will happen.
By pointing it out or asking for a supervisor, the CM will be corrected and won’t do the same thing. Getting and showing a GAC when it is not needed kind of cements the wrong idea into the CMs’ head.

So, we do say something so that it won’t happen again to us or anyone else.
It has actually happened only a few times to us in 2 trips a year for about the past 10 years (as well as once a year since 1987) with a person in a wheelchair. Several times, the CM said “Oh, I didn’t notice the wheelchair,” even though the CM had looked right at DD and her wheelchair is bright fushia! She’s a young adult, so it’s not like they mistook her wheelchair for a stroller or anything.

Also, many of the people who have posted they had “trouble” at a particular attraction were actually not in the correct place according to what they posted and where the map says to go.

 

[phamton]

Thanks, Sue, for the clarification. It's often hard to know if the CM is correct and you don't want to make a scene if they are indeed correct. Now that we know the proper procedure, we can make sure it is followed.

That is the procedure at Universal Studios also. No GAP is needed for a wheelchair. If you need more accomodations, then you do need to go to guest services for that. Most of the rides do not accomodate an ECV though and you will need to transfer to a wheelchair at those rides.

 

[dsmom]

hey Mac, i hear ya about wishing everyone at disney were on the same page!

that's one of the reasons we quit going- one person says one thing - one

person another and it changed from ride to ride and day to day...way too

stressful!! Give me Universal any day!