Universal now requiring documentation be sent to a third party for accessibility

[MinnieMSue]

I applied on July 13 and was approved by the company you send paperwork to. Oddly still waiting on universal to call when so many people who applied after me were called even though trips not coming up yet. My card does have both a credential and a case reference number on it so at least universal has maybe at least touched on my case. I will be going to HHN and purchased express pass so not sure if they would do anything for that trip anyway. I just hope they call when I can actually answer the call (not during church for example). Time will tell I guess. Not really worried if they approve it or not since I can buy express pass and just skip the rides or experiences I have issues on.

 

[bambialways4ever]

This thread is filled with ppl saying that it can take 20-30 mins to get an escort to the the loading area for their passes. It isn't rocket science, the more ppl using a service the more time it will take to go thru it. See LLs at Disney.

That's not evidential proof

That's called anecdotal!

 

[OurBigTrip]

That's not evidential proof

That's called anecdotal!

Math dictates that when more people receive a DAS, everyone - Lightning Lane and standby - waits longer. For these needing to minimize time in the actual queue, longer LLs reduce the value of the accommodation.

People who don’t actually need the accommodation shouldn’t be asking for it. Until that happens, I support Disney in clamping down and applying greater scrutiny.

 

[keishashadow]

That's not evidential proof

That's called anecdotal!

May I interject that the walk back to the tent houses can easily take 15 min, if not longer

 

[greeneyedchick]

I applied on July 13 and was approved by the company you send paperwork to. Oddly still waiting on universal to call when so many people who applied after me were called even though trips not coming up yet. My card does have both a credential and a case reference number on it so at least universal has maybe at least touched on my case. I will be going to HHN and purchased express pass so not sure if they would do anything for that trip anyway. I just hope they call when I can actually answer the call (not during church for example). Time will tell I guess. Not really worried if they approve it or not since I can buy express pass and just skip the rides or experiences I have issues on.

We also applied on the first day it was announced. Our card was approved but we have not gotten an email asking for our trip dates, nor have we gotten a phone call.

 

[shosh1530]

We also applied on the first day it was announced. Our card was approved but we have not gotten an email asking for our trip dates, nor have we gotten a phone call.

Similar for me. Applied on July 14, I see my son's card no longer says temporary and has a number on it so I assume we've been processed by IBCCES. But no email or phone call from Universal.

Our trip is in 2.5 weeks so we have pivoted to WDW instead. I was able to renew by son's DAS easily with only about a 20 minute wait for the video chat last Saturday morning.

 

[notatallmagic]

Similar for me. Applied on July 14, I see my son's card no longer says temporary and has a number on it so I assume we've been processed by IBCCES. But no email or phone call from Universal.

Our trip is in 2.5 weeks so we have pivoted to WDW instead. I was able to renew by son's DAS easily with only about a 20 minute wait for the video chat last Saturday morning.

Same boat. We applied right away, have the card "approved" but have heard nothing. We leave this week for a 4 day trip and have given up on Universal and are going to Disney instead. I'm very unhappy that the Annual Passes we invested in are worthless to us. I'm giving Universal a few more weeks to follow up on our next trip before canceling our Uni resort reservations and changing those to Disney too. There's just too much planning needed to wait. I'm just frustrated that we can't utilize the last six months of our Annual Passes the way that we were promised when we purchased them.

 

[AnneK]

Same boat. We applied right away, have the card "approved" but have heard nothing. We leave this week for a 4 day trip and have given up on Universal and are going to Disney instead. I'm very unhappy that the Annual Passes we invested in are worthless to us. I'm giving Universal a few more weeks to follow up on our next trip before canceling our Uni resort reservations and changing those to Disney too. There's just too much planning needed to wait. I'm just frustrated that we can't utilize the last six months of our Annual Passes the way that we were promised when we purchased them.

If you are within two days of your trip you can actually call Universal and finalize your application. This is what I was told: "I recommend calling our Guest Assistance Team at 407-224-4233, option 5, followed by option 2."

 

[MinnieMSue]

We also applied on the first day it was announced. Our card was approved but we have not gotten an email asking for our trip dates, nor have we gotten a phone call.

Well I guess I am not alone sorry you are waiting too

 

[JLTraveling]

If you haven't connected with Universal by the time of your trip, don't cancel. You can still get in person accommodations at Guest Services. If someone from accessibility is available and you have your card, they may be able to hook you up for the whole year. If not, a regular GS employee can still give you accommodations for this trip.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Same boat. We applied right away, have the card "approved" but have heard nothing. We leave this week for a 4 day trip and have given up on Universal and are going to Disney instead. I'm very unhappy that the Annual Passes we invested in are worthless to us. I'm giving Universal a few more weeks to follow up on our next trip before canceling our Uni resort reservations and changing those to Disney too. There's just too much planning needed to wait. I'm just frustrated that we can't utilize the last six months of our Annual Passes the way that we were promised when we purchased them.

Since you are going to be in Orlando why not go to UOR one afternoon and go to Guest Services as if you are doing a park day to see if you get approved? You’ll have your answer since they claim to be processing in person if you aren’t contacted prior to your trip. They don’t have to know you’re turning around and going to Disney.

 

[notatallmagic]

If you are within two days of your trip you can actually call Universal and finalize your application. This is what I was told: "I recommend calling our Guest Assistance Team at 407-224-4233, option 5, followed by option 2."

That's good to know, but with resort reservations specific to the park we're visiting and dining and park reservations (so we can eat at the places we know work for us...we also have 2 additional family member with food allergies and dietary restrictions) I can't wait that long. I have called twice and been told "there's nothing we can do; you'll just need to wait). We're out of state so with plane tickets on the line, we needed to pivot. Wish they had a better Passholder process.

 

[notatallmagic]

Since you are going to be in Orlando why not go to UOR one afternoon and go to Guest Services as if you are doing a park day to see if you get approved? You’ll have your answer since they claim to be processing in person if you aren’t contacted prior to your trip. They don’t have to know you’re turning around and going to Disney.

That's a possibility...thank you!

 

[Disuny]

Thanks to those that listed their experiences. I just went though this entire process, starting with the IBCCES application on Wednesday and ending with being accommodated by Universal on Saturday.

 

[keishashadow]

My party received their email from UO today re the IAC. It Requested a phone number & best time to call.

we called them, waited on hold 45 min and was able to discuss details for upcoming trip.

very quick and painless process, just asked to indicate what the specific needs were.

Advised that GAP would be the appropriate solution. (Was quite surprised TBH. Thank you Universal!)

provided an internal U # that is permanent, as long as the IAC is renewed annually. That should happen as long as the current medical condition(s) persist and are documented by IAC.

(Nice to hear there is no need to have another phone call with U again, as long as IAC rectifies the card each year. Told they automatically will send out an reminder email when the dates nears.)

Was told the specific IAC card should be updated with U’s number also indicated on it along with the IAC one by end of the day. If not, to call back to U GS.

procedure in the park:

Upon arrival to U, need to visit a GS location to be issued a card that will be valid for both regular park hours & HHN. (Was concerned about that being covered, assured it indeed is. Double yea!)

each GAP card will be issued for 14 days, after that expires, you need to revisit GS for another one

GAP was explained as an escort back to “merge point” of lines (confluence of standby & express pass lines). However, it’s not an necessarily an immediate action.

 

[JLTraveling]

My party received their email from UO today re the IAC. It Requested a phone number & best time to call.

we called them, waited on hold 45 min and was able to discuss details for upcoming trip.

very quick and painless process, just asked to indicate what the specific needs were.

Advised that GAP would be the appropriate solution. (Was quite surprised TBH. Thank you Universal!)

provided an internal U # that is permanent, as long as the IAC is renewed annually. That should happen as long as the current medical condition(s) persist and are documented by IAC.

(Nice to hear there is no need to have another phone call with U again, as long as IAC rectifies the card each year. Told they automatically will send out an reminder email when the dates nears.)

Was told the specific IAC card should be updated with U’s number also indicated on it along with the IAC one by end of the day. If not, to call back to U GS.

procedure in the park:

Upon arrival to U, need to visit a GS location to be issued a card that will be valid for both regular park hours & HHN. (Was concerned about that being covered, assured it indeed is. Double yea!)

each GAP card will be issued for 14 days, after that expires, you need to revisit GS for another one

GAP was explained as an escort back to “merge point” of lines (confluence of standby & express pass lines). However, it’s not an necessarily an immediate action.

I'm glad it was a painless experience! Are you sure they said GAP, though, as opposed to gold AAP? The reason I'm asking is that my dad's had GAP for years, and Universal just reapproved it. The escort part of it is traditionally how gold AAP works rather than GAP. So I'm wondering if something has changed.

 

[AnneK]

It's interesting that they told you the GAP (Gold) was only an escort to the merge point of standby and express. I was told it was an escort to the loading area. Can anyone who has used GAP recently in the park confirm which it is?

 

[keishashadow]

I'm glad it was a painless experience! Are you sure they said GAP, though, as opposed to gold AAP? The reason I'm asking is that my dad's had GAP for years, and Universal just reapproved it. The escort part of it is traditionally how gold AAP works rather than GAP. So I'm wondering if something has changed.

Yes, TM said the version family utilized in past (red -orange folding card) was the AAP

GAP with the escort was determined to be the proper accommodation in this instance

i specifically asked if there would be a specific number of usages, as in the 6 referenced here. She said no

 

[keishashadow]

It's interesting that they told you the GAP (Gold) was only an escort to the merge point of standby and express. I was told it was an escort to the loading area. Can anyone who has used GAP recently in the park confirm which it is?

Yes, however, specifically used term “merge point”

hoping people will report back before our trip

 

[AnneK]

I'm glad it was a painless experience! Are you sure they said GAP, though, as opposed to gold AAP? The reason I'm asking is that my dad's had GAP for years, and Universal just reapproved it. The escort part of it is traditionally how gold AAP works rather than GAP. So I'm wondering if something has changed.

GAP and Gold are the same thing. Standard return times if the wait is 30 minutes or more, and when you return you are escorted to the front rather than going through Express.