US/IOA Question

[DramaTech]

I am familiar with the GAC at WDW and understand how most of it works. My question is, is there something like the GAC at US/IOA? If so, what are their proceedures on getting one? If not, what kind of access do they provide on the rides to someone in an electric wheelchair (not ECV)?

By the way, I'm headed down to the World in a few days...I'll have a report as to accessibility when I return. Anything anyone want me to check out while I'm there?

Thanks

 

[pugdog]

they do have a GAC type of thing-a-ma-job and you can also get a discount.
just go to guest services outside the gate before you get your tickets.

 

[SueM in MN]

We haven't been to Universal in a while and search isn't active right now to look for any posts. I know that Wheelsie had been there not too long ago and that Andrew Bichard had also been there. I don't think either of them used a Universal equivilent of the GAC. I do remember that Andrew had some problems where they said his power wheelchair could be loaded onto certain rides and then changed their minds once he was ready to board. I think Wheelsie said that the rides at IOA were mostly thrill-type rides and not very accessible. I hope one of them sees this and is able to give you better advice since I'm just going by memory here.
As you can tell, we could use some additional info about universal, so thanks for your offer of information!

Here's some "stress free travel pixie dust" for a wonderful trip.

 

[plugnickle]

We returned from a wonderful trip a few weeks ago. The Disney Guest Aassistance Card was as every has posted. The US/IOA Guest Assistance Pass was difficult to get. I had letter from my orthopedic surgeon, my HP state ID card, DL license, plus cane. The pass was issued "per day", unlike Disney. The guest services employee's would look me up and down, then go get their manager. He would come out and repeat looking closely at my information and myself before reluctantly instructing the GS person to give me the card. I dreaded the encounter each time after the first day and felt really cheap, as though I was running a scam. I feel that they could be more sensitive, like maybe doing the "grill the scam artist" routine out from in front of the other guests. That being said though, I greatly appreciate them allowing me the assistance. We spent three days there and still didn't come close to doing everything that we wanted to. I had to rest alot and retire early, so it helped drastically.

Steve

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm glad to hear you had a good trip, but sorry to hear about your experience at US/IO. That's totally against the spirit of the ADA (and at least on the fringes of what's legal, from what I have read).

Our experiences there have been that the lines were made for Mainstream Access, so they don't think they need to do anything else. As a result, we don't go to US often and have not been to IO. They don't seem to understand that some people need more than just wheelchair accessible lines. I'm not going to spend money at a place that makes me feel like a criminal just because I happen to have a severly disabled child.

 

[plugnickle]

The first day that I requested a Gap, the lady told me that they only give the GAP to Make-A-Wish and one other organization's kids. Then she said that she would grant it this "one" time. I wasn't told that again, but suffered the aformentioned humiliation. I can't stay on my feet for long at a time, so standing for an hour in a line is not feasible, much less standing in five to ten lines a day. I didn't consider it unreasonable to accomodate my disability especially with the documentation that I had. As I said, I will put up with the hassle and be proud of the assistance if for no other reason than that I don't ruin my families trip.
One other standpoint is that if I stay on property at USO, they have no quarrel with giving me FOTL access. But if I have a disability, I must be a potential scammer, and I must be treated with great caution before allowing me the priveledge.
I don't want to sound bitter. As I said, I appreciate them accomodating my disability. I just wish that my feelings weren't hurt in the process.

Steve

 

[pugdog]

when we first went to US shortly after they opened they did not have mainstream lines and treated the disabled like s***.
they were very rude and careless, and this was after the ADA was 2 or 3 years old. they still don't treat you very nice and thats why we will not waste our money there any more.

 

[SueM in MN]

We went a few months after they were open and asked at a few lines if there was any way that DD could wait out of the sun. We were told that all their lines were wheelchair accessible, so no other accomidation was needed. They were very proud of their Mainstream Access and I have to say that all the lines were wheelchair accessible.
But, I was traveling with a multiply disabled small child who could not handle heat and sun. She was this tiny little thing in a custom manual wheelchair that could not in any way be confused with a stroller. I asked if I could wait somewhere out of the sun with DD and then join DH and other DD later, but they said that would be considered cutting in line. Besides, they didn't have any shade.
I also have a problem with them having front of the line access for certain guests, but not caring a whole lot about people who have disabilities.