This thread is ready for re-opening after removal of posts that had caused problems.
One of the things being 'debated' on the thread included why the change was made by Disney. I'm putting some things out there so they won't be debated anymore.
buffetgirl gave a good summary of why the change was made:
those pesky people who were selling their services. And the ones selling GACs on Ebay. And the parenting boards where there were openly telling each other what to say in order to get one.
Aside from those people, the majority were legit uses, and it was simply an overabundance of legitimate GAC users.
And, I would add - the overabundance of GACs with stamps for alternate entry or the 'green light' stamp that was meant only for use by children on Wish Trips.
There were many different stamps for GACs (place to wait out of the sun, avoiding stairs, sit in the front row, use the wheelchair entrance, alternate entry). GACs were never intended to cut wait, just to give access based on a person's actual need.
As time went on and people heard about GACs getting access to the Fastpass line, that was the one everyone wanted, even if that was not what they needed.
I have seen things like:
- "Autism has the most benefits" (in an article for people who just did not want to wait in line on how to get the 'best' GAC)
- "If you go to Guest Relations and tell them you are pregnant, you can get a pass that lets you go in all the Fastpass lines"
- People with disabilities calling their GAC the "Golden Ticket" or forgetting that once you post it on the internet, it's there for anyone to find.
- after WDW changed attractions to mainstream lines, some people with only mobility needs who were denied entry at the exit talking about how they went to guest relations and yelled at the CMs until they got a GAC that 'let me use the handicapped access'
- People also posted on the internet about getting one when they had some temporary issue like a broken arm or something like flat feet.
- And, several posters on the Disboards who frequently posted that they used a GAC all the time, never had to wait more than a few minutes and anyone who said they had to ever wait with a GAC was lying.
I'm not sure why CMs were giving the alternate entry or green light stamp out more. There are more people with disabilities who needed alternate entry, but the green light was only supposed to be for Wish type trips from what I know.
(I also suspect some CMs were just so badgered by guests or the guests had gotten the 'script' of what to say to get one so they really had no choice). The end result was instead of being rare, those stamps became common.
To the point that many people thought that was the ONLY stamp and that ALL GACs gave access to Fastpass lines.
Periodically, Disney would get stricter on giving the GAC stamp based on needs and people would get a different stamp (like the wheelchair entrance stamp or the avoiding sun stamp). Or, the alternate entry was not in use - for example, because of a medical emergency.
When that happened, I would get angry PMs from people complaining that they felt they had been misled - they expected a GAC meant immediate entry, even if their stamp was for a place to wait out of the sun and it was nightime when they used it!
And, I got PMs from people who felt everyone should know about some stamps allowing Fastpass access because they would rather have 20 people cheat than one person not able to plan their day using it because they found out about it when they got there.
Because there was no telling when Disney would get strict or who would get which stamp AND not all guests got those stamps, my blanket statement was with a GAC, "your wait might be shorter, your wait might be longer or it might be the same as the regular line."
There also were frequently posters to this board who were obviously 'fishing' for just what to say to get the 'good GAC'. They often started out with a few things that they needed assistance with and wondered how to get a GAC.
As people explained how using Fastpass or touring plans would help, the poster would come back and add other things that they 'just remembered'.
In one case, someone 'just remembered' that their child was autistic in about the 6th attempt to add things. Not exactly something people forget they have.
So, by not putting a lot of information, at least those people were going to have to hunt somewhere else for the information they were looking for.
The FAQs thread did have enough information that anyone with a legitimate need for a GAC would be able to get one, but not handing information out on a silver platter about how to fraudulently get one.
Another issue that caused 'debate' was related to specific Facebook pages, blogs, videos. I had been following social media since the first DAS stories came out, so I knew some of those would get really polarizing because they were planning protest trips on the new program roll out day. That was why I did not want people posting about them or linking to them.
All of these are 'hot button' items.
So, no more discussion of why the change is being made or people's Facebook/blog/video rants about how the only thing that will work for them is the old GAC.
It IS changed and everyone needs to figure out how to use the new program in the way it is intended to be used.
Finally, to avoid another closing and cleaning.
This thread is about support and being helpful.
1) Follow the Disboards rules found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm
No sarcasm, no personal attacks, no name-calling. In other words, play nice. As Thumper's mom said, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say nothing at all."
2) Be respectful of others. Many people are afraid of the unknown and are feeling very vulnerable right now. People have different disabilities and needs; no one can know someone else's needs
3) No debates:
about whether Disney is right or wrong
about whether a change was needed
about asking for a doctor's letter or proof of disability
about any particular disability being worse/more disabled/truly disabled/more in need of accommodation.
4) No posting of links to blogs or petitions. If you want to share them, share them by Private Message
If your post was deleted, it went against one of these guidelines or quoted a post that was against one of theses guidelines.
I don't think I will need any accommodations for myself. Most times everything is stable and I have my own tips and tricks that I use and they work fairly well, but it is nice to know that IF it isn't working well that particular day then there are options available. I am only thinking of something for DS6. And it seems that the stroller/wheelchair will be fine. We will only need the stroller in line if it is long or later in the day, and we are working on a good plan with FP+, FP and avoiding peak times and most of the big "thrill" ride as none of my kids is very adventurous, so I really think we should be good with everything. I already contacted the special diets department at WDW and most places should have what we need without too much problem. Thank you so much!
