I'm not trying to be mean and unsympathetic, but it just doesn't seem right to make other kids waits longer, just so their kid can have their perfect vacation with no waits, no crowds, repeat rides, etc. I can see why WDW had to change the GAC system. This is coming from a grandmother who has seven grandkids, three of whom are considered handicapped (one with ADHD and OCD, one with autism, and one with Zellweger's syndrome (blind, deaf, mentally and physically delayed, with lots of liver and feeding problems). My grand daughter that is autistic is fixated on the Little Mermaid movie. She will watch it all day over and over and over and have a melt down when it's cut off. Should she get to spend a day at WDW riding the Little Mermaid over and over with no waits, while other kids (including her cousins) have to wait in a long line to ride it just once? No. The old system was not fair and not equal. It had to be changed. It's not about which person has the bigger handicap, rougher life, etc. It's not fair that my youngest grand daughter is blind, deaf, has feeding and liver problems, has to have PT and OT several times a week, spends alot of her life at Children's Medical Center, and still has a good chance of not living until her fifth birthday and will probably never walk, but the world doesn't owe her anything either. Everyone who enters Disney's gates deserve the perfect vacation and catering to one group at the expense of another's is just wrong. Typical guests should not have to wait longer just so handicapped guests can cut in front of them and do the parks in half the time. WDW is trying to make sure all wait the same amount of time.
Disney's answer for guests who say they have stamina or endurance need that prevent them from standing or waiting in line has always been suggesting the guest consider a wheelchair or ECV. That is nothing new; it's been part of what they suggest since the 1990s.
There is no way my mom could walk eight hours in the park, so we rent her an ECV. I have never even considered asking for a GAC for her. She doesn't need one. Her problems are mobility, balance, and endurance and an ECV handles that. It's just one of the expenses we have to count into the budget. FYI: she is an annual passholder and will get three or four trips out of this AP, so will have to rent an ECV multiple times this year. Due to heat issues she will also not be able to stay in the parks all day. Again WDW is not responsible and should not be expected to give her front of the line pass, just so she can get through the rides quicker. An ECV provides her with what she needs and makes lines accessible for her. That is all the law requires WDW do. They are not required and shouldn't be expected to do anything else for her. She has been though alot in her 80 years and has alot of health problems, but WDW does not owe her a pass to skip the lines.
WDW's answer for mobility problems has always been to rent an ECV or wheelchair. Some people have just gotten lucky and finagled a GAC to cut their wait time. That has never been the purpose of the GAC, so WDW had to address the issue. Too many people were wanting to avoid the standby lines, so used whatever handicap they had (and even some made up ones) to get the GAC that allowed them to use the fast pass lines.
I think it's funny that for so many years, people who were familiar and used the GAC regularly said the GAC did not give front of the line access and frequently made their waits longer are now changing their tunes saying that in fact they did get to enter through the fastpass lines, were able to finish the parks in just a few hours, and got repeat rides anytime they wanted, and now they absolutely must have that accommodation because it is what their kids are used to. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that they think it's OK for typical kids to have to wait longer, just so their kids can cut in front of them and ride the rides quicker and repeatedly. They seem to think it's their right and everyone with typical kids should be fine with it.
There is no way my mom could walk eight hours in the park, so we rent her an ECV. I have never even considered asking for a GAC for her. She doesn't need one. Her problems are mobility, balance, and endurance and an ECV handles that. It's just one of the expenses we have to count into the budget. FYI: she is an annual passholder and will get three or four trips out of this AP, so will have to rent an ECV multiple times this year. Due to heat issues she will also not be able to stay in the parks all day. Again WDW is not responsible and should not be expected to give her front of the line pass, just so she can get through the rides quicker. An ECV provides her with what she needs and makes lines accessible for her. That is all the law requires WDW do. They are not required and shouldn't be expected to do anything else for her. She has been though alot in her 80 years and has alot of health problems, but WDW does not owe her a pass to skip the lines.
WDW's answer for mobility problems has always been to rent an ECV or wheelchair. Some people have just gotten lucky and finagled a GAC to cut their wait time. That has never been the purpose of the GAC, so WDW had to address the issue. Too many people were wanting to avoid the standby lines, so used whatever handicap they had (and even some made up ones) to get the GAC that allowed them to use the fast pass lines.
I think it's funny that for so many years, people who were familiar and used the GAC regularly said the GAC did not give front of the line access and frequently made their waits longer are now changing their tunes saying that in fact they did get to enter through the fastpass lines, were able to finish the parks in just a few hours, and got repeat rides anytime they wanted, and now they absolutely must have that accommodation because it is what their kids are used to. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that they think it's OK for typical kids to have to wait longer, just so their kids can cut in front of them and ride the rides quicker and repeatedly. They seem to think it's their right and everyone with typical kids should be fine with it.
thank you so much how helpful! Paula
Just for the record the only people who got front of the line access were and still are make a wish kids. A GAC got you in the fastpass line without a fastpass.
