We leave tomorrow ~ 4 year old in WC

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

My 4 year old daughter has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and drives a power wheelchair. Last year when we went to Disney, we just used her stroller. We got a GAC card on our first day.

Do we need to get a GAC card if she is driving her wheels all day? She can not walk at all, but she is still small enough to be carried.

Are there any tips/pointers you can give us?

Thanks

Amy

 

[SueM in MN]

My 4 year old daughter has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and drives a power wheelchair. Last year when we went to Disney, we just used her stroller. We got a GAC card on our first day.

Do we need to get a GAC card if she is driving her wheels all day? She can not walk at all, but she is still small enough to be carried.

Are there any tips/pointers you can give us?

Thanks

Amy

She should not need a GAC unless she has other needs that are not met by just having a wheelchair in line.
If you have not read the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a section about GACs that might be helpful if you still have questions about the GAC.
You don't necessarily need to get a GAC the first day. If you don't think you will need one, but find that she has some needs that are not met, just go to Guest Services and explain what she needs in addition to an accessible line/entrance.

Since you have been to WDW before, you probably are pretty well prepared for your trip. Leaving tomorrow, you should not find a lot of crowds, so that will be helpful.

I don't know how small your DD's power wheelchair is, but when my DD was little, her wheelchairs were also smaller and fit in the handicapped stalls in most of the bathrooms (AK and the Studio are an exception - their handicapped stalls are huge).
Now that she's older and bigger, her wheelchairs are too, so we really need to use the Companion Restrooms. There are some in each park and they are listed in Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park. You can pick one up at Guest Services (ask for a copy of the one for each park at the first park you visit). There is a link to the WDW website's copy of the Guidebooks in the disABILITIES FAQs thread (I think it's in post 3).

There are quite a few rides with wheelchair accessible cars. My DD's favorites are Aladdin's Magic Carpets, Pooh and Buzz Lightyear. Some people's wheelchairs did not fit in Aladdin because there is something that sticks up from the bottom. If her wheelchair doesn't fit, your DD is small enough to lift - just remember to space out the rides where you need to lift her. It gets really hard at MK where you go in, ride for 1-3 minutes and then have to get out again. The first few are fine, but after a few hours of that, your DD will seem to be getting heavier each time you pick her up.

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

Thank you for all your tips.

My daughter is so excited to go!

Amy

 

[mir4mad]

I would highly suggest getting a GAC pass the first day you are there.
My daughter is also in a wheelchair and obviuosly has special needs.
(She has SMA type 1) Even with our pass in plain visible site we would get questioned alot more than I thought we would. MK cast members go out of their way for kids with special needs (for the most part) but AK especially is not very friendly in that way.

Have fun! Would love to hear about the trip when you get back.
Where will you be staying?

 

[SueM in MN]

MK cast members go out of their way for kids with special needs (for the most part) but AK especially is not very friendly in that way.

Have fun! Would love to hear about the trip when you get back.
Where will you be staying?

MK was built longer ago than the other parks and has less attractions that are totally wheelchair accessible. Also, many of the shows (like Tiki Birds) have limited numbers of spots for wheelchair/ECV users so they have to monitor closely to make sure that they don't let more people in at a time than they have spots for and also that the people using wheelchairs are in the spot that is accessible for loading and unloading. Much of the 'special' treatment is because that is the only way things are accessible.

AK was built with all the lines accessible and more wheelchair/ECV spots for the shows. So, unless someone has needs that are not met by just being able to bring their wheelchair into the line, they would usually be in the regular line. Guest with wheelchairs don't need as much 'special' treatment at AK.

If all you need is an accessible entrance/line, a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) is not needed.
A child in a stroller or wheelchair that might get mistaken for a regular stroller would probably get questioned more because CMs might not be able to tell it is a wheelchair. They should have a GAC or sticker that identifies it as a stroller being used as a wheelchair just to avoid any problems.
If you have other needs that are not met by just bringing the wheelchair into line, then you will need a GAC.