Will GAC help us? Please read and respond!!

[DaniB]

I apologize in advance for the long post. I really hope to get some answers as we are 2 weeks away from our first trip to Disney, and I'm really starting to get nervous about how rides will work for us.

We have a 6 year old son - no issues (well, minor speech he picks up from his sister). Total daredevil!

11 year old girl - invisible disability issues... Looks perfectly normal but is LD; has speech & language; processing & working memory trouble; reading disability; sensitivity to clothing/materials (and noise to some extent); trouble focusing/staying focused - although we are not sure if there's true ADD/ADHD there. She's also immature for her age socially & developmently. She's been identified through the school-board and on an IEP there.

I originally wrote off the GAC as I could not see how it would help us. There's little issues with waiting in lines. And if she does get into meltdown mode - then it's obvious she has "issues".

HOWEVER... anything new and "scary" sends her into panic mode and meltdowns! Yearly eye-checkups (scary equipment), needles, dentist office, etc... I don't see the airport being scary, but I'm afraid of her getting scared on the plane! Side-issue there - sorry.

We have already crossed many rides off our list as we figure they will be too scary for the kids, and us!

There are rides we would like to try that I think she will back out of at the last second. (splash mountain, soarin', haunted mountain). Heck, I KNOW there's no way she's gonna get on Soarin' once she understands it lifts her 20-40' in the air!

Months ago I thought the Rider Swap would solve this issue. Since then I realized through reading posts, that only works with children who are too young or not tall enough for the ride.

So what happens for families who has a child who freaks out, but the others would like to try a ride?

If we do ask for the GAC, and explain the issue to the CM stationed at the ride - will the CM let us do a "rider swap"? It would be ideal if myself or my husband could stay with our daughter while the other rides with our son. Then swap and let our son go again (if he'd like) with the other parent.

Honestly, that's the only way I can see the GAC helping us. DD will truly try... she'll get in line, think it will be fun, and as we get closer she'll start to get nervous, upset, then tears and then full panic. We can't just force her on the ride...

Has anyone had this issue? How have you handled it? How has the GAC helped?

 

[SueM in MN]

HOWEVER... anything new and "scary" sends her into panic mode and meltdowns! Yearly eye-checkups (scary equipment), needles, dentist office, etc... I don't see the airport being scary, but I'm afraid of her getting scared on the plane! Side-issue there - sorry.

For the getting thru security part of the new - look in post # 15 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It’s about air travel. One of the links has information about the Orlando airport, which may help and there is a link to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website, which actually has some videos made for kids that show the security screening process.

You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or use the link in my signature to get there.

There are rides we would like to try that I think she will back out of at the last second. (splash mountain, soarin', haunted mountain). Heck, I KNOW there's no way she's gonna get on Soarin' once she understands it lifts her 20-40' in the air!

She would not be the only person chickening out for those attractions.
They do have ‘chicken exits’ for those people who change their minds just before boarding.
For Splash Mountain, guests board on one side of the track and exit at the same place, but on the other side of the track. So, to chicken out, you just continue walking right thru the ride car. If you don’t think she would ride at all, I would get Fastpasses for everyone - including her. If she doesn’t ride, one adult can sit out with her. Then that adult can use their Fastpass and another member of your party can use your DD’s Fastpass to ride a 2nd time.

For Soarin’ you could chicken out before the preshow area - in which case, you just tell a CM and they will direct you to the exit door near the preshow area. People who chicken out after that walk thru the theater area and out the same door that guests will exit after riding.
For Soarin’, I would do the same thing with Fastpasses.

For Haunted Mansion, there is a preshow (the stretching room) and you an chicken out in that room before the preshow starts. There will be a CM directing guests to keep moving into the room before the preshow starts.
After the preshow, you can still chicken out - just tell the CM who is clearing the room.

I have not ever heard of anyone using a GAC for this type of situation. Not to say they would not do it, but I’ve been at this a long time and have not heard of doing anything like this with a GAC - mostly because the GAC is to assist the person with a disability and I’m not sure if they would see her not riding as being assisted.
THere is more information about GACs in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

I don’t think you would need a GAC to do what you want to do and I have heard of people with older children (or even Grandmas) doing Rider Swap (which is what Disney actually calls it). Your child may be tall enough, but still meets the definition of a child who is not riding and is too young to stay alone while the rest of you ride.

I think just asking the greeter CM what to do would allow you to do Rider Swap without a problem.

 

[bookwormde]

First welcome,

Second For my DS (Aspergers) we spent a lot of time "briefing" him for his first flight (everything went well.

Third WDW a GAC can be a great help with anxiety created by sensory or social issues in the standard lines (while the accommodation different from attraction to attractions often it allows for a separate area to wait). WDW is a lot more than rides for our kids so no need to push the rides to much.

Fourth (non WDW) you need to get a copy of Tony Attwood's "The complete Guide to Aspergers" which is available on Amazon for about $17 and read it before your trip. You have clearly described the 3 characteristic groups (sensory, executive function and social) that are the primary diagnostic indicators. If she does not have a major cognitive deficiency (IQ below 80) then she is very likely HFA/Aspsergers. Many clinicians will discount this because they lack competency (especially with girls) so when you get home you need to get to a major medical center for a full evaluation.

Here is a link that was posted earlier on this board and has some good basic information on females who are Aspersers. If this is the case congratulations since along with the challenges come some amazing gifts.

http://help4aspergers.com/index.html

bookwormde

 

[DaniB]

For the getting thru security part of the new - look in post # 15 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It’s about air travel. One of the links has information about the Orlando airport, which may help and there is a link to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website, which actually has some videos made for kids that show the security screening process.

Thanks for the info! I'll show these videos to both kids next weekend before we go then.

I have not ever heard of anyone using a GAC for this type of situation. Not to say they would not do it, but I’ve been at this a long time and have not heard of doing anything like this with a GAC - mostly because the GAC is to assist the person with a disability and I’m not sure if they would see her not riding as being assisted.

I don’t think you would need a GAC to do what you want to do and I have heard of people with older children (or even Grandmas) doing Rider Swap (which is what Disney actually calls it). Your child may be tall enough, but still meets the definition of a child who is not riding and is too young to stay alone while the rest of you ride.

I think just asking the greeter CM what to do would allow you to do Rider Swap without a problem.

I can certainly see how the FPs would work as a Rider Swap for the attractions that have them. I'm more wondering about the rides that don't.

Problem is, never having been to Disney myself, and the fact that things I think are perfectly fine but she sometimes freaks out about.. I think she'll be scared of Splash Mountain but enjoy Dumbo. But then, she could turn around and love Splash Mountain, but flip out over Dumbo. I'm thinking only a few rides will actually be an issue, and hopefully the CMs will be understanding and kind enough to use a RS.

First welcome,

Second For my DS (Aspergers) we spent a lot of time "briefing" him for his first flight (everything went well.

Third WDW a GAC can be a great help with anxiety created by sensory or social issues in the standard lines (while the accommodation different from attraction to attractions often it allows for a separate area to wait). WDW is a lot more than rides for our kids so no need to push the rides to much.

Fourth (non WDW) you need to get a copy of Tony Attwood's "The complete Guide to Aspergers" which is available on Amazon for about $17 and read it before your trip. You have clearly described the 3 characteristic groups (sensory, executive function and social) that are the primary diagnostic indicators. If she does not have a major cognitive deficiency (IQ below 80) then she is very likely HFA/Aspsergers. Many clinicians will discount this because they lack competency (especially with girls) so when you get home you need to get to a major medical center for a full evaluation.

Here is a link that was posted earlier on this board and has some good basic information on females who are Aspersers. If this is the case congratulations since along with the challenges come some amazing gifts.

http://help4aspergers.com/index.html

bookwormde

Thanks for the link bookwormde. I'll read through it this weekend.

I believe we won't have issues with the lines (no more so than anyone else). It's just the backing out of rides that worry me. I know my husband will not be happy if we have to go through line-ups twice in order for both of us to experience rides. And I so do NOT need/want him getting upset at our daughter for being scared...

 

[jmartinez1895]

The Cms are great about helping out. A family at our church has the same issue and she said that they would explain the issue to the first CM that is at the start of the line and in almost every time they helped them with a make shift version of rider swap for the rides that do not offer it. Ever k=now and then she would get a CM that did not understand her needs or was not able to help because of situations with the amount of people already on the ride or some other reason. As already posted, there is no GAC taht will help you will just ahev to ask for help at each ride that you think you will need help on. Worse cases you may have to go through the line and then wait with her while the otehr part of your group gos through the line, but tehre are many things to look at and do while you wait for the rest of your group. I hope you ahev a safe and fun trip.

 

[cwright]

Hi-

I just wanted to give you a little bit from our experience in 2008. Our son at the time was 5 years old. He has Autism and waiting in line can be a little much sometimes for him. We got a GAC which was actually a sticker for our stroller as well as a little card that we could show a CM if we didn't have the stroller with us. We had NO problems using this. They were so accomodating. When we went on a ride with rider swap, one of us went with DS and waited while the other rode with DD. Then at the end of the ride we would swap and DD would get to go again if she wanted. It was perfect. She has to do a lot of waiting and missing because of Autism and this was the perfect reward for her...a second ride! I hope this helps. I say get the GAC, use it when you need and don't worry about what anyone thinks. That is hard for me to do since I am such a rule follower by nature. I don't want anyone to think that I am doing something wrong. But trust me this is what GAC are to be used for. Have a great trip!!

 

[robinb]

Months ago I thought the Rider Swap would solve this issue. Since then I realized through reading posts, that only works with children who are too young or not tall enough for the ride.

So what happens for families who has a child who freaks out, but the others would like to try a ride?

If we do ask for the GAC, and explain the issue to the CM stationed at the ride - will the CM let us do a "rider swap"? It would be ideal if myself or my husband could stay with our daughter while the other rides with our son. Then swap and let our son go again (if he'd like) with the other parent.

Rider Swap FAST PASSES are available for parents of children who are too short to ride. However, you can still Rider Swap but everyone needs to be in line and go through the pre-show. You would swap at the end at the chicken exit where the ride loads. One parent rides with the 6-year old and the other waits with your DD and when the first parent is done the second parent and the 6-year old ride. This may be a problem for rides like Tower of Terror where the pre-show itself is pretty scary. My guess is that you could get a GAC that acts like a rider swap FP if that's really what would make your trip easier. Good luck and have fun!

 

[persimmondeb]

We do not use a GAC, since crowded line areas aren't a major issue, and it seems to be constructive for DS15 (Asperger's/HFA) to learn coping skills, but have found CM's to be extremely helpful with any minor assistance we need. Ask if you need something. Disney is wonderful with various kinds of minor assistance, without your needing to explain in detail, or get involved in complicated stuff. DS tends to have such a wonderful time at Disney too that he really pushes his envelope of tolerance. He's pretty fearless on rides, but he DOES NOT LIKE skeletons and I was afraid that Pirates of the Caribbean and/or Haunted Mansion would set him off, but he was a trooper. Apparently Disney skeletons are different from regular skeletons.