Constant Fast Pass

[loveofamouse]

You mean like when the family gets a pass for dear old grandma, and then grandma sits and enjoys a coffee while dad + kids use her pass to ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster over and over and over?

(I'm not against the passes, but I am against the fact that there is no real way to ensure that the intended person is using the pass at least.)

Actually, last I was down there, family could use the GAC as a fast pass. Not necessarily to go in the exit but as a fast pass. This was told to my family repeatedly by guest relations and I always ask if it's still allowed when we go for a new trip. Yes, some people still abuse that, like your situation. We were told that they allowed this so that SN children are not without their parents for long. My son is able to ride most rides so, really, it's only RnR that we ride without him (height) but aren't gone from him long. A couple of years ago, it was also ToT. As with everything out there, there are always abusers but don't assume everyone is abusing the rules and it is allowed.

It's the same with handicap spots. The rules say the handicapped person MUST be exiting or entering the vehicle. You cant park there and leave gma in the car. Yet, people do it. I knew people who would bring their child along just for good parking(yes, taking the child inside). Then you have those who take someone else's pass and use it without the person even being on the trip. Ive seen older people do it themselves. Ive seen gma drive to the store and park in handicap while the grand child ran inside for something. Did you know handicap permits do have to pay at the meter? Yeah you think THAT doesn't get abused?! lol

 

[kapeman]

It sounds like a complementary FastPass.

The description matches what we received when buying APs last July.

They can be used for a lot of different things.

There are a series of check boxes that have everything from group FastPass to free snacks, drinks, etc.

 

[rct247]

It sounds like a complementary FastPass.

The description matches what we received when buying APs last July.

They can be used for a lot of different things.

There are a series of check boxes that have everything from group FastPass to free snacks, drinks, etc.

No, that sounds more like a No-Strings Attached form which provides immediate guest service recovery. On it, it has check boxes for complementary Fastpass for an attraction of your choice, free drink, free popcorn, or a replacement merchandise item. These are only given in specific situations and should never be expected. Once they are used once, they are supposed to be taken. So if it was used as a Fastpass for one attraction, that's all it would be good for.

Again, that's if what you are talking about is a No-Strings Attached form.

 

[Phonedave]

When my sister chaperoned my neice's band trip to WDW, she got a GAC because she can't do stairs (bad knees). Well, she can do them, but it takes her a while going one step at a time.

It was simply the "Alternate Entrance" GAC. While most attractions she was fine going through the regular queue, there were a few places that were different. For example at Space Mountain, she and the few kids she was with were put through the FastPass line because the Standby line has stairs.

-Rob

Wow, that hits home.

I was in the parks the morning after running the Marathon and decided to go on Space Mountain. If forgot about the stairs in the queue. I used the railings as paralell bars, and went down the stairs that way

-dave

 

[kapeman]

No, that sounds more like a No-Strings Attached form which provides immediate guest service recovery. On it, it has check boxes for complementary Fastpass for an attraction of your choice, free drink, free popcorn, or a replacement merchandise item. These are only given in specific situations and should never be expected. Once they are used once, they are supposed to be taken. So if it was used as a Fastpass for one attraction, that's all it would be good for.

Again, that's if what you are talking about is a No-Strings Attached form.

I glossed over the "it wasn't collected" part and was focusing on the physical description.

You are probably correct.

 

[Mansion Butler]

Actually, last I was down there, family could use the GAC as a fast pass. Not necessarily to go in the exit but as a fast pass. This was told to my family repeatedly by guest relations and I always ask if it's still allowed when we go for a new trip.

Depends on the GAC. They may have been getting an expedited entrance one, which for all intents and purposes will always be a FP. Otherwise, the Guest Relations CM may have been setting them up for trouble.

 

[loveofamouse]

Depends on the GAC. They may have been getting an expedited entrance one, which for all intents and purposes will always be a FP. Otherwise, the Guest Relations CM may have been setting them up for trouble.

It was MY family and my son does get the alt. entrance stamp although, when he's not with us for the ride, we don't do the WC entrance. They send us in the fastpass lane. Like I said, without the guests named, it's just a fastpass. Nothing more. And, honestly, it wasn't until my son got his first WC and wasnt doing stroller as wheelchair that we really started using it like that. With most WCs weighing over 50lbs, over 100lbs with him and a bag, there's no way we can "beat" everyone over to the fastpass distribution, esp at AK. AK has so MANY uphill areas. lol

 

[EvilQueen-T]

when we were at dhs during christmas week 09 my adult daughter and son were 20 & 25 at the time. my son struck up a conversation with a young woman standing near them in line. it turned out that the girls parents had purchased dvc membership while they were there that day and as a bonus for doing so they were given unlimited fast pass access for that day in that park. they took my kids with them on tot and rnrc a bunch of times before they caught back up with the rest of us...my daughter said it was the most it ever paid off for her putting up with having to listen to her brother flirting. so sometimes there are other reasons beyond disabilities that someone may have different types of fp access. i've also seen a family of three with a similar fastpass who it turned out he had related to his military status.

 

[Tigger1988]

when we were at dhs during christmas week 09 my adult daughter and son were 20 & 25 at the time. my son struck up a conversation with a young woman standing near them in line. it turned out that the girls parents had purchased dvc membership while they were there that day and as a bonus for doing so they were given unlimited fast pass access for that day in that park. they took my kids with them on tot and rnrc a bunch of times before they caught back up with the rest of us...my daughter said it was the most it ever paid off for her putting up with having to listen to her brother flirting. so sometimes there are other reasons beyond disabilities that someone may have different types of fp access. i've also seen a family of three with a similar fastpass who it turned out he had related to his military status.

It's not unlimited, I believe the DVC card (which is a white plastic card with the DVC logo) can be used up to 6 times and is good for 3 people at a time. It has to be inserted into the attraction's FP distribution machine and if all the day's FastPasses are gone, so is your chance.

 

[joanna71985]

It is possible to regulate the GAC. I know at TSM, we had to confirm that the person whose name was on the card was present and riding. If the person was not there, the group could not use the GAC. We also had to go by the number of guests written on the card

 

[thelookingglass]

It is possible to regulate the GAC. I know at TSM, we had to confirm that the person whose name was on the card was present and riding. If the person was not there, the group could not use the GAC. We also had to go by the number of guests written on the card

But given the limited information written on the card (and the fact that its hand written and easy to forge), this is very easy to lie about. The cards need a better form of regulating because they ARE abused by a LOT of people.

 

[joanna71985]

Eh, not really. GR writes them out, so it's not too hard to tell if something was written over the info

 

[darthspielberg]

I spent my last Disney vacation with my cousin who is autistic and has issues with his legs, so he can't stand in long lines at all. His pass is used to get him in an expedited line. Sometimes this means a special entrance, other times it just means Fasspass. My aunt carried the pass, and if he wasn't with us (he often took naps during lunch) they'd still let us use it, but would automatically make it a fastpass as opposed to a special entrance.

 

[thelookingglass]

^^ But it can still be hard to tell if the person the card is intended for is actually using it.

^ if he wasn't with you, you were abusing the pass. Just sayin'. If its that easy to abuse the pass, then it should be changed, otherwise its unfair to everyone who waits in the regular lines.

 

[Monty]

^^ But it can still be hard to tell if the person the card is intended for is actually using it.

^ if he wasn't with you, you were abusing the pass. Just sayin'. If its that easy to abuse the pass, then it should be changed, otherwise its unfair to everyone who waits in the regular lines.

That's not true. Often, family are permitted to use the pass to get in rides the individual can't or won't ride. That way they aren't leaving him/her for very long, which is also a reason for having the pass.

I don't see anything in the previous poster's comments that would lead me to believe they are necessarily "abusing" the pass, in fact it appears they were permitted to do exactly what they did.

 

[thelookingglass]

But the pass is specifically for the intended individual because they can't be in long lines. If they are waiting somewhere outside the attraction (or in darthspielberg's case, apparently back at the hotel?) then they are not in a long line and thus there is no reason for anyone else to use the pass other than "they aren't checking it, so why not?"

 

[Monty]

But the pass is specifically for the intended individual because they can't be in long lines. If they are waiting somewhere outside the attraction (or in darthspielberg's case, apparently back at the hotel?) then they are not in a long line and thus there is no reason for anyone else to use the pass other than "they aren't checking it, so why not?"

You're not "getting it"...

There are a wide variety of passes and uses for them. If a group comes to WDW with an autistic child who can't wait in lines due to the crowds or the time spent in line, that child likely also can't wait for lengths of time while the group waits for rides. Disney quite rightly allows the group a break to be able to do other things while still allowing them to respect the restrictions of the special-needs child that's with them. Each situation can be addressed by use of the different types of GAC, there is no hard and fast rule for GACs - They can be extremely different from guest to guest. The idea is that Disney is assisting people with special needs in accordance with their needs.

You can't possibly know what the circumstances are that warranted the issuance of the GAC. Therefore you shouldn't try to judge whether the GAC is being "abused". First, it's none of your business and second Disney has been doing this for years... They actually have it down to a science.

Yes, it is possible for unscrupulous guests to abuse the GAC system. The same as the wheelchairs and ECVs and any other system that expects honour from people. But the other side of that coin is the unfair expectation you seem to have that every disabled or disadvantaged individual should have to explain their plight in graphic detail to every arrogant snob that thinks anyone who receives a GAC should personally justify every benefit they get to them.

 

[loveofamouse]

You're not "getting it"...

There are a wide variety of passes and uses for them. If a group comes to WDW with an autistic child who can't wait in lines due to the crowds or the time spent in line, that child likely also can't wait for lengths of time while the group waits for rides. Disney quite rightly allows the group a break to be able to do other things while still allowing them to respect the restrictions of the special-needs child that's with them. Each situation can be addressed by use of the different types of GAC, there is no hard and fast rule for GACs - They can be extremely different from guest to guest. The idea is that Disney is assisting people with special needs in accordance with their needs.

You can't possibly know what the circumstances are that warranted the issuance of the GAC. Therefore you shouldn't try to judge whether the GAC is being "abused". First, it's none of your business and second Disney has been doing this for years... They actually have it down to a science.

Yes, it is possible for unscrupulous guests to abuse the GAC system. The same as the wheelchairs and ECVs and any other system that expects honour from people. But the other side of that coin is the unfair expectation you seem to have that every disabled or disadvantaged individual should have to explain their plight in graphic detail to every arrogant snob that thinks anyone who receives a GAC should personally justify every benefit they get to them.

THANK YOU!!!

This is one thing I am so sick of reading on this board. It is so EASY for those on the outside looking in to say what everyone else should be doing or allowed to do. Just like you said, an autistic child that can't comprehend why the line just "Isn't moving" won't understand why they are sitting with grandma outside for 65min without moving or DOING something that long. I know. We deal with that every trip. They just don't understand. They aren't being spoiled and there is a difference. A spoiled child knows and just doesn't want to do. When you are dealing with a child that just doesn't understand, it's like you are truly breaking their hearts and holding them captive. To them, they are being punished for doing nothing wrong. Does that mean the parents cant do anything else? No. My son is almost 6 and people expect him to understand like a 6yr old. He doesn't. He doesn't understand time like you or I. With all of the stimulation he gets from the world, 5min is like 45 LONG, LOUD min.

I remember a trip before we knew about the GAC card. We were taking him on Peter Pan, I think. He wound up "melting" down because he just couldn't understand why we were walking back and forth(queue went left to right several times) and stopping when the ride was RIGHT THERE. He ended up being so overstimulated and so overwhelmed, he wore himself out and passed out from the exhaustion( in my arms and 35lbs of deadsleeping child is HEAVY in a 45min queue, let me tell ya). He ended up sleeping through the ride. Every time the queue turned away from the loading platform, it was torture. He just didn't GET why we were walking away from the ride. Most kids his age would understand the lines moves. Autism is very hard to deal with.

Like I said and the other poster said, without the child, the pass is just a fastpass, not an alt. entrance pass. For example, TSMM. At TSMM, with my son, we get to split off the fastpass lane to the HC loading area. If my son wasn't riding with us, we would get to that split point and continue with the other fast pass people and wait out that last 30min or so with the regular line guests. At haunted mansion, my son goes in through the exit to the secret hallway(we carry him). Without him, we would go into the fastpass line.


I get so sick of reading people posting about what the disabled community get or don't get, how we inconvienance you, how we are in your way. Once you've realized how hurtful your statements are, then some of you try backpedaling a little bit but it doesn't take the sting away. When I'm at the park with my son, I see some of you giving us the stink eye because we load a bus first and it just burns you that my husband and two other kids get to get on, too. You give me dirty looks when we use his GAC card as a fast pass for 1 or 2 rides not realizing I just left my child screaming with his dad or gma.
I want to enjoy a ride, too, and Disney understands that. It's not "abuse" for a party to use the GAC as it was intended. Simple as that. That poster didn't say they left the child at a hotel while they ran around with the pass. They didn't say they rode over and over again for 2hrs while the child sat in on a hot bench.

 

[Monty]

THANK YOU!!!

:king:

You're very welcome!

My sister babysat an autistic little girl many years ago. It was the most challenging and also most rewarding experience of her life. I still remember how devastated she was when the decision was made to institutionalize that little girl.

I did a lot of volunteer work with blind and partially-sighted children in my teens and have done considerably more volunteer work within the disabled community since becoming disabled myself. I would never presume to understand every aspect of the day-to-day lives some people have to live with. So it upsets me when some pompous, self-important windbag rants about things they can't possibly understand.

I sincerely hope that with Disney's very positive programs you and your family can continue to enjoy the World and all it has to offer for many years to come!

 

[thelookingglass]

You can't possibly know what the circumstances are that warranted the issuance of the GAC. Therefore you shouldn't try to judge whether the GAC is being "abused". First, it's none of your business and second Disney has been doing this for years... They actually have it down to a science.

If you have a legitimate reason to need the pass, then by all means, use it. My problem is that the passes are so easily handed out to anyone, since they can't ask anything or really regulate or control the passes in any way at all. Like I mentioned before, VERY often, the Fastpass line has more of these passes than actual Fastpass holders. I mean if thats the case, whats stopping any of us from going to guest relations and lying and saying "I can't wait in long lines because I uh, have a loose bladder" and getting our own unlimited Fastpass? Nothing except our own morale and guilt. But there are plenty of people who simply have no morale and guilt and that is why there is a problem with the way the cards are issued and regulated (or lack of regulation thereof)

But the other side of that coin is the unfair expectation you seem to have that every disabled or disadvantaged individual should have to explain their plight in graphic detail to every arrogant snob that thinks anyone who receives a GAC should personally justify every benefit they get to them.

No, I never said that. I just said that there needs to be a way to ensure that the card is being used for the intended individual(s) (maybe a picture on the card?), or perhaps a limit to how many times they can do an attraction in one hour, because frankly, its sickening to me that some family with no remorse can lie to guest relations, get one of these passes, and ride Rock 'n' Rollercoaster over and over and over with no repercussions while everyone else with any morale at all has to wait 90 minutes or obtain a Fastpass that is good once.

WDWfqntflyer, I am not attacking your autistic child, or any autistic children, or people who legitimately need the passes in any way.