GAC to Become DAS

[cmybliss]

I think people have been, for lack of a better workd, spoiled by the current system a bit.

As parents of disabled children, we need to take on some responsbility to meet Disney half way on some of these things.

I use GAC for my son, but I also use it to teach him time awareness and patience. When we first began taking him to WDW, he loved it but he was combative when faced with waits and we had some of those embarrasing/frightening moments of judgmental onlookers. But, no one can take that in stride better than a parent of a child with disabilities.

So, after our first trip I speant the next two years exposing my son to videos and music of rides and attractions that rarely have a wait. I play the tomorrowland BGM in his room at night to sleep to so he develops an attachment to TTA. I show him videos of LWTL and Country Bears and get him to develop a love for those rides. On our next trip we were able to use GAC for his obsessions (Pooh, Pirates, IASW) and mix them up with minimal waits on the aforementioned TTA, LWTL, etc...

With each trip we try to expand his horizons to new rides with slightly longer waits. This last trip (his 5th) he stood in a 25 minute line for Pooh (thank goodness for interative qeueues and those disgusting touch screens) and sat 30 minutes to get a front row seat for MSEP. He loves MSEP and we told him if he sat quietly and waited he'd get to see it without being blocked by other people. And I'll be damned if he didn't sit there patiently the whole time and got a huge smile on his face when those floats rolled by right in front of him. It was one of my proudest moments and something my wife and I would have never imagined possible 6 years ago.

I thank Disney for their GAC program. It has helped me teach my son concepts I never thought possible. But I have also always understood that it is there to help him overcome his hardship, not to make it easy for him. I know all cases are different, and my method took/takes a lot of work. But the payoff is well worth it. My son still has his moments and it is by no means easy. But he loves WDW more than anything, the GAC/DAS has made that love possible. The last thing I would want is to see that destroyed by abusers. So, I accept the changes as a necesarry evil to keep the system functioning. No way around it.

You are an awesome parent!

We did a similar thing for my daughter. It's hard sometimes, not to mention exhausting. But it's necessary!

 

[ford91exploder]

I didn't see it in the promotion, but, I was under the impression that this was over and above park admission. So one pays that plus admission fee's. Multiple parks if you have a Park Hopper. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if it includes park admission, we should all do that. I guess it would work if you spend enough hours on the tour, but there must be some minimum if that is the case.

It has a 6 hour minimum, and they pick you up at hotel in a limo, I believe it includes admission as well just as the all day 'Behind the Magic' tour does.

 

[flynnibus]

Thanks for the article link!

The problem is, that the author doesn't speak to the advantages @flynnibus describes in the new system. The more I read about DAS, the more it seems like fastpass++....and as the author rightly points out, if you take away the advantage, you create a disincentive for the abuse. The problem is, he's not recognizing that there's still an advantage.

See.. no reason to go find blogs when you get all the great analysis right here on wdwmagic!

Also, still no mention of restricting access to the truly needy. All this system does is force GAC, now DAS, users to play more by the rules, it doesn't prevent those that shouldn't have it in the first place, from getting it.

Ultimately it's virtually impossible to prevent people from getting disabled assistance if they ask for it. You also can't make it difficult to get (this is a tough line to balance). All you can really do is take away the incentive of getting the assistance vs your normal situation. Some of these additions are very good.. and the 'same as standby' return time is as fair of a compromise you can ask for. I applaud Disney for finally jumping to those points. But what I do not have faith in is my fellow man to stop being so selfish, nor do I under estimate people's willingness to expend energy for minimal gain.

Hopefully things like cheezin' for the camera will guilt some away from doing it. Plus, Disney should have a MUCH better record of the use of the system. This plan as outlined SCREAMS integration with MDE/MB... but obviously you can't do that when the system is so far behind anyways. I would expect a digital replacement for the in-park kiosks in the not-so-distant future.

 

[flynnibus]

The abuse might come now with people trying to get DAS cards for multiple people in their group. I hope Disney does not allow this, or at least tries to curb it as much as they can.

There is no need for that... just make the person who is most likely to ride everything get the pass. What you can't do anymore is just hand it off... or use your frail grandma to get passes for the rest of your party. If you are lying to start with.. do you think they really care much about they are lying about?

 

[Goofyernmost]

It has a 6 hour minimum, and they pick you up at hotel in a limo, I believe it includes admission as well just as the all day 'Behind the Magic' tour does.

True, I had forgotten about that Behind the Magic tour, but, most of that was not in a park proper, but backstage. I don't remember riding any rides but if I did there weren't many. They did do that on the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but you had to use admission days to do it because even though some of it was backstage, much of it was in the park itself. They only thing I remember of the "Magic" tour was arriving in MK in time for the 3 O'Clock parade (I forget what time that happened. ) and we were herded right out after the parade and anyone that decided to stay were 'escorted' to the front to use their ticket. Then they could stay in the park.

 

[flynnibus]

Yes and no. Remember that you cannot have more than one at a time, and only if the wait time is more than 15 minutes for an attraction. It appears that you must go back to a kiosk after your ride to get your card stamped for a new ride, and then only for a ride that again has a longer wait time than 15 minutes.

So again.. how is any of that any worse than a FP? FP returns were a minimum of 40mins out... FP waits could easily be 10-15mins themselves depending on how merge was done for that attraction. You can't hold more than one FP at a time (sans the 1hr overlap until your current FP expires)... and you had to go around the park to get a FP. The DAS option is superior to darting around for FPs because you are constrained only by the posted wait times.. everything else is gravy.

Under the current GAC, depending on how it is written, you can get straight on a ride through the exit, and immediately head to the next ride and do the same thing

That's overstating the benefit a bit.. not every attraction was instant access..

So with the new system, if you want to ride BTMRR, and the wait time is 30 minutes, you go to a kiosk, they stamp your DAS, and it will tell you what time to come back, and go through the FP line. Then, if you want to ride Splash, and it has a 40 minute wait, you have to go back to a kiosk, and get your DAS stamped with that return time. You will have waited the same time to ride those two rides as someone who has stood in the queues. Fair for everyone.

Waiting the same time... yes. HOW you waited and what you are able to do are not the same. It's also not clear yet if you go in the FP return or through the alt entrance. While it's true the stand-by person and the DAS person may both wait a minimum time to ride BTMRR... the standby person is stuck in line.. the DAS holder is not.

 

[Sped2424]

I'm not sure how you can say it's ruined. The new system seems much more equitable for all parties.....

The old system they could work through a park much quicker, I am friends with a family whose son has down syndrome and I have been with them at the theme parks, that pass is great for them because waiting in any line upsets him rather quickly. With the old GAC they got to ride whatever they wanted to and need to rather quickly, here you have to find something else to do until your return time. Which could take up some time and like I said he isn't good at sitting very still for too long so shows aren't really an option for them. In the end they are gonna have to wait around in one line while waiting for their return ticket.

 

[flynnibus]

I agree with everything that you are saying, and certainly some of the more adventurous abusers will probably do this, but it is so much more effort over the old system that I think most will be turned away. All the stops to City Hall and kiosks are going to get old real fast for people that don't need it.

The 'perpetual' GAC was a real issue.. no localized pain to use it. Now they will have to head to city hall.. that's a good disincentive.

 

[flynnibus]

Good idea and if it has an authentication component to make sure the 'Genie' is genuine it should take care of everything, My point was that if you want a front of line experience at WDW you can have it if you have the cash.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/vip-tour-services/

Up to 10 people can be in group and its $315 per hour which if you got 10 friends it would only be 31.50 each per hour.

the immediate access is another upcharge I think.. we jokingly looked at this when talking about it in line once. If you get a party of 10 (10 or 12.. I forget the max).. you need the minimum # of hours and then you also had to pay for the priority access on top of the VIP charge. It wasn't cheap.. but if you had money to burn... but yes, it's all available if you have cash.. just as you say

 

[ford91exploder]

True, I had forgotten about that Behind the Magic tour, but, most of that was not in a park proper, but backstage. I don't remember riding any rides but if I did there weren't many. They did do that on the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but you had to use admission days to do it because even though some of it was backstage, much of it was in the park itself. They only thing I remember of the "Magic" tour was arriving in MK in time for the 3 O'Clock parade (I forget what time that happened. ) and we were herded right out after the parade and anyone that decided to stay were 'escorted' to the front to use their ticket. Then they could stay in the park.

Typical for WDW these days..., I have periodically thought of getting a group together to do a VIP tour as it would be a unique way to experience WDW.

 

[Prock3]

So punish the many because of the few... its a wonderful system... I realize the ADA is about equality... I teach those folks that the ADA is a part of their every day life so don't tell me what the ADA is about... I am sure I know more about the ADA then you do... what I am saying is Disney has made their parks a safe haven for families that are impacted by a family member with disabilities... now it seems that because people have taken advantage of the system those families that have traveled to disney for years because of everything disney bent over backwards to do for them they are yanking that away from them..

You don't realize how bad the problem is do you? They aren't punishing the many because of the few, they are punishing the few because of the many. More people that don't need a GAC card use it than people that actually need one.

Its not like you're forced to wait in line now, you decide that you want to ride small world, go to the kiosk say you want to ride small world and after the wait time passes by you get in the FP line, its not unfair in anyway.

And yes the ADA is all about equality, but equality doesn't mean advantage. Any new attraction Disney builds has an ADA compliant line, meaning wheelchairs (and mostly ECV's) get to wait in the standby line. The number of guests in wheelchairs and ECV's who get absolutely furious about having to wait in standby is alarming. EQUALITY DOESNT MEAN ADVANTAGE!!!

 

[Prock3]

Typical for WDW these days..., I have periodically thought of getting a group together to do a VIP tour as it would be a unique way to experience WDW.

Related to splitting the VIP tour. A good way to experience a great wishes viewing is to charter the grand one. Yes it is 600 dollars an hour, but split it 14 ways and it gets much cheaper. Oh you can bring your own food so just bring mc donalds

 

[Tom Morrow]

That's overstating the benefit a bit.. not every attraction was instant access..

But the most common card entitled the holder to unlimited use of the Fastpass queue at every attraction with Fastpass (which I guess is almost all of them now?).

 

[PirateFrank]

EQUALITY DOESNT MEAN ADVANTAGE!!!

The excerpt from the above post can not be repeated or stressed enough!

The old system they could work through a park much quicker, I am friends with a family whose son has down syndrome and I have been with them at the theme parks, that pass is great for them because waiting in any line upsets him rather quickly. With the old GAC they got to ride whatever they wanted to and need to rather quickly, here you have to find something else to do until your return time. Which could take up some time and like I said he isn't good at sitting very still for too long so shows aren't really an option for them. In the end they are gonna have to wait around in one line while waiting for their return ticket.

being in a long line upsets my children very much too! I don't understand why this is a problem I have to endure but not for someone who has successfully convinced a CM that they deserve a GAC. No matter what your condition (or whomever is in your party), I don't think you deserve an enhanced experience over mine. I paid just as much to get through the doors. The sense of entitlement here regarding this "get to the front of the line as much as you want" card can be nauseating to read.

See above. The ADA was never designed to give someone an enhanced experience or accessibility, but allow them to achieve a reasonably similar level of accessibility.

 

[ford91exploder]

Related to splitting the VIP tour. A good way to experience a great wishes viewing is to charter the grand one. Yes it is 600 dollars an hour, but split it 14 ways and it gets much cheaper. Oh you can bring your own food so just bring mc donalds

I prefer TASTY food, MickeyD's is great for when on road and dying of hunger...

 

[Sped2424]

The excerpt from the above post can not be repeated or stressed enough!




being in a long line upsets my children very much too! I don't understand why this is a problem I have to endure but not for someone who has successfully convinced a CM that they deserve a GAC. No matter what your condition (or whomever is in your party), I don't think you deserve an enhanced experience over mine. I paid just as much to get through the doors. The sense of entitlement here regarding this "get to the front of the line as much as you want" card can be nauseating to read.

See above. The ADA was never designed to give someone an enhanced experience or accessibility, but allow them to achieve a reasonably similar level of accessibility.

Except he isn't the size of a child he is 18, therefore he is harder to control, the only thing I can say is until you have had that experience its very easy to just write it off. If you honestly feel that its unfair that disabled people get a sense of entitlement over you for getting to go to the front of the line then you may need to re evaluate some things. Once people abused this thing which is wrong yes, but like I said for those that actually need it, its a completely different issue and maybe one of the only ways they can experience their vacation. There is a reason they cannot wait in a line which is why they have the GAC, to call that an advantage is sick this isn't a race to an attraction this is the only way some families can honestly even get to experience it.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think the most surprising thing about this news, if it comes to WDW in the same capacity that it will be at DLR, is the extent of the steps they are actually taking to prevent abuse. I figured that, if anything, they would do one, or maybe two of the procedures, like require a photo ID or something. But no, surprisingly, it seems as they are attacking it full force. Kudos to Disney on this one.

 

[JimboJones123]

the immediate access is another upcharge I think.. we jokingly looked at this when talking about it in line once. If you get a party of 10 (10 or 12.. I forget the max).. you need the minimum # of hours and then you also had to pay for the priority access on top of the VIP charge. It wasn't cheap.. but if you had money to burn... but yes, it's all available if you have cash.. just as you say

Do you tip too?

 

[GoofGoof]

It's truly sad that people abused the program and it had to come to this. On it's face this system seems pretty fair and still provides to people with special needs a level of service far above the norm. I'm assuming they could eventually integrate the process into the magic bands at least at WDW.

 

[khale1970]

I've never been groped . Am I in the wrong queue? Or do I need a special pass/look to be entitled?

You have to sign up at least 90 days in advance for the groping Fast Pass+..