My son is autistic and uses a WC because of CP. We have encountered a few rude people in the past, even CMs. His first wheelchair was a stroller style. It still LOOKED like WC, though, it just folded like a stroller. We still got a stroller as wheelchair sticker so there would be no confusion. Yet, we had CMs all over MK yelling at us to park our stroller. One even tried to deny him access to the WC viewing area for a parade. She actually argued that it wasn't a WC, nevermind the GAC and sticker. lol. The crowd was looking at her like she was an idiot.
Honestly, the only times we really deal with comments from the Peanut Gallery is at the buses. People seriously ________ attitudes that WCs are loaded first and they are forced to stand for 3 extra minutes for it to be loaded.
For me, my only irritation is when it's obvious GAC or any WC access is being abused. On our last trip, there was a family loading a WC on the bus behind us. The boys were arguing over who's turn it was to ride in the WC on the bus. Obviously, it wasn't their WC. That was irritating. Or when I hear people grasping for straws to find a way to get that "alt. entrance" stamp. My neighbor/friend and I argued about this last summer. She wanted to get alt entrance for her, then, 1yr old with CF saying that she needs to be away from being close to people. Well, sorry. I don't buy that. Not when she's close to people walkng around the park and using alt entrance does NOT garauntee you'll be distant from people. In fact, you are often packed in tighter with people who have medical problems and could be carrying anything. You're standing in small areas for quite awhile waiting. Plus, you are still close to people actually on the rides/attractions. PLUS, SHE WAS ONE! LOL And has been extremely healthy so far. She, then, changed her tune and said she just heard some people on the CF forums telling everyone to get one and say it's for that reason. I really felt like that was abuse. I would NEVER say anything to anyone at the parks, though, cause I honestly don't really know.
We get alt entrance cause of his autism and a WC. Honestly, most rides, we just get the fast pass lane. My son has difficulty understanding when lines wind back and forth to and from the loading area. He gets extremely upset when we appear to be walking away from the ride. He just doesn't "get it." He also has a autonomic dysfunction causing a heat intolerance. His body temp will rise to over 102 in standing heat. So we only use alt on rides with outside queues or stairs. Otherwise, we just ask to go in fast pass. He also has difficulty handling the noise of a crowd in a echo-y queue. It's like nails on a chalkboard for him.
And, just an FYI, and I've been told this repeatedly by CMs in GS and I verify it every trip, families ARE allowed to use the GAC w/o the person on it. Mainly, when the GAC person is a child. They said they allow it and promote it because they do not want the child seperated from their parents long. When using without the child, it works just as any avg. fastpass. When we've gone to the CM at the front of the ride without my son, they'll ask if it's our name on it. I tell them no my son is over there. They say ok, go in the fast pass lane. Now, I don't know if it's changed in the past two years (killing me that it's been that long) but that was as of our last trip.
I could probably get a GAC for my own health problems but I don't. I just deal but my issues are dealable. lol.
Unfortunately, it's the GUESTS who can cause somewhat of a problem running in front of them! The CMs always directed my parents to the handicapped places for the parade routes and such, but w/ scooters, most of the time we had to "stand in line" (party of 6). We never really considered using a GAC card.
