Guest Assistance Pass & Character Meet-and-Greets?

[BellaBelle27]

We plan on getting a a Guest Assistance Pass during an upcoming trip for someone in our party...can it be used for any (or all?) character Meet and Greets? I was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share. We know from past trips that there is a lot of variation from attraction to attraction/cast member to cast member when using the pass. Most Meet and Greets queues are really not doable for us and our family member...since the Mickey and Princess ones on Main Street have a Fast Pass line, I wondered if it would be more accommodating.

thanks for any help

 

[Spikerdink]

From experience with a friend who has an autistic son, it can vary from meet and greet to meet and greet. It also depends on what the GAP is for.... does your son/daughter/guest have a broken arm or similar? If that's the case, you most likely will get no priority. Usually, the M&G that are 'in the open' on Main Street, etc usually do not have the CMs necessary to assist with the GAP.....

For my friend, his son hated waiting on lines and would often bolt and we would spend time chasing after him throughout the parks. (lost him twice in AK...but that's another story....). So, my friend would speak to the CM at the meet and greet and see if anything could be accomodated. Sometimes we were moved up, sometimes not. (We also had to judge whether Jack would be amenable to taking a picture. When he was he would hug the charachter, high five and take some great pics. When he didn't.... look out!)

The one we had success with was the Character Spot in Epcot near Innoventions....

Like I said... this was our experience and I am not sure if this is standard procedure.

 

[CaptainShortty]

If the queue for the M & G can accommodate the disability that causes the need for the GAP then you will not be given any priority entrance. Same is true for the attractions. If you can use the accommodations like any other guest, you will be required to do so. If not, then the CM will make arrangements for you assuring that you get the "normal guest experience" to the highest degree possible. In the end it really depends on what the GAP is for. They are not "get out of waiting in line passes" in any way. They are passes designed to help guests in not having to explain their situation to every CM they come in contact with. Often times, they are abused by guests who assume they are comparable to fastpasses. (Not accusing you or anyone of such thing, just a general observation). If you have any questions about it Guest Relations would be more than happy to answer them for you when you go to request a GAP. Another thing to note is that not everyone qualifies for a GAP. I don't know the specifics of who does and who doesn't but I do know that not everyone that requests one is given one.

Sorry for the convoluted answer, but I hope it helps out a little!

 

[wilkeliza]

We plan on getting a a Guest Assistance Pass during an upcoming trip for someone in our party...can it be used for any (or all?) character Meet and Greets? I was wondering if anyone had any experiences to share. We know from past trips that there is a lot of variation from attraction to attraction/cast member to cast member when using the pass. Most Meet and Greets queues are really not doable for us and our family member...since the Mickey and Princess ones on Main Street have a Fast Pass line, I wondered if it would be more accommodating.

thanks for any help

Like others have said it depends on what the GAC is for. If it is simply a child who uses a stroller as a wheelchair they will let you take the stroller in. If it is an alternate entrance GAC they will take you through the alternate entrance if there is one. If it is for children on the autism spectrum who have trouble waiting they will either let you use the fastpass line or will issue you a hand written fastpass with your return window. I have seen the hand written fastpasses this year and never before so it could have something to do with the new fastpass systems in place. Also for the alternate entrance GAC (they are the typical variation give for people on the spectrum as well as those with issues standing for long periods of time) you still will wait and on some rides you may wait even longer than the regular line. What the alternate entrance GAC allows you to do is go into a portion of the que that will accommodate a stroller, wheel chair, scooter, etc and typically has less activity. You were very vague on what type of GAC your party would be using so we can't really give you any specifics. If it is one where you have trouble standing for long periods of time they will allow you a place to sit while the rest of the party keeps the place in line. At some venues a GAC will get you nothing because it was specifically developed to be accommodating and at most you may end up at the end of the fastpass line which at more popular attractions can be just as long as the regular line.

Also GAC are for the individual who needs it and up to 5 members in the party making it for a total of 6 people per a pass. In some instances the GAC can actually cause a longer wait case in point being Toy Story Midway Mania. There are only so many wheelchair cars so if it is a wheelchair or stroller as wheelchair GAC you'll end up waiting for those 2 to 3 cars that can take you with each one taking the whole ride (I think 9 minutes) to cycle.

Wish I could be of more specific help but you were clear on why you would get the GAC.

edit- I just saw an faq that said if fastpasses are available for the attraction you will be first asked to use the fastpasses if you GAC is not for something else. The only "front of the line" GACs given out are to kids who are there on Make A Wish trips and those are special GACs. I read those two things over on another reputable Disney fansite.

 

[joanna71985]

The only character meets that accept the GAC are the ones considered as attractions (TST at MK, and I want to say Character Spot at Epcot). Otherwise, it's up to the CM there to accept the GAC or not (some will, some won't).

 

[Gomer]

As an alternative, I would suggest strategically planning your meet and greets. I have a son with autism who has severe issues waiting in line, but we have never had a need to use the GAC for a meet and greet. We've found that almost any character can be found with little to no wait if you find them at the right park and at the right time of day.

For fab 5 characters, I suggest the Epcot character spot just after rope drop. My wife will usually take my son there as I run to Soarin for fastpasses. She is generally done before I even get back.

Other popular characters, like Pooh characters and Princesses we accomplish through character meals. Like others have mentioned, I do not know the disability you are accommodating, but that is what has worked for me.