Guest Assistnce Card Changes?

[AylaRanzz]

I was just talking to someone who just went to Disney, whose son is in a wheelchair and she said that with the GAC they had them still wait in the regular lines. Last time I went in 2010 and used a GAC we were instructed to go through the fast pass lines. Has this changed?

 

[Figgy1]

I was just talking to someone who just went to Disney, whose son is in a wheelchair and she said that with the GAC they had them still wait in the regular lines. Last time I went in 2010 and used a GAC we were instructed to go through the fast pass lines. Has this changed?

I just called Disney to get you an answer. They said no changes were made to the GAC and this should not have happened!!!!! If it happens someone from your party should contact guest assistance. Hope this helps!

 

[Goofyernmost]

I was just talking to someone who just went to Disney, whose son is in a wheelchair and she said that with the GAC they had them still wait in the regular lines. Last time I went in 2010 and used a GAC we were instructed to go through the fast pass lines. Has this changed?

It may be one of those things like Fastpass time enforcement. GAC was supposed to tailor the benefit based on need. Over time, I think that they just got lazy and decided that they would just send them all into the Fastpass line. If there was no reason why a person couldn't be in the regular line, then that is where they would go, as it was designed. If they had a problem that prohibited them from being in crowds or waiting long periods of time then they would make exceptions on a case by case basis. That's how it was supposed to work anyway. They let it go, and perhaps now they are trying to do it the way it was designed. Or, who knows! Could be any reason.

By just automatically putting them through Fastpass, it opened it up to a huge potential abuse problem. ADA says that you cannot ask for proof of a handicap, so therefore all anyone had to say was that they needed a GAC card and, just like that, you have a permanent Fastpass to everything. Now they can ask what "special" needs they have and that is how it is tailored for each individual.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I just called Disney to get you an answer. They said no changes were made to the GAC and this should not have happened!!!!! If it happens someone from your party should contact guest assistance. Hope this helps!

That answer means nothing. If it wasn't for lack of communication, Disney would have no communication at all. One hand never knows what the other is doing there, especially when it comes to specialized situations. It may be true, but I wouldn't count on it. The front line people still have control over the situation, not someone sitting in a sweatshop answering the phones.

 

[dreamfinder]

It depends on the attraction, and the GAC. Some will bring you in the exit, some will use the Fastpass line, and other times they will use the normal queue. So if the guest was in a wheel chair, then they would use the exit (I believe) at Peter Pan as the wheelchair cannot fit through the normal queue, but at HM, the wheelchair guest would go through a portion of the normal queue, and then get split off to a different queue for loading, and the queue is wide enough to handle the wheelchair.

 

[MarkTwain]

There are 6 different kinds of GAC card, each based on a different kind of need as it is described to Guest Relations. Some cards have specifications that may not get you through a FastPass line as often. For example, one specifies that a guest has problems with heat or exposure to direct sunlight. If the queue is outdoors, they can have direct access to the ride, but if the standby is indoors/air-conditioned, they'll just wait in the standby line. Other cards have similar specifications; contrary to common belief, only certain cards grant unanimous FastPass line use. The 6 types of cards cut down on abuse.

 

[JimboJones123]

We have been in both regular and Fastpass lines with GAC with a wheelchair.

Without wheelchair, we always go through the Fastpass lines. Or quicker entrance.

 

[luv]

Many lines are made so that people in wheelchairs can use them. Being in a wheelchair does NOT guarantee you a shorter wait and anyone who thinks it does is nuts. You can usually go through the regular line.

When you can't get through the regular line, you will either have a shorter wait or a LONGER one.

Although the idea of Disney being the one place where your handicap won't also hold you up is a nice one...a beautiful and magical idea...it is BS. You will move slower through the parks and sometimes wait longer than other people. You will generally wait much longer for busses. Generally, it is much harder to visit in a chair than it would be if you could walk, but now and then someone throws you a bone and you get to use the FP entrance without a FP. When it all balances out, you end up on the "sucks" side of the scale.

Kind of like life.

 

[flynnibus]

Has this changed?

No

If the attraction has a wheelchair accessible queue (most of the newer parks and attractions are) - then you will go through the normal line

 

[Goofnut1980]

It may be one of those things like Fastpass time enforcement. GAC was supposed to tailor the benefit based on need. Over time, I think that they just got lazy and decided that they would just send them all into the Fastpass line. If there was no reason why a person couldn't be in the regular line, then that is where they would go, as it was designed. If they had a problem that prohibited them from being in crowds or waiting long periods of time then they would make exceptions on a case by case basis. That's how it was supposed to work anyway. They let it go, and perhaps now they are trying to do it the way it was designed. Or, who knows! Could be any reason.

By just automatically putting them through Fastpass, it opened it up to a huge potential abuse problem. ADA says that you cannot ask for proof of a handicap, so therefore all anyone had to say was that they needed a GAC card and, just like that, you have a permanent Fastpass to everything. Now they can ask what "special" needs they have and that is how it is tailored for each individual.

How do I hit the "like" button 200 times???? ha

 

[AylaRanzz]

There are 6 different kinds of GAC card, each based on a different kind of need as it is described to Guest Relations. Some cards have specifications that may not get you through a FastPass line as often. For example, one specifies that a guest has problems with heat or exposure to direct sunlight. If the queue is outdoors, they can have direct access to the ride, but if the standby is indoors/air-conditioned, they'll just wait in the standby line. Other cards have similar specifications; contrary to common belief, only certain cards grant unanimous FastPass line use. The 6 types of cards cut down on abuse.

So something like chronic joint pain or fibromyalgia; any idea which of the six different types that would fall under?

 

[MarkTwain]

So something like chronic joint pain or fibromyalgia; any idea which of the six different types that would fall under?

No idea unfortunately. That's all up to guest relations, and is the reason for all the questioning they give you when you ask for the GAC card.