Firstly this isn't a negative post or a huge complaint and it's definitely not a go at those people who use scooters! I have dystonia which effects my walking, I tire and my walking can be a bit ackward and uncomfortable at times but I choose to walk around the parks and don't use a wheelchair except sometimes at the airport due to the time restraints in walking long distances. Anyhow enough about that and to why I'm posting this. Last year I visited Fantasmic as usual and after asking a cast member if I could use the handicapped seating at the back (as I always do with no problem) he quizzed me as to where my 'Guest Assistance Card' was. I explained I had never had one or been asked and he ummed and ahhed a bit before telling me to wait and left me while he spoke to a colleague. He soon returned and politely told me that I could sit there but in future I must have a 'Guest Assistance Card' to do so, so I thanked him and sat down a bit confused. That was the last day of our holiday and I left and we returned this year.
So we arrived this year for our holiday a few weeks ago and upon entering the Magic Kingdom we went in Guest Relations to obtain a 'GAC'. I felt a bit embarrassed asking for one as I don't really feel the need for assistance other than to sometimes have a seat for some of the shows without the need to climb stairs with jostling crowds (can be quite bad at the end of shows especially). The cast member was very nice and seemed confused saying the 'GAC' didn't apply to shows and was only used to get into certain rides without queueing as long using a special entrance on certain attractions. She did advise me to take one though incase my leg was bad and the lines were long and kindly took on out and wrote my name and the dates of our stay on it.
On one day my leg was particularly bad and we arrived at the Haunted Mansion. The card states 'PLEASE PRESENT THIS CARD TO THE GREETER OR FIRST HOST OR HOSTESS YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH AT EACH ATTRACTION' which we did and were told to head to the FP entrance. We did that and after queuing several minutes and meeting the next cast member at FP and showing and explaining we had a 'GAC' I was told that I would have to join the normal line as the queue was short. It then took 30 minutes or so of queuing in the normal line to ride. To make matters more confusing on exiting the ride we were passed by two people entering through the exit who appeared to have similar walking difficulties to myself? I didn't let it ruin my day as if the 'GAC's didn't exist I'd be no worse off but I wondered what length the queue must be or what condition you have (or cast member is on duty) to warrant using them?
I decided not to bother with it for the next 2 and a half weeks and on one of our last few days we were entering Buzz Lightyear and as my wife passed me our FP's for the attraction from her bag my 'GAC' fell from it on the floor. As she picked it up we were told by the cast member we could have used that instead of the FP's. I thought great if my legs bad in future trips I'll do that on FP attractions however looking at the card it states 'At attractions offering Disney's FASTPASS service, Guests should obtain a Disney's FASTPASS return ticket'. I only read this again after leavig the park so didn't query it then?
My last query was regarding a day at Hollywood Studios where I was declined a seat on the first two rows (with the handicapped symbol on and ironically the reason for me being instructed to request a 'GAC' in the first place) at LMA. My knee was bad and when we arrived the 3rd to 9th rows were full so I explained to the young cast member I had a problem and could I use the front seating. He said could I please use the stairs instead if possible with no explanation why (these seats were practically empty). As I struggled up the stairs another cast member ran over and offered me a front row seat. I explained why I was using the stairs and they apologised and said that shouldn't have happened. I asked if in future I should show my 'GAC' at shows to be told that no it's only for attractions.
Now I don't want to criticise and I think it's wonderful that Disney think of guests with health conditions. We had a fantastic three weeks holiday and will be returning next year but obviously there appeared to be a few issues with the use of my 'GAC'. My questions are do I need a 'GAC' for shows, can I use it instead of a FP and how long does the queue have to be at the HM to use it? And please let's not turn it into a 'who should use scooter' thread
So we arrived this year for our holiday a few weeks ago and upon entering the Magic Kingdom we went in Guest Relations to obtain a 'GAC'. I felt a bit embarrassed asking for one as I don't really feel the need for assistance other than to sometimes have a seat for some of the shows without the need to climb stairs with jostling crowds (can be quite bad at the end of shows especially). The cast member was very nice and seemed confused saying the 'GAC' didn't apply to shows and was only used to get into certain rides without queueing as long using a special entrance on certain attractions. She did advise me to take one though incase my leg was bad and the lines were long and kindly took on out and wrote my name and the dates of our stay on it.
On one day my leg was particularly bad and we arrived at the Haunted Mansion. The card states 'PLEASE PRESENT THIS CARD TO THE GREETER OR FIRST HOST OR HOSTESS YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH AT EACH ATTRACTION' which we did and were told to head to the FP entrance. We did that and after queuing several minutes and meeting the next cast member at FP and showing and explaining we had a 'GAC' I was told that I would have to join the normal line as the queue was short. It then took 30 minutes or so of queuing in the normal line to ride. To make matters more confusing on exiting the ride we were passed by two people entering through the exit who appeared to have similar walking difficulties to myself? I didn't let it ruin my day as if the 'GAC's didn't exist I'd be no worse off but I wondered what length the queue must be or what condition you have (or cast member is on duty) to warrant using them?
I decided not to bother with it for the next 2 and a half weeks and on one of our last few days we were entering Buzz Lightyear and as my wife passed me our FP's for the attraction from her bag my 'GAC' fell from it on the floor. As she picked it up we were told by the cast member we could have used that instead of the FP's. I thought great if my legs bad in future trips I'll do that on FP attractions however looking at the card it states 'At attractions offering Disney's FASTPASS service, Guests should obtain a Disney's FASTPASS return ticket'. I only read this again after leavig the park so didn't query it then?
My last query was regarding a day at Hollywood Studios where I was declined a seat on the first two rows (with the handicapped symbol on and ironically the reason for me being instructed to request a 'GAC' in the first place) at LMA. My knee was bad and when we arrived the 3rd to 9th rows were full so I explained to the young cast member I had a problem and could I use the front seating. He said could I please use the stairs instead if possible with no explanation why (these seats were practically empty). As I struggled up the stairs another cast member ran over and offered me a front row seat. I explained why I was using the stairs and they apologised and said that shouldn't have happened. I asked if in future I should show my 'GAC' at shows to be told that no it's only for attractions.
Now I don't want to criticise and I think it's wonderful that Disney think of guests with health conditions. We had a fantastic three weeks holiday and will be returning next year but obviously there appeared to be a few issues with the use of my 'GAC'. My questions are do I need a 'GAC' for shows, can I use it instead of a FP and how long does the queue have to be at the HM to use it? And please let's not turn it into a 'who should use scooter' thread
