Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[PirateFrank]

Kidd, I'll also amend my points to include parents with conditions who have to care for children. I went back to the beginning of the thread and your particular scenario/situation is a great example of a scenario where a family would need gac's for more than just the adult.

 

[jlthomas81]

We are in the World this week, and today was out first day in the parks. We headed to Hollywood Studios as my son, who is on the Autism spectrum, desperately wanted to ride Toy Story Mania. We went to guest relations first, and received our GAC right away. My son is almost 4, and has anxiety over not receiving immediate gratification. I also have a daughter, almost 7, and understand that this is a symptom of his condition, as we visited when she was 3 and had no problems waiting in lines with her. Just today, after a mere 5 minutes of waiting to see Buzz and Woody, who he has been talking about seeing for months, he went into complete meltdown mode because he couldn't understand why we couldn't walk right over to them...I mean they were right there!! If we had to do this on every ride and attraction, our trip would be anything but magical. And yet, I have been feeling so guilty for getting the card. I shouldn't. It's a service that Disney offers so that kids and adults with disabilities like my son, or worse, can experience all the magic of Disney in their own way. For some that means less waiting in lines, and we shouldn't be judged for that or have that opportunity stripped from us.

 

[tdpolo26]

I believe it is against the law to require someone to show documentation of a disability.

My biggest issue is the over prescription of ADD medicine. When I was a kid, and I'm only 27, it was called having a personality. Now, any kid who acts out a small bit when he's 4 suddenly has ADD / ADHD and start the meds!

well to park in a handicap spot you need to have a tag which requires a dr's note. I think they could offer these people a wheel chair but to get anything more (like front of line or event) they have to make with a doctors note. That way disney is making a equal opportunity of a wheel chair to help people around and anyone else has to bring a note. Anyone who is legitamately disabled that i know of would be more then willing to get a note and forward it to disney in a private manner (not give it to some cm at the gate) this should be something that needs to be prearranged if possible.

 

[Florida Bill]

I would be glad to "prove" that I have a disability if need be, from my experience, most people that have a legit disability wouldn't have any problem with proving, being a note from your doc. or whatever. I know that the laws in the U.S. don't allow that even though that seems like it would be the easiest way to decide who gets a GAC and who doesn't. Even then people would still find a way around it.
Part of the problem also falls on the CM's, for example, I was told by the person who wrote my GAC out to "just ask the CM's that are in front of the attraction, just do what they tell you", and pretty much every single one of them just said go in the fast pass line. I have a handicapped placard in my car, I needed my doc. to fill out paperwork for that, why can't Disney require the same thing? I know that's been answered already in this thread but it seems like that would be the easiest solution.

 

[InLikeFlynn]

Now, to the Disney relevance -

Over the years I have travelled with many different friends. A few times we have gotten a GAC. One was for a friend who had recently completed radiation therapy for prostate cancer. From all outward appearances, he looked healthy. But the radiation caused weakness in his legs and he found it hard to stand for long periods. So, we used the card when we could so he could enjoy more of his vacation. There were rides we didn't need it on, and there were times he went back to the room to rest and we did not take the card from him.

This is another thing I never knew they had accommodations for. When we went to Disney in May '11, just my daughter and I went alone because my husband had also just completed radiation treatments and when we booked the trip we knew he would not feel up to dealing with the Florida heat after having finished them so soon (he finished up about 3 weeks before our trip). We didn't know Disney would care about his condition. Hmm.

 

[Aaron Paschall]

I'd say simplest solutions is just to make it less accessible. A little more annoying. Make them only good for one day, make you get them in advance, make you fill out an obnoxious form to get one, make you use photo id to access a ride with one - stuff that abusers would throw their hands up in frustration at, but those of us who CAN'T do without them will endure. Especially if it means there are fewer people abusing the system.

 

[RSoxNo1]

To go into further detail about my friend who is a double amputee. His mentality (in addition to avoiding the obvious discomfort) is that he could just as easily live off Uncle Sam's dime, but he has a full time job to fully fund his trips (and the rest of his life). Standing still for more than about 30 seconds seems to be an issue, he really needs to be moving at all times to keep the pressure off.

 

[flynnibus]

I'd say simplest solutions is just to make it less accessible. A little more annoying. Make them only good for one day, make you get them in advance, make you fill out an obnoxious form to get one, make you use photo id to access a ride with one - stuff that abusers would throw their hands up in frustration at, but those of us who CAN'T do without them will endure. Especially if it means there are fewer people abusing the system.

Unfortunately - that would raise lawsuits as it violates ADA. You can't burden the people to prove their disability or access to accommodation except in special exceptions where it can be shown its necessary to maintain safety (there is a lot of text regarding powered vehicles).

The issue is today, the accommodation is so 'great', it's attractive for others to abuse. If you made the accommodation EQUAL to everyone else, there is less incentive to abuse. Doing that means making people wait, in a method that is suitable to their need, similar in duration to everyone else.

 

[packwingfn]

At the attractions that I work at in the Magic Kingdom, the alt entrance is only available if the wait time is 20 minutes or more, and people still refuse to wait in our 5/10 minute wait. Some don't even bother waiting and just leave. Some even head to the exit without even speaking to the Cast Member at the entrance. And I see agree with the others are saying that I see at least 20 % of guests I see per day have GAC, even higher % on the AP Weekends (Sat/Sundays)

 

[M.rudolf]

well to park in a handicap spot you need to have a tag which requires a dr's note. I think they could offer these people a wheel chair but to get anything more (like front of line or event) they have to make with a doctors note. That way disney is making a equal opportunity of a wheel chair to help people around and anyone else has to bring a note. Anyone who is legitamately disabled that i know of would be more then willing to get a note and forward it to disney in a private manner (not give it to some cm at the gate) this should be something that needs to be prearranged if possible.

It is absolutely 100% against the law for a private orginazation to ask for proof of a disability.

 

[M.rudolf]

As a person who became ill later in life, I have worked all my life never relied on anyone other than my wife. What you don't understand is how humiliating it is to pull that red and white card out. It makes me feel like the largest pile of dog doo there is.
I really am embarrassed to use it. I refuse to go in a wheelchair and this is the only reason I am able not to. Do I like normal, if you catch me in the morning or after the buttload of mess I take, yes. If you catch me midday or after 8 I look like a one of those beaten up dashboard hula girls. You can't always tell whose sick and who isn't. Disney and any other company is on a slippery slope when it comes to these type of issues. How can they stop the abusers while not hurting the legitimate users

 

[alissafalco]

It is absolutely 100% against the law for a private orginazation to ask for proof of a disability.

That should be changed.

 

[AEfx]

I don't know what the official policy is, but I know my friend would regularly ride Space Mountain twice in a row.

It depends on the ride and the situation. It seems up to the design of the ride (not all ride designs allow for multiple rides, even though technically it is always against the safety rules some rides you can - like Splash, or Haunted Mansion, but others you cannot like POTC - you would be beheaded in between unload and load if you stayed on) and the CM's on duty.

For example, with the GAC my niece gets due to her wheelchair (she cannot walk at all, not one step), they would often let us stay on for an extra ride or two on certain rides (I hesitate to list her all of the ones it is possible on, as I don't like to encourage abuse). They let us go on additional rides because she is 18, in a wheel chair, and weighs about 150lbs and must be carried on to each ride by two of us. It's a huge struggle on any ride that doesn't allow the wheelchair to actually board the ride vehicle (which is most of them).

They see this, realize that it can be very uncomfortable for her (physically and emotionally, when people are waiting), and difficult for the whole family (I feel terrible, but I have to say that I feel relief sometimes when I am at WDW without her because I can just get in line and get on a ride without ten minutes of logistical planning and muscle strain, as much as it is worth it for her I cannot help but notice it). They realize this will be our only time on that ride most likely so they let us go a few times. As I say to anyone who complains - she will gladly trade a pair of legs that do not work to stand in line for every ride all day. We still see less than the average family, because while boarding most rides is more quick, it takes us a lot longer to get from ride to ride, plan logistics, and even bathroom breaks take significantly longer because of various factors.

As to the broader topic, yes, there is assuredly abuse - which makes those of us who DO need the help feel even worse because it leads to the perception that everyone is like that (grandma rents an ECV and a whole troop of family gets to walk on rides). I'm not sure how I feel about all this yet, but as like your sibling, my niece is so happy at WDW because it's the only place in the world that makes it as easy (as is possible) for her to enjoy herself in spite of only having half a working body. It seems that may be changing, which is very sad - especially if it's just for Next Gen nonsense.

 

[TP2000]

Disney needs to provide accomodation for any individual with a "physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities". The law doesn't define exactly what that accomodation has to be, but sets guidelines to try to mainstream the person as much as possible.

If my disability is that I can not withstand high heat.. and it were to the degree to substantially limit major life activities... Disney would have to provide reasonable accommodations to allow me to visit and participate in the parks.

If this is true, then there are many private businesses and government agencies violating the ADA laws by making people wait in line.

Disney has made their queues wheelchair accesible for over a decade, and the Racers queue is a great example of that. But are you saying the ADA laws also mandate that Disney has to let a family from Ohio go in the Fastpass lane because Mom says Junior has "ADD and can't wait in line"?

If that's the case, then the TSA is violating the ADA laws because they have no Fastpass line at airports for people who can't wait in line. Grocery stores, big box stores, department stores at Christmas, etc. are all violating the ADA laws because they have no Fastpass line for people who can't wait in line at the checkouts. Every big city DMV office in the country is violating the ADA laws when they set up switchbacks five deep to get your new license plates. The local bank on a Friday afternoon is violating the ADA laws when the line to see a teller is 30 minutes long. Etc., etc., etc.

I would love to see the ADA law verbiage where it says amusement parks, or any private business or government agency with a public office, has to not only make their queues wheelchair accesible, but also provide a faster route to the ride vehicle or point of sale or purpose of visit for anyone who says they can't wait in line. In a few Google searches, I could only find ADA verbiage that addressed the width of queues and the gradient of ground elevations that allow a wheelchair to safely navigate the queue. And just what constitutes "faster"? Is the 45 minute long line through Fastpass at Racers on a Sunday afternoon fast enough?

Or could Disney be sued because these are people who claim they physically and/or emotionally can't wait in line and yet they wait in the 45 minute Fastpass line with their GAC because at least it's shorter than the 120 minute Standby line? And would the lawyer who sued Disney for this ADA violation also sue Target and WalMart on Thanksgiving weekend for making people wait in long lines for checkout during the big Christmas sale?

 

[M.rudolf]

That should be changed.

Why should it be changed, individuals with disabilities are afforded the same privacy rights as all others. Why should Disney or anyone else be allowed to ask or want to ask this question. As it is now they rely on the honor system. Maybe you should want more people to be honest. It's the same reasons employers aren't allowed to ask age,sexual preference and religious background.

 

[M.rudolf]

If this is true, then there are many private businesses and government agencies violating the ADA laws by making people wait in line.

Disney has made their queues wheelchair accesible for over a decade, and the Racers queue is a great example of that. But are you saying the ADA laws also mandate that Disney has to let a family from Ohio go in the Fastpass lane because Mom says Junior has "ADD and can't wait in line"?

If that's the case, then the TSA is violating the ADA laws because they have no Fastpass line at airports for people who can't wait in line. Grocery stores, big box stores, department stores at Christmas, etc. are all violating the ADA laws because they have no Fastpass line for people who can't wait in line at the checkouts. Every big city DMV office in the country is violating the ADA laws when they set up switchbacks five deep to get your new license plates. The local bank on a Friday afternoon is violating the ADA laws when the line to see a teller is 30 minutes long. Etc., etc., etc.

I would love to see the ADA law verbiage where it says amusement parks, or any private business or government agency with a public office, has to not only make their queues wheelchair accesible, but also provide a faster route to the ride vehicle or point of sale or purpose of visit for anyone who says they can't wait in line. In a few Google searches, I could only find ADA verbiage that addressed the width of queues and the gradient of ground elevations that allow a wheelchair to safely navigate the queue. And just what constitutes "faster"? Is the 45 minute long line through Fastpass at Racers on a Sunday afternoon fast enough?

Or could Disney be sued because these are people who claim they physically and/or emotionally can't wait in line and yet they wait in the 45 minute Fastpass line with their GAC because at least it's shorter than the 120 minute Standby line? And would the lawyer who sued Disney for this ADA violation also sue Target and WalMart on Thanksgiving weekend for making people wait in long lines for checkout during the big Christmas sale?

I'm sure they can sue for that. We live in America people here sue if there coffee is too hot. Please don't give anyone any ideas.

 

[M.rudolf]

The thing about the gac is legally Disney can't ask what your disabity is.They have to issue it or risk being sued. The gac cant be denied due to who says what disability qualifies you to receive the card. Do you really want anyone other than a doctor or a qualified professional judging whether you or a family member is actually disabled. Say I have epilepsy and have no visible signs of illness, Disney denies a gac and I have seizure which causes a stroke, whose libel. I think Disney would rather deal with me and my family getting on a few rides with no wait than have to deal with a multi million dollar lawsuit that could be avoided. What everyone doesn't understand is Disney is only protecting themselves from lawsuits. If their was another way to do they probably would. But how who makes the decision

 

[unkadug]

The thing about the gac is legally Disney can't ask what your disabity is.They have to issue it or risk being sued. The gac cant be denied due to who says what disability qualifies you to receive the card. Do you really want anyone other than a doctor or a qualified professional judging whether you or a family member is actually disabled. Say I have epilepsy and have no visible signs of illness, Disney denies a gac and I have seizure which causes a stroke, whose libel. I think Disney would rather deal with me and my family getting on a few rides with no wait than have to deal with a multi million dollar lawsuit that could be avoided. What everyone doesn't understand is Disney is only protecting themselves from lawsuits. If their was another way to do they probably would. But how who makes the decision

I think this would be a groundbreaking lawsuit. The argument would be "How would Disney have known that the guest had epilepsy?". They certainly had no proof. What if everyone said they had epilepsy? That could very well be the lawsuit that changes the way the law is worded.

 

[flynnibus]

If this is true, then there are many private businesses and government agencies violating the ADA laws by making people wait in line.

You are misapplying this. The Ada doesn't say they don't have to wait in line, it says you must make reasonable accommodations for their particular disability.

If the person can't stand, it could be as simple as providing a chair to sit while they wait. If they have heat issues, it could be as simple as letting them wait separately in an air conditioned area.

And btw, federal and transportation have their own set of rules - title II vs title III of the Ada

The cut the line answer is simply how Disney has chosen to provide an accommodation that helps cover many different things. Because its simply easier for Disney rather than trying to come up with lots of different accommodations which would require Disney to trust and train their employees to act dynamically.

 

[FabulousFigment]

Who knows what Disney can or will do to reduce abuse. The only thing that I can see logical in the mean time is asking the person who requires the GAC to be present. No, you cannot see every disability, however I still think this would cut down on abusers. Hoping that people may have no issue coming up and asking but when asked to present the person, maybe they would not come back if it was not necessary. Like a previous poster said, they need hard facts and solid numbers as the system is now.. and then they can start trying a few different things.

Its funny, last September when we went, I was on modified bed rest for my second pregnancy and one of my restrictions was no long standing or walking, no steps. I didnt even know about this card but I wish I had! I missed SO many rides with my husband and daughter because I had to sit outside. I only went on things with a ten minute wait or less. Now, we are lucky enough to go at least once a year, otherwise if it had been my first time or we went infrequently, it would have really been miserable.