Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[invader]

Not just anybody with the money can get a VIP pass that lets them skip the lines, among other things. Celebrities get preferential treatment - they can purchase it but others can't.

Sorry, but I don't see Disney saying no to lump sum of cash. If you have the money, I'd bet they would be more than willing to let you pay for a quicker line.

 

[JTT]

I'm tired of the complainers!
Sure there is abuse with the GAC but the majority of the people who use it, deserve a break and Thank God, Disney is giving them one.
I know 3 people who get GAC; one has a son with an auto-immune disease, another boy with mental issues and a man with a degenerative nerve disease.
All 3 from the outside look healthy but in reality their day to day life and their families lives are a struggle.
If you got your health be extremely thankful and stop trying to find ways to not enjoy Disney World!

 

[pookiepooh]

Not just anybody with the money can get a VIP pass that lets them skip the lines, among other things. Celebrities get preferential treatment - they can purchase it but others can't.

Any Guest is able to purchase a VIP Tour for the day, depending on availability, through Disney's VIP Tour Services.

 

[Lucky]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ey-world-disney-animal-kingdom-special-passes

Maybe things have changed from 4 years ago. Notice Disney said these passes for prominent people given away for free "had no monetary value."

The larger points are
1. private and even public organizations sometimes grant preferential treatment to all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons, so it's puzzling anyone would reserve their anger and envy for those cases where the beneficiaries are disabled
2. within broad limits Disney and other private organizations have a lot of discretion in doing this, and it's irrelevant whether we think their decisions meet our own particular definitions of fairness or equality. They could give 1/2 price admission to senior citizens, or free Mickey bars to lefthanded people, or whatever. It's not my business - it's theirs.

 

[Clever Name]

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ey-world-disney-animal-kingdom-special-passes

Maybe things have changed from 4 years ago. Notice Disney said these passes for prominent people given away for free "had no monetary value."

The larger points are
1. private and even public organizations sometimes grant preferential treatment to all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons, so it's puzzling anyone would reserve their anger and envy for those cases where the beneficiaries are disabled
2. within broad limits Disney and other private organizations have a lot of discretion in doing this, and it's irrelevant whether we think their decisions meet our own particular definitions of fairness or equality. They could give 1/2 price admission to senior citizens, or free Mickey bars to lefthanded people, or whatever. It's not my business - it's theirs.

Excellent points! It's just not for us to judge. Anyone that asks for a GAC may have one. Even Disney can't make a judgement as to need. A person suffering from gout might need a GAC.

I once received a special Fastpass that was good for up to 6 attractions at anytime during my stay as a guest recovery due to a serious resort room problem.

 

[DisneySaint]

And what about celebrities? They get far better treatment than other guests, including the disabled.

First off, their "better treatment" is not free; it costs $250/hour and ANYONE can get it.

Second, yes, majorly recognizable celebrities are escorted around mainly through back areas both because of safety concerns (for themselves and for other guests who would converge) and for the pleasure of the vacation of the celeb and their family. Even George Lucas simply wants to enjoy a Disney trip with his family.

 

[unkadug]

First off, their "better treatment" is not free; it costs $250/hour and ANYONE can get it.

Second, yes, majorly recognizable celebrities are escorted around mainly through back areas both because of safety concerns (for themselves and for other guests who would converge) and for the pleasure of the vacation of the celeb and their family. Even George Lucas simply wants to enjoy a Disney trip with his family.

i really have no sympathy for celebrities as it was a conscious decision on their part to seek the limelight.

Very rarely is celebrity status trust upon somebody. They have to actively seek the attention that they so crave.

 

[natatomic]

i really have no sympathy for celebrities as it was a conscious decision on their part to seek the limelight.

Very rarely is celebrity status trust upon somebody. They have to actively seek the attention that they so crave.

It's not just for them. Celebrities would distract from the theming and take star-struck guests out of the fantasy Disney worked so hard to create. Yeah it's to give celebrities a break from the spotlight, but it's also to keep the magic intact for everyone else.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

I'm tired of the complainers!
Sure there is abuse with the GAC but the majority of the people who use it, deserve a break and Thank God, Disney is giving them one.
I know 3 people who get GAC; one has a son with an auto-immune disease, another boy with mental issues and a man with a degenerative nerve disease.
All 3 from the outside look healthy but in reality their day to day life and their families lives are a struggle.
If you got your health be extremely thankful and stop trying to find ways to not enjoy Disney World!

Clearly you've never been on the receiving end of having to tell someone their GAC is not valid for whatever it is they're trying to use it for and having to deal with the self-entitled tirade that follows.

 

[Lokheed]

Clearly you've never been on the receiving end of a self-righteous busybody lecturing you on how to properly control your child while you are in the middle of dealing with an autistic meltdown.

 

[BigThunderMatt]

Clearly you've never been on the receiving end of a self-righteous busybody lecturing you on how to properly control your child while you are in the middle of dealing with an autistic meltdown.

I'm not arguing that some people have valid reasons. But I've been blown up at by one too many guests who throw an absolute temper tantrum that their GAC is not valid for the location while the child just patiently stands there to really have much sympathy at this point. If the reason you want the GAC card is because you don't like waiting in line, then just say so. Stop downplaying the validity of others who genuinely need it and accept your own impatience.

 

[Lucky]

Clearly you've never been on the receiving end of having to tell someone their GAC is not valid for whatever it is they're trying to use it for and having to deal with the self-entitled tirade that follows.

I'm not arguing that some people have valid reasons. But I've been blown up at by one too many guests who throw an absolute temper tantrum that their GAC is not valid for the location while the child just patiently stands there to really have much sympathy at this point. If the reason you want the GAC card is because you don't like waiting in line, then just say so. Stop downplaying the validity of others who genuinely need it and accept your own impatience.

I've had jobs dealing with the public before, and I know sometimes it can get frustrating. But there's no excuse to take out your frustrations from those experiences on a whole class of guests. Working with the public requires a lot of patience, more than I have and from the sound of it maybe more than you have.

 

[EOD K9]

I think everyone has made their point. Repeating them over and over will not solve anything. All parties involved have their likes/dislikes and reasons for using GACs. At this point, nobody's opinion will likely be changing. Its time to lock this thread.

 

[emh1960]

I have read about half of the thread and I have only one thing to say to the attitude of the posters who seem to think the person with the disability is cheating: Thank your lucky stars that you have no disability. Most of us affected by disability would trade it away in a second. Walk a mile in our shoes. You'd rather not have the disability. If evil people, and they are evil, choose to cheat, that is their problem. Ignore these fools. If Disney cannot give me a GAC, I cannot come to Disney. I will spend my money elsewhere. Or shall all us disabled people go back to staying in our homes, like we did before 1990 when ADA was enacted? Maybe people wish we would. Shame on them.

 

[luv]

There really are a LOT of people who go in there and lie to obtain a GAC.

There also people who convince themselves that they need it and get one.

Than you have the folks who actually do need it.

I'd rather see ten million liars get one than deny it to one person who really does need it, but we cannot pretend this is not a frequently abused priviledge.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I think everyone has made their point. Repeating them over and over will not solve anything. All parties involved have their likes/dislikes and reasons for using GACs. At this point, nobody's opinion will likely be changing. Its time to lock this thread.

I think you should let the mods decide that. Maybe other posters want to keep discussing it? Also since its a huge problem it needs attention to spread awareness.

I have read about half of the thread and I have only one thing to say to the attitude of the posters who seem to think the person with the disability is cheating: Thank your lucky stars that you have no disability. Most of us affected by disability would trade it away in a second. Walk a mile in our shoes. You'd rather not have the disability. If evil people, and they are evil, choose to cheat, that is their problem. Ignore these fools. If Disney cannot give me a GAC, I cannot come to Disney. I will spend my money elsewhere. Or shall all us disabled people go back to staying in our homes, like we did before 1990 when ADA was enacted? Maybe people wish we would. Shame on them.

But the ADA laws do not state that you need an immediate, unlimited access pass to rides. There is no disability that requires that outside of the terminally ill.

 

[Tom]

But the ADA laws do not state that you need an immediate, unlimited access pass to rides. There is no disability that requires that outside of the terminally ill.

And by terminally ill, you would mean those who are expected to die within hours....otherwise, an extra 30 minutes of waiting isn't going to change anything. Now, Make a Wish kids - give them the "world".

Aside all that, I applaud Disney for redesigning their queues so that most of them now accommodate wheelchairs and ECVs all the way to the load point. This alone will deter MANY people from abusing the privilege, because getting a wheelchair or ECV won't grant you any "privileges".

I fully support the concept of simply issuing a Fastpass to those guests in need (and a reasonable party size) for each attraction, to use once.

But really, I just wish people weren't scum and wouldn't abuse systems. If you don't have a true illness or disability, stand in line with the rest of us.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Sorry, I meant "make a wish" families and whatnot. Other than those type of situations, why does ANYONE need instant, unlimited access?

 

[Tom]

Sorry, I meant "make a wish" families and whatnot. Other than those type of situations, why does ANYONE need instant, unlimited access?

They don't.

 

[JimboJones123]

We have just recently started getting the GAC.

Thank all that you know that is holy that you don't need one.

We mark it at 45 minutes for waits. Less than, we wait. More than 45 minutes we use the card. Ideally, 15 minutes is way longer than we need to be standing in line with the particular ailment we deal with.

At most, we usually don't touch the thing. Maybe 1-2x a day.

When we do see others with the card, they all seem very needy of it. I don't think the abuse, at least from what we have seen, is really that bad at all.