I too think adding the gac to the family's rfid bracelet would work best-as it is I haul the sticker laminating sheets & a hole punch with us to the park guest relations first thing to get our gac...yes we have our medical dx in hand though we dont have to...why? because you never know who you will get to talk to-first time I had to do this I was intimidated (we were newly dx'ed)2nd time I was comfortable after a decent experience the previous year only to be met with a gatekeeper type who wanted to look us up & down (with an asd child who has a trigger of being stared at that is NOT what needed to happen at the time) I even had the previous gac in hand to try & cut down on problems...we did get ours but not without having to play 20questions & a weird way of numbering the family members-but for the people who dont understand what constitutes not being able to wait in lines & the idea that its bogus or fake claims...you are the people who usually stare at us & dare say that our kids should be left at home & never leave the house period because their meltdowns interfere with your "experience" in a restaurant or shopping trip etc- the people who dare say we need to spank our children for behaviors you dont understand...are you truly wanting us to haul our children with hidden disabilities into that wall to wall people queue line & wait next to you & yours while you stare at our kids for flapping or singing or humming or god forbid they get anxious over the staring or unexpected touch sends them into a panic attack...everyone handles anxiety/overwhelmed/meltdowns differently-some may just cope by flapping their fingers or arms, some spin (mine does big circles to make him more personal space and feel better) some throw things or lash out as a reflex, mine has this biting movement (he doesnt actually bite but thats the only way I can really describe it) he will throw his shoes if he gets too overwhelmed, some scream, some just yell for the vibrations or make other noises that vary in pitch & noise level...& yes many autistic people are by far more comfortable together than in a mix of people & can tolerate a group of asd people easier than being tossed in a mix because they KNOW how each other thinks/reacts & understand each other though they have different means of coping mechanisms...but I guarantee if made to join those huge wall to wall lines the fussy antigac people will be the FIRST to cry foul & demand removal of the "problem people" & their families will go with them & how is that fair & accessible to all? I dont mind a wait as long as you wont mind the potential fallout/coping mechanisms my children will use to tolerate being that close to you & yours! but dont expect me to happily keep my asd child in the hotel room because others may be bothered by their presence or use of their gac! those little cards are the ONLY way my son can actually babystep thru his vacation that makes him happy in spite of what others may think-he has trouble tolerating even being part of his own family at home & fitting in there (his viewpoint) even among his triplet siblings which is heartbreaking, why oh why would you deny him the ability to enjoy a family trip if it makes such a thing possible for him & others like him?
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Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)
- Thread starter RSoxNo1
- Start date
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rct247
Well-Known Member
-Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
-Stroller as a Wheelchair
-Shaded Wait Area
-Front Row Seating
-Alternate Entrance
-Green Light
Disney is starting to count the number of GAC cards that are entering their attractions now to see what percentage of their hourly counts are GAC cards. The numbers so far have been shocking to some so I do think we will see some sort of change or overhaul or at least limit on how many will be issued.
captainkidd
Well-Known Member
I would have no problem if Disney required a doctor's note for copies of my prescriptions in order to obtain the GAC. In fact, I always volunteer this info when I get the card as I think it's the right thing to do. To be honest, this has been my biggest concern about the new RFID technology, just seeing if it were to impact the GAC. If the GAC were no longer offered, as much as it would devastate me, I would no longer go to WDW. Of course I could go and not do anything, but what's the point in that? It is a shame that the card gets abused so much.
flynnibus
Premium Member
I'm still recovering from back surgery - I've had two major surgeries in the last two years to try to resolve my problems, and still am in physical therapy. I have problems even walking and standing at times, but for the most of the time I'm fine for periods and can rest when necessary to avoid further escalations. Standing for long periods significantly agitates things. So obviously doing a Disney stay flies right in the face of such limitations... But I do it anyways 
I was just in DLR for 4 days last week. I was really struggling at times, and by 3pm on a lot of days I was really wishing I was back at the hotel to rest. I was really getting frustrated with the lack of places to be able to get off my feet and give the back some recoup time. It's really annoying when there is no where I can sit to rest my back.. because all the benches are being horded by people saving spots for the parade or fireworks that are still an hour+ away.
Now, by the second or third day.. I started to wonder if I should get a GAC card. Certainly my limitations under Disney's obligations would lend me some accommodations.. and in Disney's terms, probably the pass that means no prolonged standing and 'cutting the line'. But I personally didn't feel right doing that.. if at the same time I'm trying to get on thrill rides (and oh yeah.. ToT was the absolutely worst for my back). So no, I never made any GAC requests, and moderated my own activities as necessary. I never made it to park closing like we always used to.. I never made it for park openings like we used to.. and I certainly struggled with pain and limited movement a lot.
That being said.. I still think the GAC issue was a significant problem out there. It's really sad when you can see stereotypes forming.. consistently. And as the crowd changed over the days.. you could really see the GAC usage change too. And DL didn't have nearly the # of ECVs as WDW has in my experience. The lines were filled with groups of teenagers, large families, etc.
If your teenager has such significant spacial or anxiety issues that they can't tolerate lines.. I doubt you'd just let her just run around the park with her boyfriend alone.
I was just in DLR for 4 days last week. I was really struggling at times, and by 3pm on a lot of days I was really wishing I was back at the hotel to rest. I was really getting frustrated with the lack of places to be able to get off my feet and give the back some recoup time. It's really annoying when there is no where I can sit to rest my back.. because all the benches are being horded by people saving spots for the parade or fireworks that are still an hour+ away.
Now, by the second or third day.. I started to wonder if I should get a GAC card. Certainly my limitations under Disney's obligations would lend me some accommodations.. and in Disney's terms, probably the pass that means no prolonged standing and 'cutting the line'. But I personally didn't feel right doing that.. if at the same time I'm trying to get on thrill rides (and oh yeah.. ToT was the absolutely worst for my back). So no, I never made any GAC requests, and moderated my own activities as necessary. I never made it to park closing like we always used to.. I never made it for park openings like we used to.. and I certainly struggled with pain and limited movement a lot.
That being said.. I still think the GAC issue was a significant problem out there. It's really sad when you can see stereotypes forming.. consistently. And as the crowd changed over the days.. you could really see the GAC usage change too. And DL didn't have nearly the # of ECVs as WDW has in my experience. The lines were filled with groups of teenagers, large families, etc.
If your teenager has such significant spacial or anxiety issues that they can't tolerate lines.. I doubt you'd just let her just run around the park with her boyfriend alone.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
I'm glad this thread is back, and I'm glad Disney is actively counting the number of people using the cards now (it has reached the point of something like 1/3rd to 1/2 of everyone using the Fastpass line at any given time). On many occasions I have witnessed a large party (say, 15 people) approach a Fastpass queue entrance and whip out THREE cards at once. ("You say its good for a maximum of six people? well screw you Disney, I'll just get two more!") All of this wouldn't even be a big deal if it didn't extend the wait times of everyone who is playing fair. But it does... significantly.
The problem is that with little to no effort, anyone (with no guilt or conscience) can obtain these cards and completely abuse them... and they do. So my question for everyone who comes in to post to justify their own personal use of the card:
With the exception of Make a Wish/Give kids the world and other terminally ill kids, do you deserve INSTANT and UNLIMITED use of the Fastpass queue simply for having a disability?
The answer, is no, you do not. Fair accommodations can be made that treat you and your party as equal to everyone else and ensure your whole party gets to experience the attraction. Because, remember, the point of the ADA is FAIR and EQUAL treatment, not special privileges.
Nobody is calling you out or doubting your disability, since obviously you never really know.
The problem is that with little to no effort, anyone (with no guilt or conscience) can obtain these cards and completely abuse them... and they do. So my question for everyone who comes in to post to justify their own personal use of the card:
With the exception of Make a Wish/Give kids the world and other terminally ill kids, do you deserve INSTANT and UNLIMITED use of the Fastpass queue simply for having a disability?
The answer, is no, you do not. Fair accommodations can be made that treat you and your party as equal to everyone else and ensure your whole party gets to experience the attraction. Because, remember, the point of the ADA is FAIR and EQUAL treatment, not special privileges.
Nobody is calling you out or doubting your disability, since obviously you never really know.
BigThunderMatt
Well-Known Member
Maybe an option for this is only to allow a GAC to be used once at each attraction per day? There are other parks that have similar systems. Or perhaps a reservation system? If the wait exceeds X minutes, you come back X minutes from that time (equivalent to the current wait) and get to ride. I've seen that system used for guests with disabilities as well.
backinaction
Well-Known Member
This. I was in guest relations the last time I went, and I personally witness a lady and her daughter walk in and receive the pass. All the lady had to say was "i have anxiety". That was it. Guest pass in hand. This was around 2 or 3 oclock in the afternoon (when lines tend to be the longest and all the fast passes are gone) and I couldn't help but to think that lady just wanted unlimited Fastpast. I also agree that Disney needs to take a new look at how they hand out GAC's and also how the handle the guests at the actual ride.
Yensid1974
Well-Known Member
Having experienced this with the Jungle Cruise for the last 7 months, even in that short time span it seems to have gotten worse. Granted, it isn't as if all of a sudden it has gone crazy, more of a slow descent into madness. There really isn't an argument that can be made that these cards aren't being abused in a significant way. What we have to remember is that the misuse, or overuse, it not only resulting in longer wait times for "regular" guests, but also for other families that truly are making use of the cards with the intended purpose in mind. That is what upsets me most, realizing that those using the cards just for the purpose of not waiting in line even though they really shouldn't have gotten the card in the first place, is ruining the experience for everyone else.
I can see this working, especially with the RFID tech - it makes it a lot easier.
awoogala
Well-Known Member
Wow. My family has a bunch of those things, and I never would even think they would constitute a GAC card.
I have, however, suggested a gac card for my friend's first trip- she has an adult child with down's syndrome. Another friend I also suggested it to has a child with severe developmental delays/impulse control.
The cards are a wonderful thing when used correctly. No one wants to see a child with a disability wait in a long line, nor do they want to be near a child who may act out due to a disability- it's no fun for anyone.
The major problem is Disney has been complacent, and has not established strict protocol and training.
I understand you cannot ask for specifics on disability, but gac should be only used in the correct manner- accomodations equal to those of other patrons. Wait time should be equal if possible. There should be a specific list of ada accepted issues. Of course no one can ask, but if someone says " I have hemarhoids" it can be simply pointed out that it is not an approved disability.
Cast members need to be trained and consistent.
At this ride, all wheelchairs enter the queue, all people with wait issues get a pass equal to line time to return. Haphazard training and enforcement is what has led to this.
awoogala
Well-Known Member
this would be a simple help. have a ride assigned wheelchair. I cannot stand in line becomes, I need the queue wheelchair for any ride with a wheelchair accessible queue.
awoogala
Well-Known Member
or people willing to pay for the vip tour guides? they can walk onto any fastpass line, and repeat rides.
awoogala
Well-Known Member
yes you can. VIP tour guides can be paid for - something like $300 an hour for a minimum of 6 hours for your party. (I won a trip once and got vip, and the tour guide told my son that.) Not to mention, people who are employed/work with companies that sponsor can also get front of line access for the rides that are sponsored (hp- mission space).
I feel guilty using the GAC with my brother - most days he could probably go through the lines without issue. He's 36 years old and autistic. He's on a good combination of medicine where he really doesn't get outwardly agressive anywhere near as much as he used to. Having said that, the benefits are obvious. He has his favorite attractions, and he will get anxious if he doesn't see them all (often times they have to be in order as well). The pass helps us do this.
The "problem" for us though is that our family is expanding and we now travel 9 deep on family vacations. I definitely understand that expecting Disney to accommodate 9 of us on a GAC is unreasonable. I actually think 6 is pretty generous, especially given the old system that allowed for late returns on Fastpasses. What we would do is take our 8 park passes (1 of the 9 is still under 3), and get the necessary Fastpasses we needed at the start of each day. For example last December, a trip to the Magic Kingdom would probably start out with my wife going to Fantasyland and my going to Adventureland for the following:
2 Jungle Cruise FP
1 Splash Mountain FP
1 Thunder Mountain FP
2 Peter Pan's Flight FP
2 Winnie the Pooh FP
We would then meet up at Pirates of the Caribbean where we would all go in the Standby queue, then we would take the GAC + 2 Jungle Cruise Fastpasses to the Fastpass entrance for Jungle Cruise (the youngest one doesn't need a FP).
We're heading to WDW next week, and it will be the first time we'll have to adhere to the late return policy. It will be a bit of a challenge, but certainly not impossible. What I expect it to do is prioritize times for things like Toy Story and Soarin' where we won't want to get another Fastpass after the other one expires. The other thing it accomplishes though is at the Magic Kingdom, the GAC is a little less useful for a family over 6 (again, not complaining just acknowledging).
I expect that on this trip we will operate similarly and just keep an eye on Fastpass return times. We may get something like Little Mermaid earlier in the day simply because that's further out than Winnie the Pooh. We also may have more adults sit off so my brother and nephews can enjoy everything quickly.
The "problem" for us though is that our family is expanding and we now travel 9 deep on family vacations. I definitely understand that expecting Disney to accommodate 9 of us on a GAC is unreasonable. I actually think 6 is pretty generous, especially given the old system that allowed for late returns on Fastpasses. What we would do is take our 8 park passes (1 of the 9 is still under 3), and get the necessary Fastpasses we needed at the start of each day. For example last December, a trip to the Magic Kingdom would probably start out with my wife going to Fantasyland and my going to Adventureland for the following:
2 Jungle Cruise FP
1 Splash Mountain FP
1 Thunder Mountain FP
2 Peter Pan's Flight FP
2 Winnie the Pooh FP
We would then meet up at Pirates of the Caribbean where we would all go in the Standby queue, then we would take the GAC + 2 Jungle Cruise Fastpasses to the Fastpass entrance for Jungle Cruise (the youngest one doesn't need a FP).
We're heading to WDW next week, and it will be the first time we'll have to adhere to the late return policy. It will be a bit of a challenge, but certainly not impossible. What I expect it to do is prioritize times for things like Toy Story and Soarin' where we won't want to get another Fastpass after the other one expires. The other thing it accomplishes though is at the Magic Kingdom, the GAC is a little less useful for a family over 6 (again, not complaining just acknowledging).
I expect that on this trip we will operate similarly and just keep an eye on Fastpass return times. We may get something like Little Mermaid earlier in the day simply because that's further out than Winnie the Pooh. We also may have more adults sit off so my brother and nephews can enjoy everything quickly.
I had a rather strange experience at TSM during our October trip. We returned during our FP window and went thru after the CM at the entrance checked that we were within our return time frame. We were stopped right before you go up the step and merge with the standby guests- the wait was several minutes before the CM let those of us in the FP line thru and was collecting FPs. There were 5 families ahead of us, and EVERY family had a GAC card! My hubby looked at me and rolled his eyes when the CM was collecting our FPs and the CM just sighed when he finally collected our FPs. I know that not every disability is visible, but that just seemed almost impossible to have all of those GACs right in front of us.
maxairmike
Well-Known Member
Semi-related to GAC card abuse; you would think the relatively expensive cost of renting an ECV would curb abuse/use for fun, right? I couldn't believe it when I saw a large group of about nine 20-somethings go and rent an ECV, each and every one of them. This was clearly just a "joy-riding" experience, as they had a CM taking their pictures with a bunch of their cameras and were just rolling around like they were on an ATV at a sports course. I couldn't believe it.
bsiev1977
Well-Known Member
It's creeps like that and GAC abusers that ruin things like that for those that need them.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
The thing is, even people who sincerely need it don't deserve INSTANT and UNLIMITED Fastpass queue use. It would help tremendously if they eliminated one of those key words - remove instant OR unlimited, and the card loses much of its "value" to scammers.
Again, this goes into the whole ADA thing of disabled persons should be treated as equal, not given special privileges. Equal to me means you have the same chance of riding an attraction a number of times in a day that a non-disabled person+party does.
So someone can't be in a long line because of they have, say, irritable bowel syndrome. Well, fine, but does that mean that their family gets to ride as much as they want while my family has to use the long standby queue (which is long because its inflated already by Fastpass and inflated even more by hundreds of GAC cards) or get Fastpasses that are good for one ride?
Thanks for posting that! I'm glad more people are noticing this problem.
Nope, its absolutely impossible that that many people have disabilities which make it so they can't wait in lines. OTHERWISE, there would be new ADA laws where people can get passes to skip checkout lines, check in lines, toll booth lines, TSA lines... any line at all! You only see this at Disney! Because Disney has decided that its better to just give the scammers and abusers what they want than risk having them not return and spend more money. That attitude has resulted in the absurd number of GAC cards issued.
People abuse it because it is literally a free perk. Accommodating someone who can't wait in long lines would mean making them return at a time based on the current wait time. "Okay, the current standby wait time is 45 minutes, and it's 3:00. Return after 3:45." Note that to be FAIR and EQUAL to everyone, it would also mean that this party can not go to the next attraction and reserve a time for it as well. Accommodating the disabled person and their group would mean making sure everyone in the party gets a chance to ride.
If there's one good thing about Fastpass+ and the MagicBands, its that it could potentially finally regulate this stuff.
My son has autism and we us a GAC, and I don't feel guilty about it. I would happily give it up if meant my son was not autistic, and I would happily wait in line with the rest of you. We try not abuse it, if my son is not doing the ride it doesn't get used, and he has a limited number of rides he will go on ( you will never see him at Space Mountain or Splash Mountain). He did Big Thunder Mountain once his eyes closed the whole time. But I agree it is being abused by those who have absolutely no disabilities, and that does anger me as much as anyone else. I view getting that card as a privilege, not a right. I would be more than happy to provide a doctors note if asked to. Also it needs to be said that GAC is not always instant fast pass, some rides do not have fast pass and the option is to sit on the side and wait so you can be brought in a side entrance(SSE, POTC to name 2 that I can remember).
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