Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[MarkTwain]

I like the idea of people with ECVs/alternate entrance GAC cards going up the FastPass queue and being a given a time card with a return time equivalent to the current standby time. AKA going up to the FastPass queue instead of the 30 min standby, and being instructed to return to that queue 30 mins later. Those with greenlight cards (the cards given specifically to people who need short wait times, and not merely accessible entrances) would still be given immediate access. I bet that would cut down on abusers of the system significantly, and would still be fair to all guests.

 

[JLipnick]

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.

we are also heading down next friday for a week. my son who is 4.5 years old can't walk independently, but he is not wheelchair bound. he uses a walker and loves walking around the entire day at the parks. he is the perfect example of why they need the GAC. it would be very unfortunate to remove that option for him due to so many people abusing the system. obviously, like any parent of a child with special physical needs, i would much rather have to wait in lines if it meant he could walk. hopefully one day we will be able to do that, but until that day comes, we will need the GAC. and we actually joined the DVC and come to disney several times a year because it is such good therapy and exercise for my son.

 

[JEANYLASER]

What is GAC?

 

[fosse76]

I'm not an expert on the ADA, so most of what I know is from Google searching. Most of what is codified for the amusement park industry is about physical access to the attractions themselves. Not just for the queue, but loading stations and ride vehicles, etc. The ADA isn't a "no matter what" access pass: persons with disabilities can be denied access if the potential for a ride's normal functions could cause injury. I've been reading these boards for years, and people are always describing how they need these GAC's because of a recent back surgery or because they have back problems or neck problems. People with those conditions can be denied access if Disney believes that such disabilities can be aggravated by their attractions. Eliminating certain attractions from the GAC based on disability would substantially reduce the number of GACs issued.

Now I know the issue is "how can that be done if Disney can't inquire as to the disability?" It is not really clear whether or not Disney can ask about the nature of a disibility. HIPPA refers to disclosure by any entity with access to medical records, and the ADA seems to only address whether or not an employer can ask about a disability (they can only if an ADA accomodation request has been made by the employee). It seems to me that under the employer rule Disney can ask questions about the nature of the disability (without needing too many specifics) in order to make the accomodation. I imagine most businesses don't due to the mere threat of litigation. With that said, however, the ADA does recognize that front-of-line access may be the only reasonable accomodation if "not providing it" would prevent someone from experiecing the attraction.

However, I think the most logical way is to simply restrict the GAC to accomodate up to a maximum of THREE guests (and only after returning no earlier than the wait time for standby). Any more than that, the person with the disability can wait in a designated area with ONE companion while everyone else makes their way through the line...once they reach loading then they can join them. The key word in the ADA is "reasonable" and that is beyond reasonable.

 

[joanna71985]

What is GAC?

Guest Assistance Card. It helps CMs out with invisible disabilities

 

[fosse76]

we are also heading down next friday for a week. my son who is 4.5 years old can't walk independently, but he is not wheelchair bound. he uses a walker and loves walking around the entire day at the parks. he is the perfect example of why they need the GAC. it would be very unfortunate to remove that option for him due to so many people abusing the system. obviously, like any parent of a child with special physical needs, i would much rather have to wait in lines if it meant he could walk. hopefully one day we will be able to do that, but until that day comes, we will need the GAC. and we actually joined the DVC and come to disney several times a year because it is such good therapy and exercise for my son.

Actually, in this circumstance, Disney can offer a complimentary wheelchair at each attraction to be used while in line. Under the law, it doesn't matter if you want the wheelchair or not...it would satisfy the ADA's "reasonable accomodation" requirement.

 

[flynnibus]

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.

Not even that - it's about reasonable accommodation.

The problem here is solely on Disney's shoulders. Disney is the one who has decided rather than handle customer needs across the wide spectrum, just give carte blanche front of the line access as the answer. It's simpler for them, it streamlines things, and avoids interpretive situations. They go all the way to one side because its the easiest, cheapest, and least confrontational method. The side effect is they leave the door wide open for abuse and just turn a blind eye to it (exactly like FP return times).

 

[merry68]

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.

That.is.disgusting.

 

[Lokheed]

I like the idea of people with ECVs/alternate entrance GAC cards going up the FastPass queue and being a given a time card with a return time equivalent to the current standbytime. AKA going up to the FastPass queue instead of the 30 min standby, and being instructed to return to that queue 30 mins later. Those with greenlight cards (the cards given specifically to people who need short wait times, and not merely accessible entrances) would still be given immediate access. I bet that would cut down on abusers of the system significantly, and would still be fair to all guests.

I would be perfectly fine with this kind of system. For my family at least it would strike a fair balance between meeting the needs of my autistic son and respecting all of the other guests in the park.

 

[JLipnick]

Actually, in this circumstance, Disney can offer a complimentary wheelchair at each attraction to be used while in line. Under the law, it doesn't matter if you want the wheelchair or not...it would satisfy the ADA's "reasonable accomodation" requirement.

I don't think it is reasonable to put a child in a wheelchair who wants to be and can be independent with his walker. an adult, maybe. but not a 4 year old little boy who is fully cognizant.

 

[jklakeview]

This is such an easy thing to repair. HERE IS THE ANSWER. Build an area where people with disabilities can wait and sit if needed. Have the other members of the party go stand online. Now was that so hard to figure out. For those who don't have any others with them in their party, simply give them a timer programed to the wait time. They can sit and when the timer goes off, go to the front of the line. If they have an issued fast pass then they can go to the front of the line. I don't mind that so much. Also with the buses, these power scooters are getting ridiculous. I stood and waited 30 minutes while I watched someone drive their scooter onto the bus and when they couldn't park it right, stand up and pick up their scooter and move it into place. They actually picked up the scooter. Then to make it worse, the party of 15 people that were with him, took half of the remaining seats on the bus. This happened like every night. So thats 3 scooters, taking up 3 seats each, then the people take up 3 more seats, then the entire party gets to load. Ridiculous! Here' show you fix that. You let the person's group wait in line! When its their party's time to get on, if there is a spot for the chair, it gets loaded. If not, they just wait for next bus. As far as their group goes you can fix that easily. They wait in line. If you think the wheelchairs should get loaded first, than only 1 or 2 members or the party should be able to go onto the bus with them without waiting in line. The system is built flawed and people are taking advantage of it so badly.

 

[jklakeview]

And I'm not heartless, I'm actually a special education teacher. I'm just tired of people taking advantage of a situation

 

[Christopher Allen]

This is such an easy thing to repair. HERE IS THE ANSWER. Build an area where people with disabilities can wait and sit if needed. Have the other members of the party go stand online. Now was that so hard to figure out. For those who don't have any others with them in their party, simply give them a timer programed to the wait time. They can sit and when the timer goes off, go to the front of the line. If they have an issued fast pass then they can go to the front of the line. I don't mind that so much. Also with the buses, these power scooters are getting ridiculous. I stood and waited 30 minutes while I watched someone drive their scooter onto the bus and when they couldn't park it right, stand up and pick up their scooter and move it into place. They actually picked up the scooter. Then to make it worse, the party of 15 people that were with him, took half of the remaining seats on the bus. This happened like every night. So thats 3 scooters, taking up 3 seats each, then the people take up 3 more seats, then the entire party gets to load. Ridiculous! Here' show you fix that. You let the person's group wait in line! When its their party's time to get on, if there is a spot for the chair, it gets loaded. If not, they just wait for next bus. As far as their group goes you can fix that easily. They wait in line. If you think the wheelchairs should get loaded first, than only 1 or 2 members or the party should be able to go onto the bus with them without waiting in line. The system is built flawed and people are taking advantage of it so badly.

Really, over the past 16 years I have been traveling to WDW once or twice a year, and for stays as long as 16 days at a time with an individual who has specific injuries that make it impossible to walk very far, cannot climb stairs very well and typically has a very difficult time getting in and out of her wheelchair. On many occasions we have been at stops at our resort with passengers in the "reserved" seats who refused to move, even with open seats all around so she can transfer to a seat. When this happens, it takes another 20 minutes or so for a second bus, we have waited for a spot for over 40 minutes on several occasions because of either inconsiderate guests or drivers who did not want to mess with a wheelchair. Our FIRST ride on a Disney bus this December was this exact situation resulting in us sitting at a bus stop for 40 minutes.

I am the first to agree completely that there are quite a few guests who abuse the system and take advantage of their access to certain services. However, what you don't see is that wheelchairs are ALWAYS the last off the buses even if they were first in line, have poor to limited areas for parade and fireworks viewing (which limits you to one guest in the area). Additionally, most rides are not accessible therefore parties with wheelchair guests pass through FastPass lines but are typically re-routed before loading to a secondary location where waits can be as long or longer than a standby line. We have waited on several visits on BTMRR for 90 minutes in the wheelchair line while the standby line is 30 to 40 minutes, this is simply due to the way the rides were engineered.

Spend a day in a wheelchair or with someone in one, then decide where any advantages are.

 

[jklakeview]

Really, over the past 16 years I have been traveling to WDW once or twice a year, and for stays as long as 16 days at a time with an individual who has specific injuries that make it impossible to walk very far, cannot climb stairs very well and typically has a very difficult time getting in and out of her wheelchair. On many occasions we have been at stops at our resort with passengers in the "reserved" seats who refused to move, even with open seats all around so she can transfer to a seat. When this happens, it takes another 20 minutes or so for a second bus, we have waited for a spot for over 40 minutes on several occasions because of either inconsiderate guests or drivers who did not want to mess with a wheelchair. Our FIRST ride on a Disney bus this December was this exact situation resulting in us sitting at a bus stop for 40 minutes.

I am the first to agree completely that there are quite a few guests who abuse the system and take advantage of their access to certain services. However, what you don't see is that wheelchairs are ALWAYS the last off the buses even if they were first in line, have poor to limited areas for parade and fireworks viewing (which limits you to one guest in the area). Additionally, most rides are not accessible therefore parties with wheelchair guests pass through FastPass lines but are typically re-routed before loading to a secondary location where waits can be as long or longer than a standby line. We have waited on several visits on BTMRR for 90 minutes in the wheelchair line while the standby line is 30 to 40 minutes, this is simply due to the way the rides were engineered.

Spend a day in a wheelchair or with someone in one, then decide where any advantages are.

Ok well then for your answer would work as well. If your person in the wheelchair sits in a designated area while you go through the standby line or fastpass line if you have one then it would be fair for them too. I've been to Disney 12 times in the last 5 years and if the person in the wheelchair is there when the bus arrives they ALWAYS GET LOADED FIRST. Everyone in their party does as well. This is wrong. Someone should wait in line like everyone else. EVERY fat lazy person in America gets one of those scooters. They don't need any sort of documentation. Well they shouldn't get on first. If it their turn they get on if not they wait. I was first in line and waited 30 minutes to get on a bus because 3 able bodies people in power scooters that came past everyone on line and got loaded first along with their entire party. No matter how you spin in that is wrong. Their party should have waited in line and when it was their turn they could have been loaded. If there was no room then the next bus is just a few minutes behind it. I also don't believe that people should have to give up 4 seats for one person in a chair that cut past everyone to get on the bus first. Sorry calle heartless but its a flawed system.

 

[jklakeview]

Ok well then for your answer would work as well. If your person in the wheelchair sits in a designated area while you go through the standby line or fastpass line if you have one then it would be fair for them too. I've been to Disney 12 times in the last 5 years and if the person in the wheelchair is there when the bus arrives they ALWAYS GET LOADED FIRST. Everyone in their party does as well. This is wrong. Someone should wait in line like everyone else. EVERY fat lazy person in America gets one of those scooters. They don't need any sort of documentation. Well they shouldn't get on first. If it their turn they get on if not they wait. I was first in line and waited 30 minutes to get on a bus because 3 able bodies people in power scooters that came past everyone on line and got loaded first along with their entire party. No matter how you spin in that is wrong. Their party should have waited in line and when it was their turn they could have been loaded. If there was no room then the next bus is just a few minutes behind it. I also don't believe that people should have to give up 4 seats for one person in a chair that cut past everyone to get on the bus first. Sorry calle heartless but its a flawed system.

Also as far as wheelchair seating go for parades. My grandmother in a wheelchair went to Disney and stayed off property. She had a proper GAC card because she can't walk anymore. She had EXCELLENT seats for Illuminations. And 2 people from our party sat with her while the rest of us found another viewing area that wasn't for people with true disabilities. If we stayed on property and the rule was that we had to wait in line with everyone else for the bus, I would have no objections

 

[shrlook]

I usually travel alone and always get the ADA pass. My issue is not only waiting in the lines which causes my leg muscles to spasm after a certain amount of time, but I have chronic fatigue syndrome which zaps my energy. I cannot stay at the parks all day and night to take advantage of the rides and get what I feel is my money's worth. My limit is usually 6 hours max. If I go back to rest, it is usually too late to return by the time I awaken.

 

[SkipperButler]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up, GAC cards are not accepted at Enchanted Tales with Belle. ECVs are not allowed in the queue, however wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are.This is because wheelchairs tend to have a better turn radius than ECVs.

If someone in your party is not able to handle being in line with the rest of the crowd, then it is recommended that you visit plan your day accordingly and visit near the time of park close where the line is roughly about 15 minutes.

 

[cmeller]

I think I'm a good person to speak on this topic. My 31 year old sister has severe CP, she can't walk or talk and while she hasn't been to Disney in nearly 20 years it was some of the best times of her life.

Yes our family of 4 was treated great and we rarely waited more than a few minutes for any attraction but I think it's what made the experience great for us. I have been back to Disney with my own family a few times and always waited in lines and had a great time as well.

I know people abuse this and it really ticks me off. However, I can put up with waiting in line and watch people abuse the system knowing that this service makes WDW truly magical for those who wouldn't be able to enjoy Disney as an able bodied person could.

I would rather WDW not change the system and make it less enjoyable for those who really deserve it just to prevent abuse. Those people who abuse it have to live with that.

 

[jklakeview]

I think I'm a good person to speak on this topic. My 31 year old sister has severe CP, she can't walk or talk and while she hasn't been to Disney in nearly 20 years it was some of the best times of her life.

Yes our family of 4 was treated great and we rarely waited more than a few minutes for any attraction but I think it's what made the experience great for us. I have been back to Disney with my own family a few times and always waited in lines and had a great time as well.

I know people abuse this and it really ticks me off. However, I can put up with waiting in line and watch people abuse the system knowing that this service makes WDW truly magical for those who wouldn't be able to enjoy Disney as an able bodied person could.

I would rather WDW not change the system and make it less enjoyable for those who really deserve it just to prevent abuse. Those people who abuse it have to live with that.

The problem becomes when more people are abusing the system than properly using it. That's what is happening at Disney World. It's not with the people who are in wheelchairs or using walkers, its with the people that are renting scooters. There are so many scooters within the park and on the buses and thats what is causing these issues. People are saying "hey for 30 dollars a day, our entire party can get on the bus first". It may not seem like that however, trust me it's happening. At the end of a day, when you're exhausted and the buses are full, to be guaranteed a seat on the very first bus that appears while others wait for 4 or 5 buses and still end up standing, is well worth 30 dollars to some people. I guess my complaints are more about the busing than anything else. I just feel its not a bad idea to make people wait on a line like everyone else.

 

[WDWLOVER1957]

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?.

So whats your view on the people that cant transfer on rides such as SPLASH HM RNRC, TOT and numerous others EQUAL would mean you cant ride either, but no disabled person would be that petty to expect that, your whole argument is so flawed its pathetic.