Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[beachlover4444]

There will always be abuse. If you change the current system, they will find ways around that too. There are just dishonest people in the world. When I started visiting years ago, only wheelchairs went to the exits and got on with their families. So everyone started using wheelchairs. So they came up with the guest assistance cards which immediately got abused. Those New York women who are hiring people to pretend to be disabled to get them on rides disgusts me. Now everyone considers everything a disability. If you are allergic to sun, truly allergic you know how to dress when you are out in the open air. Now people have dogs for their nerves/emotional stress. Let me say I truly feel bad for those who are truly disabled. And some disabilities are not visible. But you can see the ones who are in wheelchairs due to being overweight or just not wanting to walk around all day. They jump off the wheelchair and run around when they want to. Then the kids jump in the wheelchair. It's ridiculous. I work at a hotel and the things people lie about amazes me. It's sadly just the world we live in.

 

[startraveler]

This confuses me. Where exactly did you go in the line with a wheelchair if not to the handicap accessible loading? They didn't send you up the stairs with your wheelchair.

The only question would be is if you can transfer or not... I've never heard of requiring a GAC for not being able to transfer.. but honestly I've never heard of it being an issue.

They wouldn't let me up the ramp with my personal wheelchair without a card. I left and didn't ride since I can't walk or transfer. I got a card and have used it since. Wheelchair users still have a hard time on this ride as sometimes there is only one car and the lines can be pretty long. The special car is not reserved for wheelchair users, so it still takes a pretty long time most times to get on the ride.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I don't want to call you a liar, but... I find that extremely hard to believe. There is no other way for a person who is physically in a wheelchair to board TSMM without using that wheelchair access route. The only other option involves stairs. They would never *require* you to have a GAC because the GACs are not required in any way, shape, or form for wheelchair accessibility (or at all, legally). So, either you are trying to play up the importance of the cards for whatever reason, or those CM's were grossly misinformed.

 

[flynnibus]

They wouldn't let me up the ramp with my personal wheelchair without a card. I left and didn't ride since I can't walk or transfer

I'm confused because.. the only other route is up and down a flight of stairs. The merge point where FP meets standby is before the stairs.. right after merge, you turn and go up almost two stories of stairs.. and then back down the steps. So, there is no way they can deny you the path to the handicap loading at FP merge.. because there is no other route for a wheelchair. Maybe you are talking about once you are on the loading platform they wouldn't send you to the specialized vehicle.. but it would be impossible to deny you access to the handicap area. The other path literally is up and down stairs and dumps right into the loading lanes for the car. There is no where to store anything in the normal loading area. It's quite tight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pEax-u1mRvc#t=36s

 

[joanna71985]

Are you sure? Because like the last poster said, there is no physical way for anyone in a wheelchair to get to the ride without going up the ramp. There must have been some miscommunication with the CM. You are right about the vehicle though- it is not specifically reserved for wheelchair users

 

[RandomPrincess]

I'm confused because.. the only other route is up and down a flight of stairs. The merge point where FP meets standby is before the stairs.. right after merge, you turn and go up almost two stories of stairs.. and then back down the steps. So, there is no way they can deny you the path to the handicap loading at FP merge.. because there is no other route for a wheelchair. Maybe you are talking about once you are on the loading platform they wouldn't send you to the specialized vehicle.. but it would be impossible to deny you access to the handicap area. The other path literally is up and down stairs and dumps right into the loading lanes for the car. There is no where to store anything in the normal loading area. It's quite tight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pEax-u1mRvc#t=36s

i think they wouldn't let them get in line for the special car because they didn't have a GAC - which is wrong.

 

[joanna71985]

i think they wouldn't let them get in line for the special car because they didn't have a GAC - which is wrong.

That shouldn't make a difference though- 1) a regular vehicle can be brought around to help with waits. 2) anyone with a wheelchair/ECV is sent up the ramp (GAC or not)

 

[RandomPrincess]

That shouldn't make a difference though- 1) a regular vehicle can be brought around to help with waits. 2) anyone with a wheelchair/ECV is sent up the ramp (GAC or not)

We all know that but this CM apparently does not.

 

[startraveler]

Yeah, that's what I thought. The CM thought I needed the card and sent me off to get one so I could ride. It points to inconsistency. Wasn't lying. No reason to. Just wanted to add to the conversation with a personal experience.

 

[Lucky]

This is indeed the alternate entrance waiting area. My son is autistic and we use the GAC and we will use that alternate entrance if we see people backed up outside the doors. Otherwise we use the regular queue. But it goes back around with a wheelchair ramp and you get to see the backside of POTC and a paint shed(yes it is exciting). Also there is no guarantee of when you will be taken inside, so it is possible that it could take longer waiting outside, which has happened to us. SE has a similar system where you wait at the ride exit and they bring you in there. You end up waiting however long they decide to do a load of alternate entrance people.

Yes, that entrance won't necessarily shorten the wait time, but there are benches to sit on while you're waiting, and wheelchair users don't have to go the same distance as in the standby line.

 

[rudyjr13]

Today show just ran an undercover report about the guests hiring people with these cards as tour guides to skip lines. Pretty nasty stuff. Disney says they will crack down.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Actually the segment said they are cracking down on the disabled tour guides with passes not the GAC users overall. The tour guides will be prosecuted if caught. There's a thread about the Rossen Report going in general discussion.

 

[Todd L]

I just cant get over the attitude of the Male "diabled escort" or whatever they called him on the Jeff Rossen story this morning!!

Idiots like this are gonna ruin the Gac for those who REALLY need it. I hope they removed him from Disney parks Forever!! Make an example out of him!!

Its that old 5-10 percent rule...5% of the people in the world think the rules dont apply to them and that they dont have to play fair!!

These people are use to getting special treatment EVERYWHERE they go and cant understand that they have to wait like the rest of us poor slobs!!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Today show just ran an undercover report about the guests hiring people with these cards as tour guides to skip lines. Pretty nasty stuff. Disney says they will crack down.

If only that was the extent of the abuse. In reality, this accounts for almost nothing of the real problem.

 

[flynnibus]

At least they hit the problem dead on. Good on NBC.

 

[luv]

Disabled tour guides are the LEAST of the problems related to GAC. In fact, I don't even have a problem with that, though I understand why people do. If a person is disabled and can make money giving Disney tours, it's cool with me.

It is the total liars, cheats and "well, little Johnny doesn't do well waiting in line!" people with whom I have a bone to pick.

 

[flynnibus]

@luv - valid, unless the tour guide themselves don't really need the GAC and in turn are simply monetizing the scam.

The idea of a disabled person working as a legit tour guide is a loophole in the system... but shouldn't be allowed as private tours anyway (IMO).

 

[luv]

@luv - valid, unless the tour guide themselves don't really need the GAC...

Agreed. I see both sides. I just happen to want to grant the handicapped as much leeway as I can. God knows they have enough obstacles. If they can turn it into a moneymaker, I say, "Go for it!"

But I do get why people have a problem with it!

 

[rct247]

UPDATE: From what I hear from some friends, in light of all the media exposing GAC card abuse, Disney is forming more committees consisting of operation leaders to discuss the impacts felt in their areas and possible ideas to change the long standing GAC card service and policies. Changes may start to take affect as soon as July 2013. No word on what changes are in store.

 

[Dasnowz]

Changes are coming august 1 training is in July.

The reason was due to the abuse. it was coming before all the exposure.