Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[TRONorail10]

It is not criminal to fake a disability at Disney for the purposes of GAC. There is no money involved with the issuance and usage of a GAC, so guests who fraudulently claim a disability are being dishinest and unethical, but not criminal. If Disney admission media was discounted for people who require a GAC, then it could potentially be criminal in that instance (but not necessarily).

Let me rephrase that then, since we want to nit-pick... nobody can ever get in trouble lawfully for fraudulently faking a disability (even though my friend got a ticket for parking in a handicapped parking spot because they weren't handicapped). However, Disney should still require a doctor's note as evidence of a disability, so that if any dishonesty arises, Disney can use that as evidence against the person and trespass them from their private property. There. Done.

 

[jencor]

It can be a pain to have to get a Doctors letter just to go to Disney. It is not just a family doctor, it is a specialist and it is quite a process to do anything, as you are dealing with a lot of different people in the office, and it always seems like someone else. How about if we can show proof with the handicap placard that the state has and renews every few years as they got a letter from the doctor.

 

[TP2000]

Your flaw is you keep thinking the way Disney solves it is the way everyone needs to.. and since they don't, it's all bunkus. No, the only part that is bunkus is Disney's lazy approach to the problem and trying to answer lots of accommodations with a single solution instead of providing targeted accomodations.

Okay, I think I've got it. But that just convinces me that Disney doesn't have to pass out GAC's to whomever asks with the right code words thrown in. I'm talking about the folks who walk in to City Hall and tell the hostess at the desk "We can't wait in line because a member of our party has FILL IN THE BLANK DISABILITY: Asperger's, Autism, Severe Anxiety Disorder, Steel rods in my back/knees/hips, etc., etc."

Although it sounds like some of these folks using it will only accept the current no-questions-asked GAC process allowing unlimited access to the Fastpass lane or the exit.

But from what I'm reading here and on other boards is that Disney is going towards a Cedar Fair type system where you get to make one ride reservation at a time, then you go wait somewhere else in the park for your boarding window, then return to that ride for boarding with minimal waits. Once that boarding time is up, you are allowed to go get another boarding time and then wait somewhere again. (Or shop, eat, watch shows or parades, etc.) That would seem very fair and allow these disabled folks a slightly better park experience that allows them on slightly more rides per day than an able-bodied person juggling the Fastpass system and lengthy Standby lines.

Let's hope that's where Disney goes in an better-late-than-never attempt to fix their horribly broken GAC system. And thank you for the very interesting dialogue here @flynnibus and others!

 

[TP2000]

And the "solution" (to curb abuse) has to address one of these points:

(1) make the benefits of the GAC significantly less, so that it isn't "worth it" for people to lie to get it.

Bingo!

I think the "one boarding window at a time" system they use at Cedar Fair would do that. The disabled person (or the fraudulent scammer) still gets on the ride without having to wait in line, but they have no ability to waltz through the park entering unlimited Fastpass lanes or exits at will.

The GAC (or whatever the replacement is called) is no longer worth it for those who aren't truly disabled, and thus the fraudsters get shut down. Problem solved!

 

[lostpro9het]

Hey, looks like Delta has this problem all figured out, I mean who needs more than a piece of cardboard anyway:
http://gma.yahoo.com/disabled-man-claims-delta-forced-him-crawl-180716763--abc-news-travel.html

 

[RandomPrincess]

Hey, looks like Delta has this problem all figured out, I mean who needs more than a piece of cardboard anyway:
http://gma.yahoo.com/disabled-man-claims-delta-forced-him-crawl-180716763--abc-news-travel.html

That's awful!

 

[lostpro9het]

That's awful!

YES!

 

[CRO-Magnum]

I'm all in favor of a doctor's note explaining why you can't stand or sit in a wheelchair in line.

The problem is this may open up the company to litigation by requiring someone to divulge private medical information. I have to believe with the number of ADA activists and lawyers looking for a billable hour someone will make a case, a lots of publicity, out of this at some point.

 

[CRO-Magnum]

It is not criminal to fake a disability at Disney for the purposes of GAC. There is no money involved with the issuance and usage of a GAC, so guests who fraudulently claim a disability are being dishinest and unethical, but not criminal.

Actually you are incorrect. From a criminality point of view anyone who lies or misrepresents themselves to gain a benefit (a shortened line) is likely guilty of theft. There is an economic benefit to waiting in a shortened line which is easily calculable. A simple calculation would be how many rides a person is able to go on during a typical day without a GAC versus with a GAC. The admission price divided by the number of rides gives you a baseline expectation of what the consumer is paying per attraction. There is also a quality argument to be made as well, that the experience when not having to wait in long lines carries a higher value.

Also remember a GAC is essentially a contract and governed by contract law. The person who fakes a disability is guilty of misrepresentation. And with all the crazy blue laws out there I'm willing to be it's illegal to lie about a disability.

 

[flynnibus]

Hey, looks like Delta has this problem all figured out, I mean who needs more than a piece of cardboard anyway:
http://gma.yahoo.com/disabled-man-claims-delta-forced-him-crawl-180716763--abc-news-travel.html

Exactly the type of treatment these laws were created to stop. While extreme, this is the model of the type of burden and lack of compassion disabled had to face moving through life.

 

[flynnibus]

Okay, I think I've got it. But that just convinces me that Disney doesn't have to pass out GAC's to whomever asks with the right code words thrown in. I'm talking about the folks who walk in to City Hall and tell the hostess at the desk "We can't wait in line because a member of our party has FILL IN THE BLANK DISABILITY: Asperger's, Autism, Severe Anxiety Disorder, Steel rods in my back/knees/hips, etc., etc."

You're still missing the finer points here

It's not a 'no questions asked' process - the CMs will guide you to lesser accommodations if you just come in asking to cut the line. Its why people coach each other on what key things to say.
It's not about going in and saying 'we can't wait in line' - again, leading with that means you're going to get pushed to the wheelchair option'. The CMs will give you the runaround and rightfully so.

The way it's designed.. and the way legitimate people use it is..

The customer says what physical or emotional restrictions they have...
... the business offers what accommodations they can provide.

The problem is Disney is LAZY with the accommodations they provide. In being lazy, Disney creates a 'power so great' many can not resist lying or ignoring ethics to get it.

Disney is not lax in how they question people for their disabilities - and this doesn't need to, and shouldn't change.

What needs to change is that Disney needs to actually provide accommodations catered to the different disabilities rather than using 'catch alls' and add other barriers that make it so easy to exploit.

The rest.. Disney is bound by the law and unlikely to be able to do anything about.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

I have Melanoma (Cancer caused by UV exposure, it's not "just skin cancer" but that's a different discussion). I am to avoid prolonged exposure in the sun as my 3cm X 3cm scar is on my face and still healing. I have to wear long sleeve tops, a sunhat and suncream. My kids dress the same.
We have yet to go to Florida since my diagnosis (booked for Oct 14, last visited Jan 12), however, we go to LEGOLAND frequently, Alton Towers and Chessington (all U.K). Here is the process for me to avoid standing in outdoor lines:
1. I got a letter from my doctor stating I have Melanoma, it's on my face and I should be given the opportunity to avoid queuing.
2. I signed a form that was filled in, stating why I needed to avoid the queue.
3. My details are kept on file for subsequent visits.
4. Everytime I visit I go to Guest Services and they issue me with a Ride Access Card. This card contains 10 tear-off stubs. All members in my party are hand stamped (up to 5 people). The pass can be used at any ride, and I walk up to the exit (or fastpass equivalent), the attendant tears off a stub and on we go. It is clearly stated that lost passes will not be replaced. Handstamps can be reapplied at Guest Services.
I can apply online for the passes if I want, but all documentation must be shown in order to gain the pass.

I haven't read through the whole thread as I have been away from the forums for ages, and obviously the GAC is something I will need when coming to Florida as UV levels are much higher (I don't use my Ride Access Card for indoor queues), I'll be bringing my doctor's letter, and if need be my pathology report. If I was registered disabled I would have to provide disability proof in the UK as well.

Why can't this system by implemented in USA? This is not a right, it's a privilege and needs to be documented. Why would people not disclose something if they genuinely need a solution? I have no issue saying my "problem".

Also, the system for wheelchair users is if the queue is flat and wide enough, you just wheel on in the normal queue.

 

[flynnibus]

Why can't this system by implemented in USA? This is not a right, it's a privilege and needs to be documented. Why would people not disclose something if they genuinely need a solution? I have no issue saying my "problem".

For your situation - why not let you wait out of the sun instead of bypassing the queue?

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

For your situation - why not let you wait out of the sun instead of bypassing the queue?

If that's the solution Disney give me when I go then I'll take it. I don't believe I should be waltzed on the ride, if they gave me a time to go back, I would, and while waiting (if I had long enough), I would ride an attraction in an indoor queue or get food etc.
I'll take whatever solution a park can offer me, I'm not going to complain if I need to wait "out of queue" as it provides the solution I need. In fact, I think it would be a good idea if my Magicband (when it's implemented), has a GAC attached and I just access the fastpass system for every ride.
At LEGOLAND, instead of the Ride Access Pass, they could offer me a QBot for free, which is a system that "books" you into the queue according to the current wait time.

 

[GFD613]

One solution I considered when I sprained my ankle before our last trip (ironically, while going for a walk to increase my stamina when I turned my foot on a bit of uneven lawn on the way to the school track) was to bring a folding cane chair. Does anyone know if disney has any policies against using those devices while waiting in line?

 

[luv]

One solution I considered when I sprained my ankle before our last trip (ironically, while going for a walk to increase my stamina when I turned my foot on a bit of uneven lawn on the way to the school track) was to bring a folding cane chair. Does anyone know if disney has any policies against using those devices while waiting in line?

They actually do have a policy against bringing in folding chairs. I have seen people sitting n them on occasion, but do not know if they snuck the chairs in or an exception was made.

I would call and see if they would make an exception for you. Good luck!

(And it is amusingly ironic that you hurt your ankle while walking to increase stamina, lol. Hope it's all better!)

 

[TRONorail10]

The problem is this may open up the company to litigation by requiring someone to divulge private medical information. I have to believe with the number of ADA activists and lawyers looking for a billable hour someone will make a case, a lots of publicity, out of this at some point.

The company is providing a service based on medical needs and already going above and beyond what the ADA requires. If anything, an ADA activist should want a system in place so that non-disabled individuals can't take advantage of it. There was a great example posted in regards to Target. Target doesn't have a system in place for individuals who "can't wait in line," but yet nobody is suing the company over it. Why should Disney be required to offer a GAC? They are not, it's their choice. If an individual can't wait in long lines, there is already a system in place to reasonably accommodate them - it's called FASTPASS. Guess what? FastPass is available to every guest with a paying ticket. Disclosing medical information to acquire a GAC would be a choice by the guest. Nobody is requiring a disabled person to get one because everyone is already entitled to FastPasses. If anyone thinks there is any legal intervention in the issue over providing medical documentation for a service beyond what is required by the ADA, then that means every place of business in America needs to have a FastPass line for disabled individuals; grocery stores, post offices, gas stations, DMVs, Walmarts, carnivals, restaurants, bars, etc.

 

[GFD613]

They actually do have a policy against bringing in folding chairs. I have seen people sitting n them on occasion, but do not know if they snuck the chairs in or an exception was made.

I would call and see if they would make an exception for you. Good luck!

(And it is amusingly ironic that you hurt your ankle while walking to increase stamina, lol. Hope it's all better!)

Thanks!

Yes ankle all better, thank G-d. I will ask before our next trip.

 

[Monty]

The company is providing a service based on medical needs and already going above and beyond what the ADA requires. If anything, an ADA activist should want a system in place so that non-disabled individuals can't take advantage of it. There was a great example posted in regards to Target. Target doesn't have a system in place for individuals who "can't wait in line," but yet nobody is suing the company over it. Why should Disney be required to offer a GAC? They are not, it's their choice. If an individual can't wait in long lines, there is already a system in place to reasonably accommodate them - it's called FASTPASS. Guess what? FastPass is available to every guest with a paying ticket. Disclosing medical information to acquire a GAC would be a choice by the guest. Nobody is requiring a disabled person to get one because everyone is already entitled to FastPasses. If anyone thinks there is any legal intervention in the issue over providing medical documentation for a service beyond what is required by the ADA, then that means every place of business in America needs to have a FastPass line for disabled individuals; grocery stores, post offices, gas stations, DMVs, Walmarts, carnivals, restaurants, bars, etc.

Apples and oranges [again].

A local business doesn't provide "FastPass" for people who can't wait in line because for the most part, people have coping mechanisms in place at home to deal with issues. A parent can leave an autistic child with another family member or a caregiver while they shop. Going to WDW, the whole point is to spend the time with your family and enjoy the attractions together.

As for providing medical documentation to "prove" your disability, there are two significant issues with that: First, the poor CM in Guest Relations is in no way qualified to read and understand a medical diagnosis or determine what would be an appropriate accommodation for it, and second, there are legitimate privacy issues regarding disclosure of personal medical information that are protected by your Constitution and the ADA. I know pesky "Laws" tend to get in the way of the self-righteous indignation of the majority of arrogant and inconsiderate posters in this thread who clearly know better than their Government or a major multinational conglomerate that has been dealing with these issues for decades...

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

As for providing medical documentation to "prove" your disability, there are two significant issues with that: First, the poor CM in Guest Relations is in no way qualified to read and understand a medical diagnosis or determine what would be an appropriate accommodation for it,

The Cm wouldn't have to. My Doctor's letter clearly states my diagnosis and also the provisions to be made.

I have no idea about laws in the USA but here, in the U.K, you have to prove you are entitled to a privilege or you don't get it. If you live in the U.K and don't like you have to prove you need assistance then call yourself a Whaaaaambulance as it's the only help you'll get.