Possible Changes coming to the Guest Assistance Cards (GAC)

[StarWarsGirl]

Still have not had an answer to my question. Why does anyone, no matter disability, get to have unlimited access through Fastpass entrance? If you have a disability, what is wrong with giving you a stamped card with the current wait time and returning later?(you should be allowed one at a time) If this does not work, do you use Fastpass?

I paid for my vacation just like everyone else. Why should I have a lesser experience than someone who gets a GAC? I just spent 7 days the first week of August and did not get to ride everything I wanted. That was my first time going in the summer peak season as I had to move my vacation due to "extreme weather". I never noticed the large number of GAC's until this trip. The best was the family who cut in front of me at Buzz. Young son asks mom for the "Fastpass" while everyone sat waiting for the line to move(Buzz was temp closed). Mom hands the kid a GAC.

Because for families with a child with special needs, the GAC can mean the difference between having a good vacation and a bad vacation. I will use personal experience. We were in DL this summer. I have a brother with autism. For our first three days there, we did not have a GAC. Except for the one day (the Saturday when Lone Ranger was premiering in DCA and people were afraid of coming to the parks, so those of us who were there got to do everything) his behavior was horrible. He's almost 12 and was throwing temper tantrums, hitting all of us (me really hard a few times), crying a lot, etc. Basically, he was not having a good vacation. I finally suggested to my parents that we get a GAC. Now we go to WDW 2-3 times a year and have never had an issue with his behavior being that bad until that trip. We got the GAC and it was a godsend. His behavior improved so much. He wasn't nearly as stressed out. We did make him wait in line if it was less than 30 minutes or so to teach him to wait in line (actually, quite a few people who I've talked to who get the GACs do this with their autistic children) and get FPs if possible, but it made our vacation much better. We went to WDW in August as well and we did use the GAC again for that trip. It is hard to tell when a child with autism is going to be stressed out, same as kids with other types of disabilities. I've been on the other side as well. I've been in the parks without my brother. I can have an enjoyable time without him, but try to wait in those lines with him, and yikes. Basically, the answer to your question is that if they waited in line with you, they are not having a good time whereas you might be having a perfectly enjoyable time.

What you refer to is called a re-entry pass. So far, as I have stated, they only use this at RSR. It makes you come back in about 45 minutes and makes you wait in the FP line, which is about 20 minutes. Less than the two-hour wait overall, but still makes you wait and prevents the ride from getting clogged up with people using their GACs over and over and over again. I could see this successfully being implemented at WDW with certain attractions as soon as they work out all the kinks in DL. TSM would be an example of an attraction where this would work well. In that case, you explain to the child with the disorder "Yes, you will get to ride it, but we're going to do other things first." That's the real issue is that they get intent on riding something so that where if you didn't get to ride something, you'd be disappointed but would get over it, it would be a tragedy to them.

 

[Disneykidder]

Still have not had an answer to my question. Why does anyone, no matter disability, get to have unlimited access through Fastpass entrance? If you have a disability, what is wrong with giving you a stamped card with the current wait time and returning later?(you should be allowed one at a time) If this does not work, do you use Fastpass?

I paid for my vacation just like everyone else. Why should I have a lessor experience than someone who gets a GAC? I just spent 7 days the first week of August and did not get to ride everything I wanted. That was my first time going in the summer peak season as I had to move my vacation due to "extreme weather". I never noticed the large number of GAC's until this trip. The best was the family who cut in front of me at Buzz. Young son asks mom for the "Fastpass" while everyone sat waiting for the line to move(Buzz was temp closed). Mom hands the kid a GAC.

Of course there are people who abuse it and then there are people who actually need it. When I was there a couple of weeks ago in City Hall (getting my traditional Disney dollars), there was a early 20's woman who came up next to me and said she lost her GAC. The CM asked what hers was for and she said high blood pressure and diabetes. I'm not sure if this warrants a GAC card, but the CM gave her one.

Remember, not everyone's disability is noticeable.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I really agree with your points on children with disabilities here. I only see the large problem with GAC when it's the "I got "x" done and can't wait," or "I'm pushing 400 lbs and can't wait." A child with autism? Hell, I'd have let him cut me.

Exactly. And it's been my observation that adults who say those kinds of things don't succeed in getting the GACs.

 

[loboftbl]

My experience and example was at WDW. Once again, why do you get to do every ride while I missed out on several due to stand by wait eating up my day and Fastpass being out? What you are saying is you should get a higher level of service over others. Why should you get to do every ride with a GAC while my family and I run out of time and miss out on several rides?

If GAC made you wait the equivalent of the stand by, what harm is done? You get to ride the same amount of rides as everyone else?

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Of course there are people who abuse it and then there are people who actually need it. When I was there a couple of weeks ago in City Hall (getting my traditional Disney dollars), there was a early 20's woman who came up next to me and said she lost her GAC. The CM asked what hers was for and she said high blood pressure and diabetes. I'm not sure if this warrants a GAC card, but the CM gave her one.

Remember, not everyone's disability is noticeable.

I didn't even know you could still get Disney dollars! Lol.

Her condition may simply mean that she can't spend all day in the parks, or that she has to go spend time in the gift shops because of the heat. If she has the high blood pressure that is hard to control on medication, she probably has trouble with the heat and most certainly won't be getting on the bigger rides.

Or she could have been an abuser. Like you said, sometimes its hard to tell.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

My experience and example was at WDW. Once again, why do you get to do every ride while I missed out on several due to stand by wait eating up my day and Fastpass being out? What you are saying is you should get a higher level of service over others. Why should you get to do every ride with a GAC while my family and I run out of time and miss out on several rides?

If GAC made you wait the equivalent of the stand by, what harm is done? You get to ride the same amount of rides as everyone else?

Not much difference in this case between WDW and DL...the passes work the same at both places, but restrictions are higher at DL and they are more careful to check the cards. I've worked at both locations with a GAC card. My example was from DL since I'm a less frequent visitor there than at WDW and that was the first time we got the GAC.

I've already tried explaining to you the reasons. You seem to not quite get what it is like for a child with special needs or those who live with that child. I'm sorry your family doesn't get to ride everything, but he may never go to college or be self-sufficient or go to college whereas your children probably will. He may never even talk normally or process information normally. I won't be getting a GAC in January when I go as he will not be going with me, and ya know what? If it means a better vacation for these children with disabilities and their families, they are more than welcome to go ahead of me. I'm not entitled. These kids are.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

GAC doesn't always mean you get to be first in the line, and most of the time you're waiting through the fastpass line.

And now since they've implemented FP+ and every line has a FP line, it definitely means you are waiting. And when we were in DL, even going through the exit was sometimes a 20 minute wait.

To be fair, it sounds as if your day was also marred by waiting in those stand by lines and not getting FP when you needed it. Even in peak season, with planning for what you really want to do you can get in those rides.

Very good point.

I'd understand if say, you're there one day and one day only that you want to ride as much as possible. But if you know that going in - why wouldn't you plan for that? Prioritize?

You're really saying that a child with special needs, who can have a day go from FANTASTIC to ABSOLUTELY AWFUL in 30 seconds doesn't deserve to have his or her day condensed so that they can get as much in as your able son or daughter? That child with autism may not be able to go the whole day, they may only get a few hours in before the crowds/heat/anticipation is too much.

Yes, your child has breakdowns too, but your child is much more likely to bounce back in seconds.

Thank you! My brother can't always handle all day in the park. There will be times that he and my mom will leave before my dad and I do, and once when I had him he wanted to leave before I did (I made him ride Space Mountain with me one more time since it was a ten minute wait w/out the GAC. That was before we were using it actually). In August we only do a few full days in the park and otherwise we're at the pool half the day. Which is great because it's his stress-free zone, but it also means we have less time in the parks. Also, a normal child may have one meltdown per day. My brother's will be far worse and can happen five or six times a day. Even with the GAC he'll have a meltdown.

 

[loboftbl]

My point is not punish people with special needs. If you create a program that offers people a chance to bypass the stand by lines with little oversight, it will be greatly abused as we have seen(cm verified). Universal Orlando already has such a system requiring GAC users to wait. I do not see people writing on how they missed out on rides.

 

[loboftbl]

Also, planning does not help when several times you have rides break down. I guess it is my fault my Fastpass for both Soarin and Buzz were during the times they went down for over an hour while I was standing in the Fastpass line. Planning only takes you so far. I hope the changes that spirit mentioned were coming stop the abuse. I do not know the changes but I would bet it is something similar to Universal as that is the only way to stop abuse

 

[StarWarsGirl]

My point is not punish people with special needs. If you create a program that offers people a chance to bypass the stand by lines with little oversight, it will be greatly abused as we have seen(cm verified). Universal Orlando already has such a system requiring GAC users to wait. I do not see people writing on how they missed out on rides.

That's the point of testing the re-entry passes in DL. You speak as if nothing is being done when it is.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Also, planning does not help when several times you have rides break down. I guess it is my fault my Fastpass for both Soarin and Buzz were during the times they went down for over an hour while I was standing in the Fastpass line. Planning only takes you so far.

You realize that if a ride goes down and you are holding onto a FP, you can come back later when the ride is back up, right? Next time do that rather than the "Let's see if it'll go back up" method. If it goes down and you're still holding your FP, just leave and come back. They'll let you in. I've learned from experience that the "wait and see" method usually backfires

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Also, planning does not help when several times you have rides break down. I guess it is my fault my Fastpass for both Soarin and Buzz were during the times they went down for over an hour while I was standing in the Fastpass line.

When we were recently at MK, Little Mermaid was down for three hours and our FP fell in this time frame. I ASKED a CM would the FP go to waste. I was told that if it was down, you could return anytime that day and the FP would be good, which we did.

Two days later at MK again and they couldn't get Splash Mountain to open correctly---which we found out after walking all the way over there to get our FP. The CMs were telling people to get their FP even if the ride was opening a few hours late because the FP could be used later in the day since the ride was down during the FP window, which we did.

 

[PirateFrank]

It doesn't matter! One million times will not be enough!

My question is, "Why do people refuse to admit that the GAC is abused?" That's what I can't figure out.

That's the easy part. If someone (especially those that avail themselves of it's benefits) has to admit that the GAC card is abused, then they have to admit that there's also a problem with perception and entitlement.

It's very easy to say "There's no abuse" and then call anyone who questions whether there is abuse, a 'heartless ' or whatever baiting/name calling has been thrown around here on these forums. Once you admit there's abuse, you have to examine your own use of the card and determine whether or not it's abuse, before you can slam the inquisitive person for being a shameful heartless .

 

[luv]

That's the easy part. If someone (especially those that avail themselves of it's benefits) has to admit that the GAC card is abused, then they have to admit that there's also a problem with perception and entitlement.

It's very easy to say "There's no abuse" and then call anyone who questions whether there is abuse, a 'heartless...' or whatever baiting/name calling has been thrown around here on these forums. Once you admit there's abuse, you have to examine your own use of the card and determine whether or not it's abuse, before you can slam the inquisitive person for being a shameful heartless...

<snipped so as not to have the bad words repeated>

Frank, you heartless...



You may be right. Some people, though, say they don't use it, but insist it isn't abused. I don't get it. I truly do not. There must be some twisted logic that leads them to the total refusal to admit it is abused. I just haven't figured it out yet.

 

[unkadug]

<snipped so as not to have the bad words repeated>

Frank, you heartless...



You may be right. Some people, though, say they don't use it, but insist it isn't abused. I don't get it. I truly do not. There must be some twisted logic that leads them to the total refusal to admit it is abused. I just haven't figured it out yet.

denial

 

[luv]

denial

Obviously, lol. I guess I'll give up on figuring out more than that.

 

[Clever Name]

The ADA calls for nondiscrimination in public accommodations. Disney parks and resorts are public accommodations. The ADA prohibits unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability. The ADA only requires that disabled people are afforded reasonable accommodations. Is it unreasonable to expect an autistic child or adult to wait in a two hour standby queue? Disney wants to make sure that they are not sued for discrimination against the disabled. Hence the GAC.

Disney can ask questions for reasons of safety. Disney measures children to make sure they meet minimum height requirements. Disney posts warnings notifying people that certain rides might not be suitable for persons with high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. They can't screen out people due to disabilities.

The bottom line is that if a place of public accommodation were to require proof of a disability, they better have a legitimate reason for that proof. Otherwise they will be sued for discrimination. Riding theme park rides is not a legitimate reason to require proof of a disability.

 

[mickeysbrother]

We have same laws here in canada. We can not charge for a wheelchair at our airports. But in the states you can!!! So what happens people from here ask for a wheelchair get rolled around then when they arrive in Fort lauderdale usually that's where it happens they run off the aircraft to start there winter solitude from the cold.

 

[unkadug]

T...

Disney can ask questions for reasons of safety. Disney measures children to make sure they meet minimum height requirements. Disney posts warnings notifying people that certain rides might not be suitable for persons with high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. They can't screen out people due to disabilities.

The bottom line is that if a place of public accommodation were to require proof of a disability, they better have a legitimate reason for that proof. Otherwise they will be sued for discrimination. Riding theme park rides is not a legitimate reason to require proof of a disability.

Are they legally required to allow people with diminished height syndrome onto rides with height requirements?

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

The ADA calls for nondiscrimination in public accommodations. Disney parks and resorts are public accommodations. The ADA prohibits unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability. The ADA only requires that disabled people are afforded reasonable accommodations. Is it unreasonable to expect an autistic child or adult to wait in a two hour standby queue? Disney wants to make sure that they are not sued for discrimination against the disabled. Hence the GAC.

Disney can ask questions for reasons of safety. Disney measures children to make sure they meet minimum height requirements. Disney posts warnings notifying people that certain rides might not be suitable for persons with high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. They can't screen out people due to disabilities.

The bottom line is that if a place of public accommodation were to require proof of a disability, they better have a legitimate reason for that proof. Otherwise they will be sued for discrimination. Riding theme park rides is not a legitimate reason to require proof of a disability.

I've posted before about how in the U.K it is totally different. You HAVE to have proof. From your DR, or a specialist. I am going to Chessington World of Adventures this week. I cannot be in the strong sun for long periods of time. Strong sun in my case is a UV index of 4 and over. My Dr wrote me the attached letter. Yes, I get it could be produced by a five year old with some typing knowledge but it is proof. The Dr's number is there is they wanted to call them. I'll be taking this letter to WDW next year in October, but will not use it for rides that have adequate shade. Those that do not have shade, I am hoping they would have implemented a system whereby I can go back to the ride later rather than skip the line.
My friends that have autistic children, they HAVE to take along their "Statement Letter" from the district Child Development Centre.