Rich Manhattan moms hire handicapped tour guides so kids can cut lines at Disney World

[RSoxNo1]

Paging @RSoxNo1 ...
Isn't UNI's GAC stricter and only functions like UNN Express?

Your opinion on this subject is always valued.

Universal's system functions similarly to how Disney functions at Radiator Springs Racers. Any attraction with a wait time of 30 minutes or more, they will give you a return time usually as far out as the standby wait (example, if it's noon and the wait for Forbidden Journey is 90 minutes, they'll tell you to return at 1:30). I believe they give you a 10 minute window as well. We utilized this on a crowded day at Islands of Adventure, my brother had no problems with the delayed gratification of going on rides. Having said that, I don't know if it would be different at Disney where he's more familiar with the attractions. Obviously, it's also reasonable to say that another individual may have more issues or would be less able to deal with it. It's not unreasonable to say that my brother would have more behavioral issues if presented with similar options on other day.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I really think this is a fake or at best a poorly researched article.

If any one has done this, it shows a really poor display of manners, class and character!

Not to mention a hell of a thing to teach your kids!

Shame on them!

 

[Hot Lava]

Special place in hell also...

My grandfather lost his leg in the war, so I have always been especially sensitive to those who abuse the handicap parking. And it has definitely become worse.

For the people who keep claiming that it is illegal under the ADA to ask for evidence of medical need, I would love for someone to post the part of the ADA statute or caselaw substantiate this. Employers are allowed to ask for documentation, why not Disney in this circumstance?

And speaking of these statutes, how is it WDW has not HAD to already retool all the lines for rides, making them accessible? I guess the back door access skirts that? And who is going to complain when they essentially are getting a FP?

I think they need to make the lines accessible. Disney needs to tighten up the requirements. They need to go to the pager system. Yeah, a lot of people still get around it using doctors who will sign off on anything. But it seems that things. But especially with this article (regardless of how much is the truth), things are going to get uglier.

 

[alphac2005]

This is the real problem. Disney as a company could make the system more difficult to use or make you jump through additional hoops to get a GAC. The problem with that is you are alienating the very people you set out to help. Making them feel like they are doing something wrong. The abusers won't care anyway. If they are faking it now they will jump through additional hoops to keep abusing it. I really don't see a better way to do this.

I totally concur here. A guy like my father, it's pretty darn obvious. He's in a custom electric wheelchair and has a visible tracheostomy port, so it doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar to figure out that he's legit. What's being missed here somewhat, though, is that there is a difference between GAC and simply handicap. My dad doesn't use a GAC, rather he just uses the handicap accessible entrance. GAC brings someone with that right to the front of the line, superseding all other guests. Most of the abusers of the system aren't obtaining GAC, rather just claiming to be have an ailment and usually use a rented wheelchair.

Also, as I noted before, the handicap lines are now so backed up from abuse, that many times you end up waiting longer than the regular line. A pavilion like The Land is just horrible to deal with as there is one elevator for the public to use by Living with the Land and I swear, 9 times out of 10, it's clogged with ECVs with people who clearly don't fit the true need for what the wheelchair is for. We wait and wait and wait at that place because it is constantly lots of people using the elevator because they don't want to walk.

I saw a prior post also mention that the handicap entrance should be used by just the guest that is handicap and no one else in their party. I don't agree at all. The idea on vacation is that you spend time with your family and part of that time is being in line. Our family deals with a situation where the ailments are so vast, we truly don't know how much longer we'll be able to have my father go on vacations or be with us. For the handicapped guest, it's not some party to go breeze through the line by yourself. ALSO, many of the handicap spots have been retrofitted after the ADA went into effect and they are horrible to navigate and in my dad's case, he needs the help navigating a lot.

 

[Kirk88]

Pretty sick to take advantage of such a thing just to skip lines. I've been informed that because of my knee issues I could actually get the "handicap" pass from WDW. I can still walk on my own so, personally, I'd have a hard time actually doing it. I can't imagine someone going out of their way to profit from it. I agree with eveyone else though, what's more disgusting? 1)Paying for the "service"? or 2)Providing the "service"?

 

[ddbowdoin]

Special place in hell also...

My grandfather lost his leg in the war, so I have always been especially sensitive to those who abuse the handicap parking. And it has definitely become worse.

For the people who keep claiming that it is illegal under the ADA to ask for evidence of medical need, I would love for someone to post the part of the ADA statute or caselaw substantiate this. Employers are allowed to ask for documentation, why not Disney in this circumstance?

And speaking of these statutes, how is it WDW has not HAD to already retool all the lines for rides, making them accessible? I guess the back door access skirts that? And who is going to complain when they essentially are getting a FP?

I think they need to make the lines accessible. Disney needs to tighten up the requirements. They need to go to the pager system. Yeah, a lot of people still get around it using doctors who will sign off on anything. But it seems that things. But especially with this article (regardless of how much is the truth), things are going to get uglier.

I'll have to look deep into this, but I found this in 3 seconds in regards to service animals...

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

I can't imagine regulations regarding humans would be looser than those related to animals.

 

[MattC]

This story has some legs. It's on my Yahoo home page this morning.

 

[englanddg]

This story has some legs. It's on my Yahoo home page this morning.

It has made a lot of the news aggregator sites...

 

[wm49rs]

On the web site of the company in question, under VIP Tours, was this comment:

VIP TOURS

Due to inaccurate press and slander, Dream Tours is not offering VIP tours at this time. Our focus has primarily always been providing magical vacations for adults with special needs and helping their dreams to come true.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Special place in hell also...

My grandfather lost his leg in the war, so I have always been especially sensitive to those who abuse the handicap parking. And it has definitely become worse.

For the people who keep claiming that it is illegal under the ADA to ask for evidence of medical need, I would love for someone to post the part of the ADA statute or caselaw substantiate this. Employers are allowed to ask for documentation, why not Disney in this circumstance?

And speaking of these statutes, how is it WDW has not HAD to already retool all the lines for rides, making them accessible? I guess the back door access skirts that? And who is going to complain when they essentially are getting a FP?

I think they need to make the lines accessible. Disney needs to tighten up the requirements. They need to go to the pager system. Yeah, a lot of people still get around it using doctors who will sign off on anything. But it seems that things. But especially with this article (regardless of how much is the truth), things are going to get uglier.

It seems the rules change in the forum of employment, and I assume because now you're talking about an issue of compensation and issues of access for an employee.

The employer may seek appropriate medical documentation to learn if the condition meets the ADA’s definition of “disability,” whether and to what extent the disability is affecting job performance, and what accommodations may address the problem.28 The employer may also suggest possible accommodations.29

 

[Violet]

And speaking of these statutes, how is it WDW has not HAD to already retool all the lines for rides, making them accessible? I guess the back door access skirts that? And who is going to complain when they essentially are getting a FP?

And it's not just about accessible, it's about covered areas, areas away from crowds, cooler areas, etc. But yes, Disney could actually spend money to provide better accommodations for people who truly have special needs, making it fairer for everyone, and cutting down on fraud like this, but they choose to just use the FP line in many cases. It's Disney's fault and it's all about $ as usual.

 

[Hot Lava]

I'll have to look deep into this, but I found this in 3 seconds in regards to service animals...

When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

I can't imagine regulations regarding humans would be looser than those related to animals.

Another example of how the ADA FAR exceeds the original intent. It needs (and has needed for years) to be reigned in.

I understand that employment is different; but I still think Disney could require more/better documentation. To be honest, i think Disney fears getting sued and/or the bad publicity. I would like to see specific statutes and

At this point, though, they have the bad publicity, just the other way.

 

[luv]

Pretty sick to take advantage of such a thing just to skip lines. I've been informed that because of my knee issues I could actually get the "handicap" pass from WDW. I can still walk on my own so, personally, I'd have a hard time actually doing it.

Thats how it ought to be. Nobody who doesn't absolutely need it in order to go should even consider it.

Instead, we have people talking themselves into believing that they need it because their kid doesn't do well in lines or they have IBS and might need to wait in line twice. Bad enough.

But then we have the people who know that any stupid thing will get you a pass, so they go in and lie about having said stupid things and obtain the passes.

It is completely out of control and Disney really should at least take ID and prosecute people who are found to have lied. Not sure how that would work, lol, but I think it could be done...and that would cut way back on the abuse.

If common decency doesn't work, maybe The Law would. And no "pay a fine" stuff. Put them in jail.

 

[HM Spectre]

I wish I could be the person to break the truth to this snob about the "two and a half hour" small world lines.

 

[BwanaBob]

This is such a small amount of people in the grand scheme of things.
I would invite anyone to stand and watch the entrance to any attraction... for a good hour... and count standby, FP, and assisted, then tell me what what you find.

 

[GoofGoof]

For the people who keep claiming that it is illegal under the ADA to ask for evidence of medical need, I would love for someone to post the part of the ADA statute or caselaw substantiate this. Employers are allowed to ask for documentation, why not Disney in this circumstance?

Here is the section of the ADA on requirements for venues to offer ticket sales for handicap accessible seats.
http://www.ada.gov/ticketing_2010.htm

If you scroll to the bottom there is a section on prevention of fraud. It reads "Venues cannot require proof of disability as a condition for purchasing tickets for accessible seats". It goes on to say that the venue may require the purchaser to state either verbally or in writing that they require the accessible seats. I would think the same rules would apply for theme parks as concert or sports venues but it doesn't specifically say that.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I really think this is a fake or at best a poorly researched article.

If any one has done this, it shows a really poor display of manners, class and character!

Not to mention a hell of a thing to teach your kids!

Shame on them!

I still dont get why people feel this is fake? Why do you feel its fake?

 

[toasty]

On the web site of the company in question, under VIP Tours, was this comment:

VIP TOURS

Due to inaccurate press and slander, Dream Tours is not offering VIP tours at this time. Our focus has primarily always been providing magical vacations for adults with special needs and helping their dreams to come true.

I just went on the wayback machine to see what the page looked like yesterday, but there's nothing archived that discusses the VIP tours, unfortunately. One thing I do wonder about, though -- it does appear from looking at the current incarnation of the site, and the facebook page that shows things from before this story blew up, that they do, in fact, offer services for people with special needs who probably do need the GAC. Makes me wonder if this is a legitimate business with one or two people doing this under the table. Anyone know what the page looked like yesterday?

The first testimonial on the current site, though, is telling:

“My family’s experience with you and Dream Tours Florida was fantastic! “Your ability to get us to the head of the line really maximized the time we were able to enjoy all facets of the park and made the fly along. You were constantly upbeat and I feel that I made a fast friend. Simply put, my family and I want to thank you for a memorable day.”

 

[PhotoDave219]

This is such a small amount of people in the grand scheme of things.
I would invite anyone to stand and watch the entrance to any attraction... for a good hour... and count standby, FP, and assisted, then tell me what what you find.

Yes, its a small amount of people but it looks really bad if a private tour company is abusing the GAC to get their VIP tours to the head of the lines. Doesnt matter if its a needle in a haystack; its horrible publicity.

 

[toasty]

I still dont get why people feel this is fake? Why do you feel its fake?

I think part of the skepticism may come from the fact that it's just such a thoroughly reprehensible practice in the abstract, so then when you try to wrap your brain around this being someone's business model, it's just tough to comprehend. That said, I do believe that at least someone there is doing this, but I still find it in such staggering bad taste that I keep asking "Really?"