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

[wdwjmp239]

I knew I was too late when I saw this was already posted, but I just read the article on CNN and almost called my DVC sales rep to cancel the DVC transaction. Unbelievable! I really wish I didn't know about this.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I still don't get why people feel this is fake? Why do you feel its fake?

The whole tone of the Post article seems off..............and other things like a 1 2 1/2hour wait for IASW???....if its not fake then is a very poorly researched article.

JMHO


AKK

 

[Violet]

Story is on the front page of CNN now...

 

[Lord_Vader]

When I was a cast member in 2006 at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during my college program, when guests with disabilities came to the line we automatically sent them to the exit to get on the ride faster, no questions asked.

BTMRR has stairs that cannot be climbed by many disabled guests therefore should be sent to the back entrance. The back entrance is NOT a fastpass by any means many times, only one train in four (every other train on the first exit) is used and during peak times, one in eight. Each disabled guest takes between five and ten minutes, I have personally waited 100 minutes or more while the standby line is 45.

 

[Lord_Vader]

really... have you seen the GAC in action when Soarin' in 120 minutes deep?

Yes, ever sat in the back of the pavilion for 20-30 minutes behind the line of wheelchairs that have to share the single tiny elevator to the first floor? A GAC can be used to save time on some attractions but there is always a hidden cost in time around them, especially Soarin'.

 

[toasty]

As to what to be done about it, correct me if I'm wrong, but I am under the impression that the official policy with respect to the GAC that guests using it be given a time to return to ride that is roughly equivalent to the length of the standby line, but that in practice, they are allowed right on. If they were to enforce that policy, it would certainly blunt any "advantage" that someone would get from using a GAC. I'm sure there is still a way to game the system for the handful of unscrupulous folks that would do so, but it would remove some of the incentive.

Of course, my understanding of the policy is based upon complete and total hearsay, so I could be completely out to lunch here...

 

[ddbowdoin]

Yes, ever sat in the back of the pavilion for 20-30 minutes behind the line of wheelchairs that have to share the single tiny elevator to the first floor? A GAC can be used to save time on some attractions but there is always a hidden cost in time around them, especially Soarin'.

If offered a 20-30 min wait as opposed to 120 I still fail to see how that is a "cost". Sure, it's not 30
Seconds but its a hell of a lot better than what everyone else has to sit through

 

[ddbowdoin]

This a classic example of a classroom of 30 kids who can longer bring in a desert on their birthday because one kid has a peanut allergy. The mass must suffer at the cost of one.

Everyone has already stated how to correct this system. Disney, listening?

 

[Raven66]

I guess I read stuff wrong before. I thought I read that with the GAC that yes you got to go thru a special entrance but you had to wait until your group caught up to go on the ride. If that's not how it works maybe it should be. I bet that would cut down on abuse.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The whole tone of the Post article seems off..............and other things like a 1 2 1/2hour wait for IASW???....if its not fake then is a very poorly researched article.

JMHO


AKK

They're quoting someone. It's not the NYP saying that

 

[JimboJones123]

We have used GAC and other variations at other parks.

Most parks offer a reservation time card where guests hold 1 reservation at a time an equal number of minutes to the current stand by line.

Disney should go ahead and move forward with this for some rides.. It would help squash about 50% or more the use of the system.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I agree, I think it's best just not to think about this issue. I said this yesterday, but really there are only two choices here...1) Stop thinking about this issue and just ignore it. 2) Go and get yourself a GAC.

Actually, there is a third choice...And it's stop giving Disney your vacation dollars if the lines are too long, if you're sick of getting up for rope drop to get on rides, if you're sick of traveling at odd times of the year to avoid crowds, if you're sick of deciphering crowd calendars and ADRs and touring plans, if you're sick of the cruddy parts that go along with a WDW vacation.

Really, the problem here is the crowds, and GAC fraud does contribute to that. That's why people are driven to cheat and lie at Disney.

I disagree to an extent. Society seems to accept and even encouraging cheating, lying & stealing. I find it more a reflection of who we are & what we've become as a culture rather than people are just impatient.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

They're quoting someone. It's not the NYP saying that

They are still presenting it, showing at best the article was not properly researched and as the person saying it is wrong, this further shows the article is not right.

 

[lazyboy97o]

They are still presenting it, showing at best the article was not properly researched and as the person saying it is wrong, this further shows the article is not right.

Huh? One client's misrepresentation of a situation means the whole thing is bunk?

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Huh? One client's misrepresentation of a situation means the whole thing is bunk?[/quot

There are no GAC except *make a Wish*, which get you to the front of the line. There are of course waiting areas and FS lines, but that is not *front of the line*.

In addition to that why would these super rich folks talk about it to the press?

Its just my opinion and feeling, but the whole thing smells!


Now all that said, if this is what is being presented its shows a over the top lack of manners, rudeness and lack of character and not knowing what is right and wrong. not to mention its a hell of a thing to teach their kids!

It is particularly hurtful to the folks that do have real disabilities, especially as there is more and more talk about changing the GAC system , which may do more harm then good!

AKK

 

[Lord_Vader]

I do not think it is against the law for Disney to ask, but I am far from what would be considered an expert.

It is because Disney doesn't want a Guest Services castmember deciding who meets or does not meet the GAC criteria which could put them in violation of the ADA law.

 

[openendedsky]

No, I don't fault Disney whatsoever. Having dealt with them with handicap issues, they've been tremendous. Now that there has been press about tour operators using the GAC, though, Disney can at least go after those groups to shut down their individual abuse of it. The operators and individuals that are at issue here are simply exploiting the system and legally, Disney can't do anything, except if they can verify the commercial use of the GAC through a tour operator.

That's my point as to how the ADA is written, it's essentially an honor system when telling Disney that you're handicap and/or need a GAC. To be quite honest, why would Disney want a rewrite of the policy? If the system was set-up in a way that people were supposed to provide some sort of verified proof, that's only more work for Disney to do.

For some reason I never got a notification that you quoted me with this, and the points you make are completely valid. I think I misunderstood what you meant by the "honor system" in regards to the ADA and the GAC.

 

[Lord_Vader]

This is what is done at Radiator Springs Racers in DCA, works just fine.

SM in WDW does this during peak times.

 

[Lord_Vader]

That doesn't mean anything. When I went with my bad back my wife also had a bad knee. Neither one of us could walk long distances, but we could both walk some. We would often switch when one of felt able to walk for a bit and the other needed a break.

As already has been mentioned most of the queues are now accessible and in other cases those who have to use a handicapped entrance actually have to wait longer than others. The advantage is not as great as it would appear, and the only ones who claim that there is some great advantage are usually people who have never had to use a wheelchair in the parks.

I agree about one thing that has been mentioned though, someone really needs to lock this thread down.

I concur. Only the queues with stairs or tight corners are not accessible and what about the attractions that require the guest to be ambulatory like SFTH that wheelchair guests simply do not get to enjoy or the 4D attractions like Mickey's Philharmagic, It's Tough to be a Bug, etc. where wheelchair/ECV guests are in the back and usually have a poor view or in my wife's case typically have a tall person sitting in front of them blocking their view completely.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

It is because Disney doesn't want a Guest Services castmember deciding who meets or does not meet the GAC criteria which could put them in violation of the ADA law.

I do a bid of reading on the Dis disability forums, The mod there Sue is a expert on the ADA and it has been noted by her and others it is the law!. You are not allowed to ask for documentation. You cannot even ask what a person disability is, you can only ask what assistance do you need.

Year ago we had Mom in a wheelchair (this was before ECV were popular) this is what Guest services did.

I do agree Disney is likely happy they don't have to let CM make those types of GAC rulings. CM's can deny a person a GAC if their needs for assistance does not warrant it.

Today if you have only a mobility problem, you won't get a GAC, you are told you need to use a wheelchair or EVC. The wheelchairs and ecv's can go though all the lines, either mainstream or alternate.

AKK