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

[Lord_Vader]

This kind of thing disusts me... the whole idea of money being used to get what you want (when that thing isn't a material object at least) does in fact. Now that said... what I am about to type is going to get someone angry and I swear I don't mean it the way it is about to come out but... I've always thought the idea of folks in a wheelchair getting able to skip the lines didn't make much sense as it was. I understand needing to have a handicapped entrance and accomodating those who are unable to stand in the line but never have understood why that also meant they didn't need to wait like those who can. Let me also say that I spent a trip to WDW in 2005 in a wheelchair and got to benefit from this so I'm not just speaking from outside the situation. Was it great to get to skip ahead of every line and not have to wait? Sure! Was it fair to those who paid just as much as I did for their trip and just didn't happen to require a wheelchair? I suppose not. I'd bet after the articles there will be an increase in folks who don't require a wheelchair renting them (there isn't any sort of proof you have to show). Maybe as a result you'll see something using the magic band system that essentially gives them a return time to then enter through the handicapped entrance (exit). Gut feeling.

Most of the accessible entrances are not front of the line passes, simply an alternate entrance. For example the TSMM accessible entrance is through the FP line because of the stairs over the attraction entrance. The wheelchairs/ECVs are peeled off into a secondary queue where there is a total of two ride cars which can take quite a while to get through, often as long or longer than the standby line. BTMRR is similar but without going throught the FP queue, etc.

 

[spock]

This is frustrating on so many levels But, what can be done about it??

Do we tighten up the reigns which will of course only make trouble for the people who actually need the Gac??

As long as there are systems in place To try to help those in need there will always be people who manipulate and abuse the system to their own benefit....shame on them.

Id rather see one or two creeps get away with it if in the long run it helps those who need it...again, Ill wait in line with my family even though I could very easily get a Gac for my Plantar faciitis I got from Running or my sons adhd..

These are luckily very managable conditions and we travel at the lower crowd times of year which alleviates the issues completly!!

My sentiments exactly and well said!!! Is it really a problem of epidemic proportions or is it just a handful of people doing it? Unfortunately, because the media has made such a big deal out of it, now Disney will feel obligated to show they are taking action and that will likely result in the vast majority who are using the program legitimately to be made to feel like criminals.

 

[alphac2005]

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.

No problem!

 

[spock]

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?

Not to get off on a rant, but food allergies are actually a pretty serious thing, sometimes life threatening. I think if it keeps one kid with food allergies out of potential danger, then it's worth asking the others to forego bringing in their own dessert.

Having said that, I get your point. I just don't agree with your example you chose to use.

 

[captainkidd]

My wife and I are discussing not going to WDW this year, which is a damn shame since everything (including airfare) is already paid for. But the simple fact is, I can not stand still. I just can't do it. But I've been feeling so guilty every time I have to get a GAC or use it that it's ruining the experience for me, because I know there are people like this out there. We can do Universal as we stay on site and get Universal Express. I just don't know what to do anymore.

 

[Lord_Vader]

You know, this whole story flies in the face of anyone here or any other Disney website that claimed there was never a significant advantage to having a scooter, GAC or some other indicator that a person was "handicapped" or with someone who was. I also proves that handicapped access is blatantly abused in the parks. Sickening. Truly sickening.

It sounds to me like she was simply bragging, exagerating "others" wait times while stating she waited for nothing. IMO, both the average guest wait time and theirs were outright lies to make it sound like she saved a huge amount of time. If her timing was absolutely perfect, they may have "walked on" IASW but I highly doubt the wait was 120minutes, we travel Christmas to New Years which is absolutely rediculously busy and i have never seen the wait more than 90 minutes.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I still havent read why the GAC allows unlimited front of the line access all day? Why can't the GAC card allow a person with the health issue to "check in" at the ride and wait somewhere else? They can come back and ride when they would have normally by standing in the line. One ride per GAC card at a time and they get to use the Fastpass system like everyone else. Would that not be equal access for all and cut down on the abuse? Or is everyone that gets a GAC card entitled to unlimited front of the line all day?

GAC don't simply allow front of the line, that is a complete misconception. There are multiple stamps allowing various levels of access and are based on observations by the Guest Relations Cast Member when the card is issued.

 

[Lord_Vader]

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.

Well stated!

 

[asianway]

Forget the deplorable ethics of GAC misuse for a moment...this is yet again another Lifestyler running a business on Disneys property or using their IP to profit off of.

 

[Lord_Vader]

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.

Having sat in many, many of the alternate entraces over the past few years we ran into a few abusers, not many in general and if I had to guess, once a vacation and we typically visit 14 to 16 days at a time.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Article says a Disney VIP tour is between $310-$380/hour. Is that true?

Yes. And there's a minimum number of hours.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The GAC card is a blessing for those who truly need them. Any abuse must be stopped but I wish somebody would lock this thread before it goes downhill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freedom of Speech. You don't care for it, don't read it. Go else where.

 

[openendedsky]

GAC don't simply allow front of the line, that is a complete misconception. There are multiple stamps allowing various levels of access and are based on observations by the Guest Relations Cast Member when the card is issued.

The problem is the discrepancy between cast members. I've heard stories about one CM letting person do X with the GAC card, but then another CM doing Y with it, and then Z. The management of the GAC system is inconsistent.

 

[ddbowdoin]

My wife and I are discussing not going to WDW this year, which is a damn shame since everything (including airfare) is already paid for. But the simple fact is, I can not stand still. I just can't do it. But I've been feeling so guilty every time I have to get a GAC or use it that it's ruining the experience for me, because I know there are people like this out there. We can do Universal as we stay on site and get Universal Express. I just don't know what to do anymore.

lol is this a serious post?

 

[PhotoDave219]

This sounds so fake.

Why? Please explain why you have trouble believing that park guests will abuse the system. I have 3 friends who have GACs and use them on a regular basis to skip the lines.

I'm not sure what makes you not believe that people do anything to abuse this system?

Talk to the CMs. Talk to people who go to the parks regularly. There are constant abuses of the system.

So I reiterate my question, why do earth do you think this is fake?

 

[Lord_Vader]

I believe they have this thing called FastPass. It works for us to get on some attractions faster and it comes with your paid admission.

FastPass works for most attractions, what about BTMRR, TSMM, PotC, Splash Mtn. etc. with stairs in the attraction queues, or those with stairs in the FP sides?

 

[Lord_Vader]

Why? Please explain why you have trouble believing that park guests will abuse the system. I have 3 friends who have GACs and use them on a regular basis to skip the lines.

I'm not sure what makes you not believe that people do anything to abuse this system?

Talk to the CMs. Talk to people who go to the parks regularly. There are constant abuses of the system.

So I reiterate my question, why do earth do you think this is fake?

I don't believe they think the article is fake, only that the individual contributors have eggagerated their claims to further sensationalize them. Abuse is happening, the big question is how much and the net result is that there is very limited number of guests allowed into the special entrances at a given time, the guests this activity hurts most is the guest who needs the special accomodation.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I personally love the "my 6 year old son has ADD so my family of 9 will be heading in with that GAC as well"

 

[Patrick_Ears]

FastPass works for most attractions, what about BTMRR, TSMM, PotC, Splash Mtn. etc. with stairs in the attraction queues, or those with stairs in the FP sides?

Yes i know, but as for this person taking advantage of this situation yeah it's called Fastpass.

 

[luv]

My sentiments exactly and well said!!! Is it really a problem of epidemic proportions or is it just a handful of people doing it? Unfortunately, because the media has made such a big deal out of it, now Disney will feel obligated to show they are taking action and that will likely result in the vast majority who are using the program legitimately to be made to feel like criminals.

I assume you meant "epic proportions"...and Yes, it is. The overwhelming majority of people using those cards don't need them.

A person can deal with going to rides to get a FP and going back to ride them during a certain window of time...and only get so many FPs at that. OR they can go get a card that gets them into FP lines all they want.

Everyone would prefer the card. Some people don't care about who they hurt and will go get it. Or they somehow manage to convince themselves they aren't hurting anyone. I've had the conversation of why I think it's wrong many times, lol. Some think I'm a sanctimonious twit and others just don't care who they hurt.

My own sister wanted to get one and was ticked with me for never mentioning it was possible. I knew she'd want to do it, so duh, of course I won't bring it up, lol. But she found out.

As more and more people find out that FP is only for those who choose not to go get a GAC, it will become a bigger and bigger problem.