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

[Lord_Vader]

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

I did not intend to imply that Disney can or should ask for documentation, only that they are risk averse and do not want to be seen as possibly breaking the ADA law.

 

[openendedsky]

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.

Not only that, but I'm sure somebody's kids SOMEWHERE, will possibly remember "skipping all of the lines" and wondering how to do that themselves if they return as adults, unless they are told otherwise. (Assuming that it's a one time trip and person doesn't return again until they have kids. I realize there are countless scenarios but I was just providing a hypothetical example)

 

[luv]

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.

Go during slower times. Ride the popular stuff first thing in the morning or just before closing. Obviously you can wait the fifteen or twenty minutes with the GAC, so do that for the less popular stuff.

 

[Lord_Vader]

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

It can be and is percieved by many to be a FastPass but when a guest is identified as abusing the system I wish they would remove them from the park and result in forfeiture of their ticket or AP.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Go during slower times. Ride the popular stuff first thing in the morning or just before closing. Obviously you can wait the fifteen or twenty minutes with the GAC, so do that for the less popular stuff.

Unfortunately many disabled guests have children in school which means they cannot attend the parks during low volume periods. All GAC should however only allow use of alternate entrances and require a return time to the line based on the current wait time.

 

[Patrick_Ears]

It can be and is percieved by many to be a FastPass but when a guest is identified as abusing the system I wish they would remove them from the park and result in forfeiture of their ticket or AP.

I agree and that could happen very soon. But you know like many on here this is not the first time. This has been going on for a very long time.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I did not intend to imply that Disney can or should ask for documentation, only that they are risk averse and do not want to be seen as possibly breaking the ADA law.

OK.I misunderstood !

AKK

 

[luv]

Unfortunately many disabled guests have children in school which means they cannot attend the parks during low volume periods. All GAC should however only allow use of alternate entrances and require a return time to the line based on the current wait time.

He can still use a good touring plan and avoid long lines.

If there is more to this than, "I can't stand still", maybe - Maybe! - he needs a GAC. But avoiding long lines is easier than ever. And if you can stand still for the fifteen or twenty minutes the GAC will still require, you can do a lot by following a good touring plan, which can be optimized as you go through the park using touringplans.com.

GAC should be a last resort and used only for people who simply cannot go any other way and not a go-to for anyone who has any kind of problem.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I agree and that could happen very soon. But you know like many on here this is not the first time. This has been going on for a very long time.

Yes it has.

 

[Lord_Vader]

He can still use a good touring plan and avoid long lines.

If there is more to this than, "I can't stand still", maybe - Maybe! - he needs a GAC. But avoiding long lines is easier. And if you can stand still for the fifteen or twenty minutes the GAC will still require, you can do a lot by following a good touring plan, which can be optimized as you go through the park using touringplans.com.

GAC should be a last resort and used only for people who simply cannot go any other way and not a go-to for anyone who has any kind of problem.

I agree completely, if my wife had ANY CHOICE at all she would not use one. She cannot walk more than 10-15ft due to back surgeries, pinched/damaged nerves in her back that cause massive swelling in her legs when she walks very far and/or very often. The looks she gets are horrible, embarrasing at first but as time has gone on she became immune to it. Unfortunately the people that abuse the system somehow are immune to any guilt or conscience whatsoever and simply don't care about others in the least.

 

[Timekeeper]

Surely the powerhouse that can get the President of the United States onto Main Street USA can get some ADA reform rolling... At the end of the day, laws generally don't stay the same forever. And when we peek behind the curtain at the Mouse's involvement in areas like copyright law, we know that the Mouse will make a push for the cheese, so to speak, when it benefits them to do so.

 

[PhotoDave219]

GAC should be a last resort and used only for people who simply cannot go any other way and not a go-to for anyone who has any kind of problem.

IDK.... Seems to be the first way for some local "lifestylers" to get around the lines.....

 

[Violet]

Surely the powerhouse that can get the President of the United States onto Main Street USA can get some ADA reform rolling... At the end of the day, laws generally don't stay the same forever. And when we peek behind the curtain at the Mouse's involvement in areas like copyright law, we know that the Mouse will make a push for the cheese, so to speak, when it benefits them to do so.

When it benefits them...that is the key point. And the only thing that they care about is making more $. They want to avoid lawsuits on this issue and avoid costs. Both things which the current GAC system does beautifully.

 

[Violet]

All of this GAC abuse/fraud talk got me thinking about the Disney VIP Tours.

So for about $300 an hour, minimum 6 hours, maximum ten guests, you get unlimited Fastpass, a host, they drive you to multiple parks, VIP seating for parades. Pretty cool. Not inexpensive, but considering it's for up to ten people, not that out-of-line with Disney prices (I'm looking at you Cinderella's Royal Table!).

I guess I'm wondering why such a "rich Manhattan mom" wouldn't just use this service. It's probably way better and if you're so rich, why not? I'm wondering if Disney advertises this service enough. I know I only heard of it by reading blogs and stuff. It's not something they seem to advertise that much.

I'm also wondering if some sort of middle-ground service, a bit cheaper, would help cut down on the fraud. It might even be appealing to those who feel like they are borderline on needing a GAC.

Just a jumble of random thoughts. Also, has anyone here used the WDW tour service? How was it?

 

[spock]

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.

No I meant "epidemic". It wasn't a typo or misuse of the term (feel free to look up the definition).

I'm curious how you know the "overwhelming majority of people using those cards don't need them". Is that just your perception or do you actually have data that supports this statement? I'm not arguing against the possibility that you might be absolutely correct, so please don't get me wrong. It's just that it sounds like a very bold statement to make if you aren't really sure. Regardless, my point was that I would hate to see the people who legitimately need it suffer in any way as a result of all of this. You might look at people and say, "That guy doesn't need it. He's just abusing the system", and end up being wrong. It would be a shame if Disney started adopting that method and ended up weeding out the legitimate ones in the process.

 

[RandomPrincess]

The Disney VIP is a minimum of $1800 a day if you have 10 guests that's $180 a person. That's actually not that bad when you factor in how much Disney charges for other tours where they have a preset schedule.

We did the VIP Tour at Universal Hollywood. It was a few years go but it's $299 a person now and it's with a group of like 20 people. You get front of line access to each big ride, and special access to the prop house, costuming, sound stages etc. Not quite the same.

 

[luv]

IDK.... Seems to be the first way for some local "lifestylers" to get around the lines.....

i don't know about them, but I don't doubt it. I'll bet that 95% of locals who visit the parks use them.

Other than me (and possibly you and others on this forum), I know exactly one other person IRL who doesn't. I know Disney employees do it. It's crazy and so far out of control.

 

[Californian Elitist]

They're cheap. That's all it is. Rich people can be cheap, too.

 

[Violet]

i don't know about them, but I don't doubt it. I'll bet that 95% of locals who visit the parks use them.

Other than me (and possibly you and others on this forum), I know exactly one other person IRL who doesn't. I know Disney employees do it. It's crazy and so far out of control.

I was going to ask this, but I didn't want to open up another can of worms, but now that you brought it up

I was wondering how much of this problem is due to locals using them, and not out-of-town visitors who would be less likely to even know about it. I know that you can get them and they will mark the expiration date months out. That is really appealing! Maybe they should make even locals come and get a new one every time.

 

[Violet]

They're cheap. That's all it is. Rich people can be cheap, too.

True. And if all they want is the access to the Fastpass line, then they are getting what they want. While the other stuff is nice, it's not as necessary.