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

[Violet]

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.

Interesting. $299 a person is not inexpensive. I'm surprised to hear it's that high. So the Disney tour is a better deal, as long as you can gather up ten people.

 

[Californian Elitist]

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.

Exactly.

 

[luv]

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.

It's not just locals. My sister heard about it up north, not from me!! If it weren't for my refusal to go along with it, she'd be doing it, too.

Plenty of people from all over are walking in, asking for and receiving GACs. A huge portion of every FP line is GAC people. Stand at the GAC entrance for fifteen or twenty minutes on a busy day and watch. Some people even call the GAC a Fastpass, lol.

But most of Florida gets the GAC as do most locals and at least some Disney employees. It's spreading to the rest of the country, too.

 

[englanddg]

Interesting. $299 a person is not inexpensive. I'm surprised to hear it's that high. So the Disney tour is a better deal, as long as you can gather up ten people.

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.

Gathering 10 people who are at WDW at the same time, eh? Sounds like something that a ..ahem.. forum could pull off!

 

[PhotoDave219]

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.

One out of town visitor (passholder, regular visitor) that I personally know has one. Seems to be popular among the twitter peeps.

 

[Nemo14]

We have friends here in RI who have never been before, yet had heard of doing this. They think we are stupid for never getting one.

 

[Violet]

@englanddg LOL! Now we're getting somewhere!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Universal charges that much, I believe, because some of the things you get to see on the tour are closed to the public. Plus you get to walk directly on those sets, like Wisteria Lane and Courthouse Square. That is very cool for a lot of people and they know people will pay that much money to see all of that stuff.

 

[Tom Morrow]

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.

But... the GAC cards are in no way whatsoever a requirement of the ADA. Remember that WDW meets the ADA requirements without the cards.

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.

Correct, but the "alternate entrance" stamp, AKA the one that goes instantly through every Fastpass line, is by a WIDE margin the most issued stamp, because that is what everyone wants, because that is the one with undeniable perks.

 

[Violet]

It's not just locals. My sister heard about it up north, not from me!! If it weren't for my refusal to go along with it, she'd be doing it, too.

Plenty of people from all over are walking in, asking for and receiving GACs. A huge portion of every FP line is GAC people. Stand at the GAC entrance for fifteen or twenty minutes on a busy day and watch. Some people even call the GAC a Fastpass, lol.

But most of Florida gets the GAC as do most locals and at least some Disney employees. It's spreading to the rest of the country, too.

"Most of Florida gets the GAC"???

Am I reading that right? I give up!

 

[PhotoDave219]

"Most of Florida gets the GAC"???

Am I reading that right? I give up!

Not most. But a percentage.

 

[jeffk410]

Am I the only one thinking BS on the details this article? I spend more time in WDW than most people and do not see people in scooters getting such drastically different treatment. At best a GAC card acts like a golden fastpass. I do not doubt that someone would pay to do this, but I do not see it being as drastic of a benefit as the article implies.

I just watched the video on a few news sites and thought the same exact thing. I don't think the report is that credible IMO. They say they have sources who are confirming this, but do not follow through with anything. Has Disney made a comment on this?

 

[GoofGoof]

"Most of Florida gets the GAC"???

Am I reading that right? I give up!

Probably why they jacked up the FL resident APs. Weed out the trouble makers

 

[luv]

"Most of Florida gets the GAC"???

Am I reading that right? I give up!

I phrased that badly. Not most of Florida, lol. But a ton of Floridians who go to the parks do this. God help you if you go to a park with someone and they say they have one and want to use it. It's very uncomfortable, having to say you won't without getting into it...and even worse when you explain why (after some prompting) and then they tell you how it isn't wrong and everyone does it and, "Oh, come on!" VERY uncomfortable...and ruins the rest of the day.

I actually discuss this before agreeing to go to a park with someone now. Kind of like I disclose that I DO cheat at mini-golf, lol. Also don't want to be the one ing people off!!

There are people on this board who do it. They don't admit to it, but they do it!

 

[SyracuseOrange]

Not most. But a percentage.

0% is a percentage, just saying. Saying "a percentage" is like when a company says "a portion of proceeds will go to charity."

 

[openendedsky]

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 can honestly and proudly say that neither me nor my boyfriend do. We should start a club! Hahah

 

[luv]

I can honestly and proudly say that neither me nor my boyfriend do. We should start a club! Hahah

I was actually going to mention you, specifically, but couldn't remember if you had spaces in your screen name!!

We should start a club!

I hope you don't turn into one of those Disney CMs who say, "Oh, just get it! Everyone else does!" But I don't think you will.

 

[openendedsky]

I was actually going to mention you, specifically, but couldn't remember if you had spaces in your screen name!!

We should start a club!

I hope you don't turn into one of those Disney CMs who say, "Oh, just get it! Everyone else does!" But I don't think you will.

Dear god no. I'd like to think I actually would uphold the integrity and purpose of the GAC, even if 100 others undermine it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Not to beat a dead horse again, but if what is being said is true and a large portion of guests already abuse the GAC and so obviously know it exists what benefit is there to hiring this lady on a scooter to bring you around the park. If money is no object you could buy the VIP tour. If like some have suggested they could be rich but cheap wouldn't they just get the pass for free instead or rent a wheelchair. I'm not understanding why anyone would pay these people for their service.

 

[openendedsky]

I genuinely had no idea this was even a thing until I started the boards/reading articles. Maybe I'm just really naive to the idea of people doing this/hoping that people do the right/honest thing, but it kind of came as a shock to me initially. (Over time I've grown to be not so surprised)