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

[PhotoDave219]

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?

Yes. CNN Article here.

"It is unacceptable to abuse accommodations that were designed for guests with disabilities," spokesman Bryan Malenius told CNN Wednesday. "We are thoroughly reviewing the situation and will take appropriate steps to deter this type of activity."

 

[PhotoDave219]

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

I personally know several people who do that.

 

[englanddg]

I know they aren't from Manhatten, but am I the only person who gets a mental picture of Snookie or one of her friends being the sort to doing this when they get older?

 

[openendedsky]

Yes. CNN Article here.

"it's a way to help some disabled people make good money." lol

 

[Todd L]

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.

I never knew that!!

 

[Violet]

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!

Oh I knew what you meant lol! I thought that already myself. It must be so appealing as a local, especially when you can get one for months at a time. Maybe we need a mass media article about this phenomenon! All of the blame is getting put on these poor "rich Manhattan moms."

 

[Violet]

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.

Because they don't know that you can just go get the card for free, I'm guessing.

 

[RandomPrincess]

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.

I know it wasn't up to $299 when we did it. I wanna say it was about $200 a person. I don't think I would do it now, but it was a cool experience to have done once. We got to see the Firefly ship set and the costume trailer as they had just wrapped up filming Serenity.

 

[luv]

Yes. CNN Article here.

"It is unacceptable to abuse accommodations that were designed for guests with disabilities," spokesman Bryan Malenius told CNN Wednesday. "We are thoroughly reviewing the situation and will take appropriate steps to deter this type of activity."

What steps?

I would like to know how Disney is going to stop the abuse.

 

[Todd L]

I'm an optimist on this. I choose to believe that 99% of the people using GAC need it. These "1%ers" are scum.

I Say we make em walk the plank!!!

 

[rob0519]

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

This was an emotional topic before the news story and it will continue to be one even more so now. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion on the board. If the topic is upsetting then just don't read it.

I tried to stay out of the fray on this one, but I'm afraid some posters may be right when they say the people who really need the GAC will be the one's hurt most. Yes, I see the people who appear to be abusing the system and I am concernced that mainstream articles like this will just escalate the animosity in the parks toward anyone, rightyly or wrongly using a GAC.

Our son has both physical and mental disabilities / illnesses. To anyone who sees him, it is quite obvious and he needs help getting in and out of his wheelchair to get on a ride. For the first few visits we didn't even know there was such a thing as a GAC. Then one year a CM at the turnstyles of MK suggested we go to City Hall and ask about one. We are a family of 5, so yes, everyone can ride together or sit together. Has is made our visits easier, yes. Do we still continue to get angry looks and comments from people, yes. Do I wish my son did not need the GAC, yes.

I don't pretend to have the answer to make the system more equitable, but a person with a broken leg or just off a knee replacement needs a diffent level of assistance than a person who suffers from severe seizure disorders or any number of neurological disorders.

Discussions like this however, need to continue. It helps everyone that has strong feelings on the topic understand both sides of the issue.

 

[RandomPrincess]

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.

You are right. We went about 9 years ago and we got to go in the Firefly set and Crossing Jordon. My favorite was getting to explore the prop house though. We got to see the props people gathering things for different shows and movies. A big bin full of props for Lost. Which was awesome!

 

[luv]

Oh I knew what you meant lol! I thought that already myself. It must be so appealing as a local, especially when you can get one for months at a time. Maybe we need a mass media article about this phenomenon! All of the blame is getting put on these poor "rich Manhattan moms."

I think the biggest point to that article was that rich people are vile and don't deserve the money they have.

I disagree. I plan to win the lottery shortly and will be happy to become a rich person. I don't know if that will put me in the 1% or not, but I'll be happy to join them!!!

 

[captainkidd]

lol is this a serious post?

Yeah - What's so funny about it? I have 2 protruded discs in my back. If I stand still for more than 3 minutes, the pressure pushes straight into the nerves on the bottom of my spine, causing my back to give out to a point where I literally can not stand up. Do you find this amusing?

 

[captainkidd]

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.

I've got 3 kids. Going during slower time isn't an option.

 

[openendedsky]

What steps?

I would like to know how Disney is going to stop the abuse.

Pretty much. My only idea would be to somehow create a registry for disabled persons (whether permanently or temporarily) and then issue out special cards to them, and then just be required to present that card to GR, no explanation required, that way at least there would be some level of privacy. It's not perfect, but yeah.

 

[captainkidd]

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.

Don't bother trying to explain. People who don't have serious back issues will never understand the pain that comes with it. They think it's like twisting your ankle.

 

[luv]

Yeah - What's so funny about it? I have 2 protruded discs in my back. If I stand still for more than 3 minutes, the pressure pushes straight into the nerves on the bottom of my spine, causing my back to give out to a point where I literally can not stand up. Do you find this amusing?

The GAC will still require you to stand longer than 3 minutes...like 15-20, even in FP lines.

I'm sorry you have back troubles. Can you sit? Maybe an ECV would help?

 

[Violet]

I think the biggest point to that article was that rich people are vile and don't deserve the money they have.

I disagree. I plan to win the lottery shortly and will be happy to become a rich person. I don't know if that will put me in the 1% or not, but I'll be happy to join them!!!

Yeah, that's what the article was definitely trying to do.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You are right. We went about 9 years ago and we got to go in the Firefly set and Crossing Jordon. My favorite was getting to explore the prop house though. We got to see the props people gathering things for different shows and movies. A big bin full of props for Lost. Which was awesome!

I'm definitely planning on doing the VIP tour at Universal, but I'm going to do the Paramount and Warner Bros tours, first.