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

[englanddg]

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.

Just think...they could do a massive internet social media campaign around it, and Iger could gleefully do a press conference.

1.5 billion later, if Disney started this now, they might have it ready around the time Universal opens their third park!

Yippee!

 

[luv]

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.

It isn't perfect and will leave many people who could truly use the GAC for good reasons out of the loop, much like handicapped parking. So, no, not perfect.

But they do have to do something. I've mentioned that same idea before! What else can they do?

I do think pretending to need special assistance should be illegal and prosecuted.

 

[captainkidd]

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?

Never waited that long with the GAC. If I had to, I wouldn't be able to do it.

I don't need an ECV. I can walk perfectly fine. In fact, I could walk all day and feel like a million bucks. It's standing in one place that causes the pressure on my nerves.

 

[luv]

Never waited that long with the GAC. If I had to, I wouldn't be able to do it.

I don't need an ECV. I can walk perfectly fine. In fact, I could walk all day and feel like a million bucks. It's standing in one place that causes the pressure on my nerves.

FP lines are not usually less than three minutes. You've been pretty lucky! Hope your luck there continues!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[openendedsky]

It isn't perfect and will leave many people who could truly use the GAC for good reasons out of the loop, much like handicapped parking. So, no, not perfect.

But they do have to do something. I've mentioned that same idea before! What else can they do?

I do think pretending to need special assistance should be illegal and prosecuted.

Does handicapped parking require documentation from an authorized medical person? I genuinely don't know.

Just think...they could do a massive internet social media campaign around it, and Iger could gleefully do a press conference.

1.5 billion later, if Disney started this now, they might have it ready around the time Universal opens their third park!

Yippee!

lol

 

[openendedsky]

Honestly, all things being said, those who have to deal with disabilities (not just one person, but a collection and variety of people) should have input on possibly how to reform this. It's kind of silly to have a bunch of able bodied people calling the shots.

 

[luv]

Does handicapped parking require documentation from an authorized medical person? I genuinely don't know.

Yes.

They could do the same with disabled people everywhere. Give them a State ID cars. Requiring that would cut back on a lot of it.

 

[openendedsky]

Yes.

They could do the same with disabled people everywhere. Give them a State ID cars. Requiring that would cut back on a lot of it.

Yeah. The problem though, like you said, are people who do need it who wouldn't have documentation. I was also thinking in terms of people who are temporarily disabled (broken limbs, etc,) to have a card renewal or expiration.

 

[luv]

Yeah. The problem though, like you said, are people who do need it who wouldn't have documentation. I was also thinking in terms of people who are temporarily disabled (broken limbs, etc,) to have a card renewal or expiration.

Yup! When I was on crutches, but before I'd developed the upper body strength to use them, I parked in handicapped and left a note on the dash. I lucked out and never got a ticket, but I had a decent reason for wanting to park close.

Still, if they didn't have 8000 spaces, I might have just sat in the car and waited for someone to leave. I took the spot because I knew I wouldn't deprive anyone of it.

When I asked the doctor about a temporary handicapped thing, he laughed, lol.

 

[openendedsky]

Yup! When I was on crutches, but before I'd developed the upper body strength to use them, I parked in handicapped and left a note on the dash. I lucked out and never got a ticket, but I had a decent reason for wanting to park close.

Still, if they didn't have 8000 spaces, I might have just sat in the car and waited for someone to leave. I took the spot because I knew I wouldn't deprive anyone of it.

When I asked the doctor about a temporary handicapped thing, he laughed, lol.

Wow, what a jerk. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. And yeah, either they read your note and trusted it, or you lucked out.

 

[Victor Kelly]

To use handicapped parking in Maryland you must either have a metal tag or temporary handicapped placard issued to you. Doctors documentation is required for either type of media. Placards can be taken with you when traveling out of state. If documentation is forged or found to be false the person requesting the tag is prosecuted. If a doctor is issuing a statement falsely, they are prosecuted and barred from providing documentation as there are control numbers assigned to doctors. That takes care of parking only. And I know because I work at the DMV in Maryland.

Now as to the people faking it. Make medical documentation necessary for getting a GAC card. This does not affect the ADA compliance issues. Anyone that needs the GAC will have no issue getting the documentation for ECV or line bypass.

I have extreme photosensitivity. Translated to people talk that means I am sensitive to bright light and am required to wear dark glasses when in bright light such as sunlight or brightly lit rooms. As such, when I had to apply for my US passport, I had to include a letter that explained the condition as well as photos of me with the glasses on. As this photo is on my passport, it is official US issued ID, I never can be asked to remove my glasses by anyone for any reason. However, I can if asked stand light for a very brief time, and it has been 6 years since the onset, but I have yet to be asked. My recent trip to Jamaica was uneventful pertaining to my vision issues. IN fact it was met with a lot of curiosity by people in TSA and people in Jamaica. I am not standoffish, and it has taught me more about how to converse with people.

So, as I am defined as disabled under the ADA, the fact that people take advantage of systems put into place to help disabled people, offends me to no end.

 

[Uddy]

Just book in September when the attendance is low and there's no need for scams.

 

[captainkidd]

Just book in September when the attendance is low and there's no need for scams.

I hope this is directed at the scum reported on the news, not at anyone using a GAC.

 

[luv]

To use handicapped parking in Maryland you must either have a metal tag or temporary handicapped placard issued to you. Doctors documentation is required for either type of media. Placards can be taken with you when traveling out of state. If documentation is forged or found to be false the person requesting the tag is prosecuted. If a doctor is issuing a statement falsely, they are prosecuted and barred from providing documentation as there are control numbers assigned to doctors. That takes care of parking only. And I know because I work at the DMV in Maryland.

Now as to the people faking it. Make medical documentation necessary for getting a GAC card. This does not affect the ADA compliance issues. Anyone that needs the GAC will have no issue getting the documentation for ECV or line bypass.

I have extreme photosensitivity. Translated to people talk that means I am sensitive to bright light and am required to wear dark glasses when in bright light such as sunlight or brightly lit rooms. As such, when I had to apply for my US passport, I had to include a letter that explained the condition as well as photos of me with the glasses on. As this photo is on my passport, it is official US issued ID, I never can be asked to remove my glasses by anyone for any reason. However, I can if asked stand light for a very brief time, and it has been 6 years since the onset, but I have yet to be asked. My recent trip to Jamaica was uneventful pertaining to my vision issues. IN fact it was met with a lot of curiosity by people in TSA and people in Jamaica. I am not standoffish, and it has taught me more about how to converse with people.

So, as I am defined as disabled under the ADA, the fact that people take advantage of systems put into place to help disabled people, offends me to no end.

Prosecution is the part that matters. Issuing the cards without prosecuting doctors and fakers means nothing. People will still lie unless they think they'll be prosecuted.

 

[openendedsky]

I hope this is directed at the scum reported on the news, not at anyone using a GAC.

Note how he used the word "scam".

 

[PotteryGal]

I've read the article, and in the past we've used a GAC for our son. I hope to not do so this time; I want to see how well he does without one. I'm of the opinion that this kind of scamming will only end up hurting those who genuinely do need a card. Families who may decide it isn't worth the hassle or the censure they receive from people who don't know their own individual situation. I'm not saying there isn't abuse; I'm sure there is. And I can only speak to our own situation, with life on the autistic spectrum. Day to day life can be filled with stress and overwhelming pressure to fit your child into the mold of 'normal' society, which is very often a world they do not understand. For our family, in the past, going to WDW was an escape, a chance to relax and see our son experience laughter and excitement and just flat out joy at the world he was in. The GAC helped with that somewhat. The GAC is a necessity for those families with severe challenges, and to have people that are dishonest, that have no scruples, that take right and wrong and make it as vague as possible so they can excuse their own reprehensible behavior, both saddens and angers me. I truly hope that those that NEED this card will still procure it, regardless of others' actions/opinions. Our son is four years older, more able to self-regulate his behaviors, and I hope the GAC will not be needed. But I will get one if I have to.

 

[Victor Kelly]

Prosecution is the part that matters. Issuing the cards without prosecuting doctors and fakers means nothing. People will still lie unless they think they'll be prosecuted.

Trust me, they get prosecuted. And if that tag or placard is issued for a specific person and that person is not in the vehicle, the tag is not valid and the driver can be ticketed, prosecuted, vehicle towed and impounded and the tag and placard revoked. Seen it happen several times.

 

[openendedsky]

Trust me, they get prosecuted. And if that tag or placard is issued for a specific person and that person is not in the vehicle, the tag is not valid and the driver can be ticketed, prosecuted, vehicle towed and impounded and the tag and placard revoked. Seen it happen several times.

The rules on this kind of thing are incredibly lax around here, sadly.

 

[Princess_AmyK]

I feel really bad for the people who need GAC and have to deal with the rude comments other people say about it. I went to disney world a month and a half after my second acl replacement surgery. With the second surgery they had to take the graft from my other hamstring so I had both my legs injured. I still didnt get a GAC or even an ECV because I was scared to deal with stares and comments. Instead I sat down often, took it slow, and took my pain medicine.
Because of that experience, I try to be non judgemental even though there is some abuse. Even if someone doesnt have a cast or seem like theres that much wrong, you never know what is going on inside their body.

 

[captainkidd]

Note how he used the word "scam".

Sadly, some people think that many people that need the card or doing it as a scam simply because their handicap is not visible.