GAC Changes

[DizneyFreak2002]

Be aware that the Guest Assistance Card is scheduled to be discontinued... A new system called Disabled Assistance System (DAS) will start on October 9th...

In a nutshell: guests will go to Guest Services and be issued a DAS card... The DAS card will be a photo ID of the disabled guest... This will allow the attraction CMs the ability to make sure the disabled guest is actually getting on the ride... Then the DAS card holding guest will visit kiosks in the park to make ride reservations... Similar to FP, guests will not wait in line, and you cannot get more than 1 at a time... You will be allowed to get other FPs though...

[Terra]

Interesting. Sounds similar to how Legoland here in Florida does it. They schedule a time and you return. I like the photo pass. Will it be a hard card thing? Will local residents be able to get one for an extended period? I know they do that for us now since we go 1-3x a month.

Too bad they couldn't work it into the new card or bands. It would be easier for me since both my ASD son uses one and myself for my medical issues.

[minnie04]

Thanks for the update I will let a friend of mine know. He gets the pass every time he goes. Do they require you to bring any medical paper work? Also is this a pass you can keep and use again? Or every time you go you have to ask for it?

[MississippiDisneyFreak]

The photo ID is a good thing I think, like the OP said will they have to have dr.s note?

[DizneyFreak2002]

I do not believe, and someone can correct me if I am wrong, that Disney can legally ask for a medical note from your doctor...

[JerseyDad]

.....I wonder if they will limit the size of the "entourage" that gets to accompany the subject DAS cardholder?

[Terra]

I thought they could not ask legally per HIPPA, but per the new changes, that may have changed too. I think if it were a permanent GAC pass, maybe? Like the handicap stickers for cars. But for temporary, I don't know. Either way, I got that covered.

Yeah, the good thing is we usually only ever have 2-3. My boys and myself. I think beyond 5 might be a little excessive.

[margiem]

I have 2 kids with autism and I tell everyone about how Disney really makes it a great vacation for our family. Something we couldn't get anywhere else. I like the photo idea and we always present a doctor's note. Sometimes they read it sometimes they don't. What confuses me is this: you go to a ride, your wait is 30 minutes so you get a FP to come back in 30 minutes. That's great. but what are you supposed to do with them for 30 minutes? you most likely can't get on another ride in that time frame and you can't get another "DAS FP". You might as well wait in line, and for those of us with kids on the spectrum, that is a nightmare. Am I reading the guidelines correctly? Kind of makes me not want to go back. I must be missing something. Please tell me I'm missing something.

[steamboat willy]

My DW has MS and is in a wheelchair that I always push. We wait in line like everyone else and pull off to the line that accepts wheelchair riders and their caregiver. We have never gotten one of the GAC cards. We will be at DISNEY the first half under the existing system and the last half with new system in place. Would it benefit my Wife to check into the GAC card as well as the new DAS system when it goes live? It does help to keep her out of direct heat, but it is Florida.
So do we arrange the pass before each time we choose to ride a ride? Any more info please! Thanks to All!

[DizneyFreak2002]

I know it sounds confusing, so maybe a better outline is needed:

1. When you go to Guest Relations, a CM will take a digital photo of the disabled person, and the photo will be printed on the front of the DAS card... This will help the attraction CMs know that the disabled person is getting on the ride, not just using this access for family/friends who can skip the line without the disabled person riding...

2. The disabled person and their party will approach a DAS kiosk located in the park and tell the CM which attraction they want to ride... They will present the card to the CM... The CM will check the current wait times of the attraction and give the DAS card holder and their party a return time to that attraction, minus 10 - 15 minutes... Example: You want to ride Small World, and the wait is 90 minutes, you will be given a return time of 75 minutes later... You are technically waiting the current 90 minute wait time, again, minus 10-15 minutes...

3. Only 1 ride can be booked at a time with DAS... You cannot get another ride time until after your current ride time has expired... You can do anything else you want to while waiting...

4. The current GAC basically acts like a Fastpass... This new DAS will not... Again, one ride at one time and cannot reserve another ride until your current time expires...

5. DAS will not be used at every attraction... Any attraction which is wheel chair accessible will not be authorized for DAS... So guests in a wheel chair or ECV will have to experience the queue like everyone else, ie waiting in Stand By or getting Fast Pass...There are 38 attractions in WDW in which the queue is wheel chair accessible.. I would suspect those attractions will not utilize DAS... Any attraction which does not have wheel chair access in their queue will use either the exit or the FP line for wheel chair entry...

According to posts online, the ONLY exception to this will be Make A Wish... They will receive special lanyard and pass... This pass will act as an unlimited Fast Pass for these children... Disney will not distribute these passes, the Make A Wish headquarters will be in charge...

WDW may wind up tying the DAS card to MDE and your MDE account... We will need to wait for the WDW/NextGen/Magic Bands/MDE information regarding DAS...

Hopefully this helps clear up some confusion..

[BrerGnat]

I read about this last night. I think it is a much more fair way to do things.

First of all, it should be noted that people in wheelchairs or ECVs will basically not need a DAP. From what I read, they will be told to simply ask the lead CM at the attraction where to enter with their mobility device, and will do so. It will either be the regular line or the FP line, or the ride exit. BUT, they will not be issued a DAP if they have a mobility device.

My sons have Autism as well, and we usually get a GAC for my older son. He can wait in lines, but certain ones cause him anxiety, so we use it to avoid those. In our case, this new system will work just fine. We sort of had a "preview" of it at DCA in how they handled Radiator Springs Racers with the GAC. They gave us a hand written FP for one hour later when we approached the ride. We then went over the A Bug's Land and rode a few things over there while we waited to do RSR. The Bug's Land rides never have lines that are that long and they aren't sensory overload type lines, so my son can wait in them no problem. So, we hung out over there and went back to RSR in an hour and used the FP entrance. It worked well.

I would say that most kids with Autism will be able to find SOMETHING to do while they wait to ride the attractions. Mine would be happy to just sit at a table and play games on his ipod with headphones on. Or have a snack, or go into a gift shop and look around. Or, ride something nearby that has a short line.

What it will do is not allow us to do a bunch of rides in a short period of time and then leave the park like we used to. It will change the way we tour the parks, but honestly, I am okay with that. I am finding that as my boys get older, they are more able to tolerate waiting for things and are learning how to work around their sensory issues.

The bottom line is that this new system is fair. And, it will be impossible to abuse it, so I say kudos to Disney for actually finding a workable solution to the abuse problem. A lot of people are going to get angry about this, and I suspect those people who get angry are the very people who are abusing the system in some way or another.

I am just glad we won't be there during this transition phase. Poor CM's.

[merciantinkerbell]

Like the idea of a photo, stops people "borrowing" granny's card or whatever. Bit confused on how it works. So, as I understand from the posts, we get a ride time for, say, Splash Mountain which says 60 mins from now. Can we not join a normal stand-by line, for example, Small World if that's got a 30 min wait as that has a separate wheelchair line also?

[minnie04]

What it will do is not allow us to do a bunch of rides in a short period of time and then leave the park like we used to.

See this might be a problem for my friend. I talked to him last night and explained this new system to him. And seeing what you’re writing this will be a problem, because that's exactly what he does. He likes to get in the park ride a few rides and then leave. He has MS and can't stand very long and needs to be out of the heat as well (makes him weak), so I guess this is going to make his day too long. If he has to wait an hour between rides. They usually go when crowds are lower, but those days are pretty hard to come by. Seems there is always something going on that draws some type of crowd. I guess he will have try it out and see what happens. I think he wanted to go by Christmas time.

[Dulcee]

Like the idea of a photo, stops people "borrowing" granny's card or whatever. Bit confused on how it works. So, as I understand from the posts, we get a ride time for, say, Splash Mountain which says 60 mins from now. Can we not join a normal stand-by line, for example, Small World if that's got a 30 min wait as that has a separate wheelchair line also?

It appears that yes you would be able to get in line for Small World while holding your DAS pass for Splash. You just wouldn't be able to hold two DAS passes at the same time.

I'd assume this is all in response to the media story about people abusing the GAC system? I think its a pretty good response and seems fair.

[John]

Thanks for the info!

[BrerGnat]

See this might be a problem for my friend. I talked to him last night and explained this new system to him. And seeing what you’re writing this will be a problem, because that's exactly what he does. He likes to get in the park ride a few rides and then leave. He has MS and can't stand very long and needs to be out of the heat as well (makes him weak), so I guess this is going to make his day too long. If he has to wait an hour between rides. They usually go when crowds are lower, but those days are pretty hard to come by. Seems there is always something going on that draws some type of crowd. I guess he will have try it out and see what happens. I think he wanted to go by Christmas time.

Yes, this aspect of it will be problematic for a lot of people, I assume. The thing is, Disney seems to only be focusing on headliner attractions with this new system, but for many people who use a GAC, they also use them for the rides that wouldn't ever have an hour wait. I think it would be annoying to have to keep coming back to get another time stamp if you are only riding rides with shorter wait times when the traditional queue isn't an option.

[merciantinkerbell]

Thanks Dulcee. We got a GAC on our last ( and first) trip but didn't use it much except to take wheelchair through lines as hubby can't stand for too long or manage more than a few steps, especially on a bad day. We have no problem waiting our turn and this system does seem fairer and will look to see how it goes before our next trip next Oct.

[dnickels]

Seem very fair to me. If the line for something (that you're not getting a FP for) is an hour, you should have to wait an hour. And presumably this doesn't stop that person from wandering around or over to something with a short wait in the meantime so I don't see where "what are we going to do for 30 minutes" is a problem.

The GAC was supposed to help make things more equal, not to allow someone to show up and knock out Splash Mtn, BTMRR and Space Mtn in an hour and a half total when each individual ride has a 90 minute wait time by itself.

[BrerGnat]

Seem very fair to me. If the line for something (that you're not getting a FP for) is an hour, you should have to wait an hour. And presumably this doesn't stop that person from wandering around or over to something with a short wait in the meantime so I don't see where "what are we going to do for 30 minutes" is a problem.

The GAC was supposed to help make things more equal, not to allow someone to show up and knock out Splash Mtn, BTMRR and Space Mtn in an hour and a half total when each individual ride has a 90 minute wait time by itself.

Yes and no. Actually, the GAC was intended to allow people with disabilities the opportunity to experience all the attractions in a way that takes the disability "out of the equation." Many people who use a GAC have stamina issues or sensory issues or anxiety issues that make it, frankly, impossible to tolerate hours on end in the parks. Just being in the parks is an exercise in tolerance for my son. The constant sensory overload reaches a breaking point with him MUCH sooner than the average guest. So, yes, it was helpful to be able to be "done" riding the things he wanted to ride in a short time so we could exit gracefully before meltdown occurred. On any given trip, we only spend a handful of hours actually in the the parks. This new system has the potential to change that, so we may have to go back to visiting during lower crowd times.

[buzznwoodysmom]

5. DAS will not be used at every attraction... Any attraction which is wheel chair accessible will not be authorized for DAS... So guests in a wheel chair or ECV will have to experience the queue like everyone else, ie waiting in Stand By or getting Fast Pass...There are 38 attractions in WDW in which the queue is wheel chair accessible.. I would suspect those attractions will not utilize DAS... Any attraction which does not have wheel chair access in their queue will use either the exit or the FP line for wheel chair entry..

The problem with this statement is that not all disabilities are mobilty disabilities. Not all guest utilizing the GAC has a wheelchair or ECV. So just because a queue is wheel chair accessible will not help those guests whose disability has nothing to do with mobility issues.

My father-in-law, for example, suffers from PTSD from his time at war. He can't tolerate long lines, not because he can't stand for long periods, but because of the often confined spaces, large crowds, and loud noise. Even with the GAC some of the FP lines really gave him great anxiety, and we were very thankful he didn't have to use the regular line because he absolutely wouldn't have been able to tolerate those surroundings for that long. As it was, most days he and mother in law left the park just after lunch and didn't return till much later in the evening because he would get headaches and feel anxiety coming on, so he needed a break from it all. That was his first trip in Feb., and he has raved about the place ever since, in part because he felt that Disney made it possible for him to enjoy as much of the park as he could despite his disability.

We are returning with FIL for Thanksgiving and I hope it's as easy for him to enjoy this trip. However, if what you suggest is true and any attraction that is wheel chair accessible doesn't offer the new assistance card, he may have to skip those attractions. While the new system seems fair for many reason, which I agree with most, it won't make it as easy on guests with disabilities like my FIL as it has been in the past.

[AgentC]

5. DAS will not be used at every attraction... Any attraction which is wheel chair accessible will not be authorized for DAS... So guests in a wheel chair or ECV will have to experience the queue like everyone else, ie waiting in Stand By or getting Fast Pass...There are 38 attractions in WDW in which the queue is wheel chair accessible.. I would suspect those attractions will not utilize DAS... Any attraction which does not have wheel chair access in their queue will use either the exit or the FP line for wheel chair entry...





The problem with this statement is that not all disabilities are mobilty disabilities. Not all guest utilizing the GAC has a wheelchair or ECV. So just because a queue is wheel chair accessible will not help those guests whose disability has nothing to do with mobility issues.



I read the original article posted on this (and keep in mind, Disney itself has not announced the exact rules yet) and my interpretation was not that the ADA accessible rides would not have DAS but that people who have mobility only issues will be expected to use the regular line if it is ADA compliant for wheelchairs.

The article also when on to say in some circumstance people with mobility only issues will not qualify for DAS. An example given was DCA. Apparently all the queues there are wheel chair compliant and the belief is that guest with purely mobility issues would not qualify for a DAS at that park. There is not mention of DAS not being available for guests having different types of issues that prevent them from waiting in certain types of lines.

[Terra]

Yes and no. Actually, the GAC was intended to allow people with disabilities the opportunity to experience all the attractions in a way that takes the disability "out of the equation." Many people who use a GAC have stamina issues or sensory issues or anxiety issues that make it, frankly, impossible to tolerate hours on end in the parks. Just being in the parks is an exercise in tolerance for my son. The constant sensory overload reaches a breaking point with him MUCH sooner than the average guest. So, yes, it was helpful to be able to be "done" riding the things he wanted to ride in a short time so we could exit gracefully before meltdown occurred. On any given trip, we only spend a handful of hours actually in the the parks. This new system has the potential to change that, so we may have to go back to visiting during lower crowd times.
This is very much my son as well. He can tolerate about 10 minutes in a line before the sounds, the people around him closing in, all the sensory stuff starts overwhelming him.
Which kind of goes with the post below...
We do the GAC, but we also do the stroller as a wheelchair. Because while he is mobile, when he gets overwhelmed and on that edge he gets in the stroller and can "hide" under the blanket/sunshade/with headphones.

So now I'm more confused than I orginally was on this new GAC.
NO way he can do an hour in line, but with his stroller he's going to have to now?
OR if we have a return time of say 40 minutes, to go wait in another line for 25 minutes won't fly with him because of the crowd in a smaller space. [If the people are around and "out there" [like when we just walk through the park], we're fine, but standing in a line with people right in front/back and sometimes the sides he freaks out after 10 minutes.

Oh boy. Not sure what to do now. It doesn't sound like it's going to be pleasent for him anymore :(



The problem with this statement is that not all disabilities are mobilty disabilities. Not all guest utilizing the GAC has a wheelchair or ECV. So just because a queue is wheel chair accessible will not help those guests whose disability has nothing to do with mobility issues.

My father-in-law, for example, suffers from PTSD from his time at war. He can't tolerate long lines, not because he can't stand for long periods, but because of the often confined spaces, large crowds, and loud noise. Even with the GAC some of the FP lines really gave him great anxiety, and we were very thankful he didn't have to use the regular line because he absolutely wouldn't have been able to tolerate those surroundings for that long. As it was, most days he and mother in law left the park just after lunch and didn't return till much later in the evening because he would get headaches and feel anxiety coming on, so he needed a break from it all. That was his first trip in Feb., and he has raved about the place ever since, in part because he felt that Disney made it possible for him to enjoy as much of the park as he could despite his disability.

We are returning with FIL for Thanksgiving and I hope it's as easy for him to enjoy this trip. However, if what you suggest is true and any attraction that is wheel chair accessible doesn't offer the new assistance card, he may have to skip those attractions. While the new system seems fair for many reason, which I agree with most, it won't make it as easy on guests with disabilities like my FIL as it has been in the past.

[ANG]

THE SINGLE greatest thing WDW has done for us is give us that red wheelchair tag on our stroller. Our ASD son cannot understand movie theater style seating during shows (basically anything that can't strap or bar him in) and needs to know his personal space. I seriously hope this doesn't end.

We require a wheelchair tag AND a GAC. I make him leave the stroller to wait for a ride and we have always needed to wait in a separate area as he gets overwhelmed. Will this still be possible to get both the tag and DAS?

[clausjo]

If the people are around and "out there" [like when we just walk through the park], we're fine, but standing in a line with people right in front/back and sometimes the sides he freaks out after 10 minutes.


This is my son as well. He's 14 now and taller than I am. He doesn't do well in lines and really has difficutly if people touch him or bump into him. We've used the GAC to either go through the fastpass lines or enter at the exit if there was no fastpass entry. Sometimes, the fastpass line was long and crowded. If that was the case, we'd come back later. It sounds like with the new system, that may not be an option any longer.

I'm looking forward to when Disney officially announces the new policy, but it sounds like we may need to change our touring plans for future visits. :(

[iheartdisney]

I read about this last night. I think it is a much more fair way to do things.


The bottom line is that this new system is fair. And, it will be impossible to abuse it, so I say kudos to Disney for actually finding a workable solution to the abuse problem. A lot of people are going to get angry about this, and I suspect those people who get angry are the very people who are abusing the system in some way or another.

I am just glad we won't be there during this transition phase. Poor CM's.

Thank you for your response to the new GAC changes. It is great to hear from someone needs the service but does not abuse the service! The few bad apples have made this a nightmare for everyone. You speak for many who need this service but only want what is fair and reasonable for all.

[Jeri]

I too am now wondering about the stroller as a wheelchair part. We have never had to get a GAC before, my oldest with sever anxiety and Aspergers has always done fine. But this time we have my daughter who is 2 1/2 and has Down syndrome. She in many ways is like a typical toddler, but she doesn't understand like a typical toddler, and she is a runner so I was planning on getting both.
I like the idea of the photo, but I am now wondering if I should get something from the Dr before we go to show them.
Great one more thing to add to my list. :blush:

[Jen1984]

I don't really see this as a bad thing at all. We use a very similar system at Universal where we now spend a lot of our time. I would say the only difference there is, if the queue is under 30 minutes long, they will generally just let you walk through their equivalent of the fast pass line, and a time to come back if it is any longer. Whilst I can see that this may not work for younger children or people that are physically handicapped, it works well for us. I feel that it also helps teach my autistic stepson some patience, as opposed to Disney, he needs to decide which rides he feels are waiting for- with the knowledge ahead of time that he will need to wait. We tend to wander the shops or sit down for a drink or some food. (Once, we were very naughty and had a 2 hour wait for Despicable Me, and actually went to the cinema...) :nono:

This is purely a personal response, but I am just so glad that these company's do think of people that are incapable of waiting in lines (My stepson just cannot handle crowds for more than a couple of minutes- and that's exactly what lines are to him- to the point where we couldn't even watch Wishes from inside MK as he was so upset last time, so it is an absolute godsend that we can have any help at all). I'm also well aware that while this will work for us, it won't for other people, so I hope that you all manage to find a way for it to work for your families!

[margiem]

Seem very fair to me. If the line for something (that you're not getting a FP for) is an hour, you should have to wait an hour. And presumably this doesn't stop that person from wandering around or over to something with a short wait in the meantime so I don't see where "what are we going to do for 30 minutes" is a problem.

The GAC was supposed to help make things more equal, not to allow someone to show up and knock out Splash Mtn, BTMRR and Space Mtn in an hour and a half total when each individual ride has a 90 minute wait time by itself.


I'm anxious to see what the official rules are when Disney actually releases the new system. I respect everyone's opinion and I think there are parts of this idea that are fantastic. I know people think it's not fair to be able to go through the fast pass line and knock out a bunch of rides in a couple hours. It's also not fair to watch your kids with autism struggle as they wait and wait and wait. The anxieties that it creates and the sensory issues that they struggle with is heart breaking. And this they live with wherever they go, for their whole lives. Disney was the one place where you could watch your children have the time of their lives for a few days without a struggle.

If you think any of us parents that have to deal with this wouldn't love to be able to stand in the regular line with our typical children you are mistaken. I would hand in my GAC in a second and gladly wait 90 minutes in a line and not have to live with this disability. Yes, some children learn to deal with these things and outgrow some anxieties. Some never will. For those who can't tolerate the waits and the crowds and the sensory overload, Disney may not be the ultimate vacation anymore. What used to be our only vacation destination may not be an option. And if you think waiting around for 30 minutes or so for your time to come up is easy for some of these kids, you might be wrong. A lot of these kids don't want to be in the stores, or sit outside, or walk around in the crowds as that stuff can create a lot of anxiety on their own. It was nice to get them in and out of the parks and then back to the hotel for some pool and down time.

All that said, we will go back. We will try it. And hopefully it won't be our last trip there. Hopefully it will work out well and maybe it's not as bad as I'm anticipating. I think the sudden shock of change needs to settle in as we are planning a trip soon that needs to be re-thought!

Hope I'm not offending anyone. Just trying to share a little insight from a mom with two Autistic children. Disney is their favorite place on the planet! That's all they talk about.

[Disney_pups2]

Here are my questions to Disney on this subject:
1. Why is Disney so against asking the disabled for proof from our care providers of our ailments before implementing such a rigid and inflexible plan or said DAS? Even the good ole USA national parks has a special "pass" for entry into their parks in place but we have to PROVE the disability before procuring one. Why have you not chosen to allow us to prove our disabilities if we desire to use the GAC? It is a much simpler approach. True there is Hippa, but if we are volunteering the info in exchange for the program, no foul!
2. I thought that the GAC with alternate waiting was not only for our family's comfort and safety, but also for the comfort of others waiting in line that did not want my child touching on them, repeating the same sentence constantly, or even having a potential screaming melt down. HOw is the new DAS going to be guarding their trip along with mine?
3. Why is my special needs family, whom already has a pretty hard existence being asked to do FAR more than any other NORMAL park guest just to have a nice vacation?
4. What is my family suppose to do while we wait for our 1 ride return time? ARe we expected to pay full price and see a quarter of the park because our children legitimately cannot wait in a line with a bunch of other people? Or we want to protect others from seeing our children's melt downs, pass outs etc?
5. How well do you think your "normal" guests are going to do while witnessing all the autistic melt downs in not only children but also full grown adults plagued with this disorder? How do you think their vacation will end when their "normal" child sees another child pass out from a seizure or an anxiety black out?
6. How does this help those of us Mobility cart bound that can't wait in line for long periods of time on foot? Are we just to pay over a $100 bill to come into the park but not ride anything?
7. Has Disney properties considered all the lawsuits arising from many that will be limited or unable to attend a Disney park in the future because of the new proposed changes? Are they also prepared for any lawsuits that would possibly arise from the meltdowns and the issues, maybe even injuries caused by the new rules?
No matter how you shake this folks, if they do this, most of us will not be going to the parks. I doubt they want the children and adults alike to have anxiety black outs, seizures or watch a grown adult have an autism meltdown! Seriously, who thought this one up?

[Disney_pups2]

Please, everyone concerned contact Disney and let them know your thoughts and how this will effect yourself or your family!!! IN NUMBERS we could beat this! Message me for the address if you don't already have it for email!

[JerseyDad]

....not sure if this was covered prior to now but, stepping around all of the "who deserves what" ...and ..."do you realize how hard it is to cope with .....?" type feedback, I'd hope you all realize that this is occurring because of the MagicBands and the implementation of FP+.

....Disney sunk what was reported to be nearly a billion dollars into the tech to get this started / up & running and eventually "perfected". It's a people / crowd / scheduling, control & management system ...nothing more ...nothing less. But ...because of the monetary outlay ...they will find EVERY conceivable way to use it ...and to use it so that it works. Having a certain number of FP+ "appointments" pre-scheduled ...sometimes months ahead of a guests arrival ...let's them know "who will be where ...and when". Therefore, they need to schedule EVERYONE. They cannot have a pile of persons waving GAC's show up at an attraction and get shoved into the FP line when those spots are in a manner ...already spoken for. It would mess up their "system" that they are creating.

....I will agree that it will definitely be difficult for some people to go to WDW in the manner in which they are / have been accustomed to doing. AND ... I will be the very first to say that my brother's family ...and in particular due to my SIL ...will NEVER go to WDW again ....EVER .... if / when this system is put in place as it's been explained. They got their GAC due to my autistic nephew ...and have whirl-winded through parks in record time because they possessed it ...and they treated it like a game card from Monopoly (ie "Get Out Of Jail Free" card). And then she's miffed when everyone and their brother has a GAC and it's making HER WAIT too long on the FP line?!! We had the MagicBands and the FP+ "test" going on ...and she had the GAC ...and couldn't comprehend ...even the slightest bit ...the need to schedule a FP time to enter a ride.

Like I said ...when it's no longer the sacred "front of the line pass" ....she'll no longer want to go to WDW because of having to do the 'scheduling' thing. And that won't sit well in the "I deserve this, that & the other thing" part of her head.

..in doing what they are supposed to do (based on early reports) WDW is also leveling the playing field ...which has been slanted in one direction for quite some time (though they'll never say that) ...it's all about "people management".

[Mickey'sGirl]

I think it sounds great.

I choose to travel to WDW., it's not something I have to do. There are other travel options out there. I have R.A. and two autistic sons and I don't feel that we are owed anything. Disney choses to provide accommodation for people with special needs and go far and beyond providing "equalizing" accessibility. We choose to NOT use the GAC and will not be using the new system either. But it's good to know that there is some reasonable assistance available to those who need it.

[AgentC]

....not sure if this was covered prior to now but, stepping around all of the "who deserves what" ...and ..."do you realize how hard it is to cope with .....?" type feedback, I'd hope you all realize that this is occurring because of the MagicBands and the implementation of FP+.
.

I'm sure FastPass + is a factor but from the articles I've read it has a lot more to do with issues at Disneyland and the story that broke a few months this ago about selling GAC access. It's hard not to reevaluate a process when a problem with it shows up on Good Morning America.

There have been rumblings about a change coming for awhile. From all reports DL has a large problem with GACs. Some reports I've seen say up to 100,000 DL annual passholders have GACs. Some are written for months at a time and they are good for up to 6 people. There are also reports that around 1400 GACs are issued daily for DL/D A and that they have noticed a huge use of GAC use at Radiator Springs Racer.

The original article about the changes focuses on DL and D A both of which do not have FastPass +. WDW was presented as an afterthought in the article.

[Pirate Granny]

I liked the Disneyland Paris policy where only 4 persons were allowed to access lines using their disability card. Also, most of the time waited to the side, until the person who came after you and was given a lanyard was at the front of the line. Seemed much fairer to me.

[BrerGnat]

This topic is sure to bring up very passionate responses, and already has.

However, I think this change is a good thing for our kids who suffer from Autism, in particular. As parents, we all know how "easy" it is to have our kids deal with things changing. :rolleyes: BUT, it is also our duty as parents to teach our kids how to cope with change. This is a good teaching opportunity, IMO.

For those kids who TRULY love going to Disney, and REALLY like certain rides, they will adapt to this. In our "real lives", we use the "work for this reward" style of motivation, which is very typical for Autistic kids. Our kids need to understand that this method applies to life at large, all the way from completing worksheets in school to the day that they, hopefuly, have a job, and work in exchange for a paycheck. Nothing worth having comes easily, and life isn't always "fair." I spend hours upon hours every week trying to get this concept through to my sons. I am making a small dent after 9 years. ;)

Point is, this new system will prompt a conversation in our home before our next trip about how we will proceed. At this point, DH and I are leaning towards skipping the DAS, because our kids are at that point, developmentally, where the world is going to start getting REAL, very soon. It's time to stop giving them an easy out, and teaching them how to manage by making smart choices. It may mean missing out on some rides here and there, but they will have to learn what is worth waiting for and what is not.

The GAC was a wondeful thing, but the truth is, we went a full 6 years visiting Disneyland regularly without one. We only got our first one when we visited WDW for the first time with our boys and our older one had the mother of meltdowns on day 2. We've used it since and admit, have gotten spoiled just a bit with how easy it makes things. Now that our boys are older, we are trying very hard to not make them feel so "different" than everyone else.

I do recognize that everyone has different needs and this approach will not work with everyone. However, I decided to share this in hopes that someone out there would choose to maybe look at this as an opportunity to teach a larger lesson to their kids, rather than bashing the idea before it's even taken off. I think the DAS will work fine. It may be a bit more complicated, but if it's worth it to your child, you will adapt, and so will he/she.

And, for full disclosure, I love Disney parks, but I have at least one son who does not share the love quite as much (the one for whom we get the GAC). I do foresee a future where he does not go along on our trips there, or that I end up going solo more often, simply due to his inability to really handle it well. And, that makes me sad, but I can just add it to the long list of things that make me sad related to my son's condition. Life goes on. He seems to get as much joy out of watching ride videos on You Tube as actually being there, so there's that. :mickey:

[JerseyDad]

Here are my questions to Disney on this subject:
1. Why is Disney so against asking the disabled for proof from our care providers of our ailments before implementing such a rigid and inflexible plan or said DAS? Even the good ole USA national parks has a special "pass" for entry into their parks in place but we have to PROVE the disability before procuring one. Why have you not chosen to allow us to prove our disabilities if we desire to use the GAC? It is a much simpler approach. True there is Hippa, but if we are volunteering the info in exchange for the program, no foul!

.....certainly sure that Disney does not want their CM's that will work at the DAS stations to have to be 'blessed' with the added duty of determining what ailment / affliction is real ...not real ...etc. They are not there to be 'judges' ...they are simply information clerks ...they are processing paperwork / ID's / photos ...or whatever other required info will eventually be required ...in (hopefully) the most expeditious manner possible.




2. I thought that the GAC with alternate waiting was not only for our family's comfort and safety, but also for the comfort of others waiting in line that did not want my child touching on them, repeating the same sentence constantly, or even having a potential screaming melt down. How is the new DAS going to be guarding their trip along with mine?

.....thinking I can grasp your concerns ...though I don't think that the 'comfort' of the other guests on line (without disabilities) ...was the foremost concern of Disney when the whole GAC system was envisioned. I would go as far as saying that if Disney ever publicly stated something like, "they were worried that other guests would be put-off by the actions / appearance of someone with a disability" ...that just making such a statement would be considered offensive, prejudicial, and would ignite some form of legal action (lawsuit).

......and that said, I am personally offended by persons that stand on line near me and seem to have an acute fear of showering, soap, and the use of deodorant. But no one is giving them a separate line or waiting area ...nor can I make them "go away".

...and ...'meltdowns' occur on line with non-disabled children. I think that in a a hot, crowded, somewhat stressful environment (in which sometimes the parent doesn't know, or care, when the tolerance limit of the child is reached...because they have laid out a substantial admission fee to WDW and therefore don't care) ...there will be meltdowns. I might offer that those parents are probably the same ones that will allow their child to have a meltdown / temper tantrum in a restaurant, and either not discipline the child, or at least take them out of the restaurant.



3. Why is my special needs family, whom already has a pretty hard existence being asked to do FAR more than any other NORMAL park guest just to have a nice vacation?

....???? Looking at the proposed system, I don't see where any person with special needs is going to be asked to go above and beyond what a non-special-needs person (or family) will be asked to do. WDW will now be making your "Disney Experience" as regimented and scheduled as they can possibly achieve.

....having been at WDW 3 weeks ago, and were given the MagicBands as part of their "grand experiment". I'd rate them a C+ for what they are trying to achieve. They were only okay for park admission (speeding the process), okay for purchases / charging to the room, etc ....but having the FP+ 'reservations' for the 3 (or 4) attractions in each park (on one given day) ...was convenient and inconvenient at the same time. You had to plan your day at said park around whet times you were assigned. This will be the same direction for everyone now ...across the board (the "new normal" if you will) ...and also with the DAS as it's been described.



4. What is my family suppose to do while we wait for our 1 ride return time? Are we expected to pay full price and see a quarter of the park because our children legitimately cannot wait in a line with a bunch of other people? Or we want to protect others from seeing our children's melt downs, pass outs etc?

.....again ...the 'new normal' will be to see the 'lesser' know (not major) attractions during the 'down-time' between the scheduled entrance to the designated attraction. It's what everyone else who has a FP or FP+ does. It's also (as I mentioned earlier) the reason that my SIL will determine that they have seen the last of WDW ...because the don't have the ability to "do" the MK (or any other park) in 3 hours with her "front of the line" pass.



5. How well do you think your "normal" guests are going to do while witnessing all the autistic melt downs in not only children but also full grown adults plagued with this disorder? How do you think their vacation will end when their "normal" child sees another child pass out from a seizure or an anxiety black out?

.....I'm normal ...(though my wife would debate that) ....and I've seen "meltdowns", I have an autistic nephew in his middle teen years ...and my children have seen his 'meltdowns' over the years (which btw have become fewer and farther between). We were at WDW last year ...and this year, with him ...and have seen improvement ...and a few meltdowns. I don't think many children today ...have not been exposed to someone with some (any) kind of disability. Autism ...has become "main-stream" with the explosion of social media and visual media such as TV and movies. I honestly think that today's children ...are far more resilient than during my childhood years. And I really don't know what you are inferring when you state, "How do you think their vacation will end when their "normal" child sees another child pass out from a seizure or an anxiety black out? ??? What would really happen, (or vacation end) if a "normal" (your words) child witnessed a meltdown of blackout? Perhaps at that moment or shortly thereafter, if the "normal" child was concerned or troubled ...their parents would start a dialogue with them including explanations about to occurrence, indicate to the "normal" child that they need to have understanding, and maybe even exhibit compassion at times like that!! Yes ...something horrible like that might happen!! I have general anxiety disorder ...and sometimes it needs a dose of xanax to relieve. I don't hide it from my family ...they know that it's an illness. That said ...I don't think that anyone in the "normal crowd" will have their vacation "end" badly, or in any other manner than it would have ended without possibly seeing a meltdown or anxiety blackout.




6. How does this help those of us Mobility cart bound that can't wait in line for long periods of time on foot? Are we just to pay over a $100 bill to come into the park but not ride anything?

....really don't know how to reply to that ...or what you are trying to say? Persons in wheelchairs / scooters / wheeled walkers or any other mobility device ...are afforded the same access as anyone else. Are you implying that "because you CAN'T wait"(and /or won't wait) ...that you need to get priority access? Doesn't that sort of impart a sense of "separate, definitely not equal, and I don't care if it's that way as long as I'm accommodated in a way that benefits me the most"? I think that's part of what Disney is trying to remove from the system, and was in part created by GAC abuse.





7. Has Disney properties considered all the lawsuits arising from many that will be limited or unable to attend a Disney park in the future because of the new proposed changes? Are they also prepared for any lawsuits that would possibly arise from the meltdowns and the issues, maybe even injuries caused by the new rules? No matter how you shake this folks, if they do this, most of us will not be going to the parks. I doubt they want the children and adults alike to have anxiety black outs, seizures or watch a grown adult have an autism meltdown! Seriously, who thought this one up?

.....to begin with ....anyone ...at any time ...can file a lawsuit. Even if they are really ....REALLY unwarranted. Will anyone win in a suit against Disney related to this issue? I sincerely doubt it.

....reason being ...they lived by the letter of the law. They provided access ...and that's ALL they needed to do. Your enjoyment of the park (or that of anyone else) is not guaranteed. Are you implying that lawsuits will arise from the new system not being as convenient as the previous one (or for not being as OVERLY ACCOMMODATING as it was)?

....meltdowns there happen on a daily basis ...I'm sure they are not getting a lawsuit filed against them in equal frequency.

....and yes ...many people will find that whatever new system is put in place ...it will not be "what I was used to". And for that reason alone ...many will choose not to go to WDW ...ever.

....going to WDW ...whether you are perfectly healthy ...or stricken by some disability ...is not a "right". Some people CAN go ...and some CANNOT. To that, I can add that some people SHOULD go ...and there are those that SHOULD NOT.

....to the "who thought this up" ...I'd have a good idea that it was some tech savy imagineers ...and a whole passel of lawyers. In the same way that a whole lot of lawyering took place to get ADA Laws put in place.

...now ..all that Disney is doing ..is following the letter of the law.

[gerald72]

I have 2 kids with autism and I tell everyone about how Disney really makes it a great vacation for our family. Something we couldn't get anywhere else. I like the photo idea and we always present a doctor's note. Sometimes they read it sometimes they don't. What confuses me is this: you go to a ride, your wait is 30 minutes so you get a FP to come back in 30 minutes. That's great. but what are you supposed to do with them for 30 minutes? you most likely can't get on another ride in that time frame and you can't get another "DAS FP". You might as well wait in line, and for those of us with kids on the spectrum, that is a nightmare. Am I reading the guidelines correctly? Kind of makes me not want to go back. I must be missing something. Please tell me I'm missing something.

It's so you don't have to physically wait in line. If you'd rather wait in line, that's fine- but then why do you need the card?

[gerald72]

This new system seems totally fair.
Great points, Jersey Dad.

[Disney_pups2]

There is a petition being circulated about the DL portion. If you wish for the addy pm me please as I am sure they won't let us post it here. Reaching out to DL should also save WDW. Please consider it!

[Disney_pups2]

This new system seems totally fair.
Great points, Jersey Dad.

Have you ever had to console a child of this nature? The idea of having to take MORE time just to criss cross a park so we can see half a park that most will see most or all of is ridiculous. It is not fair. We will do far more work than any normal family. We also have others in our party that SN... 2 grandparents, myself, my son, my niece. How ridiculous does this plan look now?

[Jen1984]

This topic is sure to bring up very passionate responses, and already has.

However, I think this change is a good thing for our kids who suffer from Autism, in particular. As parents, we all know how "easy" it is to have our kids deal with things changing. :rolleyes: BUT, it is also our duty as parents to teach our kids how to cope with change. This is a good teaching opportunity, IMO.

For those kids who TRULY love going to Disney, and REALLY like certain rides, they will adapt to this. In our "real lives", we use the "work for this reward" style of motivation, which is very typical for Autistic kids. Our kids need to understand that this method applies to life at large, all the way from completing worksheets in school to the day that they, hopefuly, have a job, and work in exchange for a paycheck. Nothing worth having comes easily, and life isn't always "fair." I spend hours upon hours every week trying to get this concept through to my sons. I am making a small dent after 9 years. ;)

Point is, this new system will prompt a conversation in our home before our next trip about how we will proceed. At this point, DH and I are leaning towards skipping the DAS, because our kids are at that point, developmentally, where the world is going to start getting REAL, very soon. It's time to stop giving them an easy out, and teaching them how to manage by making smart choices. It may mean missing out on some rides here and there, but they will have to learn what is worth waiting for and what is not.

The GAC was a wondeful thing, but the truth is, we went a full 6 years visiting Disneyland regularly without one. We only got our first one when we visited WDW for the first time with our boys and our older one had the mother of meltdowns on day 2. We've used it since and admit, have gotten spoiled just a bit with how easy it makes things. Now that our boys are older, we are trying very hard to not make them feel so "different" than everyone else.

I do recognize that everyone has different needs and this approach will not work with everyone. However, I decided to share this in hopes that someone out there would choose to maybe look at this as an opportunity to teach a larger lesson to their kids, rather than bashing the idea before it's even taken off. I think the DAS will work fine. It may be a bit more complicated, but if it's worth it to your child, you will adapt, and so will he/she.

And, for full disclosure, I love Disney parks, but I have at least one son who does not share the love quite as much (the one for whom we get the GAC). I do foresee a future where he does not go along on our trips there, or that I end up going solo more often, simply due to his inability to really handle it well. And, that makes me sad, but I can just add it to the long list of things that make me sad related to my son's condition. Life goes on. He seems to get as much joy out of watching ride videos on You Tube as actually being there, so there's that. :mickey:

Completely agree with all of the above. Very eloquently put

[dnickels]

Well said Natalie.

I know some people will always overreact, but the only functional difference between the new system and the current GAC system is that Disney is removing the front of the line / unlimited Fast-Pass-ness feature of the pass. The new system acts as a virtual place-holder in the regular line, simple as that.

I'm paralyzed from the waist down so it's not exactly like I can't empathize with people who have special needs, but I can't see any reason why a particular disability should give a person front of the line access on every ride all day long as many have been using the current GAC system for.

[Disney_pups2]

I am sorry to hear that dnickles but your disability doesn't cause you to have an anxiety attack and pass out to the floor? Does it make it so that you don't understand a lot of things? Those disabilities are the ones that will be hurt most because they are asking us to wait in line to get a pass, then wait to get in line, then wait in the FP line! They are tripling your wait

[DizneyFreak2002]

I am sorry to hear that dnickles but your disability doesn't cause you to have an anxiety attack and pass out to the floor? Does it make it so that you don't understand a lot of things? Those disabilities are the ones that will be hurt most because they are asking us to wait in line to get a pass, then wait to get in line, then wait in the FP line! They are tripling your wait

Sarah, I sympathize with what you have to deal with, but if you have a family member who has anxiety attacks and passes out from being around a lot of people or in confined spaces or from sensory over load, then maybe WDW isn't the place for you...

[JerseyDad]

There is a petition being circulated about the DL portion. If you wish for the addy pm me please as I am sure they won't let us post it here. Reaching out to DL should also save WDW. Please consider it!

.....what would this 'petition' say?? I'm deeply curious (really ..I am).


Have you ever had to console a child of this nature? The idea of having to take MORE time just to crisscross a park so we can see half a park that most will see most or all of is ridiculous. It is not fair. We will do far more work than any normal family. We also have others in our party that SN... 2 grandparents, myself, my son, my niece. How ridiculous does this plan look now?

....so ...what I'm hearing is ..this is about time? Time ...spent doing something other than you might otherwise want to be doing? Time that you don't have to "waste" ...but, instead should be doled out in the form of a delay to other park guests that have to stand on a line longer than you might want to do ...because you feel that you deserve to not have to your time ...wasted. If that's it ...then I understand completely. What I don't understand is how you claim that this proposed system is not fair?


I am sorry to hear that dnickles but your disability doesn't cause you to have an anxiety attack and pass out to the floor? Does it make it so that you don't understand a lot of things? Those disabilities are the ones that will be hurt most because they are asking us to wait in line to get a pass, then wait to get in line, then wait in the FP line! They are tripling your wait

....I don't see it as they are "trippling" the wait. I see it that they are creating a schedule in which you will be permitted to do an attraction ...with a wait ...that in most cases ...will be shorter than those in the general population "stand-by" line.

....fyi ....I don't play softball anymore ...because in the very first at bat last season ...I literally exploded my plantar fascia ligament in my foot. I can't go near a softball diamond ever again. I also don't skydive ...because jumping out of a perfectly good airplane just doesn't compute with my sense of self-preservation (aka ...scared out of my mind)

....so just as I have a laundry list of things that I cannot / will not do ....perhaps some people should cross WDW off of their lists.

[Disney_pups2]

.....what would this 'petition' say?? I'm deeply curious (really ..I am).



....so ...what I'm hearing is ..this is about time? Time ...spent doing something other than you might otherwise want to be doing? Time that you don't have to "waste" ...but, instead should be doled out in the form of a delay to other park guests that have to stand on a line longer than you might want to do ...because you feel that you deserve to not have to your time ...wasted. If that's it ...then I understand completely. What I don't understand is how you claim that this proposed system is not fair?



....I don't see it as they are "trippling" the wait. I see it that they are creating a schedule in which you will be permitted to do an attraction ...with a wait ...that in most cases ...will be shorter than those in the general population "stand-by" line.

....fyi ....I don't play softball anymore ...because in the very first at bat last season ...I literally exploded my plantar fascia ligament in my foot. I can't go near a softball diamond ever again. I also don't skydive ...because jumping out of a perfectly good airplane just doesn't compute with my sense of self-preservation (aka ...scared out of my mind)

....so just as I have a laundry list of things that I cannot / will not do ....perhaps some people should cross WDW off of their lists.

The petition is asking Disney to reconsider their present course and there are already almost 4000 signatures since late last night/early this morning.
My son should get the same consideration especially as a child that has practically nothing normal and never will. So should we just put them all away and they get no normal things at all? With the present GAC we can take him and with pretty good successful try at normal along with many other parents signing the petition. My child's condition is not the only one that will cause him problems for waiting over and over and over again.
And no it won't be just 1 scheduled wait time, first you have the big wait at the beginning of the day, hopefully the beginning of the trip only where we waste possibly an hour getting our DAS pass, then you have to wait at the kiosk, of which only four for "SEVERAL" rides with a cast person looking at an app of supposed present wait times (which isn't always running or accurate) and physically filling out each card for each person in line, then you have the wait for the ability to get to the line, Then you will be put in the FP line and wait a third time. How is that all fair to a special needs child that doesn't understand one lick of it? They are not considering how many ECVs are going to be in the line either and they will take up 3 walking persons place per ECV. There is much wrong with this outline.

[Disney_pups2]

Sarah, I sympathize with what you have to deal with, but if you have a family member who has anxiety attacks and passes out from being around a lot of people or in confined spaces or from sensory over load, then maybe WDW isn't the place for you...

DizneyFreak 2002, I totally appreciate your sympathy. My child wants to see Disney world, possibly only once through a wish granting place, He does most of the time well but there are those days. The present GAC has eliminated bad reaction from his type of illness and others for thousands of families in the past and we are all saying the same thing... it won't work period. I might have to not go their parks anymore by why make my family suffer if it was fine before and we are willing to document the illnesses for them and do what's necessary so our children can vacation too? Why should yet another normal thing be taken from these kids because they were born broken? And it isn't from being around all the people, it will more than likely be overstimulation that could have been stopped had the old GAC been kept. Disney was built to make things magical for everyone, not the healthy only and that is almost what they are telling many diseases and illnesses by their actions.
Imagine: you walk into an automobile parts store and saying what part you need and them insisting on giving you a part that might or might not work. You try to explain why it won't work because you are an actual mechanic and work on cars all day and they insist they know better but you know they do not. Why is he trying to force a non working part on you? You inquire, so you don't have the part I need? He says, yes I do.. I just don't want YOU to have it. You ask him why not? He gives you a list of reasons, so do you just junk the car or try to talk to someone that might understand and get it worked out so your car can run again. Let's say the part is even very specialized as Disney is, and no other part store has this part. Do you just junk the car now or try to get the SOMEONE at the dealer to understand? Yes, it may come down to the part store NOT giving you the part anyway and you junking the car but why does it have to when the working part is there?? Does that help everyone to understand? I really am trying here to let you into many special needs person's worlds but you have to think unlike you ever thought before to grasp where we truly are.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Sarah, no disrespect, but is this about your son or about you? Honestly, no offense, all I am picking up from your posts is how your time in WDW will be impacted... Honestly, and again, I sympathize, but if your child is that bad in certain situations, then WDW was and is probably not the place he should be...

If my child had anxiety attacks or went into a rage when seeing the oceans or the sand, I wouldn't go vacation at Virginia Beach cause I love the beach and swimming in the ocean... I'd find a place they could go without being subjected to the thing that causes them distress...

[Disney_pups2]

I am hesitant to respond but it is about my entire family of special needs. I apologize if others have been upset or offended by my opinions. I have many special needs family members and friends with special needs and therefore I look at it from a whole on how it will effect everyone. Again I apologize for confusion etc. I do not wish to go into more publicly any longer. I private messaged you. Please respond there. Thank you again.

[Disney_pups2]

I think I understand now what is rubbing some the wrong way, as a friend pointed out the possible issue. I apologize firstly to everyone that felt that I was acting entitled or that disabled deserve to be treated as more than you all. You are all fine people and I am so sorry if my posts came off that way to you. Please accept my deepest apology. I do not feel entitled to anything but a good vacation which normally Disney has delivered over the last 100 times I have went, the new DAS does scare me with all the special needs we bring to the table. Stated simply, we have many special needs in our family and extended family, we travel with many of these various special needs. I understand a very wide spectrum of disorders and their tolerances and I tend to think "blanket" a bit scatter brained on the topic. I am so very sorry for that. I appreciate everyone's feed back as all your opinions are just as valuable as mine. I hope that if they keep Das that I am very wrong on my thoughts and that it will do splendidly. Thank you to all that took the time to be nicely discuss the matter point by point with me offering both opposite and like opinions. In the end, we all just want a Tiggerific time!:mickey:

[Goofy4TheWorld]

It occurred to me that the GAC program appears to have become another victim of the Internet and widespread knowledge about the "pluses" that Disney used to provide its guests. It really irritated me when they stopped allowing late FP entry since sometime ANY child tires out earlier than anticipated, and I enjoyed having that option. But since everyone and their brother learned this Disney FP secret, it became impossible to manage by Disney. It appears the same fate has met the GAC program. :(

[Strmchsr]

I think I understand now what is rubbing some the wrong way, as a friend pointed out the possible issue. I apologize firstly to everyone that felt that I was acting entitled or that disabled deserve to be treated as more than you all. You are all fine people and I am so sorry if my posts came off that way to you. Please accept my deepest apology.

No worries, Sarah. This is an issue that raises deep passion in people, especially when you have multiple special needs people in your family. Having a diabetic son I definitely understand the challenges of having to make special accommodations for a Disney trip and, above all, you want your child who struggles so much with day to day life to have the most magical experience possible at Disney and maybe take a little of that struggle away just for a little while. So, I understand your passion and appreciate your apology.

The truth is, no system will be perfect. It's so unfortunate, but the GAC has been horribly abused and Disney is having to adjust their system. A few bad apples have ruined something that was supposed to be good. There's a lot of things like that in the world. The good news is through my interaction with Disney management (I teach occasionally for the Disney Institute) the new leaders are honestly interested in guest feedback. That's why they've been so slow about rolling out Magicbands and FP+. They've tested, listened to feedback, tweaked, tested more, etc. I think once they implement the new policy they will listen to feedback and continue to tweak. But, again, no system is ever going to be perfect and the days of the previous system are gone forever due to the abuse.

[minnie04]

Sarah, I sympathize with what you have to deal with, but if you have a family member who has anxiety attacks and passes out from being around a lot of people or in confined spaces or from sensory over load, then maybe WDW isn't the place for you...

WOW!! That was very insensitive to say. (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but it was) Disney has made it possible for all people young and old(er) to enjoy their parks. Everyone keeps saying these passes are "FRONT OF THE LINE" well the friend I know that uses one has never been ‘FRONT IN LINE’. You still have to wait in the FP line no matter how long it is. So really why make families have to plan to go to the ride and get a pass, then wait 30 or more minutes to be able to BACK to the same ride and get in a long FP line and wait again for another 30 or more minutes. Again remember these are children and adults with disabilities that may have “meltdowns” (in parent’s words) in this waiting period. Just let the card holders get on and off rides like before. Why make it harder for their families. I for one don't have a problem with a family of 6 passing me in line if they have a family member they need to accommodate. We do it now for FP people and it never bothers us.
Also, I keep seeing people say “go to other rides while you wait” yeah ok that’s never going to work because you will never be able to get on and off another ride across the park or even close to your ride in that amount of time, so therefore you are asking these children (and adults) with anxiety to pace around a ride they really want to be on. I can see where the meltdown would occur. All children have a short wait limit for something they really want, but add anxiety in and you have a bigger problem. Some children you can distract, but others get fixated on doing something and have to do it asap.
I guess it comes down to the fact that some people will never know what it is like to have a child with a disability. It is a 24/7 every moment of the day worry how this child (or adult) will react to situations. I feel for the parents. I hope this won’t discourage any of them from going to WDW..

[JerseyDad]

No worries, Sarah. This is an issue that raises deep passion in people, especially when you have multiple special needs people in your family. Having a diabetic son I definitely understand the challenges of having to make special accommodations for a Disney trip and, above all, you want your child who struggles so much with day to day life to have the most magical experience possible at Disney and maybe take a little of that struggle away just for a little while. So, I understand your passion and appreciate your apology.

The truth is, no system will be perfect. It's so unfortunate, but the GAC has been horribly abused and Disney is having to adjust their system. A few bad apples have ruined something that was supposed to be good. There's a lot of things like that in the world. The good news is through my interaction with Disney management (I teach occasionally for the Disney Institute) the new leaders are honestly interested in guest feedback. That's why they've been so slow about rolling out Magicbands and FP+. They've tested, listened to feedback, tweaked, tested more, etc. I think once they implement the new policy they will listen to feedback and continue to tweak. But, again, no system is ever going to be perfect and the days of the previous system are gone forever due to the abuse.


.....I have to agree with you that the GAC has been horribly abused ...and at the same time horribly mismanaged by Disney. The fact that in the interest of keeping up the Disney image of the Happiest Place on Earth, they have let it become in the minds of those that use it (and those that seek it out to abuse it) ...a "front of the line pass" [even though it's in writing somewhere that it is NOT to be considered as such]

....they created the "monster" ....and now that they are trying to shorten the "monster's" leash to where it should have been in the first place ....everyone is in an uproar.

[joanna71985]

The thing is, the GAC was never meant to be an unlimited FP/front of the line pass. It even says on the front "not meant for immediate access". It's unfortunate how things have become (and I do feel for people that have genuine need for the GAC)

[margiem]

I think I lost my last post so if this is a repeat I apologize..... So, not everyone will understand what we go through, nor do I expect them to. I don't feel entitled to anything. I work extremely hard for and with my children and Disney has created a way for those who truly can't tolerate the waits to experience their magic. After our first trip I said that without the GAC I would never go back. I went what I thought would be off season and it was incredibly crowded and 10+ degrees higher than it normally should have been. The GAC saved my trip. It would have been a horrendous nightmare if we didn't have it and we would have never returned. But we did, and we went back again, and then back again and now planning our next trip. And I shell out thousands of dollars for every trip. Why? Because my kids enjoy it. Not because it is easier on me - but because it is easier for them. Because trust me, it is nothing but work for my husband and me (hoping to go alone one trip and experience the adult side of Disney!).

I would be happy to have forms for my Developmental Pediatrician to fill out prior to our trip, submit them to Disney before arriving and I'd even pay an additional fee to keep the GAC card. This so my children can just enjoy something normal (and of course magical). Disney has kind of created a monster, but I can't imagine they can't come up with something better. I've stood in line to get the GAC card and I see them handed out like candy. I knew this day would come I was just hoping it wouldn't be like pulling the carpet out from under me. If they would just make it more official and difficult to get a GAC then thousands of people wouldn't be getting them. And I agree with the poster who said that the clerks shouldn't be in a position to judge who gets one and who doesn't. So make it an official process to get a GAC. Prior to going to all the restaurants I have to fill out a food allergy sheet and talk to all the chefs to make sure they have something my one son can eat. So why can't getting a GAC be more official? There are simpler solutions than to just take it away.

And yes, I suppose there would be those who abuse the whole Dr. note thing too. There's a way around everything. But getting documentation with an official diagnosis from a specialist may not be so easy. I know what you are thinking - now Disney has to pour through all the requests? Yes, that's why I pay them a boat load of money every time I go.

No simple answer here. And not everyone will be happy with the outcome. Fair is not fair to everyone. We will deal, we will try it and hopefully it works out better than I anticipate. But I'm pretty skeptical as of now. Wish us luck.

[minnie04]

Sarah, no disrespect, but is this about your son or about you?

I would say about HER (she is his voice right now) because she is a MOTHER that would do anything in her power to make her son's life easier..If only for a couple of days a year so he can enjoy the magic and forget the struggles they face everyday..

[TheDuckRocks]

As a person with mobility problems the Americans with Disabilities Act has been a real blessing for me. As has vacationing at Disney, who have done better than most others places I have traveled. Here are some of my thoughts:
1) As far as I can read here all of this is rumor so far. No one has posted the official word from Disney yet. Am I correct?
2) The only reason this is really being done at this time is because of the abuse by park goers of the current system. Shame on anyone who ever had any part in this behavior.
3) This whole discussion has really got me unsettled by what may occur on our Oct. trip when the new system is in place.
4) I will adjust. I will stay clam. Maybe it won't be as awful as many are thinking. I have no other option if I still want to go to Disney.
5) Signing a petition will only be a hiccup in Disney's plans. They have to do something about the current abuse problems. There has been to much media attention for them not to try to stop this abuse.
In closing I hope we can get this discussion back to more understanding of each other and the problems we all deal with. It's difficult enough going through life with handicaps and we sure as heck don't need to be turning on each other.

[Hammer]

As a person with mobility problems the Americans with Disabilities Act has been a real blessing for me. As has vacationing at Disney, who have done better than most others places I have traveled. Here are some of my thoughts:
1) As far as I can read here all of this is rumor so far. No one has posted the official word from Disney yet. Am I correct?
2) The only reason this is really being done at this time is because of the abuse by park goers of the current system. Shame on anyone who ever had any part in this behavior.
3) This whole discussion has really got me unsettled by what may occur on our Oct. trip when the new system is in place.
4) I will adjust. I will stay clam. Maybe it won't be as awful as many are thinking. I have no other option if I still want to go to Disney.
5) Signing a petition will only be a hiccup in Disney's plans. They have to do something about the current abuse problems. There has been to much media attention for them not to try to stop this abuse.
In closing I hope we can get this discussion back to more understanding of each other and the problems we all deal with. It's difficult enough going through life with handicaps and we sure as heck don't need to be turning on each other.

Kay, I will be there with my Mom in the middle of our vacation when this is supposed to go into effect. I think Mom is like you and uses a wheelchair (I think you use an ECV, but both are handled the same way in this case). From what I can find, people who use a wheelchair/ECV for mobility issues alone will not need to use the DAS system. A DAS is only needed for wheelchair/ECV users if they have additional issues that require shorter wait times.

I'll report back with what we experience on our trip 10/6-10/11.

[Terra]

WOW!! That was very insensitive to say. (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but it was) Disney has made it possible for all people young and old(er) to enjoy their parks. Everyone keeps saying these passes are "FRONT OF THE LINE" well the friend I know that uses one has never been ‘FRONT IN LINE’. You still have to wait in the FP line no matter how long it is. So really why make families have to plan to go to the ride and get a pass, then wait 30 or more minutes to be able to BACK to the same ride and get in a long FP line and wait again for another 30 or more minutes. Again remember these are children and adults with disabilities that may have “meltdowns” (in parent’s words) in this waiting period. Just let the card holders get on and off rides like before. Why make it harder for their families. I for one don't have a problem with a family of 6 passing me in line if they have a family member they need to accommodate. We do it now for FP people and it never bothers us.
Also, I keep seeing people say “go to other rides while you wait” yeah ok that’s never going to work because you will never be able to get on and off another ride across the park or even close to your ride in that amount of time, so therefore you are asking these children (and adults) with anxiety to pace around a ride they really want to be on. I can see where the meltdown would occur. All children have a short wait limit for something they really want, but add anxiety in and you have a bigger problem. Some children you can distract, but others get fixated on doing something and have to do it asap.
I guess it comes down to the fact that some people will never know what it is like to have a child with a disability. It is a 24/7 every moment of the day worry how this child (or adult) will react to situations. I feel for the parents. I hope this won’t discourage any of them from going to WDW..

Well said.

Honestly now I'm sad that I even asked any questions in this thread rather than just waiting until we hit Disney again in a couple of weeks.

I hate feeling like I have to or should apologize for having a special needs son. Suddenly I'm either the parent who really isn't parenting and allows meltdowns and/or it's just a discipline problem. Or a parent who hasn't tried other forms of help to get her child to adjust. Or we just feel entitled :(

Some things are just not black and white.

Oh well, hopefully it will all come out in the wash and my son will still be able to enjoy it. If not. I'm going to be really sad to have to let Disney go :(

[minnie04]

I have an idea. Maybe they should do like the Express pass at Universal. Issue a card with a onetime ride "fast entrance" for families that need to get on and off the rides in a shorter period of time. Let them ride each ride once with the pass and then if you would like to go more you would need to go through what they are offering now. Getting a pass and returning later. I think it would help those families with children/adults that can't handle waiting all day to ride I don't think it would disrupt the process of FP since its one time on each ride. I know my friend would appreciate this. He could ride what he likes and not have to worry about when to return

[JerseyDad]

WOW!! That was very insensitive to say. (I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but it was) Disney has made it possible for all people young and old(er) to enjoy their parks. Everyone keeps saying these passes are "FRONT OF THE LINE" well the friend I know that uses one has never been ‘FRONT IN LINE’. You still have to wait in the FP line no matter how long it is. So really why make families have to plan to go to the ride and get a pass, then wait 30 or more minutes to be able to BACK to the same ride and get in a long FP line and wait again for another 30 or more minutes. Again remember these are children and adults with disabilities that may have “meltdowns” (in parent’s words) in this waiting period. Just let the card holders get on and off rides like before. Why make it harder for their families. I for one don't have a problem with a family of 6 passing me in line if they have a family member they need to accommodate. We do it now for FP people and it never bothers us.
Also, I keep seeing people say “go to other rides while you wait” yeah ok that’s never going to work because you will never be able to get on and off another ride across the park or even close to your ride in that amount of time, so therefore you are asking these children (and adults) with anxiety to pace around a ride they really want to be on. I can see where the meltdown would occur. All children have a short wait limit for something they really want, but add anxiety in and you have a bigger problem. Some children you can distract, but others get fixated on doing something and have to do it asap.
I guess it comes down to the fact that some people will never know what it is like to have a child with a disability. It is a 24/7 every moment of the day worry how this child (or adult) will react to situations. I feel for the parents. I hope this won’t discourage any of them from going to WDW..

....I really don't think what DizneyFreak2002 said was insensitive at all. I also said pretty much the same thing. If a place that is filled with all types of sensory overload stimuli, sometimes harsh weather conditions, and potential waits on a line is going to possibly precipitate a meltdown .....then that place should be avoided. If you are adversely impacted by the cold ...then don't go skiing or live in Alaska.

....I have actually seen persons on the "Resorts" sections of WDW related boards make statements / ask questions to the effect: "I want to stay at AoA ...but I feel that the resort and room decor` may be a bit too much for my son's sensory issues. Does Disney have any rooms there that are painted more plainly or have muted lighting? (I kid you not). Although it may sound crass: NO ...they are not painting a room specially for you! Easy Solution: Don't go to AoA ....done ...end of story.

...I'm not unfamiliar with the rigors of caring for an autistic child. I've also seen how my relative treated the GAC while at WDW ...and how ..even when immediately waved through into the FP line ...it wasn't good enough because there was still a wait. The overt sense of entitlement was mind numbing ...and equally infuriating as I watched someone I know ...get onto / into attractions in 1/5th the time that I could ...and still whine about it because it still wasn't good enough.

....I've also read each and every post on this thread (and several other similar threads on Disney related boards at other sites) ...and I see a distinct pattern. Many persons that have some form of affliction (personally or in the family) are not only railing against these possible changes ...but also presenting "their disability" as being worse than any other (different) affliction. Those with autism have it harder than those with mobility issues. Those with ADD have it worse than someone with cerebral palsy ....and on and on ....

....it's almost like saying that the mandated provisions set forth in the ADA Laws are not enough!! Are there now supposed to be separate ADA Laws that are specifically tailored to each and every disability? Is heart disease or someone with C.O.P.D. to be afforded a special color h'capped parking space that's closer to the store or building entrance because it's a worse disability than someone else has?

....the GAC was supposed to guarantee unencumbered access ...that's it. Unfortunately ...it evolved into a 3" x 5" magic carpet ride for those that deserved it ...and those that did not. But regardless of WHO held the card ...the very second that they entered whatever ride / attraction that honored it ....it had an impact on any & every other person that didn't have one that was waiting on the 'other' line. I suppose that those people's money isn't as green as someone who has a GAC in their possession? I can guarantee you that there were complaints from that camp ...particularly after the news reports on GAC 'fraud' and abuse.

....and ...I'm also not being insensitive. I'm blunt, to the point, and realistic. This is all about people (or masses of people) management .....it's an endeavor to level the playing field for everyone. If however ...when the "field" is level ...and equally accessible to all ...and it still doesn't suit your needs or situation ...then it's time to stop visiting the field.

[Terra]

....I really don't think what DizneyFreak2002 said was insensitive at all. I also said pretty much the same thing. If a place that is filled with all types of sensory overload stimuli, sometimes harsh weather conditions, and potential waits on a line is going to possibly precipitate a meltdown .....then that place should be avoided. If you are adversely impacted by the cold ...then don't go skiing or live in Alaska.

....I have actually seen persons on the "Resorts" sections of WDW related boards make statements / ask questions to the effect: "I want to stay at AoA ...but I feel that the resort and room decor` may be a bit too much for my son's sensory issues. Does Disney have any rooms there that are painted more plainly or have muted lighting? (I kid you not). Although it may sound crass: NO ...they are not painting a room specially for you! Easy Solution: Don't go to AoA ....done ...end of story.

...I'm not unfamiliar with the rigors of caring for an autistic child. I've also seen how my relative treated the GAC while at WDW ...and how ..even when immediately waved through into the FP line ...it wasn't good enough because there was still a wait. The overt sense of entitlement was mind numbing ...and equally infuriating as I watched someone I know ...get onto / into attractions in 1/5th the time that I could ...and still whine about it because it still wasn't good enough.

....I've also read each and every post on this thread (and several other similar threads on Disney related boards at other sites) ...and I see a distinct pattern. Many persons that have some form of affliction (personally or in the family) are not only railing against these possible changes ...but also presenting "their disability" as being worse than any other (different) affliction. Those with autism have it harder than those with mobility issues. Those with ADD have it worse than someone with cerebral palsy ....and on and on ....

....it's almost like saying that the mandated provisions set forth in the ADA Laws are not enough!! Are there now supposed to be separate ADA Laws that are specifically tailored to each and every disability? Is heart disease or someone with C.O.P.D. to be afforded a special color h'capped parking space that's closer to the store or building entrance because it's a worse disability than someone else has?

....the GAC was supposed to guarantee unencumbered access ...that's it. Unfortunately ...it evolved into a 3" x 5" magic carpet ride for those that deserved it ...and those that did not. But regardless of WHO held the card ...the very second that they entered whatever ride / attraction that honored it ....it had an impact on any & every other person that didn't have one that was waiting on the 'other' line. I suppose that those people's money isn't as green as someone who has a GAC in their possession? I can guarantee you that there were complaints from that camp ...particularly after the news reports on GAC 'fraud' and abuse.

....and ...I'm also not being insensitive. I'm blunt, to the point, and realistic. This is all about people (or masses of people) management .....it's an endeavor to level the playing field for everyone. If however ...when the "field" is level ...and equally accessible to all ...and it still doesn't suit your needs or situation ...then it's time to stop visiting the field.
Well no where did I say that I felt my son's "affliction" or "disability" was worse than any others.
The truth is though, yes sometimes those with "afflictions" DO need some extra help.

Sorry, but my opinion is that you do seem a bit insensitive. Again, just my opinion.

I guess I should just keep my child away from the world since he's not "entitled" to enjoy it like any other person.

[VWL Mom]

MODERATOR ALERT

Please treat everyone civilly, think before you post, do not engage in personal attacks.

Lets all be adults. If you can't do that - please don't post here.

[Terra]

My bad. I should have expressed my opinion more eloquently :)

Really the only thing that frustrates me are the insinuations that my child can deal with it in other ways. Sometimes that is very true! Often though it's not :( Purely because of the symptoms of the disability.

[Terra]

I have an idea. Maybe they should do like the Express pass at Universal. Issue a card with a onetime ride "fast entrance" for families that need to get on and off the rides in a shorter period of time. Let them ride each ride once with the pass and then if you would like to go more you would need to go through what they are offering now. Getting a pass and returning later. I think it would help those families with children/adults that can't handle waiting all day to ride I don't think it would disrupt the process of FP since its one time on each ride. I know my friend would appreciate this. He could ride what he likes and not have to worry about when to return
I like that idea! I have not been to universal in over 10 years [pre kiddos]. So I never knew of that.
I'd even be happy if the new GAC allowed for the regular entrance [as it is now with GAC but limits it to maybe 1 attraction every hour or so. That way we aren't running back and forth.

[minnie04]

Not everyone with a GAC abuses it. There are plenty of families that used that card for what it was set up to do. Sorry your family used it for their personal entitlement. I also don't think Disney should paint a room for anyone in particular, but if I call and ask if there is a room more suitable for my child (weither it be colors or beds or even lighting) then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Have you ever called a resort to ask if they have certain things in the rooms same thing what’s wrong with asking. I think people have become desensitized to a lot of things in the world because they feel others are benefiting from them. I think it's time we realize we are in 2013 and people with Disabilities are here and they should be treated with respect and YES even a little more asistance then others.

[JerseyDad]

Well no where did I say that I felt my son's "affliction" or "disability" was worse than any others.
The truth is though, yes sometimes those with "afflictions" DO need some extra help.

Sorry, but my opinion is that you do seem a bit insensitive. Again, just my opinion.

I guess I should just keep my child away from the world since he's not "entitled" to enjoy it like any other person.

....I honestly don't remember singling anyone out? I was responding to a pattern of opinions that have been expressed across the board (this one ...and many others that shall be nameless, as well as personal blogs and petition pages that are endeavoring to discuss the same topic ).

...and I don't remember saying anything that would in any manner strike down the ADA Laws or try to take away any provisions set forth in same.

....there are definitely myriads of ADA related things that are done to help those that need it. For example ...those with mobility issues get pedestrian ramps at the corners of intersections ...and at least one barrier free access to a dwelling or place of public assembly. Those with vision problems get braille touch pads installed on ATM's and detectable warning surfaces (those little red or yellow bumps) installed at the aforementioned pedestrian ramps ..or along subway platform edges.

.....the point I was making is that those same ADA Laws were put in place to make places of "public assembly" (of which DLR and WDW are categorized as) ...accessible. When those laws are tweaked or re-interpreted by the owner of such a place of assembly ....they can only 'tweak" them one way ...in "favor" of those to whom the Law was intended to serve. To lessen any of the provisions would be a violation of Federal Law. (ie: Federal ADA Law states that all parking lots need to have 2% of their spaces to be handicapped accessible ...but ...in comparison, NYC has mandated that 5% of all spaces be h'capped accessible ...that's an "upward" tweak).

....the problem is ...that when you tweak a system in the favor of one group (above & beyond it's original intended regulations) ...another group is negatively disadvantaged. In a sense, it's almost like the line out of the George Orwell book, "Animal Farm" ....where the barnyard commandments of animal rights and equality get twisted around so much that they basically state, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".

[margiem]

Wow, why is there such anger toward those of us that are upset that they are changing the GAC. Guess what? We ARE ENTITLED to be upset. It's our opinion. It's our feelings. This is what the discussion board is for. To discuss it. Not to be yelled at and attacked because we are upset over it. Such judgments..... Hey, guess what else - we do feel a bit sorry for ourselves. Step into our shoes for a day. And not all Autism is the same. Some have it worse than others and simply can't tolerate certain things. And you know what? They have every right to go wherever they want without discrimination. So when Disney welcomes you with open arms and makes it nice for you to go and then turns around and says - too bad for you - it's a devastating blow, especially for these children that love it so much. So for those people who say - "just don't go" - how sad! Why should they be denied the trip of a lifetime. And everywhere you look is Disney. How do you keep your kids away from it. It's not as easy as "just don't go". They are kept away from enough. They don't need to be kept away from Disney too. How do you tell your kids that the one vacation they look forward to every year or two, they can't go anymore? And they will never understand why.

Are you that angry that we are going through the fast pass line? Because I'm that angry that I cannot wait in a regular line. As I stand in the fast pass line and look at everyone in the regular line I wish to God that was me on the other side of the ropes. The judgments really need to stop. Everyone needs to respect everyone's opinions and no one needs to feel attacked because they are unhappy about it.

[Hammer]

I believe this thread has run its course. We will be sure to post any new information regarding this topic in this forum.

[Johnno52]

I hope it will not ruin the experience for the legitimate disabled guests. I am sure many have seen some abuse however, it now appears that these few, have made it a little more inconvenient for the majority of disabled visitors.

[Johnno52]

Sorry the title should have been "Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort will no longer allow visitors with disabilities instant access to rides"

[Arielfan98]

It is in the Guests With Special Needs forum under "GAC Changes". However since the topic is closed I cannot express my opinion and will do so here. I think that by doing this Disney is trying to compromise between Guests with SN, but at the same time accommodating everyone else who feels cheated by the system. Thanks to those that abused the system, guests with SN can no longer be guaranteed a nice Disney vacation. I work with children and adults with special needs and honestly taking care of them is difficult enough. Parents and caretakers of children/adults with SN really benefit from the GAC and I wish they didn't discontinue it.

[Pastcastmemberdaughter]

I think it's a good policy, at least a good one to start with. Disney will have to implement it and actually stick to it and see how things progress. I'm sure they will revise if needed.