Guest Assistance pass @ Univ?

[Lou-Ann]

Can anyone tell me if there is a guest assistance pass available at Universal Studios? We are going to go for one or two days during our December trip toWorld. Thanks so very much for any information you can give me. I have had 3 knee surgeries.

 

[SueM in MN]

They do have Guest Assistance Cards at Universal (not really a Pass, since it does not give immediate access). Our personal experience is old, but we found they were not interested in giving out Guest Assistance Cards for people with physical disabilities who were using mobility devices (like wheelchairs or ecvs) because all their lines are wheelchair accessible. This was despite our DD having other needs in addition to needing an accessible line.

One thing to think about seriously is that the distance and time you will spend getting around the park is much greater than the distance and time waiting in lines. So, if you are concerned with so much walking and/or standing, an ecv or wheelchair will be much more assistance than a card would be.
People who needed assistance for conditions like autism have posted good experiences though.
Here is a link to the Universal Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.

 

[JenJen]

I highly reccomend the Access pass. IT cost a little more money then your ticket and it is imediate boarding. The assistance pass was not good for my kids because we had to go to the attraction and get a time to come back and it was hard for my daughter to understand why we were not going on or waiting off to the side for our turn. For her she is fine waiting away from a crowd but to go to a ride and then have to come back later is too non routine for her.
JenJen

 

[Absimilliard]

We returned to Universal last july and I went to Guest Services with my disabled mom upon getting in the park, since we had tons of problems last time we were there with her, related to lines that were not too wheelchair accessibles.

I ask them what kind of assistance they can offer this time, mentionning she has a GAC with Alternate Entrance at WDW. They asked when we were here for the last time, which was 2 years ago. Here's what really... made mad. He said "Oh, don't worry! Since you last visited, recently, we spent millions of dollars to make all our lines accessibles to people travelling in wheelchairs!".

I simply replied that we were told 2 years ago all lines were already accessible and now you tell me they were not? He simply could not answer anything... and gave us, as a one time exception, a card saying we could use Express entrances that day.

Now, I visited both of those parks tons of times 2-3 years ago and I have to tell you, them "spending millions of dollars making all the lines accessible" is not true. Its a lie, as no lines changed.

Oh, I almost forgot! That day, we checked the price of Universal Express Gold (the pass that let anyone that buys it skip the lines once at every ride in that park). How much it was? 40$ plus tax per person for 1 park!

 

[phamton]

Oh, I almost forgot! That day, we checked the price of Universal Express Gold (the pass that let anyone that buys it skip the lines once at every ride in that park). How much it was? 40$ plus tax per person for 1 park!

Actually it is called Express Pass Plus and the highest the price has ever been is $35 plus tax. There are also free express pass machines for every ride and show except for PT Flyers. It works just like the fast pass at Disney and is also free just as the fast pass is free at Disney.

Universal has GAP (Guest Assistance Passes). You do not need a doctor's note just be able to tell them what assistance you need at Guest Services.

Both parks are ADA compliant and, as such, are wheelchair accessible. The parks were built ADA complaint.

There are several types of GAP offered:
Stroller as a wheelchair (you an take your stroller right through the line without transferring to a wheelchair)
Show GAP (Special seating at shows--usually right up front, especially for hearing/vision impaired)
Stairs GAP (for those rides that have stairs in the queue, you can use the elevator)
Familyroom GAP (where you wait in an airconditioned room with a few other family members while the rest of your family goes through the queue--then you join them at the front of the line)
Express GAP which is esentially like a fast pass at Disney all day (6 people maximum)
VIP Gap (back door access--mostly for Make a Wish Kids or Give Kids the World)

 

[Absimilliard]

No offense, but after the last visit, I'll be taking my money away from Universal when I return to Florida. Cypress Gardens looks really good, as well as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Sea World... which were very accomodating.

Universal is just too inconsistant and only wants to push Express Gold tickets sales and hotel stays, often at the detriment of people coming in for a day. Its sad... cause Universal Studios Hollywood is just unbelievable and just better all around then either of the Florida parks.

 

[phamton]

I do understand your frustration but I see you live in Canada and may not be familiar with the American Disabilities Act.

The ADA states that: "SEC. 12101. [Section 2]

(a) Findings. - The Congress finds that-

(1) some 43,000,000 Americans have one or more physical or mental
disabilities, and this number is increasing as the population as a whole
is growing older;

(2) historically, society has tended to isolate and segregate
individuals with disabilities, and, despite some improvements, such forms
of discrimination against individuals with disabilities continue to be a
serious and pervasive social problem."

Giving front of the line and seperate entrances is considered isolation. All guests should be treated equally if at all possible. Several theme parks were given heavy fines for segregating when their parks were already ADA complaint but were giving front of the line GAC passes. Most themeparks built before 1990 are not ADA complaint like Universal Hollywood, Disneyland, and Magic Kingdom. These parks were built before the ADA law was put into effect and thus are more apt to allow front of the line because their queues are not already handicapped accessible. Universal Hollywood has to offer a seperate (backdoor) entry for wheelchairs because not all the queues are wheelchair accessible. Universal Orlando's queues are all wheelchair accessible so they do not offer a seperate backdoor access unless someone is not capable of waiting in line.

Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure are completely ADA accessible and by law must obey the guidelines set by the ADA. They do allow certain privileges to make it more comfortable to wait such as airconditioned waiting rooms, etc. If a person's disabilities makes it impossible to wait in line such as autism, make a wish kids, etc. then front of the line is available for them. When you go to Universal Studios you need to let them know what kind of assistance is needed and that request is honored.

 

[pugdog]

Phantom,
We went to US about 6 months after they opened and they WERE NOT ADA compliant at the time. Few if any of the queues were wheelchair friendly. After complaining to GS all we got was a song and dance of how they meet the ADA. Sorry to say that was all it was.
Fast forward to about 4 years ago, and we decided to give it one more try. They have gotten better with wheelchair access but still suck and are way behind WDW. Macgic Kingdom is 100% better then US or IOA. About the only plus that IOA has is the some of the rides allow wc's to be put on.
GS has always sucked when ever we have talked to them and that reason alone is the reason that they will NEVER see any money from us again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure are completely ADA accessible and by law must obey the guidelines set by the ADA. They do allow certain privileges to make it more comfortable to wait such as airconditioned waiting rooms, etc. If a person's disabilities makes it impossible to wait in line such as autism, make a wish kids, etc. then front of the line is available for them. When you go to Universal Studios you need to let them know what kind of assistance is needed and that request is honored.

I understand and applaud Universal's attempts at inclusion. In fact, their Rider's Guide for guests with Disabilities is the most complete and helpful guide I have ever seen. But, our last trip to Universal was many years ago and left a sour taste in our mouths, but not because we were expecting any front of the line treament. Things may have changed, but maybe not....

We might go back to Universal at some point, but we found that because DD has a wheelchair, we were looked at by Universal as needing only accessible lines, despite her other needs. We were not asking for front of the line access, only for a place to wait out of the sun, heat and closeness of the lines or a place where she and one member of our party could wait while the rest of us were in line.
I don't want to go into detail on this board about why close lines are a problem for her, but we explained her needs and were told repeatedly (on several trips) that "our lines are wheelchair accessible and meet all the ADA guidelines and that's all we are required to provide". (That is as close to exact quote and emphasis as I can get - it seemed to be a script, since everyone we talked to used the same words and even emphasized the same words).
It didn't matter that I said my DD had other needs that were not met just by accessible lines. Because we had a wheelchair, that was all they would provide.
It did not matter how we explained her needs, I felt I was being looked at as someone who would rent a wheelchair and then ask for front of the line access (just for the record, my DD has cerebral palsy and can't walk. She has an obviously expensive custom personal wheelchair - actually 2 wheelchairs; a manual and a power). The individual ride CMs were nice to us, but without the Guest Assistance Pass, they could not give us anything besides an accessible line. Because we had a wheelchair, the Guest Services people felt they had accomidated us enough by providing wheelchair accesible lines.

I do know people have posted that their children with autism and ADD (which ironically, is one of DD's diagnoses) have been accomidated well at Universal, so maybe some day we will try again.
But, because most of the rides are either thrill rides that she can't go on, or require a transfer from the wheelchair, we are very limited in what we can go on.

 

[phamton]

We were not asking for front of the line access, only for a place to wait out of the sun, heat and closeness of the lines or a place where she and one member of our party could wait while the rest of us were in line.

I'm sorry you had so much trouble. I think the problem is most people come to Guest Services asking for and expecting a front of the line pass. Sometimes, the GS co-ordinators assume that is what everyone is expecting when they come in for a GAP and so they may have not taken the time to really listen to what you needed. That is not really a valid excuse but may have been what happened.

Next time, go in and let them know you need a Family Room GAP. Those are relatively easy to get. It will allow your daughter and one or two family members to wait in the airconditioned family room while the rest of the party goes through the regular line. When they get to the front of the line, then you can rejoin your party. I would suggest using the free express passes for lines with a long wait. They work just like Disney's fast pass. Your party can go through the express pass lane which is usually 15 minutes or less, while you wait with your daughter in the family room.

Edited to add: it's possible for a park to be fined if they backdoor too many guests. Magic Kingdom has to backdoor wheelchairs as some of their queues aren't accessible. Universal cannot do that since the queues are wheelchair accessible. If Universal backdoored all wheelchairs, they could face some heavy fines. There are a few rides which the queues are wheelchair accessible but once you get up to the ride, there are stairs so on those rides, there are elevators available. (Men in Black and Mummy are two of those rides.)

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for your information.
I think the people at Guest Relations just saw a wheelchair and turned off their ears at that point. Because what we were asking for was not a Family Room by name, but was pretty much what we were describing.

One of the things that bothers me greatly is when people who are renting wheelchairs are taken in thru the back door at attraction at any park.
(Nothing against people renting wheelchairs or sometimes people being back doored for some reason). Sometimes they are backdoored because that is the only accessible way, but they often don't know that. Sometimes it's for other reasons, but they don't know that either.
The problem comes when they tell other people (or post on boards like the DIS boards) that the wheelchair was basically a pass that let them get many rides without a wait. They may not realize that is the exception rather than the norm.
And, when those of us who use or have family members who use wheelchairs or scooters all the time try to clear it up, I think many people think we are lying about it to "save a perk" for ourselves. After all, if Great Aunt Matilda's second cousin's friend rented a wheelchair because she broke her leg and got in "all" the rides with no wait, those of use who go to the parks more often with mobility devices can't possibly be telling the truth when we say we waited in the standard (accessible) line.

The same thing (sort of) happens with Guest Assitance Cards. People assume they are all the same, when actually they are different because they are based on needs and what is available at that time at that attraction.

 

[phamton]

Thanks, Sue, for saying what I wanted to say but much more eloquently.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, Sue, for saying what I wanted to say but much more eloquently.

You're welcome. I'm glad it made sense.

 

[Mistyhon]

Hi ,
My family and I were just at Universal last week and I had no problem obtaining a Gac from them what so ever they were very helpful and I was able to access all rides with it for my daughter . The only difference with there pass is you have to get a new one everytime you enter the Parks where as WDW GAC was one pass dated for the lenght of our stay in FLorida.
I just told them what I needed and why and they were very helpful.

 

[dclfun]

One thing that really bugs me is to hear that guest services hosts/hostesses are assuming that people are looking for front of the line access. Most people I know who are truly disabled are NOT looking for this at all, just a way to make their day easier so that they can enjoy the parks like everyone else. I agree with Sue that sometimes people read these boards or have heard from others that renting a wheelchair can provide immediate access or a special line for all the attractions. I have been inside Guest Relations at WDW and heard guests arguing about wanting a GAC because they heard from another person "what to say" and they want it too, even though they could not describe what their needs were or why they needed special accomodation....arrgh! Sue, unless your daughter can transfer there isn't much to do at US/IOA except the shows. Because I have volunteered with chimps, gorillas, and orangutans I became so disturbed to see an infant chimp, infant and juvenile orangutan used as entertainment in the Animal Planet:Live show that I had to leave and couldn't even enjoy the shows. I consider using apes in entertainment as true abuse. Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

One thing that really bugs me is to hear that guest services hosts/hostesses are assuming that people are looking for front of the line access. Most people I know who are truly disabled are NOT looking for this at all, just a way to make their day easier so that they can enjoy the parks like everyone else.

Totally agree with that. :yes:

Sue, unless your daughter can transfer there isn't much to do at US/IOA except the shows.

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. She can only transfer with a lot of assistance. (Can do a pivot turn, but has a hard time doing transfers to things that are low. Can't do a sliding transfer. We often lift her for speed of thransfer).
I also would not be interested in the shows involving apes and/or chimps. I don't like shows that try to make the animals do "human tricks".

 

[kaytieeldr]

One of the things that bothers me greatly is when people who are renting wheelchairs are taken in thru the back door at attraction at any park.
(Nothing against people renting wheelchairs or sometimes people being back doored for some reason). Sometimes they are backdoored because that is the only accessible way, but they often don't know that. Sometimes it's for other reasons, but they don't know that either.

I had an interesting experience at Tower of Terror last winter. I use an ECV for park touring, and for my entire trip that time as I had broken my hip and was traveling solo.

First ride: One of the first EMH evenings, I was able to ride (and maneuver) the ECV through the entire regular queue (where I had to either toss my hot chocolate or finish it before entering as no food or drink is permitted; it was below freezing that night, trust me, I finished drinking first J)
I was then allowed by the Cast Member to enter the library still on the ECV and able to ride it all the way to the elevators. Understand, I didn’t ask to do this, just nobody stopped me so I kept going

Second and third rides: A few days later, after a delayed opening the CM who’d been preventing Guests from approaching ToT escorted me in through the exit, telling me ECVs aren’t allowed inside the building! Go figure…

One major disadvantage to alternate access is that you often miss out on the preshow. Fortunately, I’ve seen/done everything at Disney at least once – except Lights! Motors! Action! and Tom Sawyer’s Island

 

[Absimilliard]

Triceratop Discovery trails (or something like that) involved watching a show, where 2 "trainers" interacted with an animatronic triceratop. Interesting concept and totally accessible, but Universal closed it... Replacing it with nothing.

As for accessible attraction, during the months of September, October and part of November, there's only one attraction open and that is the stunt show! Poseidon's Fury is closed this year those months since its used as a "maze" for Halloween Horror Nights. The lower floor of Jurassic Park discovery center is also closed, since its also used as a maze this year as far as I know.