new blog: Guest Assistance Cards Vs. FastPass+

[North of Mouse]

I'm glad you all haven't experienced any abuse and maybe the number of abusers is small. However, when you hear the GAC card being called a "fastpass" over and over again and have a guest's wrath come down upon you when you won't let them come through the fastpass line because "that's what everyone else did," its hard NOT to assume the system is being abused. And I've overheard guests telling other guests to get this pass because "we haven't waited in a line all day" many times. Legit GAC card holders understand it's not a magical front-of-the-line pass. I've NEVER had an issue with a family who truly needs a GAC card because they don't hesitate to explain their situation and answer any questions we might have to help accommodate them. Like I said before, disabilities come in all forms and you can't judge based on what they look like.

Side note: As much as some guests believe, CM's aren't there to ruin your vacation, GAC card or not. We want to help you get on the attraction as efficiently as possible! Believe me, it's not fun to have hundreds of guests yelling at you because of long waits or ride breakdowns! We want you on the attraction, to enjoy it, and be on your merry way.

When people say they have not seen the GAC's abused they must not be regular visitors of Disney, or they just refuse to acknowledge it. I have seen it more than once, in fact several times. The last time was a group of about 6 teens with one wheelchair. They were laughing and taking turns riding/ arguing about who would get to ride next/have to push, etc.

Some, you might not can tell, others are VERY obvious, and yes, I *will* judge them. I will also continue to be very about the abusers, and true GAC holders should be too. Disney *must* do something. It's open and out of hand. And, also, yes you can wait a lot less with the GAC, not always, but enough that people will do it for *that benefit*.

I have also heard people say that the best time to go to Disney is when your child or other family member has broken their leg/foot (or go with Grandma in a wheelchair). This has been said (partly *tongue in cheek*) but also in sincerity. This was said by my dh's colleague some years ago when a wheelchair really was a *ticket* to the head of the line, maybe not as much so now as then.

 

[cmwade77]

There's another thread going where a guy without a disability thinks the GAC is unfair, so he is going to get one and then report back on how it works for him. Just great! Not only is THAT abuse, but if he perceives some advantage from it and tells everyone, that is only going to encourage MORE abuse.

Please report that thread to a moderator, I am fairly sure it violates the rules on these boards.

Hopefully the CMs see through it and deny him one, but if he gets a GAC, then he might find that it's unfair from his viewpoint, because he doesn't deal with the actually disability that it would allow him to overcome. Those of us with these issues know that it takes extra time to deal with these issues and without a GAC, many of us may only be able to do a couple of attractions in a day, whereas with a GAC we can get close to the same number as everyone else, but still not reach the same number.

So, it would be an unfair test and I know I would give up te GAC to not have to deal with my issues in a heartbeat.

 

[Kellykins1218]

When people say they have not seen the GAC's abused they must not be regular visitors of Disney, or they just refuse to acknowledge it. I have seen it more than once, in fact several times. The last time was a group of about 6 teens with one wheelchair. They were laughing and taking turns riding/ arguing about who would get to ride next/have to push, etc.



I have also heard people say that the best time to go to Disney is when your child or other family member has broken their leg/foot (or go with Grandma in a wheelchair). This has been said (partly *tongue in cheek*) but also in sincerity. This was said by my dh's colleague some years ago when a wheelchair really was a *ticket* to the head of the line, maybe not as much so now as then.

Almost all of the lines are wheelchair accessible and those with an obvious disability (someone using a wheelchair) doesn't need a GAC. If you're in a wheelchair you're going to go through the same line as everyone else.

 

[North of Mouse]

There's another thread going where a guy without a disability thinks the GAC is unfair, so he is going to get one and then report back on how it works for him. Just great! Not only is THAT abuse, but if he perceives some advantage from it and tells everyone, that is only going to encourage MORE abuse.

That thread has been closed!

 

[ttintagel]

I have seen it more than once, in fact several times. The last time was a group of about 6 teens with one wheelchair. They were laughing and taking turns riding/ arguing about who would get to ride next/have to push, etc.

Did you follow them around all day to hear their entire conversation? Did you have some way of knowing that one member of the group didn't need the chair some of the time, and the rest of them weren't just using it when he/she didn't need it? Or did you happen to see them just for a while?

Some of us have a sense of humor about our physical problems. I know I try to laugh at my own as much as possible. If a passerby hears me laugh and thinks that means I don't have any problems, he's sorely mistaken.

Unless you spend the whole day with the person in question, you can't say for sure who needs it and who doesn't.

I'm sure people who misuse it exist in a nonzero number, as there are people who will find a way to abuse every system ever created by man (and always have been). But you can't tell who they are without doing a detailed investigation (instead of a casual observation at the park), so they can't be counted.

Have I seen people I suspect MIGHT be misuing? Sure. But I don't pretend I can know that for certain. I just plain do not have enough information.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Problem is that the person doing the experiment will pick and choose his experiences. For instance he may enter the show ahead of others in order to load the ECV in the ECV spot, ( same show as he normally would go in, not better seats, but perceived as something special to him. ) but then when going to Small World, or Jungle Cruise and facing the LONGER than usual waits, he will simple park it and use a regular line. Sadly he will probably only post what he perceives the positive and not actually experience the negatives. Now if he wore blurred glasses, sat on glass, tied lead weights to his arms and legs, and, and, and .... then toured the parks, with a GAC, he would have a better understanding of the "GAC" experience.

 

[ttintagel]

Problem is that the person doing the experiment will pick and choose his experiences. For instance you may enter the show ahead of others in order to load the ECV in the ECV spot, but then when going to Small World, or Jungle Cruise and facing the LONGER than usual waits, he will simple park it and use a regular line. Sadly he will probably only post what he perceives the positive and not actually experience the negatives.

Also, not everyone using a wheelchair or ECV has a GAC. Acutally most do not.
Some of the abuse seen may wheelchair use or ECV use, but not GAC users.

Not to mention the fact that the experience can vary slightly depending on the conditions on the ground. He may have a shorter wait at one point because there are fewer people needing an accessible entrance or something, and he'll think that the accessible entrance is ALWAYS a shorter wait.

 

[I Love Pluto]

THANK YOU.

The answer is, of course, people are pulling it out of thin air and their own paranoia. It seems like a lot of people without disabilities in the family believe that if you don't look like Captain Pike from Star Trek then you CLEARLY must be faking something.

"I saw a guy use a wheelchair some of the time and walk some of the time. ABUSE!" (Welcome to the enchanting world of arthritis in the spine.)

"I heard a guy requesting a GAC because of his neurological condition, and he stumbled over some of the words! FAKER!" (Gee, could the stumbling be a symptom of his neurological condition?)

"There were more than a couple of people at the accessible entrance! Come on, there can't really be THAT many people with disabilities! RAMPANT WIDESPREAD OBVIOUS UNDENIABLE FLAGRANT ABUSE!" (WDW is a popular vacation spot for PWD because they know WDW will do their best to give them access, which leads to a higher concentration than in the general public. Also, many people who don't need assistance at home because they can tailor their lives, homes, and workplaces around their disability can't do the same at WDW.)

I am sooooooo hurt by this comment! I DO have a neurological issue. I have had brain stem & spinal cord surgery as well as cervical fusions. I trip over many words per day. I am a retired teacher with a Master's degree. I am not ignorant - but when I cannot remember the word MILK or CANE or LEG - I am NOT fooling around. Not GAC worthy for this issue, but it happens to me often.

Please don't judge others with a subject which you are unfamiliar with. It hurts very, very much.

Thank you!

 

[peemagg]

I know how to fix all this abuse and everyone's arguments.

First of all do away with the Fastpass all together. Next get rid of any and all barriers for those in wheelchairs and ECV's and those who can't do steps. Next make the lines wider so that those with anxiety or claustrophobia aren't on top of everyone else. Gives people breathing room. Those who need an alternate place to wait or those with some other disability (maybe sight impaired) that these first changes don't allow for a place to wait after getting a time for which they can then go to the CM who will then escort that person to a place where they can get on. This might mean opening up a special hall or using the old fast pass lanes (Oh did I mention that we close these lanes) to get them to that place.

You now have everyone in one line, period. Those who are in alternate area are given the return time for the stand by time that is current when they arrive. No one gets "special" treatment.

The whole problem is the fact that Disney does not enforce their own rules and they also do not stand behind the CM's so that when a incident happens such as Joe Schmoe coming up and yelling that he wants accommodations for his hangnail, then the accommodation is "you can get in line behind that person over there." Not the CM is wrong and lets cater to Joe Schmoe since he threw a fit and give him front of the line pass. We wouldn't want to lose his one or two dollars!

That is the whole problem. Disney is more worried about keeping everyone happy for the almighty dollar and has caused these problems for themselves. Because of the lack of consistency on their part, they have created a sense of inequality.

 

[peemagg]

I am sooooooo hurt by this comment! I DO have a neurological issue. I have had brain stem & spinal cord surgery as well as cervical fusions. I trip over many words per day. I am a retired teacher with a Master's degree. I am not ignorant - but when I cannot remember the word MILK or CANE or LEG - I am NOT fooling around. Not GAC worthy for this issue, but it happens to me often.

Please don't judge others with a subject which you are unfamiliar with. It hurts very, very much.

Thank you!

I think they meant that as what others percieve, not saying that that person or anyone else was faking. It was in reference to those who say they "know" that person was faking and that they tripped over the words was the reason that they knew the person was faking.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I think they meant that as what others percieve, not saying that that person or anyone else was faking. It was in reference to those who say they "know" that person was faking and that they tripped over the words was the reason that they knew the person was faking.

Thanks! I get it now. I was so hurt that I really started to get angry. You cleared up the confusion.

Thank you for caring!

 

[Friendly Frog]

There's another thread going where a guy without a disability thinks the GAC is unfair, so he is going to get one and then report back on how it works for him. Just great! Not only is THAT abuse, but if he perceives some advantage from it and tells everyone, that is only going to encourage MORE abuse.

Link?

 

[cmwade77]

"There were more than a couple of people at the accessible entrance! Come on, there can't really be THAT many people with disabilities! RAMPANT WIDESPREAD OBVIOUS UNDENIABLE FLAGRANT ABUSE!" (WDW is a popular vacation spot for PWD because they know WDW will do their best to give them access, which leads to a higher concentration than in the general public. Also, many people who don't need assistance at home because they can tailor their lives, homes, and workplaces around their disability can't do the same at WDW.)

Actually, thanks to a variety of factors, especially GMOs in our food supply, the percentage of people with disabilities is quite high, last I heard is it would be near 35%-40% of the U.S. population that has a disability severe enough to need some sort of assistance.

As for stumbling over the words, we all get tongue tied from time to time, that does not indicate that they are faking it.

 

[Beccabunny]

Link?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3048662

 

[cmwade77]

That thread is closed and rightfully so, luckily this one has been more civilized.

The problem I see is the original article doesn't play nice and no one seems to be willing to do anything about that, which is the root of the problem.

 

[North of Mouse]

Did you follow them around all day to hear their entire conversation? Did you have some way of knowing that one member of the group didn't need the chair some of the time, and the rest of them weren't just using it when he/she didn't need it? Or did you happen to see them just for a while?

Some of us have a sense of humor about our physical problems. I know I try to laugh at my own as much as possible. If a passerby hears me laugh and thinks that means I don't have any problems, he's sorely mistaken.

Unless you spend the whole day with the person in question, you can't say for sure who needs it and who doesn't.

I'm sure people who misuse it exist in a nonzero number, as there are people who will find a way to abuse every system ever created by man (and always have been). But you can't tell who they are without doing a detailed investigation (instead of a casual observation at the park), so they can't be counted.

Have I seen people I suspect MIGHT be misuing? Sure. But I don't pretend I can know that for certain. I just plain do not have enough information.

Wow, this tops the cake for making excuses for people obviously fraudulently using a GAC. This type of post is what hurts those needing the GAC the most. But, whatever excuse you want to make for people like that is certainly your privilege, but I, for one, did not buy it then that they needed it, and I'm not buying it now, and this is *my* privilege.

 

[kellyw8863]

I don't think there's anything necessarily obvious about misuse People probably will think we're abusing the GAC when we're there in April, as my seven year old is running in circles while her healthy nine year old sister insists on riding in the stroller. The two of them may even seem a bit gleeful (gasp) if the CM working at Guest Services concludes that dd's needs will be best met using an alternative entrance. But what people won't necessarily see is the metabolic crisis that comes on because she becomes overheated, or under hydrated, or stressed (even good stress), or what have you, and then things can get very hairy very quickly.

I'm terrified of our upcoming trip, because I know how badly things can get in a short amount of time. But we know that our daughter has a shortened life-expectancy, and we try to commit to living our lives the best way we know how so we'll take our chances. It's just salt on the wound to think that there will be people there who'll see the girls laughing and running and acting their ages, and automatically assume that we're trying to "cheat" the system, when we know that there'll be significant consequences medically for allowing some fun.

 

[Friendly Frog]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3048662

Thanks, that was interesting. Even more interesting was reading his posts on other threads. (the person planning on getting the GAC he doesn't need.)
He also has opinions on diabled people having kids, and a number of other things.

 

[North of Mouse]

I don't think there's anything obvious about it People probably will think we're abusing the GAC when we're there in April, as my seven year old is running in circles while her healthy nine year old sister insists on riding in the stroller. The two of them may even seem a bit gleeful (gasp) if the CM working at Guest Services concludes that dd's needs will be best met using an alternative entrance. But what people won't necessarily see is the metabolic crisis that comes on because she becomes overheated, or under hydrated, or stressed (even good stress), or what have you, and then things can get very hairy very quickly.

I'm terrified of our upcoming trip, because I know how badly things can get in a short amount of time. But we know that our daughter has a shortened life-expectancy, and we try to commit to living our lives the best way we know how so we'll take our chances. It's just salt on the wound to think that there will be people there who'll see the girls laughing and running and acting their ages, and automatically assume that we're trying to "cheat" the system, when we know that there'll be significant consequences medically for allowing some fun.

kelly, I was not speaking of children in your situation. Please go back and read the post that ttintagel was quoting. I was just posting to her response to me. Actually, I was taking up for those of you that need GACs. It reallly steams me to see people like I was posting about that was so blatantly abusing the system. There *was* no doubt.

Have a trip!

 

[cmwade77]

Wow, this tops the cake for making excuses for people obviously fraudulently using a GAC. This type of post is what hurts those needing the GAC the most. But, whatever excuse you want to make for people like that is certainly your privilege, but I, for one, did not buy it then that they needed it, and I'm not buying it now, and this is *my* privilege.

Again, you don't know the situation, it is possible that one of the kids does need it some of the time and was having a good day. I certainly know I have my really good days, my not so good days and my really bad days. I never know which it is when I start out for the day and a good day can turn into a bad day if I am not careful. But if I do things right and use the GAC when I should, you would most likely not have a clue that anything is wrong.

I have developed a habit of not using it at Disneyland if the line is short, because I do enjoy some of the queues as it tells some of the story. And in general the GAC doesn't provide faster access, but does bypass most of the queues.

But I found during this last trip that at Disney World that even if the line is a short wait, it can still have a lot of loops back and forth, which do me in, that the alternate entrance avoids. In the past we have always gone during the busier seasons and while the first part of our trip was busy, the second part had a lot fewer people than we normally have and I learned this the hard way.

So, even with short lines, Disney World without a GAC would not be very doable for me.