Now that the dust has settled from our wonderful vacation, the one downside to the trip. The inconsistencies of trying to obtain a disability pass. Both my husband and brother were on the trip. My husband suffers from extreme orthopedic problems due to an accident in 1993. My brother suffers from diabetic ulcers on the bottoms of his feet. He happened to be in a walking cast during our vacation. Anyway, after being told and reading repeatedly that DL no longer offered disability passes, we all spend the first day either standing in line or doing fast passes (which are wonderful, by the way). However, at the end of the day, when our "group" had split up, my brother went to City Hall on Main Street and asked if he could get some sort of special assistance pass, since it was only day 1 and his feet were already in big trouble. They immediately issued him a pass, no questions asked. Good for himself and up to five family members.

Great, we thought, since my husband was also in a world of hurt. Later that night, my husband also stepped into City Hall. He was told that they do not issue special assistance passes anymore, and haven't done so for 2 years. Bologne! My brother had been issued one that very day! This was also pointed out to the cast member, who argued and said that was not possible. Since it was the end of the day, we figured that maybe the cast member was new and didn't know the policy, so hubby decided to check the next day. Again, told the same thing, no special assistance passes. Also tried at California Adventure.

As it turned out, between a wheelchair and fast passes, he did just fine, but the "standing" is what kills him. What was most bothersome, however, was the inconsistencies of using a pass that supposedly doesn't exist. We happened to be one of the lucky 5 to go on "Soarin" and a few other attractions with my brother, and as soon as he showed the pass, no questions asked, we went right in. Yet when hubby tried to get one, they said they were now non-existent, for at least 2 years. Cast members all let brother in with the pass, without blinking an eye!

Bottom line, the "special assistance pass" is still around, but you have to have some sort of special "aura" to obtain one, lol! I resented the fact that they kept saying they weren't available, yet brother obtained one, and all cast members readily let him on (and others who also had the passes) without batting an eye. Still some inconsistencies going on with the passes.

With that, I still want to reiterate that we had a marvelous time! The only downfall has been coming back to the real world, yuck! :)

I think I posted my similar story here a while back. My husband and I are both disabled. We are also AP holders. When the old system changed we were told that there now was no pass available. We were only told this one time and had no reason to doubt it *except* that often when we'd get into the que for Autopia I would ask if we could skip the switchbacks (for health reasons.) Some CMs would let us but others would tell us that we could only skip the switchbacks if we had a pass.

After this happened a few times over several months we went back to check on pass. We also were told at Guest Services at Main Street that there was no such pass. Then we asked why the CMs seemed to think a pass was available but still we were told it didn't exist. We decided to give it one last try later that day and we ended up with a CM who did issue the pass (but again first denied that they existed.) I find it really odd that Disney has their CMs misrepresent the facts but this must be the new company policy because it gets reported frequently.

Bottom line, the "special assistance pass" is still around, but you have to have some sort of special "aura" to obtain one, lol! I resented the fact that they kept saying they weren't available, yet brother obtained one, and all cast members readily let him on (and others who also had the passes) without batting an eye. Still some inconsistencies going on with the passes.

With that, I still want to reiterate that we had a marvelous time! The only downfall has been coming back to the real world, yuck! :)

IF you have a mobility problem they normally do not give you a pass anymore. They tell you to get a wheelchair. There is no such thing as a special assistance pass so they did not lie they are called guest assistance passes now that is how they get around that one. The only thing I can think of is that your friend went in alone and the figured he had no one to push him in a wheelchair. You can get passes if you have mobility issues and you have no one to push you if they have no more ECV's to rent. It also matters what you say and who you get. I know it is frustrating but that is just the way in is now. It does not matter what your condition is the can care less. They want to know what kind of assistance you need and if it is that your feet have problems they will recommend a wheel chair because if you are sitting that will take care of the issue.