hi,
we re just back from the park and when we went this morning to the city hall to explain about my daughter needing a GAC... the cm asked to see a medical letter proving she needed one, as soon as he saw it, he wrote eagerly our GAC, explained to us how to use and was very nice about it! what a difference with DLP where everyone can rent a wheelchair just to cheat and the persons really needing a GAC are denied one... why not asking a doc note where he would have written the needs of the patient and not a diagnosis.... wouldnt that make it all easier for everyone and CIAO to the cheaters?!
next time we go to DLR, we ll have the GAC from here! and they better not deny it again!!

what a difference with DLP where everyone can rent a wheelchair just to cheat and the persons really needing a GAC are denied one... why not asking a doc note where he would have written the needs of the patient and not a diagnosis.... wouldnt that make it all easier for everyone and CIAO to the cheaters?!
next time we go to DLR, we ll have the GAC from here! and they better not deny it again!! You are, of course, aware that the laws in France and the laws in the US are different, right? I know you've been around this board for a while, and I believe you've posted in the threads where this has been discussed before, but Disneyland does not ask for doctor's notes, nor do they allow guests to present them to support their request for a GAC. I don't think they will consider a GAC from Disneyland PARIS to be a supporting document towards getting one at Disneyland California.

Having said that, yes, it's pretty darn awesome that Disneyland Paris makes it easier for people with a documented need to obtain a GAC. In fact, my husband was able to get a "permanent" GAC on his Disneyland Paris Annual Passport - they print a little wheelchair on the card before they laminate it. Of course, that little wheelchair symbol means next to nothing when the "accessible" entrance to a roller coaster involves climbing up one flight of stairs and down another when it would make more sense just to walk 10 flat steps the other direction.... I think I'll take the ADA over Disneyland Paris' "voluntary accomodation" any time.

AVP

You are, of course, aware that the laws in France and the laws in the US are different, right? I know you've been around this board for a while, and I believe you've posted in the threads where this has been discussed before, but Disneyland does not ask for doctor's notes, nor do they allow guests to present them to support their request for a GAC. I don't think they will consider a GAC from Disneyland PARIS to be a supporting document towards getting one at Disneyland California.

<snip>I think I'll take the ADA over Disneyland Paris' "voluntary accomodation" any time.

AVP
Between the ADA and HIPPA, I think we have it better overall here. I would hate to have to continually carry paperwork around to prove issues.

We have a 3 1/2 year old daughter, in a wheelchair, she can not sit or walk. She has seizures everyday. She LOVES Disneyland, so we take her everytime she needs to see her specialists at UCLA or Shriners, about once every other month.

We had never had any problems getting her GAC at city hall in the past, until last month. The CM gave us a hard time about it. We actually left city hall feeling really bad about the whole situation. When we got to NOS and tried to board the train in the handicap area, the conductor asked us to breakdown the "stroller". We told him it was a wheelchair and he asked us for our GAC. We tried to tell him what happened at city hall. He let us on, "this time". We rode the train around to Tomorrowland, this time I felt was feeling bad AND embarrassed. I was wondering, did he think we were lying about our daughter being in a wheelchair so we didn't have to take her out of her "stroller"?

We went back to city hall. Politely asked for a GAC, and we were reluctanly given one, again "this time". (I actually had tears in my eyes, and I am usually very thick skinned.) We took a stroll toward NOS and stopped to get some fritters. While there, our daughter had a MAJOR seizure and paramedics were called. They did a FANTASTIC job getting us through Fantasmic and fireworks crowds to first aid where she received her emergency seizure medication. (that has nothing to do with the GAC, just mentioning it because it ironically happened that same night).

All in all, our last trip to DLR just didn't go very well. I really don't know why it was so hard for them to give a 3 year old in a wheelchair a GAC. Clearly she IS disabled.

We are leaving for UCLA tomorrow AM and will be at DLR on Tuesday through Thursday. I truly hope we have a much better experience this time.

Thanks for listening.

Debi

I would suggest that if you run into this problem you start taking names and ask immediately for a manager. They may bring out (what at WDW is called) a coordinator, who will still be in costume but in a supervisary position. If you still do not get satisfaction again ask for a manager; this person will not be in a costume. If still problems start writing letters and giving names of people you talked to and dates and times. Unless people make a fuss they will not change.

You are, of course, aware that the laws in France and the laws in the US are different, right? I know you've been around this board for a while, and I believe you've posted in the threads where this has been discussed before, but Disneyland does not ask for doctor's notes, nor do they allow guests to present them to support their request for a GAC. I don't think they will consider a GAC from Disneyland PARIS to be a supporting document towards getting one at Disneyland California.

Having said that, yes, it's pretty darn awesome that Disneyland Paris makes it easier for people with a documented need to obtain a GAC. In fact, my husband was able to get a "permanent" GAC on his Disneyland Paris Annual Passport - they print a little wheelchair on the card before they laminate it. Of course, that little wheelchair symbol means next to nothing when the "accessible" entrance to a roller coaster involves climbing up one flight of stairs and down another when it would make more sense just to walk 10 flat steps the other direction.... I think I'll take the ADA over Disneyland Paris' "voluntary accomodation" any time.

AVP
Dear AVP,
Yes, it has been 1 year since I started to post here and let me tell you that during the 2 trips my daughter went to DLR with family, never she got the GAC... and like for Debi, the CMs at City Hall made them feel bad about asking one... my daughter suffers from seizures+ asthma attacks among other issues... she is in a wheelchair because she has bones tumors... last summer in the POTC line (cf my post about it) she went into a seizure and the CM asked my brother why they didn't ask for a GAC! At DLP, they didn't make a fuss about it and gave it to us when we showed them the doctor notice... maybe we have to show a proof of disability, but my daughter had a super day... so Id rather show a letter each time we visit than having my child go into a seizure that will ruin her day! But that's just my point of view...
Take Care
David

'next time we go to DLR, we ll have the GAC from here! and they better not deny it again!!'

Bring it to the park, walk in and say "this is the type of pass we usually get. " That should be all it takes. In our many visits this last year, I did have one CM who asked all about my specific disability again and then had to go in back and check with a Manager before he would re-issue but over all once you have the thing you are good.

I usually keep mine in the same pouch as my Annual Passes. Do NOT lose it as they will hassle you about replacing it (they are afraid you will hand it off to a friend and then have 2 in use I think.) I ended up walking back to Matterhorn and FINDING the one I lost because they wouldn't give me a replacement. (Yeah I understand but couldn't they have called Matterhorn since that was the place I*thought* I lost it?? Especially since I have a walking/ mobility handicap?)

I do wish they'd make it the same size as the APs. The 2 times I've lost mine, both on the Matterhorn, were because I had it tucked in my pocket for the ride because it is such a hassle to fold it up and shove it back into my lanyard.

Hey David!! I'm so glad to see you got the pass at DLP. I was going to ask if you'd be making the treck out here again this summer and suggest that maybe I could meet you at the park to help J get her pass.

We were having some problems with a friend of mine who is an adult that is a mental disorder (schizophrenia) Not only does he need a GAC but if it is busy we have to leave because it can become dangerous for him and other guest.
They finally put his name in a computer so we do not have to explain every time we go about his condition because it embarrasses him to talk about it in front of other guest in city hall.
The only attraction he is unable to ride is space mountain unless there is no wheelchair line. We have been there several times and asked if we could come back later so he does not have to be in that line with all those people (at the exit) and every time they have to call a lead to approve it. I don't get it? We have no problem waiting the time as long as it is away from other guest. All the other attractions have no problem with this but space mountain always has an issue. So we gave up on it and decided not to go back on it until it slows down to the point where there is not a line. (If that ever happens again there has been no slow season this year)
As for the original poster...I had a seizure disorder which is under control now but sometimes if I get too warm it can cause one....I had three seizures at Disneyland once in a line and hit my head on a railing. They don't give out passes for seizures for some reason which I don't understand. I think it is dangerous for someone with a bad seizure disorder to be in a line.....
Now that mine is under control 95% of the time I would not ask for a GAC except to be out of direct sunlight. At WDW it would be differant because of the humidity and I would ask to have a alternate entrance or a place that is cool to wait.