Hi Everyone
Not to start a huge debate but what is the current situation with the GAC card? We will be visiting in December with a friend who will only be there for just the one day with us and she has some knee issues. A wheel chair is not needed (and not really feasible since I can't push that and a 3 year old in a stroller) but after too much standing and start/stop walking she really starts to hurt.

Should we even try to get her a Guest Assistance Card?

What benefits would the card give her if any?

What does she need to prove her knee is super weak?


Thanks!!

Endurance Issues do not qualify for a GAC, they will send you to get a Wheelchair, or a ECV, which would work since you wouldn't have to push it.

They might offer a "Stairs" GAC, which would allow you to avoid those queues that have stairs, which isn't that many.

Splash Mountain and Big Thunder come to mind, but for most attractions, you would have to wait in line like everyone else.

If you get an ECV, then make sure and get the wheelchair flyer, which explains which attractions you need to use an alternate entrance.

Thanks Darkbeer - I'll recommend the Electric Vehicle to her.

On another note, when we were there last week I was surprised at how few people were in the exit waiting to get on rides. Sure did help the regular line go faster! Seems like the new "rules" are working.

I recently visited the parks under similar conditions. I used an ECV and strongly recommend it to anyone who needs to reduce their walking. Even if you don't use it while in line for the attractions (we usually parked it with the strollers and waited in the line) it will make your life much easier! I could walk a mile or two, not thirteen, or even a minimal seven that you will do in the parks. Had I not used the ECV my foot would have been screaming by lunch. As it was, my feet were in better shape at the end of a Disney day than they would be at the end of a regular day!

You need to be cagey, though, if you don't want to use the handicapped access. The CMs are very in tune to spotting you and insisting you use the HC entrance. We'd hop out and park just around the corner from where the CM was and sneak into the line, incognito. When we went to get FPs for Space, they would try every time to talk us out of it. I explained that I could walk (and should sometimes, or I'd have gained a few pounds eating that yummy Disney food), and that the HC line for Space could get very long.

I only had one problem with ECV parking. At one point we returned to find our ECV blocked by a dozen or so strollers. I asked the nearest CM for help (figuring it was a CM that put them there, anyway!) and he had us un-blocked in a matter of moments.

Thanks Codewoman. I think that's what she will do since its on a Monday when is meeting us and the park *hopefully* won't be too busy. She can stand for 1/2 hour or so but after walking too much I worry she''ll try to be "tough" and pay for it later!

I found this website http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/help/disabil_gdebk_5_06.pdf and I'm hoping its still accurate about what rides she will need to park her ECV and use the alternate entrance if she feels its necessary.

Thanks!

I did read that guide months ago when I tried to talk my husband into renting an ECV (he has a brace and difficulty walking on uneven surfaces or slants). I don't remember how accurate it is. We went to the town hall (on Main Street, to the left as you enter the park) and got a little guide (more portable, like a park map) that describes every attraction in both parks and how to use the HC entrance (generally through the exit, but some you wait in the regular line for, like the Matterhorn). You can also ask any CM at the entrance to an attraction line what the protocol is. Big Thunder was a little confusing at first because you enter through the exit and there are two exits! But you can use either one. If there are already people waiting on one side and not the other, you can just turn around and go to the other exit.

Oh, and when you leave your scooter/ECV to get on the ride, don't be surprised to come back and find it's been turned around for you so you can just go forward to get out! Very nice. They all have a way to push them (ours had a knob on the back to pull up) and then they push very easily.

Of course, you should always take your belongings with you when you leave the scooter, including the key to the scooter (mine was on a wrist strap thingie).

Now, I have a couple of questions about this topic. First off, what exactly is a guest assistance card? My parents are disabled, they have handicap placards, & we've always just rented them ECV's. Does the guest assistance card do anything more for them? Also, "Miss Bianca" you talked about the "new rules" & fewer people being in the exits. Can you elaborate about the "new rules"? If anybody has a link about any of this that would be wonderful. I looked on the disney site but all I could find was about renting ECV's. Thanks a bunch.

Disney treats "visual" disabilities without needing a GAC, so folks in Wheelchairs and ECV do not need to get one.

A GAC is designed for folks who do not have a "visible" injury, and needs some sort of assistance.

You go to town hall and describe what you need, such as a person with bad knees that needs to avoid using stairs. A GAC is stamped with a special symbol, in this case, a staircase, and that lets the CM's working the attractions know that an alternative is needed.

There is one for folks with poor vision that allows them to be seated first and in the front row. And other types.

This "new" system matches up the specific need to the alternatives offered.

Prior to the GAC, there was the Special Assistance Program, which basically was a Front of the Line pass to anyone who asked for one, all you had to do is say due to medical issues you needed one. Well, that system was severely abused, and unfortunately regular park goers found out how to work the system (aka AP holders), of course not every AP holder did it, but enough of them did that they came up with the GAC program instead, and also became stricter on who got one, such as the endurance issue. They send those folks to get a wheelchair/ECV instead. And yes, there is still some abuse from people renting wheelchairs that really don't need them, but also remember, many folks have disabilities that are not "visual" in any way, so it is very hard to tell who is doing it, unless you overhear an admission of guilt, which I have heard, more than once. And usually when I do hear it, I go looking for a security CM to let them know what I heard, and then they usually go over and have a chat with the person(s)...

Thanks Darkbeer! Do they still let you go "in" through the exits on rides?

Thanks Darkbeer! Do they still let you go "in" through the exits on rides?

It all depends on the ride, and what type of assistance you need.

Over at DCA, all the rides and queues are wheelchair friendly, so you use the main entrance for every attraction.

At Disneyland, the newer attractions, such as Winnie the Pooh have wheelchair friendly queues.

But many of the older attractions will have wheelchairs enter thru the "exit".

If you are using a "GAC", then it depends on the symbol.

For example, if you need to avoid stairs, you use the exit for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder, but for most of the other attractions, you use the main entrance.

If you bring your own wheelchair, the CM at the turnstiles should offer you a printed guide that explains which attractions have alternative methods of entry. If you rent one from Disney, you should get one from the CM who issues you the wheelchair/ECV, of not, ask for one.

If you get a "GAC", then make sure and ask the CM who issues it which attractions need special procedures with the card.

If you are not sure, there is usually a CM near the main entrance of most attractions, just ask them what is the correct procedure for that specific attraction.

Nevermind it was answered above.

Texas, I know you didn't mean anything bad by your question plus I know I'm being entirely overly sensitive, but please watch your phrasing, "let you go in" makes it sound like its a special treat, when in reality its the ONLY way many people can enjoy the attractions. Our 9 year old uses a wheelchair (severe cerebral palsy)and until the past couple years we carried her through line. Now she is too big for that, so we have to use the alternate entrances or not ride the ride. Again I know you didn't mean anything by your question, but I'm always afraid some people may be lurking that are looking for ways to cheat the system.

Thanks Darkbeer! Do they still let you go "in" through the exits on rides?I just want to clarify further. You "wait" at the exits. On many rides (POTC, IASW, and Space Mountain come to mind) the lines are longer using the accessible entrance. Most rides, you will wait the same amount of time, you just wait in a different area.

Many rides, the queues are accessible for a large part of the line. An example is Matterhorn. You wait in the samee line, until you gete to the chalet, then you enter the handicap gate.

I found this website http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/help/disabil_gdebk_5_06.pdf and I'm hoping its still accurate about what rides she will need to park her ECV and use the alternate entrance if she feels its necessary.

Thanks!

I just looked at that site. We may need a wheelchair for my dad who just injured his knee! I see that it mentions we could rent one at the resort hotels at the bell desk (yes we are staying at DLH). Has anyone done this? How much is it?

I just looked at that site. We may need a wheelchair for my dad who just injured his knee! I see that it mentions we could rent one at the resort hotels at the bell desk (yes we are staying at DLH). Has anyone done this? How much is it?
You might also consider renting off site. Deckert Medical rents and delivers. I don't know how much for renting one at the hotel. But it is nice to have going back and forth from the hotel to the park!

The Disneyland Hotel Bell Desk normally has Wheelchairs available for use (no charge), but they are "subject to availability", so I would make a backup plan, especially if it is a busy time.

I just want to clarify further. You "wait" at the exits. On many rides (POTC, IASW, and Space Mountain come to mind) the lines are longer using the accessible entrance. Most rides, you will wait the same amount of time, you just wait in a different area.

Many rides, the queues are accessible for a large part of the line. An example is Matterhorn. You wait in the samee line, until you gete to the chalet, then you enter the handicap gate.

My 7 year old son is insulin dependant diabetic and we were considering if it is worth attempting to get one of these cards for us. Last year when we had our first trip to Disney at Easter we did not know that such assistance was available so just queued up as usual. One or two times the queues took so long that we were late for his meals, which have to be at fixed times to avoid his sugars dropping low. We coped with this by just giving him some sugar to bring his bloods back to normal and letting people pass us in the line until he felt well enough to ride the attraction.

Next year when we go, again at Easter, we were thinking obout getting an assistance pass, but if the waiting times are no shorter then there is probably no point, as it was the waiting that was the issue rather than the stairs.

DO any of you have any advice for me on this

Thanks,

Judith

My 7 year old son is insulin dependant diabetic and we were considering if it is worth attempting to get one of these cards for us. Last year when we had our first trip to Disney at Easter we did not know that such assistance was available so just queued up as usual. One or two times the queues took so long that we were late for his meals, which have to be at fixed times to avoid his sugars dropping low. We coped with this by just giving him some sugar to bring his bloods back to normal and letting people pass us in the line until he felt well enough to ride the attraction.

Next year when we go, again at Easter, we were thinking obout getting an assistance pass, but if the waiting times are no shorter then there is probably no point, as it was the waiting that was the issue rather than the stairs.

DO any of you have any advice for me on this

Thanks,

JudithMy advice is do what my friend with a brittle Type 1 diabetic son does. The ride gives the wait for standby times, and they are fairly accurate. If you need him to eat during that time, they would take him to eat before the ride. At least the standby times are fairly accurate. The waits in the HA are undetermined for the most part.