Guest Assistance Cards Are NOT Fastpasses!!!

[ifoundnemo]

I believe California requires documentation of some kind when issuing their GACs. I know Florida does not. Does it bug you when familes flash a card and they either look perfectly healthy, or they just want the perk of being escorted onto the ride...

[HotsyTotsyKids]

Please keep in mind that just because someone looks perfectly healthy they may not be.

My dd7 is a model, appears super athletic, never stands still, will chat to anyone who will listen (and those who aren't) and she loves to dress in funky attention grabbing clothing. She also has mild cerebral palsy, tourette syndrome and OCD. She wears braces on her feet in our home and overnight to strech her achilles as they are tight and shortened due to the CP. She does not wear the braces during the day and in the parks as they limit her mobility and it is good therapy for her to establish a new gait. Standing in one place for prolonged periods of time is very painful for her. We used to get a wheelchair tag for her stroller, but now that she is older we use a GAC in order to avoid the prolonged standing in many of the lines. If this is considered abuse then call it that, but in our families eyes it is a way to allow my daughter to navigate the parks in a pain free manner. What appears to be a "normal" kid abusing the system to you is a child struggling to be "normal" to us.

[Main Streeter]

DLR can't ask or demand documentation for a GAC. This is against ADA fed law. I have researched this due to a child I love. WDVC CMs will tell one on phone a med form is needed, but it's not. Shorty explained this maybe WDVC's instructions just to keep fakers from asking for GACs. As stated - this was from my finding when plans made for WDW trip.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Please keep in mind that just because someone looks perfectly healthy they may not be.

My dd7 is a model, appears super athletic, never stands still, will chat to anyone who will listen (and those who aren't) and she loves to dress in funky attention grabbing clothing. She also has mild cerebral palsy, tourette syndrome and OCD. She wears braces on her feet in our home and overnight to strech her achilles as they are tight and shortened due to the CP. She does not wear the braces during the day and in the parks as they limit her mobility and it is good therapy for her to establish a new gait. Standing in one place for prolonged periods of time is very painful for her. We used to get a wheelchair tag for her stroller, but now that she is older we use a GAC in order to avoid the prolonged standing in many of the lines. If this is considered abuse then call it that, but in our families eyes it is a way to allow my daughter to navigate the parks in a pain free manner. What appears to be a "normal" kid abusing the system to you is a child struggling to be "normal" to us.

it sounds to me like your kid is EXACTLY why they created the GAC system.

I think everyone here, and especially the CM's, would never begrudge someone a GAC that needs some help to enjoy the parks.

[Lasolimu]

Please keep in mind that just because someone looks perfectly healthy they may not be.

My dd7 is a model, appears super athletic, never stands still, will chat to anyone who will listen (and those who aren't) and she loves to dress in funky attention grabbing clothing. She also has mild cerebral palsy, tourette syndrome and OCD. She wears braces on her feet in our home and overnight to strech her achilles as they are tight and shortened due to the CP. She does not wear the braces during the day and in the parks as they limit her mobility and it is good therapy for her to establish a new gait. Standing in one place for prolonged periods of time is very painful for her. We used to get a wheelchair tag for her stroller, but now that she is older we use a GAC in order to avoid the prolonged standing in many of the lines. If this is considered abuse then call it that, but in our families eyes it is a way to allow my daughter to navigate the parks in a pain free manner. What appears to be a "normal" kid abusing the system to you is a child struggling to be "normal" to us.

As Grumpy put it, you are exactly right, that is a very good reason to use a GAC.

Anyway, I noticed that this was your first post and though I should offer you a very warm* welcome to that slice of the internet we call SGT. This website contains threads with quick twists and turns and advise you to not try to hard to keep up with them. Please keep your hands, arms, and legs safely inside the website at all times and enjoy your stay. The Marsupial Welcoming Committee should be along shortly with your care package.

*this instance of warm is more hot** instead of warm

**this instance of hot means that you are now literally on fire, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience

[mapo]

DLR can't ask or demand documentation for a GAC. This is against ADA fed law. I have researched this due to a child I love. WDVC CMs will tell one on phone a med form is needed, but it's not. Shorty explained this maybe WDVC's instructions just to keep fakers from asking for GACs. As stated - this was from my finding when plans made for WDW trip.

WDVC? Who is that?

MAPO

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

WDVC? Who is that?

MAPO

WALT DISNEY VICTOR CHARLIE?

oh crap a flashback!!

[Main Streeter]

WDVC? Who is that?

MAPO

My bad! Should be DVC. Was thinking Walt. Never mind. We can't use DVC nor "my" WDVC because I'm a CM. CM's discounts are better.

[ifoundnemo]

I'm not necessarily saying that everyone who looks healthy is. I'm not that shallow, and being a CM, I know better... but it just pisses me off when people think they work like a fastpass or get all pissy when you give them instructions regarding the pass at your attraction

[LucyintheSky]

I know what you're talking about. I mean, I know there are plenty of people that need GACs or wheelchairs that look perfectly healthy. My mom is one. She looks fine, but she's got horrible problems with her feet, nerve problems and stuff. It's very painful for her to walk sometimes, and I've thought about suggesting renting a wheelchair when we go to parks. Though she never wants to.

But I have seen many people who rent wheelchairs who obviously don't need them. Like when I had a group come down in small world with one person in the wc, then I moved to Pan, and sure enough, here comes the group again with different person in the chair. Nice, right?

Or then there's the groups who have someone who legitimately need the wheelchair, say Grandma, who would have a hard time walking and standing all day. Perfectly fine reason to rent a wheelchair, IMO. But other adults in the group are under the impression that a wheelchair = skipping all the lines. :mad: I can't even count how many times I had people yell and argue with me when I told them at Pooh that they could either get a FP or use the Stand-by line, which was completely wheelchair accessible. SG: But we have a wheelchair! We don't have to wait!

That stuff drove me up the wall.

Of course to me, the Give Kids the World or make a wish groups are totally different. I would always do everything in my power to make sure they didn't have to wait.