"SAP/GAP"

[happy ap]

The wheelchair stunt was so common at DLP thayt they now demand a certificate or medical assurance that a person is disabled before letting them have a SAP pass. I agree it is a really dirty ting to do - it really is like trying to profit from otherpeople's misfortune. :-(

now if only DLR would do this!!! It would certainly cut down the continued abuse of the system. And give those who truly need the GAP the help they truly need. I know of many who have fallen through the cracks of the new system. It is not an breech of privacy or HIPPA to show proof that you are disabled in an instance such as this. Since one can sign off on the HIPPA to allow certain individuals access. Also detailed information must be submitted to the DMV to be issued a placard or disabled license plates. Both of wich come with an 'i.d.' card only stating that the person named has met the criteria, no other medical information, and is to be carried on person. Seems to me that this would be an obvious solution. But this is just my humble opinion.

[imissRBT]

I hope I get to come into contact with you one of these days. I am the first one to jump at the chance to carry a chat with a friendly guest who doesn't mind waiting in lines.

I'll probably be going over to DL and DCA in September :D

yay i get to go visit starting june 1st! i am a former cm who moved to god awful east texas...but i am going for a visit june 1-9! can't wait to meet y'all!

[lyricanjl]

My mother is coming out to visit in October, and she requires an ECV to get around, but doesn't have her own, she can walk short distances. She has a handicapped parking thing and all that. When we rent the ECV, do we need to stop at City Hall as well for a SAP/GAP, and what do we need to show? The last time I got her in a couple years ago we could just rent the ECV and go up the exits or whatever, but I'm confused now. I work Stores, so I never deal with SAPs. Except when guests try to use them to cut in line to check out. :roll:

[Critter1]

I know this is an old post but as a "new kid", I just want to share my favorite SAP story. Working in Critter Country, a man came to me in my shop and was upset that they couldn't get the pass for the "backdoors." His wife had been denied one when they visited City Hall. This was when the policy had just been changed and we, in stores, had not been updated.
I offered to call City Hall for him to inquire what he needed to do. I picked up the phone but before dialing, I asked him what his wife's disability was as this information would help me get the answers he needed. "She's pregnant and can't wait for the long Splash line." I know I looked at him like he was an idiot :roll: and told him, "Well, sir, if your wife is pregnant, she really can't ride Splash can she?" He had the nerve to actually tell me that she wouldn't be using it, he would take it from her and go on the ride while she waited for the rest of the party.

He still wanted me to follow through with my phone call to City Hall which I gladly did (I just wanted to share this with someone else). After a short conversation with the Cast Member in City Hall, I told the Guest (with great authority) that the passes are non-transerable, that pregnancy IS NOT a disability and that the Cast Member in City Hall who wouldn't give them the pass was actually following the rules.

He walked away looking properly chastised and I waited until he had walked far enough away before mumbling, "Idiot!" :throw:

[DisneyPrincess]

:roll: People will never cease to amaze me.

[Dalisair]

So I managed to injure myself on Sunday, spraining my ankle pretty good (as of yesterday (wed) I still can't put ANY weight on it without a LOT of pain.). Monday I had to go back to cast health for an appointment. Some of my friends just happened to be in the park for the day, called my cell knowing I would be there and told me they'd rent a wheelchair if I would come with them. Against my better judgement I agreed.

Started in DCA. Not many problems other than people not being attentive to their surroundings. UNTILL...

Very poor direction, and bad attitude, from the guy who loaded our group into Soring over California. Told us to go to the NEXT area, then called us back. THEN had one of our group ove the wheelchair pretty far away. THEN once the ride ended the wheelchair had been moved from where they asked us to place it (I saw at least 1 closer, safer place for it), no help from the cast members and we were scurring out past people who were loading IN, had to change rows to exit...

Ariels grotto, hard to manuver into the little room on top floor to get into the elevator.

Might I add that Tower of Terror, the people were GREAT. Smart enough to shift the group over when they noticed our group had a wheelchair so that we could sit front row, easier for me to get in. The cast member offered assistance to enter ride.

Out to the other park, a quick stop by my manager out in the tent. He tells us to go get a SAP. I say I don't wanna abuse the system, he says something about "You're INJURED, you're not abusing the system." So to city hall. My wheelchair IS my SAP? Oh gods... *burys head in hand* I feel sorry for the poor attractions people...

Indy, in the exit line. ok... Up to round room where we are directed to wait a moment, then have the rope opened for us and told to go, then yelled at to come back (turn wheelchair and have my foot SLAM into another post OMG OW...) and have ANOTHER rope opened for us by a surly castmember (wait, didn't you just tell us to go?) and directed that way... OK. Through the film room up to loading ramp. Hold up line waiting for castmember to notice that there is someone at the wheelchair gate (making yourself samll against that gate is not easy). Get in, up, wait for motorised wheelchair to exit other elevator so we can go down (ok not the easiest manuvering vehicle I'm noticing). Get to loading area. Row 1 you say? ok... Asked if I need help getting on. No, I inform then, but I will need help getting off the ride. Hop hop hop to the jeep, get in. Hold leg off ground for entire ride. Ok, ride exit, where it gets BAD. Group told to split up, which is fine. No assistance offered for exit. Gate only affords 1 person to pass through. Hop. Wheelchair FAR from gate. *steely sigh* Hop hop , ok I'm at the wheelchair *hand on wheelchair, sigh of... oh *h^$...* Wheelchair not braked... fall over, slamming into trashcan with chest leaving amazeing bruise, lots of noise made. Not a single notice of a castmember. Didn't even turn around. Now may I meantion that the load area was EMPTY of other guests, and guests were just reaching the castmembers after I finally got in the wheelchair and started wheeling to the elevators?

Wheel to rental area to pick up crutches and turn in wheelchair. Poor guy doesn't have scissors to cut the little string to seperate the crutches (after he offers). Begins to search for some. At this point I call him back so I can bite through it...

Had other friends call me last night to ask me to come to the park... wheelchair that they would spring for. I politely declined.

[lady ulrike]

As an Attractions cast member I have a few comments to make.

First of all, yes the wheelchair is the SAP (now called a GAC) because most rides are not wheelchair accessible, so you go through the exit anyway. Those that are wheelchair accessible they figure you can sit in the wheelchair and wait the whole time so there's no reason why you need to not wait in the line. I agree with this because I've seen the abuse the whole system has gotten.

Manuvering with a wheelchair is a pain especially the electric ones (also called ECV's) which I think is a great thing for the fakers, but bad for those who really need. Nothing can really be done to help this though.

As for CM's moving wheelchairs, it may be that it was necessary, but I can't see why. We move them at Roger Rabbit, but we're taking them from the load area after the guest is on and then moving them to the unload area, which is closer to the guest. (Plus it'd be a pain for everyone involved to get the guest back to the wheelchair and then out of the attraction)

As for not helping you in or out, I've gotta say that was just the CM's you dealt with. I don't always offer, I usually look to see if they need help and then offer. Sometimes you can tell before they get on. But I'm always nearby to help quickly if needed.

I also don't know why they separated your group on Indy. When I used to work Indy (which granted is now almost 2 years ago) we didn't do it that way. If it was an extremely large group maybe, but we'd have at least one or two go with the wheelchair, especially if it's a push one.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with the wheelchair, I promise some of us Attractions CM's are very nice and helpful to those who need extra assistance for whatever reason. :)

[Dalisair]

Oh I'm sure it was in isolated incident... just odd. Wondering if I shoudl do as all my other Disney cast friends are telling me to and report it as is...

[wheelieman]

^^I agree that the CM's at DLR go out of their way for poeple in wheelchairs. I felt like I was special or something, and I am in my own ECV [or wheelchair, or scootie as my kids call it]. The CM's were so nice. I am also experiencing this at Knott's. I havent had a single rude look or comment since I bought my AP in June. And I go at least twice a week.


dave in [[[[perris]]]]

[GMC]

we try