GAC abuse

[Noctourne Wonderland]

I'm just curious- does the GAC help people who can't stand in line for long periods of time?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Very Sad that people are so blatantly abusing the system, but many have just lost all sense of common decency and become greedy ME monsters- this does include some who have family members with real disabilities as well.
Believe Me, they act that way EVERYWHERE, not just the parks. You can only hope they get arrested or something someday. :twisted:

Hmm, perhaps its time the ADA was ammended?

Have an ADA card issued by a Medical Doctor, that simply identifies the person. It dosn't HAVE to state what disability, just that the person needs accomodation under the ADA act for various things. It would make things a LOT eaiser at places like airports, trains, trams, parking, amuzement parks, buildings, and so on and so on. That MIGHT cut don't on some of the abuse.

[felinefan]

The Orange County Transportation Authority here in California, and I'm sure other bus companies have similar requirements as well, have specific rules for applying for a disabled bus pass, as well as a senior citizen pass. You must provide specific identification when applying in order to qualify for the reduced fare pass. You must also show this identification along with your pass or when paying the reduced fare. Accepted identification cards are an OCTA Reduced Fare ID card, OCTA ACCESS Reduced Fare ID card, a Medicare card, a Service Connected Veteran ID card, or a Braille Institute ID card; for seniors 65 and up, they must have an OCTA Senior Reduced Fare ID card. Coach operators can also accept other transit systems' senior/disabled ID, a DMV Disabled Person placard customer receipt copy as well.

They won't accept the following: Medi-Cal State of California Benefits ID card, Cal Optima Health Care card, the eligibility approval form for an OCTA Reduced Fare ID, Social Security Benefits documentation paperwork, Social Security card, a note from your doctor, or any other form or documentation other than the above.

It goes without saying you have to have proof of disability in order to qualify to get the ID cards. Since OCTA has to inquire about the disability in order to confirm that one qualifies, perhaps Disney could come up with something similar. No ID, no wheelchair or other handicap transportation, no passes for the handicap line. I once read that some old lady was with her family at Disneyland Resort, and she was crying because there were no wheelchairs left--most of them had been taken by lazy people who didn't really need them. And she needed a wheelchair badly--apparently didn't have one of her own.

[Teddykeiko86]

Okay, when you have an austic child, what does the GAC card entitle you to do? Go through FastPass right? Or do you get immediate boarding? Does any GAC card allow for immediate boarding? Because I feel that everyone is capable of waiting in line, for at least 15 minutes. Although that is not possible on all rides, some get immediate boarding. But the immediate boarding should be for the disabled person and one accompanient only, not the whole party of 6. They may not be able to stand, but they can sit for a few minutes while their party waits in line.

One thing that pisses the hell out of me is people who say they have a bad back and can't stand. But they can go on jarring, bumpy rides?? Doesn't make sense. They should put a stamp on those peoples passes that say not valid on ( the rides with the red triangle) certain rides.

I just feel that people are taking advantage of the whole thing. Not everyone is taking advantage, but some are, and it is obvious.
At Uni we had a GAP. Guest Assistance Pass. It had 4 stickers. Gate A, allowed guests to go through the gate A entrance at any attraction. The Alternate entrce sticker was so stupid, because if they were in a wheelchair you always sent them through the alternate entrance. And if they had that card for some reason without the chair, you sent them throught the gate A. The Return time pass was the most common. If the wait time was more than 15mins, you gave them another pass to come back a later timein fifthteen mins. For example if it is 4:30 and the wait time is 1 hour, you gave them a card to come back at 4:45. The guess hated this pass. "Why do we need this?" they would whine. "Why can't you just let us in?" "They let us right on at _____" "That's not fair, you should just let us in".... :mad:
Then there was the front row pass. Ha. This sucked. This was to let hard of hearing and poor sighted guests sit at the front in all shows. Shows, Not rides. I got flashed this card at Mummy all the f***ing time. Plus, at T2, the reflective captioning didn't work well in the very first row. So when we seated guests in the first row of the second section, they would flash the card and point to the 'front row' sticker.

What really sucked was that anyone with a credit card was given a wheelchair. The employees were supposed to tell the guests to go to GR and get a GAC or else they wouldn't get to use it in the attraction. But the guests hardly went and got the GAP. Some even said "Yeah, they told us to get it, but we didn't think it was nessasary".
Ha. Or the "Where do I get the pass?" When I told them it was right next to the place they got the wheelchair, they'll say "that is too far away"

Anywayz,
What different types of GAC are there? And what does GKTW stand for?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

The Orange County Transportation Authority here in California, and I'm sure other bus companies have similar requirements as well, have specific rules for applying for a disabled bus pass, as well as a senior citizen pass. You must provide specific identification when applying in order to qualify for the reduced fare pass. You must also show this identification along with your pass or when paying the reduced fare. Accepted identification cards are an OCTA Reduced Fare ID card, OCTA ACCESS Reduced Fare ID card, a Medicare card, a Service Connected Veteran ID card, or a Braille Institute ID card; for seniors 65 and up, they must have an OCTA Senior Reduced Fare ID card. Coach operators can also accept other transit systems' senior/disabled ID, a DMV Disabled Person placard customer receipt copy as well.

They won't accept the following: Medi-Cal State of California Benefits ID card, Cal Optima Health Care card, the eligibility approval form for an OCTA Reduced Fare ID, Social Security Benefits documentation paperwork, Social Security card, a note from your doctor, or any other form or documentation other than the above.

It goes without saying you have to have proof of disability in order to qualify to get the ID cards. Since OCTA has to inquire about the disability in order to confirm that one qualifies, perhaps Disney could come up with something similar. No ID, no wheelchair or other handicap transportation, no passes for the handicap line. I once read that some old lady was with her family at Disneyland Resort, and she was crying because there were no wheelchairs left--most of them had been taken by lazy people who didn't really need them. And she needed a wheelchair badly--apparently didn't have one of her own.

Hmmm, interesting. HOW do some of the more....umm, MILITANT people that use the ADA stand on this? I have seen threads on another board when they state, no, SCREAM that no one can ask you about your disability under the ADA, and you do not have to prove anything. to anyone, ever. Did Orange County transit get an exemption because they are a government organization?

And that exemption is not vaild on private companies? (DLR/WDW, etc.)

interesting.

[DisneyMom]

I believe the GAC (never used one) allows someone with Autism to hopefully have a shorter wait, but this cannot be guaranteed (I recall visiting DLR at Christmastime with Princess Susi, who can't stand for too long due to back problems, and the GAC line for Pirates was extended out to NOS.)
We gave up and watched Billy Hill instead.
I could see how someone with back problems might not be able to stand too long (especially if their sciatic nerve is affected- my thigh goes numb from standing/ walking for long periods sometimes) but I suppose it would depend on the person and the ride if it would aggravate their particular problem. For instance, I have ridden Space Mountain so many times, I adjust for all the memorized bumps and turns and consider it a smooth ride despite all the warnings. :)

[tinkybell]

I would like to say that I do have a child with a disability. She has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and uses her wheelchair while we are on vacation. We actually home school because the walking around the school was too much for her. Her immune system is compromised because of the methotrexate and Humira that she takes so we have found after some pretty bad experiences it is better for her if we use her chair. Not only does the heat make it exhausting for her but standing for too long and or sitting too long tend to make her very stiff. So she has to alternate between walking and the chair. (sometimes I think people think she is faking which bothers me because I know the truth!) We use the GAC which I have to say has been a blessing for her.We didn't find out about until we had some pretty bad experiences with major flares while on vacation. With GAC, it clearly states on the card it does not get you front of the line access. Our experience has been at times we have to wait longer for certain rides. Which is fine with us. I would question anyone who demanded more than what the card is designed for and I probably would make it policy to confiscate such GAC if a person demanded things for free, or no waiting. The pass is not a fast pass!! Seems to me if they are demanding more than allowed they are probably cheating the system.
We are a large family with 6 kids, and while I know it may seem as an abuse to the system when you see 8 people use the GAC it assure you not all instances are. We take vacation as a family and we all want to share the experience of the rides together. If I had to choose to allow my daughter and only one guest ride with out her brothers and sisters I probably would choose to vacation somewhere else.

It really worries me that people who do abuse the system will make people who really need the system go away. Disney has always accommodated our families needs but the last time we went we had a hard time getting a GAC for our family. They said they only allowed up to 5 guests. While I know this seems very reasonable with a normal sized family, it is not reasonable for ours. Our family consists of DH, myself and 6 children under the age of 12. My daughter with JRA is about to be 10. So I really wouldn't want to pay for a vacation where DH and I would have to split the kids up.

I promise you...My daughter really hates that she has JRA and needs the chair...I would trade anything kind of GAC or advantages any day to have a healthy and happy little girl.

I do think working at Disney and seeing the abuses gives some CM's a warped way of looking at everyone with the GAC.( I do think it is okay to question certain people with a GAC but try not to think everyone is doing something wrong) Please remember that there are people out there, while their disability is not visible, who truly need the assistance. Not everyone is out to buck the system and get something they are not entitled too. I never understood why I would get a hard time about getting a GAC for 8 people, until after I started reading online about the abuses. For me it is a no brainer because we are not trying to cheat anyone. We just want to have as normal of a family vacation as we can together.

So please remember while there are some really stupid guests out there not all of us are. Thank you!

[ktulu]

Anytime you have something in place that gives a benefit (real or perceived) to someone, there is a segment of society that is going to either exploit/abuse it, or find a way to get it for themselves.

[felinefan]

Hmmm, interesting. HOW do some of the more....umm, MILITANT people that use the ADA stand on this? I have seen threads on another board when they state, no, SCREAM that no one can ask you about your disability under the ADA, and you do not have to prove anything. to anyone, ever. Did Orange County transit get an exemption because they are a government organization?

And that exemption is not vaild on private companies? (DLR/WDW, etc.)

interesting.

Granted, I haven't read the entire text of the ADA, but I think it's to keep people from discriminating based on disability. There would have to be times when it's appropriate to ask, in order to qualify for a reduced fare bus pass, etc., or a handicap placard, but if a potential employer asks someone with a disability what their handicap is, that's a violation, and could be percieved as such if the applicant doesn't get the job. There's always going to be a segment of any population that will be militant about this of this nature. I mean, about the only time an employer could ask what an employee's disability is would be after they were hired, and then for a case where they needed adaptive equipment in order to do their job, or in the event of an emergency, for example. If they become injured or ill on the job and have to be taken to the hospital, the hospital staff need to know what, if any, medications the person is on, as well as what their handicap is, because certain drugs, anesthesia, etc., shouldn't be used when a patient is taking certain medications or with certain medical conditions.

For the OP who asked what GKTW means, it's Give Kids The World; similar to MAW, Make A Wish.

[Teddykeiko86]

Let me clear someting up...
Let me say that I do believe the GAC is a godsend for families with disabilities. Valid disabilities, not visible, since many disabilities are invisible. Yes I can see it how it is difficult to split up a large group (family) with small children. In those cases, the whole group should be allowed to wait together. But large groups ( tour groups and reunions) can sacrifice to split. I am terribly sorry, but the whole Smith family of 35, dosen't need to go through the exit on BTMRR because Jonny is in a wheelchair with a broken leg or even CP. There has to be a line drawn somewhere.
Yes of course large families with young children should NOT be separated, that is to difficult for the parents. I can deffinately see from the parents perspective. And as difficult as it is to say, of course the general public is going to think that (9o% of) children in wheelchairs are faking, because that is the common snap judgement. People automatically assume that children are supposed to be healthy are resillent. They don't expect to see them in wheelchairs and when they do, the assume they are faking, cuz what child would not want to ride in a wheelchair? But some know better. Long before the days of GAC I had a cousin with hydrocephillis (sp?). So in her case, it was obvious. But when you see a child dart out of their wheelchair and hop into a bobsled, you have to be a little suspisious. It is hard to be faithful, because so many people abuse it or think it applies to them for obscure reasons "My 5 week old is deaf therefore we need a GAP".
I just feel that GAC should be for those with physcial alliments, metally diabled children and etc. I am just really sensitive about people taking away something meant for people who really need it. It is like parking in a HC spot, with out a plaquecard.

:)