GACs and Fastpass

[Christine43]

I'm sorry to bring this subject up again but it's been brought to my attention on another board that people are still getting GACs that don't need them. With my autistic son we wouldn't have a Disney vacation w/o it and I can't help but worry that this problem is going to affect us in the future. We leave for WDW on Monday and I'm going to bring this to the attention of the Guest Relations CMs then but if you know anyone that could do anything about this please tell them.
Secondly, I was having a debate with someone over whether or not people with GACs should use fastpass and I was curious what you CMs thought about it. I personally don't we should b/c we have the GAC and should leave the fastpasses for those who need it, it seems unfair otherwise. What do you think?

[JamboJohn]

There are only so many fastpasses given within an hour so getting a fastpass while you essentially already have one is a little out of line. The exception would be if you splitting up and doing things apart from each other. Just my opinion as a former CM...

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

If you need a GAC, get one! Thats what they are for!

I think the CM's hand are kinda tied on giving them out. Judging by some of the info about the GAC, they cannot really make someone "prove" that the need it.

[Christine43]

There are only so many fastpasses given within an hour so getting a fastpass while you essentially already have one is a little out of line. The exception would be if you splitting up and doing things apart from each other. Just my opinion as a former CM...

This is precisely why we only use the GAC and stay clear of fastpass so others can use it. I know there are other families who use both and I still don't understand why.

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, a GAC states right on it that it is not intended to allow bypassing of lines.

Second is that Disney cannot legally ask for proof of a disability to give a GAC. Basically the GAC is designed to allow people who have medical needs to get as close to the same experience as possible compared to a person without those medical needs. Note that the same diagnoses can have different needs.

(Former co-moderator of the disABILITIES Forum until they decided they did not want CMs to be Moderators.)

[joanna71985]

(Former co-moderator of the disABILITIES Forum until they decided they did not want CMs to be Moderators.)

What?! Why??

[dawn]

This is precisely why we only use the GAC and stay clear of fastpass so others can use it. I know there are other families who use both and I still don't understand why.

Because it says on it to use fastpasses when available. Also, my daughter is a serial-rider, but only rides a few rides. So she and and an adult might go on BTMRR 6 times in a row with fastpass. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that with a GAC. The GAC is reserved for times that FP simply won't work for whatever reason (an unexpected change in plans, needing something other than the FP queue, no FP available, etc.)

I have used it a few times for "I said we would go one more time, but someone in the party just won't make it until the FP mature"

I don't know - letting my daughter use the GAC so that she can ride whatever she wants, whenever she wants - seems exploitative. There are legitimate reasons to need options but not to use it on a whim in our case. A stamp can cover a multitude of needs with the same available accommodation.

[Soundwave]

I work at DLR Buzz Lightyear. There are various things your GAC card might have on it, and at BL, we only accept very few of them, most GAC holders have to wait in the regular line. While at the greeter there I encourage those that don't want to wait to get a fast pass.

Those GAC's that do have the correct stamps are welcomed though the fast pass line as much as they'd like to ride.

Over at Space, the fast passes don't work with the alternate entrance. If you have a wheelchair then there is a separate line which you must wait fast pass or not. Again it depends what is on the GAC.

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

I work at DLR Buzz Lightyear. There are various things your GAC card might have on it, and at BL, we only accept very few of them, most GAC holders have to wait in the regular line. While at the greeter there I encourage those that don't want to wait to get a fast pass.

Those GAC's that do have the correct stamps are welcomed though the fast pass line as much as they'd like to ride.

The one thing I can not explain to the guests, when I worked Buzz, was the wheelchair stamp. According to the OG, the stamp means that the guests using it like a wheelchair, but without being confined to a wheelchair. Therefore, they go through the line since the queue is wheelchair accessible. Guests do not get this. I get into confrontations regulary on the stamps. There is nothing I can go.

How do you go about this???

[GuestJockey]

The one thing I can not explain to the guests, when I worked Buzz, was the wheelchair stamp. According to the OG, the stamp means that the guests using it like a wheelchair, but without being confined to a wheelchair. Therefore, they go through the line since the queue is wheelchair accessible. Guests do not get this. I get into confrontations regulary on the stamps. There is nothing I can go.

How do you go about this???

You tell them exactly that! We tell them when we hand them out EXPLICITLY that "This card will tell the CMs to treat you as if you are in a wheelchair even though you're not using one. Wherever they would send the wheelchairs is where they will send you." If you send wheelchairs through the standard queue, then you send them there too and they KNOW it.

Fun fact: City Hall is now having the Guest INITIAL somewhere on the GAC that they read the front and back and understand how it works. So if you ever run into the Guest who uses the "That's not what they told me at City Hall" line, you are welcome to explain to them that THEY SIGNED IT STATING THAT THEY READ AND UNDERSTOOD IT. ;)