Policing of GAC Cards

[CptnSkippy]

I always think I would love to work at Disney, then I read a story like GuestJockey's and am not sure I'd be able to handle people like that as well as they did! Good job!

I would love to be a tour guide, but there's no way I could handle the day-to-day SG fest at guest relations. I couldn't handle that either.

[Teddykeiko86]

The other day I was at disneyland and noticed people with the GAC. The first thing I noticed was while exiting haunted mansion. Two parties (a man and woman and the other was a mother and a young son) tried to enter through that little gate that custodial goes through to change the trash. The CM in front of the house directed them to the main entrance of the queue, but *gasp* "we have to wait in that?" the woman with her husband says... "this isn't the handicap entrance?" says the mom with the GAC card with a 2 and what looks like a mickey figure on it. I wonder how these people are gonna survive in the GAC line for pirates or Space, if they can't wait the five minutes it takes to go up the walkway.
Second, while exiting thunder, I see the GAC line. 3 teenage girls pass the line and show their card to the CM. "Oh, we have to wait?" one says. They walk away.


I have seen/heard this all before. Where I previously worked, I would constantly get guests showing me their GACs from disneyland. Or they would say " oh, at disneyland it is different". Well, yeah, considering the parks and rides are totally different, the ADA accommodations will be too. Or, my favorite wait for it... "At disneyland, we didn't have to wait". Also the 4 different teenagers bringing in the SAME handicap vehicle placard. Gee, I hope you didn't park in the handicap spot and take that out of the car. No wait, I do.
To avoid (as much as possible) the, "how come their pass is different then ours, I want the same pass as them..." We only had 3 types. The basic wait at the exit (with one other person) for your party, the wait at the exit with your young children (while the rest go in the line). Those required that you wait the length on the line. But some weak spine employees would let them board immediately anyway. Then there was a pass reserved for mentally disabled guests and ONE guardian to pretty much BP the line. But, ROs would ADVERTISE this pass to guests, and they would come to GR asking for it!!!!! God, I loathed this pass. For one, some GR peeps were to quick to give it out. If Autism, ADD or ADHD was mentioned they'd be printing up the card. Now, I am no autism expert, but autism has a huge spectrum. Some children with an ASD are probably capable of waiting in the queue, while others are probably such a danger to themselves and others that riding certain rides should be done very cautiously.

Anyway, I guess people haven't gotten the memo that having a wheelchair or disability doesn't get you to the front of the line anymore.

[Mayonnaise]

I don't judge about the Autistic folks, because there are ends of the spectrum where lines would be a problem, even for grown folks with certain forms of Autism. Obviously if they are capable and take advantage that's uncool, but who are we to say who is who?

But I don't think line bypass cards should be given for anyone just for ADHD. The prognosis for ADHD is that the child should grow up to be fully mainstreamed and independent in society. They are capable of, and should be expected to, learn to wait in lines. Yes it's harder for them. No it's not an excuse not to learn to do it. Bring them a book, or a rubix cube, or a frigging iPad or something to help mitigate the boredom, and take them on the line with everyone else. As they grow older get them involved in choosing what to bring for their line activity. Coping with lines and waits by preparing a non-disruptive boredom alleviation plan is an important life skill for people with ADHD. Allowing them to skip the line all the time, is just depriving them of the chance to learn this skill... and no-one's going to care they have ADHD when they're adults.

8^(

[delsdad]

But I don't think line bypass cards should be given for anyone just for ADHD. The prognosis for ADHD is that the child should grow up to be fully mainstreamed and independent in society. They are capable of, and should be expected to, learn to wait in lines. Yes it's harder for them. No it's not an excuse not to learn to do it. Bring them a book, or a rubix cube, or a frigging iPad or something to help mitigate the boredom, and take them on the line with everyone else. As they grow older get them involved in choosing what to bring for their line activity. Coping with lines and waits by preparing a non-disruptive boredom alleviation plan is an important life skill for people with ADHD. Allowing them to skip the line all the time, is just depriving them of the chance to learn this skill... and no-one's going to care they have ADHD when they're adults.

8^(

Mayo, your words of wisdom should be printed in a pamphlet to be handed out, not just to parents of kids with ADHD, but to ALL parents! Its shocking how many parents end up in a situation where the kids must wait, and are completely unprepared. Places like airports, at shows, even the Drs office. We have, since our first Disney trip, used waiting and long walks both as "practice for Disney". Se have a small backpack purse that she loads up with a book, her ipod, DS, whatever she wants to keep her busy. It comes to restaurants, goes on flights and such with us. And it makes for a patient happy kid.

[hobie16]

We have a small backpack purse that she loads up with a book, her ipod, DS, whatever she wants to keep her busy. It comes to restaurants, goes on flights and such with us. And it makes for a patient happy kid.

I believe we could all use a kit like that on occasion.

[Mayonnaise]

I'm 26, and I still carry a messenger bag with my DS and my Driod Phone, and my iPod... and of course a book, because they NEVER run out of batteries, and a backup book if I'm too close to the end of the first one...

Tho at Disney the Driod will do, for traveling light. Fits in the fanny pack well.

8^)

[adumbguest]

Just want a to share a story that not all stupidguests that seem to be abusing the GAC privileges are purposefully malicious...

I recently took my family of 4 to Disneyland (3-Day park hooper). During one of the days, an older man approached us around the fast pass dispensers at Splash Mountain. He had a bluish heavy-stock paper pass that had an 8 and some weird arrow symbols on it... He said he had this special pass that allows him to borad VIP and offered to take my family on the ride... I was a little creeped out (being there with my daughters)... but I'm also overly polite. So I just held my daughters hand, always seperated them from him.. and took him up on the offer... It essentially got us to the front of the line, then he offered to VIP us all day through a bunch of rides..

Throughout the day, while we were getting immediate access to rides, and front seating... I was still weirded out by the situation.. my wife and I kept flip-flopping between this guy is just some lonely old man annual pass holder with privileges, to, this guy works for Disney, and maybe this is some special secret service to make a families trip more magical. Not being someone that gets to Disney oftern, I had no idea about the GAC..

Anyway, now I've done research, and read this forum, I now realize that this was apparently some guy abusing a GAC... and potentially using my family to help him sell that someone had a issue (to get the GAC)...

That kinda sucks... to be honest... that day, the situation seemed awesom and lucky. To a family that didn't know better (and has sat through lines normally), this seemed like some awesome VIP treatment, and the guy seemed like a really nice person.... knowing that it was probably GAC abuse has soured the whole experience.

[darph nader]

That 'is' kinda weird.
btw, Welcome adumbguest. Have a beverage from the BDoSGT.
:coke: :pepsi:

[Big Wallaby]

knowing that it was probably GAC abuse has soured the whole experience.

And with that, your name just doesn't fit. But thank you for sharing. That has creepy written all over it.

:sgthello: adumbguest. I really wish the drink squad would wait until AFTER the safety spiel. Here's your fire blanket.

[Lasolimu]

I really wish the drink squad would wait until AFTER the safety spiel. Here's your fire blanket.

Kind of strange when you consider that the safety spiel is one of the most dangerous things around here.

Greetings adumbguest, I am the resident dragon and would like to 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 I would like to advise you to not try too hard to keep up with them. Please keep your hands, arms, and legs safely inside the website at all times and enjoy your stay.

*this instance of warm is actually hot**... very hot

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