Policing of GAC Cards
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:59 pm
I have been lurking for a while now after having found this site via another board and have enjoyed reading the posts. I do everything I can when I am in a park to avoid becoming an object lesson to others on this board :) On a recent visit I ran in to a situation perhaps someone here can enlighten me on.
First let me start by saying I am Canadian, so am not sure of the regulations with respect to GAC cards - I have seen them mentioned in other posts and have assumed that they are to allow those with physical or mental disabilities to avoid the regular ride lines and enter through a different area.
I just returned from my first visit to Disneyland in 30 years, having spent time in Disneyworld over the last few years, and just wondered if there were any controls on these cards?
The reason I ask is that I spent approxiametly 20 minutes in the single rider line at Toy Story - my wife and I do not feel the need to ride together and the line is generally quicker - and in that time I saw no less than 6 groups come through a line to my left. When I questioned one of the people working the ride they indicated that it was for people who had disabilities and could not wait in the regular line. Fair enough, and I have no issue with that, but why does that allow them to avoid the wait? I understand having a separate entrance, perhaps with shade and a place to rest, but why should they simply get to avoid a wait which was 45 minutes at that point in the regular line? And while I realize that not all disabilites are immediately visible, not one of these groups, and at least one was 10 people big, had a visible physical disability - no scooter, no walker, no cane, no trouble walking through the park to the ride, and not one of them had a person with an obvious mental disability - again I realize that not all of them are visible like you would see with someone with Down's syndrome - a good friend of mine has a young son with Down's syndrome so I know what they deal with on a day to day basis.
Is there no policing of the issue of these cards or how large a group can accompany the person who requires the accomodation?
Not trying to start an argument, as I know this can be a touchy subject, I am just curious.
First let me start by saying I am Canadian, so am not sure of the regulations with respect to GAC cards - I have seen them mentioned in other posts and have assumed that they are to allow those with physical or mental disabilities to avoid the regular ride lines and enter through a different area.
I just returned from my first visit to Disneyland in 30 years, having spent time in Disneyworld over the last few years, and just wondered if there were any controls on these cards?
The reason I ask is that I spent approxiametly 20 minutes in the single rider line at Toy Story - my wife and I do not feel the need to ride together and the line is generally quicker - and in that time I saw no less than 6 groups come through a line to my left. When I questioned one of the people working the ride they indicated that it was for people who had disabilities and could not wait in the regular line. Fair enough, and I have no issue with that, but why does that allow them to avoid the wait? I understand having a separate entrance, perhaps with shade and a place to rest, but why should they simply get to avoid a wait which was 45 minutes at that point in the regular line? And while I realize that not all disabilites are immediately visible, not one of these groups, and at least one was 10 people big, had a visible physical disability - no scooter, no walker, no cane, no trouble walking through the park to the ride, and not one of them had a person with an obvious mental disability - again I realize that not all of them are visible like you would see with someone with Down's syndrome - a good friend of mine has a young son with Down's syndrome so I know what they deal with on a day to day basis.
Is there no policing of the issue of these cards or how large a group can accompany the person who requires the accomodation?
Not trying to start an argument, as I know this can be a touchy subject, I am just curious.