Guest Assistance Card at Disney? - Page 2

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Kristine233

I know we could get a pass for him that may shorten lines but I'd feel weird about using it since he only has Autism and Anxiety issues when other kids have more physical needs for the pass. Not sure how people would react to that, ya know?

Anyways, long story short, I'm very wary of having that happen again. I don't want to have to explain why he needs accomodations sometimes to everyone and yet he looks "normal". Anyone use these with kids who don't have a physical limitation?

My ds "only" has autism. We used the GAC last year and will again in June when we go. We didn't have anybody give us any bad looks or comments (that I noticed) while we were using it. Most people have no idea what the pass (GAC) is and, if it's one of the rides that you go through the fastpass, most people don't even notice that you are showing a different paper than the fastpass paper, ya know? For some of the other rides there is clearly a handicap entrance that you go through, and I guess most people would assume that if a cast member is leading you that way than there is a reason.

I can understand your fear, though, as I felt the same way before we went last year. I was sure something bad/negative would happen or someone would make some comment or something. But all cast members were very professional and I didn't have any issues from other guests.

We took ds to the circus last fall and it was a disaster. He wasn't even in there for 5 minutes before he was freaking out. We will probably never take him to the circus again.... but DisneyWorld he did great at. Go figure

Originally Posted by kittynurse

When we used the pass last year I didn't have one single person give us a hard time about it. The way the alternate entrances are set up the people in the regular line don't really see you anyway. I also found every cast member to be really discreet as well.

Please don't feel like your son doesn't deserve to use the card because he "just" has autism and anxiety. You aren't taking a card away from another child, everyone who needs one gets one.

And remember- sometimes there will be a ride that doesn't have a long wait. If that happens, don't use the pass. There were times when we didn't use the pass because we thought ds would do well in the regular ride. But when that line was a 45 minute wait you can bet we used the pass! LOL!

I felt no guilt about it at all. DS has struggled so much more in everyday things than a typical child that he deserves to have a wonderful vacation!

[Shellie]

Originally Posted by Kristine233

I don't want to have to explain why he needs accomodations sometimes to everyone and yet he looks "normal". Anyone use these with kids who don't have a physical limitation?

Well, me, which is what the whole post started about, really. My dd looks 100% healthy/average to strangers....and we used it. We saw people who appeared to be able-bodied adults (no wheelchair, cane, etc.) using them. Even being immunosuppressed, anxious, claustrophobic, etc. qualifies and that isn't obvious on the outside.

[Kristine233]

Thats good to know! Thank you.

Hope you guys have a blast and report back how it goes too!

[Shellie]

Old post but just for reference if anyone reads it in the future, my dd doesn't look outwardly disabled and we had a good experience with the GAC at Disneyland  Sure, her neuro, GI and optho can detect the minor difficiencies that she has, but her issues are mostly invisible to lay-people. 

 

I don't want to have to explain why he needs accomodations sometimes to everyone and yet he looks "normal". Anyone use these with kids who don't have a physical limitation?

[girlzmommy00]

Does anyone know if other theme parks offer this?  Last summer we went to Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ & I had to pay a lot for a Flash pass to avoid standing in long lines due to medical problems.   Though I have to say, it made a huge difference.  My kids had an amazing time & it was one of our few outtings that wasn't ended early due to pain.

But I can understand, to look at my family, we all appear to be the picture of health when unfortunately, we are far from it.   I have a handicapped parking tag for myself & while thankfully, no one has ever said a word, I do get looks since I "don't look sick" 

[girlzmommy00]

I just checked their website and it says ....

We strive to provide mainstream access wherever possible, including wheelchair rentals and special access passes. Please stop by Guest Relations to pick up a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for more information. Hearing-impaired guests are welcome to use the TDD telephone at Guest Relations. 

 I'm going to give them a call & ask what the "special access pass" entails.   A friend said that they gave her a Flash Pass at no cost at another Six Flags for her child with a disability (I believe autism) with out question but I don't know if each Six Flags handles it differently since it wasn't at Great Adventure here.

[BetsyNY]

We're curious about Universal Studios too...

[flminivanmama]

I did it at universal... they gave us a pass which was great but I wasn't sure if it was something they normally did... - we were travelling with my son who has autism & my dad who had multiple myeloma  and it hurt him to walk and stand....