I wanted to let you all know that I am not against GAC's or accommodating anyone with a invisible illness in fact I have one myself and have two children that have one and an adult friend I care for who has a severe mental disorder. But I also worked for Disneyland for 10 years in attractions and saw the abuse of these passes for many years. It got to the point it was so bad that the line for those with special assistance passes exceeded the regular Que on busy days and that does not help anyone. The new program has cut the wait ALOT more then the front of the line passes did because it is not abused as much.
I also wanted to add that if your child can not wait for 5 or 10 minutes in a moving fastpass line then you need to let the people at city hall know this. They are there to help. I am sure that if you bring your child with you and they see they have a hard time standing just for the time it takes to get the pass they are going to accommodate you. Not only are there stamps but they can write instructions on the passes if necessary.
I have been accommodated with my adult friend who can not be surrounded by people. It took talking to a few different people but I received the help that was needed. I can grantee this much that they will NEVER go back to the old policy. It just got way too out of control. So they had the decision to let the GAC's go through fast pass or have them stand in a line through the handicap entrance which was sometimes up to 1 hour long. I know that when my son was at his worst that there was no way he would wait in that line at the exit of the rides and walking through fast pass was just much faster and less traumatic for him.
I also realize that Autism is a spectrum and that not one child with autism acts the same or has the same behaviors. That means that not all people with Autism need to get on the attraction right away so if they changed the policy they would not be accommodating each individual need but lumping all with autism into on category and it is not necessary. There are some like my son who can wait for short periods of time and it is a good learning process for him. There are others that a short wait might cause a meltdown and for those very few I highly recommend being a advocate for them and letting guest relations know that they can not be in any sort of line or it can be dangerous for them or those around them. Be very clear and very stern and I know that they will help you.
Also the newer attractions have no other way to get on faster but fast pass. They have built the newer rides wheel chair access able so there is no "Backdoor entrance" Some of them you can not go through the exit it is just not safe or realistic and can be more a problem then it would be to go through fast pass. Some of the newer DOSH rules require EVERYONE to go through part of the Que because there are instructions and safety warning is the preshow. That is one other reason on some rides (like INDY at Disneyland) you have to go through part of the Que or you do not ride the attraction. Even guest with MAW passes have to go through that part of the line or Disney can be fined
Whoever said Not trying to start a fight...but if your child cannot handle waiting in lines at all (does not understand he cannot do the activity RIGHT NOW!), then is a vacation that involves all lines for all attractions the best vacation for him?
That was just rude and uncalled for. I think everyone should be able to enjoy Disney and these kids have remarkable experiences in the park and tend to do even better when they are there. I even had one parent tell me that he talked his first full sentence while at Disneyland and to me that is worth the effort and the hard work taking your child to Disney. These kids have problems with any type of change but does that mean they should never leave the house. Of course not. Disney is a good place for these children to work on the sensory issues because they are distracted by the attractions and the atmosphere and will do more then they would ever do at home.
I just want all of you that think Disney is not doing a good job accommodating know that we went to six flags and they make you sit at the exit of the ride for how long the line is. We waited for 1 hour for one ride and had to leave. They followed the law and followed the ADA but just did not care. Please realize that Disney does go beyond and above what most parks do. They cater to the needs of the person and that is remarkable. Next time you are in the park and you are not be accommodated talk to a manger and get the accommodations you need. They understand that there are some people that need more help then what there pass provides and I know for a fact that they do help those guest.
I also wanted to add that if your child can not wait for 5 or 10 minutes in a moving fastpass line then you need to let the people at city hall know this. They are there to help. I am sure that if you bring your child with you and they see they have a hard time standing just for the time it takes to get the pass they are going to accommodate you. Not only are there stamps but they can write instructions on the passes if necessary.
I have been accommodated with my adult friend who can not be surrounded by people. It took talking to a few different people but I received the help that was needed. I can grantee this much that they will NEVER go back to the old policy. It just got way too out of control. So they had the decision to let the GAC's go through fast pass or have them stand in a line through the handicap entrance which was sometimes up to 1 hour long. I know that when my son was at his worst that there was no way he would wait in that line at the exit of the rides and walking through fast pass was just much faster and less traumatic for him.
I also realize that Autism is a spectrum and that not one child with autism acts the same or has the same behaviors. That means that not all people with Autism need to get on the attraction right away so if they changed the policy they would not be accommodating each individual need but lumping all with autism into on category and it is not necessary. There are some like my son who can wait for short periods of time and it is a good learning process for him. There are others that a short wait might cause a meltdown and for those very few I highly recommend being a advocate for them and letting guest relations know that they can not be in any sort of line or it can be dangerous for them or those around them. Be very clear and very stern and I know that they will help you.
Also the newer attractions have no other way to get on faster but fast pass. They have built the newer rides wheel chair access able so there is no "Backdoor entrance" Some of them you can not go through the exit it is just not safe or realistic and can be more a problem then it would be to go through fast pass. Some of the newer DOSH rules require EVERYONE to go through part of the Que because there are instructions and safety warning is the preshow. That is one other reason on some rides (like INDY at Disneyland) you have to go through part of the Que or you do not ride the attraction. Even guest with MAW passes have to go through that part of the line or Disney can be fined
Whoever said Not trying to start a fight...but if your child cannot handle waiting in lines at all (does not understand he cannot do the activity RIGHT NOW!), then is a vacation that involves all lines for all attractions the best vacation for him?
That was just rude and uncalled for. I think everyone should be able to enjoy Disney and these kids have remarkable experiences in the park and tend to do even better when they are there. I even had one parent tell me that he talked his first full sentence while at Disneyland and to me that is worth the effort and the hard work taking your child to Disney. These kids have problems with any type of change but does that mean they should never leave the house. Of course not. Disney is a good place for these children to work on the sensory issues because they are distracted by the attractions and the atmosphere and will do more then they would ever do at home.
I just want all of you that think Disney is not doing a good job accommodating know that we went to six flags and they make you sit at the exit of the ride for how long the line is. We waited for 1 hour for one ride and had to leave. They followed the law and followed the ADA but just did not care. Please realize that Disney does go beyond and above what most parks do. They cater to the needs of the person and that is remarkable. Next time you are in the park and you are not be accommodated talk to a manger and get the accommodations you need. They understand that there are some people that need more help then what there pass provides and I know for a fact that they do help those guest.