Universal--GAC?

[tmli]

Just wondering if Universal as an equiv. to Disney's GAC. If so how do you obtain it? Also does anyone know what their wheelchair rentals cost and if they are available near the parking lot before you make the long trek into the park? Do their attractions have wheelchair accessible entrances?

 

[SueM in MN]

Just wondering if Universal as an equiv. to Disney's GAC. If so how do you obtain it? Also does anyone know what their wheelchair rentals cost and if they are available near the parking lot before you make the long trek into the park? Do their attractions have wheelchair accessible entrances?

I don't believe (but have not been there in a while) that they have a GAC available for people using wheelchairs. You would inquire at Guest Services.
I don't have the ability to put a link in right now (I'm at work), but Universal's website has a link to a downloadable version of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.
All their lines are wheelchair accessible for the most part, so visitors in wheelchairs wait in the regular lines with everyone else. Many of their rides are not wheelchair accessible (being either roller-coaseter thrill type rides or ones where you have to transfer to ride).
I'm sure someone who has been there recently will respond, but I wanted to start you out.

 

[tmli]

The Gac is for my ds who has ASD amongst other issues. He will also be in a wheelchair, so I am trying to decide if the GAC will be necessary. AT wdw we had the GAC and found we rarely used it, except for when we were out and about without the chair.

 

[SueM in MN]

I know people have posted that they were able to get GACs at Universal for their children with autism. I don't know what it allowed them to do/where they could wait, but the people posted they were treated well. I'd suggest you go to Guest Services at the park when you get there, let them know what your concerns are and see what they suggest.
Have a good trip and let us know what happens.

 

[JudithM]

Tracey, I have not been to Universal in FL, but last summer I had an unexpected visit to Universal Hollywood. I stopped by their Guest Services/Guest Relations when we first entered the park. The person could not have been nicer. I mentioned that I had never been to this park, but when I go to WDW in FL using an ECV (which I did not have in CA), I get a guest assistance card - I briefly mentioned mobility issues. He pulled out a guest assistance pass. It worked well for me & the adults with me. I hardly had to mention it to Universal employees at each attraction. Usually they saw it in my hand as I approached them, & they directed me where to wait. We waitied with the guests who had something equivalent to a front of the line pass.

I hope Universal FL is as friendly & helpful to you as Universal Hollywoood was to us.

 

[Roo'sMom]

We went in November and asked for a GAC (or whatever they call it at Universal) for my son (ASD).
They gave us a card which allowed my son and ONE other person to wait at the front of the line while the rest of the party went through the line. It was VERY upsetting to my son to have to be separated from most of his family and he wasn't able to understand the procedure. He was so anxious watching his father and brother make their way through the line (the way the lines go back and forth it often looked to him like they were actually going away from him ). We had no problem waiting, but didn't understand why they would only allow one person to wait with the guest with disabilities. If you think your child would have a problem with this procedure, maybe you will have more luck explaining it at Guest Relations than we had. HTH

 

[MadisonMom]

At US, we were asked how many people were in our party (4) and they gave us a card that allowed us to use the same entrance as people who stayed at an onsite hotel. I think it was called an ExpressPass? My youngest son is autistic and this helped a lot. ON a related note, US was VERY noisy! There is rock/pop music piped in everywhere. The attractions/rides were very loud. We tried to stand in the regular line for Shrek, but the music was so loud we couldn't stand it - especially my ASD son who was wearing ear plugs. They allowed us to wait in a quieter area ( a back stairwell).

 

[tmli]

Thanks for all the info and tips. I will head to guest services and see what they say. My ds really doesn't like Universal alot, it probably is the music. I didn't clue in to that before. We are going with family who have never been to Florida or we wouldn't be going at all.

 

[brady961]

I have mobility issues and use forearm crutches or a scooter. since i am an annual passholder, they tagged my pass needing express pass. so each time i visit USoF or IOA i stop by quest services, give them my annual pass. then they give me an express pass with the number of quests with me (usually that is only one person).

basically this lets them know at ech attraction i need alternative entrance esp is stairs are involved i.e Mummy, Men in Black. i am sent thru the express line as like the fast pass line at WDW.

but also can go thru standby if there aren' any obstacles to get over.

i have found USoF wonderful in meeting my needs so i can enjoy the parks. even once the lead shift manager escorted me at Mummy the back way up elevator. he waited for me to get off and escorted me back out. then said if i needed anything anywhere in the park to have someone with walkie to page him and he would come to where i was and offer assistance.

when i go by myself i have difficult ordering food and carrying it but again someone has always been there to take my order, and carry tray to a table, get my napkins etc... for me. and then someone comes by while im eating to see if i need anything.

its like too i don't have to ask for help they jump to help before i ask.

again everyone has been great at offering assistance.