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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
I just went to Disney in October. Between planning my day by going to the parks on certain days, obtaining fast passes, we hardly waited on line. While waiting for fast pass times, we did other things such as eating snack, character signings, pictures from the photo people. Now that i think about it, i really didn't wait long for rides as it just worked out the way we bounced around the park. It can be done with just fast pass alone. Fast passes are typically a good distance away from the ride so hanging out in that area then start your hike to the ride works out.
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Posted 9/25/13 9:01 AM  |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9924 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
I just got back from Disney and this change to policy saddens me. The GAC was invaluable to our family. Not only did it allow my ASD son to enjoy the rides but it allowed us to be less stressed about trying to keep him occupied and not "harrassing" others in line. He needed to be kept in his stroller so we were able to use the alternate enterances with very limited wait times. With this new policy it appears that we would be sent on the fastpass line which honestly on most of the rides was too long for my son to wait on. An example was the Mickey Emporium which was a meet and greet. We showed our GAC and was sent on the fast pass line which was barely moving. After 15 minutes my son was screaming, jumping out of his stroller, running in and out of the red velvet ropes, cutting in front of people, grabbing kids by their hands to get them to "play tag" with him. We decided that the wait was not worth it. We specifically planned our vacation for a time where the crowds were less because we know how our son is. He literally sprinted out of the Guest Services area into the crowd while we were WAITING for the GAC  I hope Disney reconsiders their policy
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| Posted 9/26/13 7:12 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by Domino
I just got back from Disney and this change to policy saddens me. The GAC was invaluable to our family. Not only did it allow my ASD son to enjoy the rides but it allowed us to be less stressed about trying to keep him occupied and not "harrassing" others in line. He needed to be kept in his stroller so we were able to use the alternate enterances with very limited wait times. With this new policy it appears that we would be sent on the fastpass line which honestly on most of the rides was too long for my son to wait on. An example was the Mickey Emporium which was a meet and greet. We showed our GAC and was sent on the fast pass line which was barely moving. After 15 minutes my son was screaming, jumping out of his stroller, running in and out of the red velvet ropes, cutting in front of people, grabbing kids by their hands to get them to "play tag" with him. We decided that the wait was not worth it. We specifically planned our vacation for a time where the crowds were less because we know how our son is. He literally sprinted out of the Guest Services area into the crowd while we were WAITING for the GAC I hope Disney reconsiders their policy
Most of the alternate entrances are the fast pass entrances. With the exception of the rides that don't offer fast pass at all. The GAC is not good for meet and greets, so you must have had a very nice cast member to all you to go through the fast pass line for that! It stinks that it didn't work out though!
I hope you had a fun trip 
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| Posted 9/26/13 7:18 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by Mill188
I actually was speaking to SIL and BIL last night and this came up. BIL informed me that the kiosks will be centrally located and there will be more than one of them - it is envisioned that each "land" will have its own kiosk. The theory is that people will take the GAC card to the kiosk, get the "FP" return time and find something else to do before heading over to the ride. Disney hopes this eliminates heading to a ride only to be told to return in 90 minutes.
I don't think there's any need to panic about the changes.
BIL is a manager at MK. SIL is a VP in Guest Relations. They both seem to think the changes are good for everyone (the parks, the "disabled" guests and the general public) and are the best way to provide the equal access required under the ADA and still provide a magical experience.
So these people, some up extra early in the morning to prepare a severely disabled child to enter a park, with heavy equipment, have to run around trying to get passes on rides. Shame on Disney. Shame on people who abused the system. So the kids or adults who need to be back for treatments or medicines now will need to spend their entire day at the parks. I saw a little girl in a wheelchair with severe physical handicaps. She could not even ride most of the rides, but what about her siblings...they could. But their parents could not spend the entire day at the park because of their severely disabled child. So what, the other children need to suffer waiting for passes?? Unable to ride everything because they must rush back for sibling with disability. And like their life is not hard enough!
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| Posted 9/26/13 8:51 PM |
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Mill188
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 3073 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by twicethefun
Posted by Mill188
I actually was speaking to SIL and BIL last night and this came up. BIL informed me that the kiosks will be centrally located and there will be more than one of them - it is envisioned that each "land" will have its own kiosk. The theory is that people will take the GAC card to the kiosk, get the "FP" return time and find something else to do before heading over to the ride. Disney hopes this eliminates heading to a ride only to be told to return in 90 minutes.
I don't think there's any need to panic about the changes.
BIL is a manager at MK. SIL is a VP in Guest Relations. They both seem to think the changes are good for everyone (the parks, the "disabled" guests and the general public) and are the best way to provide the equal access required under the ADA and still provide a magical experience.
So these people, some up extra early in the morning to prepare a severely disabled child to enter a park, with heavy equipment, have to run around trying to get passes on rides. Shame on Disney. Shame on people who abused the system. So the kids or adults who need to be back for treatments or medicines now will need to spend their entire day at the parks. I saw a little girl in a wheelchair with severe physical handicaps. She could not even ride most of the rides, but what about her siblings...they could. But their parents could not spend the entire day at the park because of their severely disabled child. So what, the other children need to suffer waiting for passes?? Unable to ride everything because they must rush back for sibling with disability. And like their life is not hard enough!
No one has to "run around." The alternate entrance lines often have wait times longer than the regular lines. Most alternate entrances (on rides where they do exist) ARE the FP lines. It is envisioned that this will cut down on wait times that are currently being experienced at the alternate entrances.
Disney has at least one location in each park that is staffed with RN's and has private treatment rooms available. If you need medical equipment to do your treatment you can store it there and go back when you need it. We've done this several times with my cousin's "pounding vest" for his CF treatments.
Give the new system a chance. It may work out, it may not. I think giving people an appointed time to ride will benefit everyone.
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| Posted 9/26/13 9:57 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9924 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by BargainMama
Most of the alternate entrances are the fast pass entrances. With the exception of the rides that don't offer fast pass at all. The GAC is not good for meet and greets, so you must have had a very nice cast member to all you to go through the fast pass line for that! It stinks that it didn't work out though!
I hope you had a fun trip
While we entered from the fastpass entrances, because we had the stroller as a wheelchair, most of the time we were diverted to the handicapped lane which was seperate from fastpass.
My 3 y/o son had a fabulous time on the scary rides. He made me ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror FOUR times (my husband bailed after the first ride)
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| Posted 9/26/13 10:47 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by Domino
Posted by BargainMama
Most of the alternate entrances are the fast pass entrances. With the exception of the rides that don't offer fast pass at all. The GAC is not good for meet and greets, so you must have had a very nice cast member to all you to go through the fast pass line for that! It stinks that it didn't work out though!
I hope you had a fun trip
While we entered from the fastpass entrances, because we had the stroller as a wheelchair, most of the time we were diverted to the handicapped lane which was seperate from fastpass.
My 3 y/o son had a fabulous time on the scary rides. He made me ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror FOUR times (my husband bailed after the first ride)
Wow! He is brave!!  and YOU are a good mommy for enduring that four times LOL! My son LOVES that ride, but I won't go on it!
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| Posted 9/27/13 7:07 AM |
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JP826
=)
Member since 9/06 10903 total posts
Name:
Me!! All about ME!
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Posted by ElizaRags35
If you don't want to wait on a 2+ hour line, don't go to Disney! lol
I wouldn't want to wait more than 10 minutes so I guess my kid is never going lol
Exactly why I would only do Disney in the middle of January. I hate crowds, HATE lines & HATE the summer heat. How people go to Disney during the peak summer months with kids in tow baffles my mind.
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| Posted 9/27/13 8:52 AM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
I can't speak for all families with disabled children (or adults), but this is my take on it.
The GAC was a gift. A gift from Disney to those families who fight on a daily basis to get their children access. Access to education, employment, housing, health care. Imagine that every time you go to the grocery store, the playground, school, family gatherings that you are constantly on high alert. Worried about bad behaviors that your child has little or no control over. Imagine the physical exertion that goes into physically navigating a world that is not made for wheelchairs or walkers. As much as we love our children, it's exhausting. And siblings have a tough road too.
Disney was the one place where families like ours are made to feel welcome. Accommodations are made without fighting for them, for rides, meals, and many other things. Families are able to take vacations that every member of the family can enjoy. If you haven't lived this, you may not understand it. The reason people are so upset about the changes, IMO is not because anyone feels entitled to anything. I think people are upset because this was a wonderful gift for our families. Disney set a great example for corporations with respect to how they treat people with disabilities.
I will never go to Disney at peak times, I know that would be impossible for my DS to handle. But to pull him out of school, even for a couple of days, means he misses therapy sessions that help him. As everything else I do as a parent, it's a choice I have to think about. Disney just made it easier for parents like me and it was wonderful because we don't often get breaks. I am optimistic that they will work out the kinks but I am pissed that people took advantage of the program so blatantly that they had to do away with it in its current form.
That's my 2 cents.
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| Posted 9/27/13 12:25 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney Changes policy on disabled access to lines
Well said
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| Posted 9/27/13 12:47 PM |
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