Guest Assistance Card question About This Page:

[Tigger25]

We are going to WDW in June w/ my DH family but I have a question regarding the guest assistance card. A quick background before I go further,my mother and father in law were in a horrible helicopter accident 2 years ago that left them both injured and burned, but my mother in law got the worst of the injuries. One of the major injuries she suffered led to her having to have her left leg amputated from the knee down. After intense physical therapy she has a prosthectic leg however she can only go so far till it starts to bother her. We are all so proud of her and amazed at her courage and she is a fighter.

You may ask why visit WDW? Well we are all Disney fans and have actually been talking about a big family trip for years and actually had one planned untill the accident which changed everything. At thanksgiving this past year we thought it would be a great time in 2012 to master this trip and decided on june due to everyones school and work schedule.My DH family has been to DL before but not WDW and I dont think they realize how big it is. My DH and I are concerned for my mother in law and with the long waits in June and standing on her prosthetic leg for long periods of time. She is very excited to go and I will tell ya she will walk till she can stand it because she is just that awesome. I was wondering how the guest assistance cards work as we have never had to use them before ourselves but we really want to make this trip memorable and enjoyable for her since she has been through so much. I don't want her to be in the parks worried or concerned about her leg because she so loves family time w/ her kids and her granddaughter.There will be 8 of us total my MIL,FIL, 2 sister in laws + 1 boyfriend,my DH,DD(3) & me. I have heard that these passes can help reduce wait times but I dont want anyone thinking we are trying to cut in line it is really to assist one of our family members.

How do these passes work exactly? Where do you get them? Also does WDW ever run out of scooters especially in June? Thanks you all for your input I hope I didnt ramble on too much

[CinderAbby]

Congrats on the upcoming trip. As for the GAC, I'm not sure how much it will help your MIL. It sounds like a wheelchair or an ECV will be a much better accomodation for her - and pretty much all lines handle these now. The most I can say is go to Guest Services and explain what type of accomodation your MIL needs and if a GAC is something that works, they'll stamp it based on what you tell them.

How do these passes work exactly?

It depends upon what type of accomodations you need. Some people have children that need to remain in their strollers in line and with the GAC, the people won't be told to park the stroller for rides. Some people (like us) need to wait where it's quieter/not the crush of people in a regular line so we sometimes go through the wheelchair line or the FP line. It depends upon the ride and the CM. But the GAC has different uses and those are only two that I know of. And truthfully, you can still end up waiting a while even with a GAC. I know for TSM it's not unusual for us to have to wait up to 45 minutes or so to get on. Yes, that is still shorter than the regular line but it's still not a no wait pass. There have been other times we've waited longer with a GAC than we would have if we could use the regular line (like at IASW).

[Caldercup]

Speaking specifically to your MIL's situation -- sounds like a scooter would be perfect for her. In June, I'd rent one from an outside company so you can use them outside of the parks as well (they also tend to have better batteries and more 'oomph' to them. People here often recommend Walker Mobility for rentals. I know there are other companies, so perhaps someone else can recommend them.)

The accomodation you'd want to ask for in your MILs case is the "alternate entrance with the ability to transfer to the vehicle." In most cases (each ride handles things differently) your mom will be able to enter the FastPass line with her scooter and be taken to an area where she can load the vehicle on her own.

When you go a park's Guest Services to get the GAC (you'll need one for each person who needs accomodations in case you split up during the vacation) just explain to the Cast Member what you can/can't do. They'll figure out what stamp to use on the GAC.

Good luck -- and enjoy your trip. Walt Disney World is for EVERYBODY!!

[fluffybunny]

The amount of people you have is going to be a problem with a GAC. The GAC allows the holder plus 5 other people alternate entrance. What may work better is allowing her to use the alternate entrance and wait for the rest of your party and then board the ride. They tend to be a little strict when it comes to using the GAC. I use an alternate entrance GAC and they will frequently ask who the GAC is for to make sure it is being used properly. You get the GAC at guest services at any park. I would avoid getting it at AK because they have told me there that they won't give me one because there is no need for an alternate entrance on their rides (which is false but I didn't want to argue). Guest services will ask what the reason for the GAC is and you just tell them why. I use mine for a panic disorder and just ask for an alternate entrance stamp. Your MIL needs to be present at the time the GAC is obtained.

[Tigger25]

Is a doctor note required for all disorders?

[oldmom]

no, you don't need to bring one and i believe all they are supposed to ask is what accommodations you would need..

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

Speaking specifically to your MIL's situation -- sounds like a scooter would be perfect for her. In June, I'd rent one from an outside company so you can use them outside of the parks as well (they also tend to have better batteries and more 'oomph' to them. People here often recommend Walker Mobility for rentals. I know there are other companies, so perhaps someone else can recommend them.)

The accomodation you'd want to ask for in your MILs case is the "alternate entrance with the ability to transfer to the vehicle." In most cases (each ride handles things differently) your mom will be able to enter the FastPass line with her scooter and be taken to an area where she can load the vehicle on her own.

When you go a park's Guest Services to get the GAC (you'll need one for each person who needs accomodations in case you split up during the vacation) just explain to the Cast Member what you can/can't do. They'll figure out what stamp to use on the GAC.

Good luck -- and enjoy your trip. Walt Disney World is for EVERYBODY!!

This!
So she won't be required to stand in long waits. I think she can stay seated on her scooter till she gets on the ride.

I agree with renting a scooter form an off site company. They will deliver to your resort, and pick up. And it's way cheaper then renting at the parks. Then MIL will have it to get around the resort too, and from bus to park entrance, etc. Depending on what resort you are at, the bus stop can be a hike to park entrance.
If MIL isn't used to driving a scooter, she can practice getting a feel for it at your resort before heading to the park crowds!

Have a great trip!

[yalibrarian]

I would definitely suggest renting from an outside company. You'll have the scooter with you all the time and won't have to worry about doing without--plus it's cheaper than renting at the parks. We have used both Walker Mobility and Buena Vista Scooters. They deliver to your resort and pick the scooter up when you are finished.

We drive to the parks so we just take the scooter apart, store it in our car trunk (Camry) and reassemble at the parks. I've gotten quite fast at this! We stay at a value resort most of the time, and the scooter fits into the room just fine. You can recharge your batteries overnight without pulling them from the scooter. Almost all buses and boats plus the monorail can accommodate scooters, although you may have to wait for the next one if more than two people with scooters show up. This hasn't been a major problem for us.

Disney is one of the most accommodating companies around when it comes to people with disabilities. The GAC won't require you to provide "proof," but they will need to know what type of accommodations you will need (like waiting in a seated area instead of standing in a line). We don't use the GAC even though we have mobility and cognitive disabilities (autism), finding FP works for us, but others find it useful. And don't forget to locate the Companion Restrooms on the park and DTD maps; they make it so much easier for those with mobility concerns or anyone who might need help in the restroom.

[phoebec]

Definitely get a scooter so she is not standing and walking through the parks. She can use the wheelchair entrance and join you when you board the rides.

[cdnmickeyfan]

Have a great visit to the parks with your family. Im sure everything will fall in to place and everyone will have a great time.

[jimmymac]

Another vote for getting a scooter. Just don't get it from Disney

[CinderAbby]

We've had very good luck with Walker Mobility. I have a review of them in my TR from last year if you want ot check it out.

[Jelly77]

Only thing I would say is, if you hire the scooter from outside, I read a review where it broke down in Epcot and WDW staff refused to help as it wasn't theirs. Not sure if that's true, but they had to drag it to the entrance on their own!

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by Jelly77

Only thing I would say is, if you hire the scooter from outside, I read a review where it broke down in Epcot and WDW staff refused to help as it wasn't theirs. Not sure if that's true, but they had to drag it to the entrance on their own!

Actually, I can see Disney's point. They want to avoid liability issues with another company's property.
Eileen

[mechurchlady]

Disney employees will find people to PUSH a scooter to one side. They will then work with the guest for the best option such as bringing a wheelchair to get the guest to their room or car. I had 3 CM trying to help me start my scooter. I have had Randy out to TTC and he fixed the battery.

RENT OFF SITE!!!
Randy offers the scooters for $210 a week with delivery to your hotel room. Others offer scooters for a similar price with delivery to hotel lobbies. Walker was at AK last week, I seen them. If someone wants to rent on site then they are wasting $100 plus a week, are walking a lot, and can come by and give me the money.

In parks contact a CM. They can try to help or find someone to help. There are people like me who can help out as well. I recently showed someone where the reset button was. Most scooters have a reset button and lever that allows the scooter to be pushed. I have had strangers push my scooter when it would not work in the parking lot. I am amazed at what people will do in parks.

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The GAC would help her avoid stairs, that is what I get on my GAC. For a group of 7 or more they might have on part wait while the other goes through the line. It is a case by case situation depending on size of group, ride, crowds, and CMs.