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[WENDY CROSBIE]

My son has ADHD,were due to go to see the Doctor to revaluate his meds,is it worth getting the doctor to write some sort of note for him,as i know when were going its gonna be real busy and hot?(june&july)

[iamgrumpy]

While Disney may not ask to see a note i'd recommend bringing one if it makes you more comfortable but make sure if you do bring one that you have the doctor state something like "johnny is under my care and due to his _______ it would help if he had a quiet place away to wait as that can trigger his condition" try to be specific in what accommodations he/she might benefit from having. Knowing your child's triggers can help in avoiding certain things by planning ahead but for those times where you can't avoid something thats where the GAC comes in handy.

If he just puts "johnny has ______ please accommodate his condition" it doesn't give them what special assitance he needs to be able to tour comfortably.

The GAC again is not a front of the line pass but it does help in a lot of ways in making your wait as comfortable as possible. If there is fastpass available you maybe asked to take a fastpass and to return at the time printed on it.

[cflanery]

I would highly recommend anyone who has a child with a disability to strongly consider getting anything available that can help your child enjoy Disney. If a GAC will help than by all means do what is necessary. I like many others have a child who looks normal, but as soon as we are stuck waiting in a line he will lost control and have a total meltdown. I'am in the process of getting a diagnosis, which has taken over a year just to get an appointment at an appropriate facility. My son is 4, and is unable to speak or articulate....which is so difficult for other's to comprehend. Everyone assumes he is misbehaving....because he won't look at them when they are talking to him. It's so frustrating. We did a test run last year, paid a large amount of money to go to a certain amusement park in St. Lous. We got in line for a water raft ride, and although we did what we thought was right by waiting in line with our son. It was so unfair for all the others who were near us to have to hear the sound of my son yelling the entire time. There were teenagers who kept going through the handicap line, while we waited in line just to ride it once. I will not ever do that again. My son, was fine once we were on the ride...he just doesn't do well waiting. We are planning a trip to Disney, and I'am so nervous. I plan to use fast pass for all it's worth. If I can get my son diagnosed soon, I may apply for the GAC, when we go on our trip. I just wanted to write and tell other's not to feel guilty about using it if it is available. Because it may be the only way for your child to truly enjoy Disney.

[stonewall]

Originally Posted by cflanery

I would highly recommend anyone who has a child with a disability to strongly consider getting anything available that can help your child enjoy Disney. If a GAC will help than by all means do what is necessary. I like many others have a child who looks normal, but as soon as we are stuck waiting in a line he will lost control and have a total meltdown. I'am in the process of getting a diagnosis, which has taken over a year just to get an appointment at an appropriate facility. My son is 4, and is unable to speak or articulate....which is so difficult for other's to comprehend. Everyone assumes he is misbehaving....because he won't look at them when they are talking to him. It's so frustrating. We did a test run last year, paid a large amount of money to go to a certain amusement park in St. Lous. We got in line for a water raft ride, and although we did what we thought was right by waiting in line with our son. It was so unfair for all the others who were near us to have to hear the sound of my son yelling the entire time. There were teenagers who kept going through the handicap line, while we waited in line just to ride it once. I will not ever do that again. My son, was fine once we were on the ride...he just doesn't do well waiting. We are planning a trip to Disney, and I'am so nervous. I plan to use fast pass for all it's worth. If I can get my son diagnosed soon, I may apply for the GAC, when we go on our trip. I just wanted to write and tell other's not to feel guilty about using it if it is available. Because it may be the only way for your child to truly enjoy Disney.

Don't worry if you can't get an exact diagnosis for your son before your trip. I'm sure that your MD has some kind of idea as to what accomdations would make the trip more comofoetable for him, so just have him/her jot a note on the RX pad. GO and get the GAC pass and enjoy your trip.

[PamelaK]

Can a GAC be applied for PRIOR to arrival or do you have to wait until you get to the park? My DD has Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis (thankfully the mild version) and while she is able to walk and enjoy everything that the parks have to offer, her legs do get fatigued from the long walks and even just standing around in line. I know her doctor would happily give her a note and explain that she will need to have some accomodations while waiting in long lines. Mainly, just allowing her to sit somewhere to rest her legs while we wait without losing her place in line. We will be utilizing the FastPass where and when we can, but now that I know about the GAC I will definitely ask for that too.

Also will the GAC work for dining accomodations? I had a Gastric Bypass and cannot eat a whole lot. My DD and I usually end up sharing a plate. When I called to make reservations for CRT I asked about sharing meals and how that would affect our DIning plan and i was told that we are not allowed to share meals on the DIning plan, so in our budgeting and planning, I am taking that into consideration, but hoping that once we get there then some accomodations might be made.

[stonewall]

Originally Posted by PamelaK

Can a GAC be applied for PRIOR to arrival or do you have to wait until you get to the park? My DD has Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis (thankfully the mild version) and while she is able to walk and enjoy everything that the parks have to offer, her legs do get fatigued from the long walks and even just standing around in line. I know her doctor would happily give her a note and explain that she will need to have some accomodations while waiting in long lines. Mainly, just allowing her to sit somewhere to rest her legs while we wait without losing her place in line. We will be utilizing the FastPass where and when we can, but now that I know about the GAC I will definitely ask for that too.

Also will the GAC work for dining accomodations? I had a Gastric Bypass and cannot eat a whole lot. My DD and I usually end up sharing a plate. When I called to make reservations for CRT I asked about sharing meals and how that would affect our DIning plan and i was told that we are not allowed to share meals on the DIning plan, so in our budgeting and planning, I am taking that into consideration, but hoping that once we get there then some accomodations might be made.

Hi Pam!
No, you have to get the GAC at any of the Guest Services centers in the park or at Downtown Disney. Don't worry, it only takes a few minutes, and your MD's note will also help speed it up.
As for the Dining Plan- as far as I know, no, the GAC will NOT work for that. You may order from the children's menu (although I am not sure how that works either with the Dining Plan, but I am sure that the GAC is not going to be the answer here). Try posting that part of your question in the Feasting and Snacking Forum or even the one for the Travel Agents as they might know a way to assure that you can share meals (Which I know you can do without the Dining Plan). Also, just for some more information about other guests who have had the surgery and traveled to WDW, utilise the "search" feature on the board,as there are LOTS of questions,answers and information about that archived.
Have a wonderful trip!

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by stonewall

Hi Pam!
No, you have to get the GAC at any of the Guest Services centers in the park or at Downtown Disney. Don't worry, it only takes a few minutes, and your MD's note will also help speed it up.

I have been told by someone who currently works at WDW that Guest Services at Downtown Disney does not do GACs - only the Guest Services at the parks do that.

If you do take a letter from the doctor, it should be about your child's needs (as you kind of outlined them in your post). also, don't be surprised if they don't want to see the letter at all.
Also, the things that you are talking about (a place to sit and wait) is not available in some attractions at all. Even though a GAC might help for some attractions, there is a lot of walking involved in just going from place to place in the parks and a GAC would only help for attractions. I've heard estimates of between 3 and 9 miles per day, depending on how much backtracking you do. Just the distance around the World Showcase at Epcot is over a mile!

You may find that rather than a GAC, a wheelchair might be a better accomidation for her. She could use it for long distances (like between areas) and just park it and walk when she doesn't feel like sitting. That is the advice that Disney gives on their website for people who are concerned about the walking distances.

[Ms_Butterfly]

Originally Posted by PamelaK

Also will the GAC work for dining accomodations? I had a Gastric Bypass and cannot eat a whole lot. My DD and I usually end up sharing a plate. When I called to make reservations for CRT I asked about sharing meals and how that would affect our DIning plan and i was told that we are not allowed to share meals on the DIning plan, so in our budgeting and planning, I am taking that into consideration, but hoping that once we get there then some accomodations might be made.

I have no clue about the plan, but others who have posted here have brought the card their doctor gave them when they had the surgery that explains that they had the surgery and can only eat small portions and such. When they have showed the card, the waitstaff understood their needs and let them order off the child's menu and such.

Other people have gotten the adult meals and kept the leftovers in a small soft-sided cooler they carried with them. That way, the person could eat again when needed or when hungry without having to buy a whole new thing of food or wasting time at a restaurant. This latter one you could do while on the dining plan. (Note: Large wheeled coolers are NOT allowed to be brought in the Disney parks, so bring one of those smaller soft-sided ones that you can carry like a bag or stick in a backpack.)

[Floyd Taylor]

We're going to WDW in a month (exactly) and was wondering how the GAC works exactly. I have a son with Asperger's so we're getting a note from his doctor. We never knew anything like this existed until vacation last year at Cedar Point (29 coasters in one week -- whee). When at CP they turned on some misters in a queue and my son had to bail. We went to guest services to see if anything could be done and was told that Autism Spectrum Disorders could be handled. Who knew? Their system seems to work like a fastpass. You showed a booklet to the employee at the entrance to the ride. He would write down a time to return equal to the current time of the wait for a ride. This seems very fair to me because it's how long we would have waited had we gone through the line so other guests aren't unduly delayed.

Is this how the GAC works at WDW. Thanks to all for your help.

[stonewall]

Originally Posted by Floyd Taylor

We're going to WDW in a month (exactly) and was wondering how the GAC works exactly. I have a son with Asperger's so we're getting a note from his doctor. We never knew anything like this existed until vacation last year at Cedar Point (29 coasters in one week -- whee). When at CP they turned on some misters in a queue and my son had to bail. We went to guest services to see if anything could be done and was told that Autism Spectrum Disorders could be handled. Who knew? Their system seems to work like a fastpass. You showed a booklet to the employee at the entrance to the ride. He would write down a time to return equal to the current time of the wait for a ride. This seems very fair to me because it's how long we would have waited had we gone through the line so other guests aren't unduly delayed.

Is this how the GAC works at WDW. Thanks to all for your help.

Only a month! You must be so esxcited! The GAC at WDW is not like what you had at CP, so take a few minutes and read through this sticky thread as Amy has done a terrifc job with updating and collecting all of the GAC info and putting it in one place. You get the pass your first day in a park and make sure it is good through your final day; it will be good for your son and up to 5 members of his group. A brief note on the MD's Rx pad listing what accomodations might be nice as it helps the CMs understand and tailor the pass to your needs. You will use the FastPass lines where they are available and some attractions, although BRMRR has a special line and boarding area to the right of the ride (follow the little "wheelchair" signs). If he has difficulty with lines and heat, the CM will move you into a waiting area in the building, but it is quite a bit different from what you had at CP. Enjoy your trip!!!

[Nightwatcher]

My family and I did WDW in Jan 06 and I rented a ECV from an outside company, I have arthritis in both knees and can not walk long distances. We had no problems with the CM questioning me about using the handicapped entrance. I was questioned more by other guests as to why I was using an ECV. We are returning to WDW next month and again I am using a ECV from an outside company. I wasn't going to bring a letter from my DR. or get a GAC but now I don't know, I can use a cane but can't stand for long periods, any suggestions?

[Floyd Taylor]

Thank you so much Stonewall. That was exactly the information I was looking for. Of course your suggestion for a note on the doctor's RX pad was a great idea, but I already e-mailed a letter to the doctor to put it on their letterhead specifically detailing the accommodations I think we may need. An RX would be much easier to carrier than a 8X11-1/2 piece of paper. Oh well.

Only 25 more days. And 10 more days til weather.com starts having the weather forecast for the trip. Since we won't need any summer clothes around here before the trip, I think I'm going to start packing tonight. So no, we're not too excited.

Again, thanks so much. Have a great day.

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by Nightwatcher

My family and I did WDW in Jan 06 and I rented a ECV from an outside company, I have arthritis in both knees and can not walk long distances. We had no problems with the CM questioning me about using the handicapped entrance. I was questioned more by other guests as to why I was using an ECV. We are returning to WDW next month and again I am using a ECV from an outside company. I wasn't going to bring a letter from my DR. or get a GAC but now I don't know, I can use a cane but can't stand for long periods, any suggestions?

Since you can't stand for long periods, it would make more sensee to use the ECV in lines rather than standing and using your cane.
If you are going to use an ECV in the lines, you probably don't need a GAC. Just having the ECV lets the CMs know that you need to use an accessible entrance.

[stonewall]

Originally Posted by SueM loves WDW

Since you can't stand for long periods, it would make more sensee to use the ECV in lines rather than standing and using your cane.
If you are going to use an ECV in the lines, you probably don't need a GAC. Just having the ECV lets the CMs know that you need to use an accessible entrance.

I'd still get the GAC for attractions such as Winnie the Pooh- you park your ECV over to the side and then use the Fast Pass line to board the ride. One occasion, I have had a CM let me take my ECV right up to the baording area, and then he/she would park it for me, but that was always a hassle as a member of my party had to find (and remember) the CM in order to get the keys back (it's NOT a good idea to leave the heys in the ECV when you park it- I put mine on one of those stretchy bracelet things and slip them right onto my arm after I park the ECV).

[stonewall]

Originally Posted by Floyd Taylor

Thank you so much Stonewall. That was exactly the information I was looking for. Of course your suggestion for a note on the doctor's RX pad was a great idea, but I already e-mailed a letter to the doctor to put it on their letterhead specifically detailing the accommodations I think we may need. An RX would be much easier to carrier than a 8X11-1/2 piece of paper. Oh well.

Only 25 more days. And 10 more days til weather.com starts having the weather forecast for the trip. Since we won't need any summer clothes around here before the trip, I think I'm going to start packing tonight. So no, we're not too excited.

Again, thanks so much. Have a great day.

Glad I could be of help! Once you use the letter from the MD, you won't need it again, so you can leave it back in your room!! I really hope you have a great trip and look forward to reading your trip report!