Welcome to the newest edition of Special Needs Are Universal, featuring questions and answers to help those with disabilities plan their visit to Orlando’s theme parks. Our ultimate goal is to give families the confidence to enjoy all there is to do across this amazing vacation destination!
As you may have already heard on local news casts, Disney is dropping the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) for disabled/wheelchair entry on rides and attractions at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney California; the last day of use for the current card will be October 8, 2013. Because this is such a major change at the world’s largest theme park resort, I am dedicating this ‘Special Needs are Universal’ post to the topic.
The actions of a few affect the many
In May the TODAY Show did an expose on how some supposedly disabled guests were selling their services for big bucks to act as tour guides for customers who wished to gain “front of the line” entrance to the rides and attractions at Disneyland. (As those of us with disabilities know, the GAC has never really been a front of the line pass, at least at WDW. I recently heard a local news program actually say those with this pass are waved through to the front of the line. My family has NEVER been sent right to the front of the line, but has used the same line as those with FastPasses. If we happen to get to the FP entrance at the same time as those with FP return times, we wait behind or with those guests, and at some attractions like Toy Story, we’ve wait up to an hour. )
Because of the TODAY Show report, those of us with true disabilities, seen and unseen, will now have a whole new way of not having to stand in the line, but we will have to wait much longer, and it looks like it can be almost as long as the guests standing in the standby queues. For those with family members who have intellectual disabilities, or those with a diagnosis on the Autism spectrum and other learning disorders, they are not going to be able to handle this change from their usual “routines”. It really is not as simple as making the child (or in my case, adult) learn to understand “wait” like you would a 3-year-old child. It doesn’t compute.
This was the common thread throughout the Special Mouse Tea Party discussion group I had the honor of speaking with via Skype on Tuesday. Maureen Deal (an OI contributor and owner of Autism At The Parks) and I were part of a roundtable discussion with several others from the West Coast to the East. Invited by Special Mouse moderator Kathleen Kelly, RN, we’re all very concerned on how our family member will react when they realize there will be no “routine” from here on out. Our discussion focused on two topics: 1) How the proposed changes will affect our families and 2) What suggestions we would give Disney to improve the DAS. This podcast is now online.
In the last few days since the news of this change broke, there has been much discussion of the unconfirmed changes in the GAC. But Temporary Tourist blog author Aunesty Jannsen received confirmation from Suzi Brown, Director, Media Relations and External Communications, Disneyland Resort. Also, Kathleen Kelly (also of Disney Lovin’ Spectrum Mom) received Disney World confirmation from Leanne Jakubowski, Director of Social Media at Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney’s Guest Assistance Pass becomes the Disability Access Service Card
The new card, The Disability Access Service Card or DAS, will roll out on October 9, 2013. Disabled guests will stop into Guest Relations to request the card, and if qualified, will be photographed and that picture will printed on the DAS. No doctor’s note has ever been required (per the ADA), but I will be carrying one with me as I always have. If you have some kind of a mobility or stamina issue, you will NOT be given the DAS, but asked by the cast member to get a wheelchair or other device to help you wait in the standby line.
Disneyland will have a kiosk system to get their ride return times (similar to the FastPass machines), but they will not be in Disney World for now. Disabled guests with the DAS will have to find a cast member at each ride to have a return time pass issued. The ride wait time will be based on the current wait times on the Disney Mobile Magic app, less 10 – 15 minutes. For example, say the wait time for Splash Mountain is 90 minutes. Your return time probably will be written for 75 minutes later.
The DAS holder will not be able to obtain another ride time using the DAS until that first “reservation” has expired. The holder and their party will be free to enjoy other aspects of the park; enjoy a meal, shop, take in a show or even use a regular FastPass while they wait. The holder will then return to the reserved ride at the designated time. When we are able to use the Magic Bands and RFID/FastPass + program (now in the testing phase at WDW), hopefully everything will be built into those bands and you’ll be able to set your ride selections from home. Extensive training for cast members will begin shortly.
My family and I are planning to be at Epcot on the day of roll-out for the DAS card, and will report on our experience after our visit.
The good, the bad & the just plain ugly meltdowns
Does the new DAS program sound good? Hey, this new program makes it equal for all those normal park guests who have been complaining that we disabled get all these extra perks, and it most likely will greatly deter those who were taking advantage of the system. Problem is, most of those “normal guests” do not have the day-to-day life challenges that those with handicapped families do. Many of our kids are not able to enjoy the life experiences that normal children and families can. We look for help at places like Walt Disney World where, until now, has been so accepting and understanding of our differences.
The first concern our Special Mouse podcast panel discussed was how the proposed changes will affect our families. We found holes in the new DAS that will make it very difficult for those with Autism, intellectual disabilities (i.e. Down Syndrome), and many other conditions. With the old GAC system, cards were stamped with the reason for accommodation – sensitivity to sun, visual/hearing impairments, and wheelchair transfer, among others – six reasons in total. All the team member had to do was see these stamps and know how to help the guest. Now it looks as though parents, or the individual, will be required to verbally explain what they need in order to ride.
On October 9 there is only one thing that will happen for all guests with disabilities: they will mostly likely be required to wait for as long as any other WDW guest. They just won’t be in a line.
None of us is asking for immediate entrance – we never have. What about those who don’t understand “wait”, can’t be taught to do so, and can only physically delay their excitement for 15 to 20 minutes before having a meltdown? Many, like my daughter, have their own routines that have been established over the many years we have been Annual Passholders. Some reported that kids in the Autistic spectrum have a comfort in being able to ride their special cocooning ride three times in a row before their need is satisfied. Will they be able to do that without having a meltdown right there on the spot? In my daughter’s case, she will have to go up to the ride entrance, thinking she is entering the FastPass line, only to have to turn around and wait. Breakdown time – all participating in our panel discussion said they would most likely have the same result with their children.
Another hole in the system is those who have muscular disabilities and use adaptive devices other than a wheelchair or ECV (Electric Conveyance Vehicle). They have been able to get a GAC as part of the old system, but most likely will be denied the DAS as part of the new system. They are going to have to pay another $12 for the privilege of waiting in line with those with NO mobility problems. That’s real equal, considering the ADA says that parks should make reasonable accommodations for the disabled person. Is Disney is going to charge others the $12, too? I foresee a park FILLED with wheelchairs, with Disney making more money than ever with those rental fees, taking up even MORE room in the standby lines!
I use my daughter’s wheelchair as my walker due to my muscle diseases; after a couple of hours my strength gets weaker and the muscles in my legs hurt so badly there isn’t a pain killer made that stops it. I must sit for a few minutes every twenty minutes or so, and there is no place to sit in any of the Disney lines. A walker or a cane doesn’t stop the pain – these devices just keep me from collapsing. I also envision older adults who insist they can walk collapsing in the lines (older people sometimes won’t admit they have a problem).
Even if I got a wheelchair, my husband can’t push two of them, and I don’t have the strength in my arms to roll the wheels by myself; Post-Polio stripped me of that ability. I have been told by a Disney cast member that if I’m not in a wheelchair, I am not disabled! Even if we park ourselves on a bench near the ride to wait the allotted time, our daughter will keep signing “GO NOW” until she works herself (or me) into a frenzy. Based on what I have discovered, Disney seems to be using the issue created by the abuse of a few to make it overwhelming difficult to allow families like mine to have a day where we can just forget, for a few hours, that our daughter is disabled and her care consumes our daily life. It is all I can do after a day trip to the parks to get out of bed to take care of my daughter, but I do it for her.
The Disability Access Service begins October 9
We need to wait and see how this system will really work and hope that Disney realizes there needs to be another option for our family members because they are different and need different accommodations. Life is not fair and equal. If so, all normal people would have handicapped individuals or maybe our kids would be normal! As for me, I’m hoping the one thing that hasn’t been announced is a second level of pass that will be issued when our family member is introduced to the GR cast member. We can’t expect for these people to be clinicians, but perhaps with training, there will be understanding that not all disabled can use the same accommodations.
Then we must give lots of feedback to Guest Relations before we leave the parks, so they can see if this system is working or not. Also, here’s the address of someone you can write to now and explain why you may be anxious about using the new system: Meg Crofton, Walt Disney Parks & Operations, PO Box 10040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
I look forward to reviewing this pass next month!
DISCLAIMER: Neither the author of this post nor any of us here at Orlando Informer are official representatives of any theme park in Orlando. While we work diligently to provide you with the very best advice from our collective expertise and experience, it is still your responsibility to verify your plans with each theme park. Thanks for your understanding!
View all of our Special Needs Are Universal posts
[sws_author_bio user=”iamdollie” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by debi” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]
I have seen many leaks today that in WDW the rider would not have to go to the line to get the return time, just be present to ride. Not sure if you had seen that or not.
http://temporarytourist.com/more-details-on-the-das-unofficial/
Also, there are rumors that park security will be present at each GR office during the roll out just in case people are worried about people causing a huge scene and scaring their children while waiting for a DAS to be issued.
AL78Thank you for this information. I was hoping to have this before I submitted my article. Still, it does not address the needs of mentally challenged or Autism Spectrum families…
iamdollie Leak’s don’t mean guaranteed fact, or all the facts. The parks should be putting out an official how-to release soon. You may want to wait for that?
AL78 iamdollieSupposedly, I’ve been told that official notice will be on the Disney Parks Blog, possibly the Disney Parks Moms Panel but nothing yet (as of this post). They are just giving statements like “until the new program is fully implemented on October 9th, we may not have all of the details as to how the new system will work. Disney will continue to offer their Guests with disabilities as much assistance as possible while being fair to all Guests.” I think it’s so wrong of them to allow guests who have been planning vacations run up against this when they’re used to or… Read more »
I don’t understand why you feel you are being treated unfairly. You state in your article that ‘this new program makes it equal for all those normal park guests who have been complaining that we disabled get all these extra perks’. That is not true. The program is not *equal*. As always, Disney is giving preference to the disabled. Not only can the disabled wait at a place of comfort of their own choosing (as you say, at a meal, at a show, riding another ride, etc.) instead of using the standby line, but they are essentially getting a second… Read more »
@ADHD Mommy I am sorry but unless you have a disabled child, you cannot make assumptions. Yes I try to explain to my child but do you understand how it is to have a 10 year old that still reacts as a two year old, and maybe that way for the rest of his life? Should I then stay at home and never have a vacation with my family because of it? Do I try to keep him out of situations that would make other people uncomfortable yes I do. The GAP helped us lessen the chance of a meltdown and… Read more »
I see that your child has disabilities, what I meant to say is that many children the disabilities are much more severe, as in the case of mine.
@ADHD Mommy These kids (who might be 6’1″ and 175lbs) also have meltdown issues at supermarkets, malls, outdoor parks, doctor’s offices…..Should we just keep our children locked up at home?? I also assume that your child will develop normally…go to regular school, maybe even college, have friends, live on his own, maybe give you grandchildren and live a otherwise “normal life”. My daughter is 21 non-verbal and for over 6 months had a 1″ diameter open wound on arm from biting herself. I’m still working getting her independent in the bathroom but according to you my time would be better spent in months of trying to… Read more »
@ADHD Mommy If Disney had never had a programme before that helped disabled people, then what they are doing now would be greeted with applause. BUT they are taking away a system that worked well for genuine disabled people. I am not disabled but am all for helping those that are. To take away something that truly helped disabled people is totally wrong and I am disgusted at Disney for doing it. Do I mind waiting longer at rides just so some disabled people can get on them first? no I don’t, there are plenty of other things I can do… Read more »
@susie Bless your heart!
@susie Ms. Susie you are awesome. Thank you for this comment you posted. I have a son that is 32 and mentally 2, he is in a wheelchair with downs and autism, It is sad that these people have abused it and then caused Disney to do this. They are wrong in the way they have done this. They said they worked with the Autism groups but I honestly don’t think they listened if they did because none of this will work for most kids. Thank you for feeling this way and I hope more people start raising enough stink… Read more »
@ADHD MommyFirst of all, I never said Disney was being unfair, but I did say “Life is not fair and equal”. Disney is not being understanding of kids and adults who have special needs, especially those who really cannot understand “wait or” change to their routines, those who have been going to Disneyland and Disney World for years. You can’t explain to them at home before you go and expect them to understand – they just plain can’t. The tantrums and meltdowns displayed are nothing like a 2-yr old’s fit on the floor. They are much, much worse and sometimes… Read more »
iamdollie I am sorry about your daughter I know it is hard. I have a son that is the same. These people that say our children shouldn’t be there if they can’t act right need to walk in our shoes with our children for a day or two. I hope they never have to though. I would give anything to have my son healthy mentally and physically like you would. I think everyone thinks that they give that pass and we just go to the front that isn’t true. We still had to wait just not as long and in… Read more »
This news makes me extremely sad. Disney has always been something we could look forward to that our whole family could enjoy and participate in. I am in the process of planning our next Disney vacation for about a year from now. Our son is 14 with severe autism, weighs about 180 pounds, can have extreme meltdowns, bite himself and overpower us at times. Disney was something we always looked forward to. We do use a special needs stroller for him because of the crowds and to help him feel more secure and safe. The GAC has been wonderful and… Read more »
summy23 I urge you to please write to the address above as soon as you can. I also hope you read the post by AL78. It gave the information I was trying to get before I posted my article. On paper, it covers the timing a little better, but it’s still waiting longer than with Universal’s procedure. You can only get on if it’s 10 minutes or less right away – it’s 30 or less at Universal. Also, the ADA director at Universal has always been accessible. I couldn’t even get Disney to give me a name so I could… Read more »
summy23 I forgot to mention that what is available on Temporary Tourist is what has been leaked and not confirmed. I’m hoping the 10 minute thing will be more like 30 when it really does roll out – will just have to wait and see….
iamdollie summy23 I am looking forward to hearing about your experiences after your trip. I just read the post by AL78 , it is good to know our son won’t have to walk up and then walk away! I am also looking at Universal as a vacation option, we have always just done Disney. What are your thoughts on their disabled pass? I am trying to figure out if it would be worth it to spend the extra money to stay on site and get unlimited express or if the disabled pass would be sufficient for us. We are so used to… Read more »
My mom has Lupus and being in the sun all day and walking around really takes it’s toll on her. During our last trip to WDW my mom couldn’t get out of bed because of the pain. Since then we rent the electronic wheelchairs every time we go to Disneyland or any other theme park. We never knew about the special access or shorter lines when we started getting the chair. Yes some rides you may have a very short wait but then there are other times when you can wait up to an hr, like Space Mountain. At DL… Read more »
I am a special education teacher, but was also a former cast member. I am aware of the abuse of the systems by guests at Disney. I am also a Annual Passholder who lives 1,100 miles away, I think this goes back to the complaint regarding Disney. We need high capacity attractions and more shows at Disney. We don’t need clones of rides at DL (ahem…The Little Mermaid). I think it would help if Disney divulges how many guests a day are using GAC. I think we *think* it is rampant abuse of certain people using the system, but rather… Read more »
BarbChicago I agree with that whole-heartedly. Why is it that Disney parks are treated like they are the only vacation choice for so many people, whether part of a disabled family or not? My roommate is paralyzed from the waist down. He cannot transfer out of his wheelchair, so the vast majority of Disney attractions are not possible for him, regardless the initials for the disabled program. We researched everything and found that some parks were better than others, but there was no park which was 100% accessible. He could cry and whine to Disney until every attraction they built worked… Read more »
Disney has long been more than accommodating for guests with special needs. The new policy was created with input from both coasts and has been in progress for years. Disney has long been celebrated by their accommodations for their guests. In your post, you mentioned Toy Story Midway Mania, which fills up everyday very quickly. You also mentioned that you have waited an hour in line for it because of the wheelchair. The Fastpass line never usually lasts more than 20 minutes and even that is under extreme circumstances. The wheelchair line can get up to 40 minutes, but when… Read more »
@joeschmoe Id be interested in where you go those statistics because we have waited more than 40 minutes several times now – and that’s at 5 or 6 in the evening….
@joeschmoe What time of year are these statistics from? They must be from peak times because I’ve gone numerous times in November, December and January and saw just about everything (including 2 out of three shows) in Hollywood Studios (on TOT & RNRC at least twice) and left by dinnertime without a GAC. When I started using the GAC with my daughter (she didn’t go on our earlier trips because I didn’t think she could handle it), all it really enabled us to do was go on TSM once in the morning, afternoon and evening. I appreciated having it since she can’t ride TOT, RNRC… Read more »
What are the differences between Disney’s new policy compare to Universal’s Policy??
@Bib Really nothing, and they have been using this at California Adventure in Carsland all summer. Interestingly enough when they changed how they handled the GAC at Carsland this summer there was NO uproar. When they changed the length of time a GAC was issued for there was NO uproar. When people started hinting changes were coming there was NO uproar. It wasnt until 9/17 when the original article leaked that some people started screaming, and others started going give it a chance..
I think the new DAS system is going to an amazing change for the Disney company. No one with a das card will have to wait in any lines. The das system also prevents people from abusing their privileges and riding the same ride back to back- which makes it fair for regular day guest. Families with autistic members can just get one person in party to walk up to the ride and make reservation so the child does not have to “see the line” and think they are getting on. Can’t wait for October 9! Hopefully it will bring… Read more »
@Joshua Aaron Cornelson This isn’t going to work for a lot of people. You sound like the lady I spoke to in customer service. She said the same thing someone else can walk up to the ride and get the ticket. I am a widow and am the one that pushes my son I told her that, then this lady proceeds to tell me that I could leave him across the path from the ride and get the ticket. SERIOUSLY? leave a mentally handicapped person in a wheelchair that is mentally about a 2 year old level and wait in… Read more »
Joshua, I noticed that you work at WD, I am not being rude to you about this but I am sure you have seen people take advantage of the GAC pass, but there are more people out there that didn’t than did. I can understand people being upset but WD needs to figure something else out for this issue.
So it starts the first day of my vacation at WDW. Interesting. It doesn’t affect me personally but I guess we’ll see it changes things. I’d love to see wait times goes down. 🙂
Its about the same as Universal and Sea World, but if its under a 30 minute wait there you go right to the express lane, which is like Disneys fast pass lane. We will have to see how it works out…..
We are coming from UK and our first visit to Disney is scheduled for the 10th Oct with our 7 year old with Autism. I say scheduled “literally” as we have been planning the itinerary for months and have just heard about this change. Hoping it all goes well.
@Michelle Spraggon I’m planning on being there on the 9th to see if some other accommodations will be made for kids/adults like ours. If you email me at specialneedsareuniversal@hotmail.com, I will be more than happy to let you know, hopefully before you go! Just make sure you put SNAU in the subject line (to weed out spammers).
Thing is universal has different level passes and weeds out scammers. I get a gold pass there that is awesome. They have really gotten their game together to encourage disabled to enjoy the parks. Sea worlds pass is great fir rides but the issue is the shows. Disney is only doing this because they feel screed outbif VIP tour money, not bc there was an issue with disabled guests. There are ways to fix this such as signing a hippa waiver and providing a doctors statement and verification. I always carry one.
I always bring a doctors note and I am willing to have it notarized if they need it. It will be more of an invasion of privacy if I have to explain to each and every cast member my daughters disability. Shame on those who were using it for profit and I really don’t give a flying care about normal people who cannot possibly understand the challenges of Autism and raising an autistic child. It would so much easier if she had three heads but my daughter is very normal looking. Beautiful actually. Sad day in my opinion. Cash cow… Read more »
There’s a lot of kids that don’t understand patience, why does it make a difference if they’re disabled or not? Like one person said, don’t have the disabled person walk up to the line thinking they will get to ride away. The fact that these parks have been extremely accommodating to disabled guests is a great thing, but people are so spoiled by it. It helps to not wait in like, and with this new system, you still don’t have to. It is insanely exhausting just to take my 3 year old healthy son to Magic Kingdom. It’s a theme… Read more »
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=756500310Eventually, your child will understand the meaning of wait and what that entails. He’ll grow up enjoying all that life has to offer!! For kids with Autism and other intellectual/learning disabilities and disorders, this may never happen. If you really care, you’ll do the research and maybe educate yourself. You should be grateful that you have been blessed and at least teach him that, no, not all people are born equal, but it sure would be nice to help him learn how he can show compassion for those that aren’t just like him. That’s one reason why I write my column… Read more »
I have a disabled son & I pay for Xpress or Fastpass or whatever park calls it what they want. I seem to think, however; that “healthy” children’s parents COULD find out about their child’s intolerance one day as mine was not ‘diagnosed’ til age 6. Then they may sing a different tune to not only the “healthy” prices but the cost of having an autistic child.
Luckily for us we have only one day planned at Disney and a 14 day pass for Universal. Maybe because we knew we always have the option to buy a fastpass at Universal which is what we will mostly likely do. Unfortunately Disney still dont seem to be offering this, maybe if they had they wouldnt have had people frauding the GAC system.
There is a HUGE difference between a whinIng impatient child and a child with severe autism. Although disney is accomodating some people with disabilities not all disabilities require the same accomodation. I hope that enough people complain so that disney comes up with some compromise for parents and their autistic children.
You’ll be able to get on if the wait is more than 10 minutes, that’s all. The new system is NOT making adequate accommodations for the mentally challenged or anyone with Autism or like challenges. Especially when they’ve had the smile on their faces and waving “come on in!” for several years with the GAC….
As long as the doctors note doesn’t reveal medical information requiring a doctors not shouldn’t violate Ada. Just a general statenent stating they need the gac. But I am not a legal expert.
As the author of Special Needs Are Universal, I wanted to share the communication that many of the Disney fan websites who write about disability and Autism issues yesterday, Sept. 30, received from Meg Crofton, President, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France: Dear Friends, Disney Parks holds a cherished place in the hearts of the millions of Guests who visit us each year. We know that is especially true for those of you who have a loved one with a disability. For many families, what would be impossible elsewhere is not only possible, but magical, at our… Read more »
GOOD NEWS!!I would like to let you know that the official release of the info about the DAS (Disability Access Service) Card information was posted today (Oct. 4) on the by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks.Also available is a http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/ explaining, for the first time, how the pass is going to work when it’s rolled out on Oct. 9, 2013.As I’ve reported, I plan to be at Epcot just to see how the new pass will work for my daughter and our family, plus if I can, I’ll talk to others to see how it’s working for them.… Read more »
iamdollie Thanks debi for following up on this topic for our readers!
the new handicap policy of Disney is a total discrimination against handicap people
drcolon I totally agree!! From my last experiences with it, I would say it was a punishment!
So Sad that Disney has taken this stance! I Save every penny forgoing treats and Christmas presents to take my disabled daughter across the Atlantic to ‘the magic’ I make that trip every year around October time so that she feels comfortable with the temperature(roughly the same as a British Summer) and to feel normal and have fun- My girl is grown up and is now aged 20 but you wouldn’t think that to look at her- she has an ASD – no friends, no cinema trips or shopping trips with friends just an obsession with Disney movies and Disney action figures and… Read more »
I am so sorry your trip wasn’t good. I keep thinking about going like we normally do but I have the same problems with my son that you do with your daughter. I am going to call, someone said they are trying to work with each case so unless they are willing to give it to me in writing I will pass. I have been taking my son every year and we enjoy the trip, we save and like you Sasquach we pass on treats, xmas gifts so we could go, we go to Walt Disney and Universal. BUT this… Read more »
shari62 Thank you. I have written to Disney but alas, no compromise 🙁 I would be most interested to know how your trip goes. I wonder if Disney are being over zealous and maybe things will settle? I’m all for clamp down on those who cheat the system too but this regime is punishing those who really need the help. All the best.
I am going to call and speak to a customer service rep hopefully that can help tomorrow. If they can’t help me with some kind of provisions then they will be off our list to do on our vacation. The people that this effects need to step back, say we aren’t going to pay the amount you want for the tickets and let our children/adults be treated like this. It would help if they see a decrease in the ticket sales maybe that would make them rethink the policy. Everyone needs to write, call and email Walt Disney and let… Read more »