Guest Assistance Card in DL About This Page:

[mad4mickey]

Both of our children suffer from clinical anxiety. We've been doing Disney World since my daughter was 2 and it's only been the last 3 trips that we've used a GAC. The card allows us to enter from an alternative entrance, often the fast pass entrance and it has always allowed us to have a shorter wait time. I am guessing that is per the letter their psychiatrist writes to allow the use of the card stating that it increases their anxiety to be subjected to long lines. On our most recent trip to WDW we often ran into very short lines and the GAC was irrelevant however, we are going out to Disneyland in the fall and I am not sure what to expect.

I will of course carry letters from their doctor but I'm wondering what to expect in Disneyland. Some people have said that a GAC doesn't guarantee or even *allow* you use an alternative entrance with shorter lines but the times we've used it in WDW that's what the Cast Members have always allowed. I noticed this past time that the kid cards are stamped with something to the effect of 'alternate entrance allowed'. I'm wondering what to expect in Disneyland, do they allow the card and is it possible that with the letter they would allow us to alternative entrances? Obviously, I know none of you can guarantee what will happen when we are there but I'd feel better if I knew what to expect. And if you all feel that they won't allow it then I can work with their doctor to help them try to come up with coping mechanisms, which might mean one of us taking them to do something while the other stays in line and text messages when they are close to the front.

I'm sure that people abuse the GAC's and of course you have nothing more than my word to say that we're not abusing the card, but I truly cannot even begin to tell you what a difference this makes for our children. Our daughter used to pick her fingers raw waiting in lines and stand there and pull hairs out of her head. Our son hadn't really started to express anxiety issues up until the last year or so and boy oh boy, even with the card WDW was *interesting* this last time for him. We actually have an appointment with his Dr to discuss some of the issues that came up while we were there, it was a doozy of a trip. We actually avoid other theme parks because I've never heard of another park that does this and I'm not sure that the kids can handle hour+ lines that we would encounter in the summer.

Anyhoo, if anyone has an experience with the GAC in Disneyland or even better, experience with the GAC in both Disneyland and Disney World, all the better! Thanks!

[PixieMichele]

It's more difficult to get a GAC in Disneyland (in my opinion) because they are abused so badly. 90% of the GAC's distributed in Disneyland belong to annual passholders. it's gotten so bad that they ask you to bring your previous GAC back with you to get a new one issued when you return to the parks. It speeds the process along for the cast members who issue them if they know you already have one they just reissue another one.
They can't by law, ask for a Doctors note but to avoid any problems or undue frustration and explanation of why you need the GAC i'd bring one from WDW if you have it and just tell them you have always traveled with a GAC and usually frequent WDW, you'd like a DL GAC with alternate entrance.
The hardest part about a GAC in Disneyland is that the queues are much smaller because the entire park is much smaller so it's not like there's a big sign that says "HEY YOU ENTER HERE" so look for a CM at the entrance of the attraction and tell them you have a GAC and need to know where to go. It's usually entering through the exit.
When it comes to Cars Land @ DCA that's kind of a whole different ballgame, when it comes to Radiator Springs Racers. You'll have to take the GAC to the "garage" near the ride, there will be a Cast Member inside who will issue you a fastpass then you return, with your GAC and the fastpass at the allotted time and you'll be allowed in. There is a handicapped ramp loading zone that might be less crowded so you can ask for that option if it seems there is a high anxiety issue ahead. Just request entering through the alternate entrance and the cast members will show you the way.

hope that helps!

[TuffyCO]

We visited DLR in Oct 2011 and Feb 2012, prior to that we had only used GAC in WDW. My DS is high-functioning autistic and my DD has ADHD and anxiety. We have also found that the GAC really helps us enjoy our trips much more.

Our experience at DLR was very similar to WDW, we would stop at each ride and show the card to the CM and ask where we needed to go. Sometimes we were directed to the FP line, others to a specific entrance for disabilities. We really had no problems using the card and I often found the waits at DLR were sometimes shorter than even I expected (although we were there during low crowds, so that could have been a factor).

There were a couple places where things were slightly different.

First, be sure to check the main and alternate entrance as we had one experience where the alternate entrance would have been a nightmare for our kids. It was at PoC and we were directed to the exit, the line was coming all the way out the exit and it is a fairly long exit. It is a narrow hall way and there were tons of people waiting in wheelchairs and scooters and then people exiting the rides. We checked the main entrance and the wait was showing 15 minutes. We opted to give the main entrance a try. I'm glad we did, because even trying to exit the ride at the end through the chaos was difficult for my kids.

Second, in Fantasyland the rides there were built long before GAC's were thought of and so the entrances are somewhat of an afterthought. Most the time you enter through the ride exit, and then they load you from there. This way you are sitting in the ride car when it passes the main line and sadly some people made rude comments to us. The best I can say with that is you know your families needs and just to ignore the people who don't have to live with these kind of challenges.

[mad4mickey]

> it's gotten so bad that they ask you to bring your previous GAC back with you to get a new one issued when you return to the parks. It speeds the process along for the cast members who issue them if they know you already have one they just reissue another one. They can't by law, ask for a Doctors note but to avoid any problems or undue frustration and explanation of why you need the GAC i'd bring one from WDW if you have it and just tell them you have always traveled with a GAC and usually frequent WDW, you'd like a DL GAC with alternate entrance. <

That's so funny because my hubby thinks I'm insane for keeping our old cards, I have all of them from every trip including all of our letters! LOL I'll take the most recent one, I doubt they need to see all of them.

> Most the time you enter through the ride exit, and then they load you from there. This way you are sitting in the ride car when it passes the main line and sadly some people made rude comments to us. The best I can say with that is you know your families needs and just to ignore the people who don't have to live with these kind of challenges. <

Sadly, we've encountered this. Our children don't have obvious signs of a disability and since people don't see an outward issue we've at the least had stares at being allowed into a different entrance. I do find in WDW that most people don't know what the card is for, you flash it and you're on your way. We've only had a few times where they've loaded us from the exit and while I know people are wondering why we are there when the cars come around, we've never had anything more than stares. But I do know a family that was confronted coming off of a ride (their son has Asperger's) and the Dad told the man: Walk a day in my shoes, then come talk to me. He is so much better now that he is older but at the time they were having some serious issues with him and the GAC was the only thing that allowed them to enjoy the park together.

DS actually developed a rather pronounced tic while we were on our last trip and we (the parents and his older sister) endure the stares. And unfortunately, big sis is so protective of little bro that the stares were causing her anxiety levels to increase. We finally sat her down one night after he went to bed and explained to her that if people are rude enough to stare, IT IS THEIR PROBLEM!!!! There is nothing wrong with our little guy, he cannot control the tic (he does it in his sleep, he can't control it) and it is rude to stare. Staring is there problem, not his, not hers and not ours. I told her to stare back ~ lol. Probably not the right thing to do but it seemed to give her back some control.

Thanks for the answers, at least now I know what to expect! I had heard that getting a GAC in Disneyland was a little trickier and I'm glad I'll be armed with what I need to make it a great trip for all of us!

[TuffyCO]

Originally Posted by PixieMichele

It's more difficult to get a GAC in Disneyland (in my opinion) because they are abused so badly.

I will say that we had absolutely no problem getting the GAC in Disneyland on either trip. One CM was a little snooty but nothing terrible. I just politely explained why they needed it and what accommodations would help them. Just explain what accommodations they need and not what their disabilities are.

The hardest thing we have in WDW or DLR was getting a GAC for both kids. They often want to just give us one, but my DD rides thrill rides (she is a sensory seeker) and my DS can't stand them (he is a sensory avoider) so we often have to split up.

[mad4mickey]

I asked for one for both kids on our last trip, more as a *just in case* we split up than anything else. We split up once the entire trip ~ LOL.

[Disney918]

After reading these posts I thought I should ask.....we are traveling to DL next month as a family and are really excited to be able to bring my husband cousin, his wife and their five year old son. The five year old has cerebral palsy and walks with leg braces. They are getting a specially equipped stroller for him since he tires easily. Should they request a GAC and if so how would it help them? Would it break up our party if they have the card? Just FYI, our traveling party will be me, my hubby, my three year old daughter, my mom and dad, hubbies cousin, his wife, and their son. TIA for any advice

[tiggerjay]

Regarding the stroller it really depends on if it looks more like a stroller or more like a wheelchair. If it is a stroller by appearance, definitely have them go to city hall and receive a GAC so they can use the stroller as a wheelchair.

[cohoman]

If you have a person in your party with a physical or mental disability, you can get a Guest Assistance card at either Town Hall in DL or at the Guest Services in DCA (to the right of main entrance, just inside and behind Oswald's shop). It will be good for a maximum 5 people in your party, so you can go as a family when on rides. What you do, is show the pass to the Disney employee who is usually stationed at the exit of a ride, and they will let you in the back way. I definitely recommend you get one if you have a disability and can't wait in long lines. It's the only way we can go to Disneyland with my son and have him ride the attractions.