GAC for shows? [Disability Access Service (DAS) for blind guest] - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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GAC for shows? [Disability Access Service (DAS) for blind guest]
My hubby is legally blind and even in the front row a lot of shows he is unable to see. He loves IllumiNations and Fantasmic though and we always go but have never sat real close. Can the GAC card be used to get front row seating or is there something else we should do? We are taking this trip without children and I would really like for him to enjoy every moment.
I know that Fantasmic has separate seating for the use of reflective captioning, but it is at the top of the stadium, so I don't know where they would seat someone with a visual impairment.
I would repost your question on the Vacationing with Special Needs thread here on PassPorter and perhaps you'll get some answers from someone with direct experience.
I'm legally blind myself, and know that the GAC has allowed me to choose a "low seating option" or a "high seating option" depending on my needs. They have seating that is spotted down in front for pretty much every show that can be made accessible to allow your husband to enjoy the shows.
One thing to bear in mind is that some CMs don't understand fully that a visual disability is in fact still a disability. MOST are fabulous, but if you meet with some resistance in the beginning, be persistent but polite and you'll usually get accommodated as best they can.
With the new DAS there is no reason why the same accommodations that the GAC allowed wouldn't be honoured.
Hope you guys enjoy the shows! Any other questions you guys have, let me know and I'll do my best to answer!
Tim
__________________
Hey, check out my blog all about being active with a disability -> activeandblind.com
I'm legally blind myself, and know that the GAC has allowed me to choose a "low seating option" or a "high seating option" depending on my needs. They have seating that is spotted down in front for pretty much every show that can be made accessible to allow your husband to enjoy the shows.
One thing to bear in mind is that some CMs don't understand fully that a visual disability is in fact still a disability. MOST are fabulous, but if you meet with some resistance in the beginning, be persistent but polite and you'll usually get accommodated as best they can.
With the new DAS there is no reason why the same accommodations that the GAC allowed wouldn't be honoured.
Hope you guys enjoy the shows! Any other questions you guys have, let me know and I'll do my best to answer!
Tim
Thank you Tim! He was raised to ignore the visual impairment even though it is quite severe. It takes a lot for him to let me get up close seating even at our kids' events and most people don't realize he can't see them he is so good at faking vision. This means that it's not obvious like if he had a cane or dog. I've e-mailed Disney's Disability service department for more details and suggestions.
I know how your husband feels, many people are shocked when they find out that I have any sort of visual impairment, I "fake" normal vision so well. By and large Disney is pretty fantastic about accommodating my needs for viewing shows... there is just the odd CM that thinks the wheelchair symbol means only wheelchair disabilities...and not that the symbol is the international symbol for disabilities
I have had no issues getting low seating for the Indiana Jones show, Lights Motors Action, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasmic...really, any show that I need it, never a problem getting it.
One comment I just thought of, I actually prefer the high seating areas for Fantasmic. While being close was nice, I felt the projected water effect movies was harder for me to see up close...never mind the mist being cold the night we were there. Might give it one more shot when we are there in January sitting low, we will have to see...
Tim
__________________
Hey, check out my blog all about being active with a disability -> activeandblind.com
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