View Full Version : Special Needs Passes ?
Miss Poodles
3 Apr 06, 02:13 PM
HI every one ,were taking our son jordan in august.He has autism and epilepsy so hopefully we will get a special needs pass.I was wandering if this pass can be used so his dad and sister get on the bigger rides quicker so that he doesnt have long to wait for them >?
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LAURA :wave:
Lil_Missy
3 Apr 06, 02:47 PM
The passes are not for front of the line access. They do not speed up your queueing time they just let you wait in another area where it is usually air conditioned and there are seats. The CM at the rides ask you to get a fast pass and you return with that. Most of the time you will wait just as long if not longer then the people in the fast pass queue I believe.
Sorry
sue harty
3 Apr 06, 04:05 PM
it only allows the disabled person and family to ride. we only used it when my ds was riding ,no other time .the others queued for the rides he didn't go on. i went to see lots of shows with him instead.hope this helps
Petalsoftly
3 Apr 06, 04:46 PM
We have been twice and each time we went to Guest services at MK and were issued with a GAC pass, it is a yellow slip of paper and you hold it up as you approach a CM at the entrance to a ride... they take you via a shorter route, usually different to the fast pass line and yes you DO get on quicker. :) The GAC is for Guest Assistance and it also includes up to 5 people in that family or group to go too.
loadsapixiedust
3 Apr 06, 05:55 PM
I would think if the disabled person wasn't riding that wouldn't be allowed. The GAC is for them, not the other family members and isn't intended to speed up queuing time for anyone. There is likely to be something else close by to take up your son's attention while the others do the big rides. We often split up to do other things while the rest of the family do rides which our disabled son can't.
BarryandCaron
3 Apr 06, 06:33 PM
I would think if the disabled person wasn't riding that wouldn't be allowed. The GAC is for them, not the other family members and isn't intended to speed up queuing time for anyone. There is likely to be something else close by to take up your son's attention while the others do the big rides. We often split up to do other things while the rest of the family do rides which our disabled son can't.
I can only agree with Lynn on this as it's exactly what we do as Joshy ( DS2 ) can't ride on some of the rides. So I normally go off with him ;) while Caron & Ben do the ride , the they call me on the radio when they have finished.
Barry
Diesel_Staffie
3 Apr 06, 07:17 PM
hi when we went four years ago my grandfather had a stroke and we were issued with a pass both at disney and universal. it does let you on first and the disabled person doesnt have to go on with you. they have a place were they look after them if they cannot ride. Universal was very very good but disney wasnt that good!! my daid came on everything he was strapped in his wheelchair on the jaws ride even!!
why dont you contact the parks to find out some more info?
hope this helps!
TinkTatoo
3 Apr 06, 07:21 PM
I agree with Caron and Lyn - it's not a pass but a guest assistance card which has different things on it depending on the specific needs of your child. It's not there to skip any lines so if your son doesn't want to go on something perhaps you could take him on a ride he does want to go on while your DH & DD go on a different ride.
A radio is a good idea as we often use it to call each other when DD & I go one way while DS and DH go another :thumb:
Petalsoftly
3 Apr 06, 08:22 PM
Hope no one thought I was suggesting riding without the disabled person and using the card cos I didn't mean it to come across that way if it did and I have never thought about it. We are actually allowed up to 5 when the disabled person rides though :)
Miss Poodles
3 Apr 06, 10:16 PM
Thanks for all the advice ,it sounds fine ,its not that i expect to wait any less time than anyone else its that he has severe epilepsy as well and standing in the heat for a long time may trigger it ,im so glad there will be somewhere quiter he can wait also im new to this so what does dd and dh mean lol !
GEMMAMCG
3 Apr 06, 10:35 PM
can someone shed light on wha the special needs pass is.
loadsapixiedust
3 Apr 06, 10:48 PM
can someone shed light on wha the special needs pass is.
It is a pass for anyone with any kind of disability or medical condition who may need some extra help to be able to access rides and attractions. The pass is tailored to an individuals needs and shown when entering an attraction so that CMs can help them in the best way possible.
im new to this so what does dd and dh mean lol !
DD=dear daughter
DH=dear husband
If you search for abbreviations there is a complete list.
Miss Poodles
3 Apr 06, 11:04 PM
oic cheers pixie x
HI every one ,were taking our son jordan in august.He has autism and epilepsy so hopefully we will get a special needs pass.I was wandering if this pass can be used so his dad and sister get on the bigger rides quicker so that he doesnt have long to wait for them
In short, No. And why should it? The pass is issued for the disabled person and no one else. The fact it allows his/hers party members to ride with them is a bonus. Dont abuse it.
We are over here right now. My son has autism and have a Guess assistance pass. We have used it - and it is a godsend. However, if HE isnt riding - just use a fastpass ticket. I did this on Misson to Space which (he is 8) I didnt think it would be suitable. (As it happens I was right - it would have upset him. We went on Rock'n'roller coaster today - which he said "scared him a little" - but in comparison, the G force for a ride that jumps 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds - Space Misson felt worse.)
We have used the pass on numerous occasions. (Actually thats probably not true - we havent been on that many rides - autograph hunting is the prefered passtime!) - but generally just use the normal lines unless we know the queues would be excessive. If we used the fast pass facility - with that in mind, we have gained no advantage with the pass we have been given.
BarryandCaron
4 Apr 06, 09:40 AM
Thanks for all the advice ,it sounds fine ,its not that i expect to wait any less time than anyone else its that he has severe epilepsy as well and standing in the heat for a long time may trigger it ,im so glad there will be somewhere quiter he can wait also im new to this so what does dd and dh mean lol !
DS2 has severe epilepsy which is one of the reasons he uses a wheelchair when we are out for a long time. You can easily hire a chair from the parks for your DS to use so that he doesn't get too tired.
Also, be sure to keep your DS well hydrated as we have found dehydration in the parks leads to seizures.
Caron
Miss Poodles
4 Apr 06, 12:57 PM
thanks for the advice caron x
nicolagriffin
4 Apr 06, 10:16 PM
hello where do u get these passes from because this year my son will be in a wheelchair due to his surgery he had in september so he will be in a wheelchair for the 3 weeks do u get extra help like special space to see shows
hello where do u get these passes from because this year my son will be in a wheelchair due to his surgery he had in september so he will be in a wheelchair for the 3 weeks do u get extra help like special space to see shows
The cards are available from "Guest Servces". The Disney one is valid for your stay but Universal is issued Daily (at least it was for me today!)
Petalsoftly
5 Apr 06, 07:21 AM
Yes there are special cordoned off areas for wheelchair users if you look on the park maps and make sure you get to them on time before parades etc... There are also special areas for wheelchair users for shows too, it's great they get the best spots to see things! Disney is very disabled friendly... you will get all the help you need and then some.
Is there anything we need to take with us to get a yellow slip.I am not in a wheel chair but i am disabled and get tired and dizzy while standing. would my blue disabled badges help. will we need these to park
Is there annthing we need to take wi
Petalsoftly
5 Apr 06, 03:35 PM
You will need your badges to park they are recognised in USA, and for the yellow slip... no... we never have. They have scooters for hire as well as wheelchairs :) I would advise using one or the other because the parks are huge and some people I hear get to walk about 7 miles in one park so if you're not able to do that and to stand in that heat and for a long period I would seriously consider it hun X
Is there annthing we need to take wi
Not to get in the parks, No. We had papers with us, but neither Disney or Universal wanted to see them. The later did ask us if our son was with us though.
loadsapixiedust
6 Apr 06, 05:51 PM
Is there anything we need to take with us to get a yellow slip.I am not in a wheel chair but i am disabled and get tired and dizzy while standing. would my blue disabled badges help. will we need these to park
You might find that for a whole day in the parks you would be more comfortable if you used a wheelchair or ECV. This is what Disney recommends for anyone with stamina issues. That would mean you wouldn't have to stand for long periods and would always have a seat to hand. For attractions where ECVs are not allowed there is always the option to transfer to a wheelchair.
Many people underestimate the size of the parks and the amount of walking involved.
MrsGrumpy
11 Apr 06, 07:30 PM
Don't know if we were just lucky, but when we asked at Rock'n'roller coaster if there was somewhere where I (in a wheelchair) could wait whilst DH & DS went on the ride, a very helpful cast member took them to bypass the queue so that I didn't have to wait ages for them.
DISNEYBRIDE
16 Apr 06, 10:36 PM
how would i go about getting 1 of these passes for my hliday next year? jo xxx
loadsapixiedust
16 Apr 06, 11:01 PM
Go to Guest Relations in any park and explain your needs. They will give you a pass which is appropriate for your individual situation.
Go to Guest Relations in any park and explain your needs. They will give you a pass which is appropriate for your individual situation.
Being pedantic!!!! Its Guest Services! (Though Im sure asking for either would get you where you needed to go!)
Lil_Missy
18 Apr 06, 03:39 PM
We got one of these which helped and basically was a fastpass for each of the rides. Now this might sound like a Yeah Great!!! But we really needed it and would not have got anything really done without it. You will see what I mean when I do our trip report.
loadsapixiedust
18 Apr 06, 03:58 PM
Being pedantic!!!! Its Guest Services! (Though Im sure asking for either would get you where you needed to go!)
Not being pedantic but quoted verbatim from the Disney Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities:
'visit Guest Relations for current information on accessibility and services'
I am sure asking for either would get you there ;)
We got one of these which helped and basically was a fastpass for each of the rides. Now this might sound like a Yeah Great!!! But we really needed it and would not have got anything really done without it. You will see what I mean when I do our trip report.
Yes I would completely agree. Our 8 YO is autistic and the pass was a god send. Especially since we only spent between 5 and 6 hours in the parks per day, without it, we wouldnt have got half the rides done that we did.
On rides that my youngster wasnt riding, we would just use the normal fastpass distribution.
The one they issued in US started its intention was not to skip lines - but was actually called a gap pass! it basically meant the same thing - ie their Express pass lines.
candyyman
20 Apr 06, 10:19 PM
we used one last year and to be honest i think it was better for everyone else in the line not us we are used to my daughter but when she has to wait for any time she starts to shout VERY LOUD and people around us look very worried like "help there is a maniac on the loose "
we found the cast members very helpful
once when we were waiting in line for a photo and autograph with tigger we were told off by the characters minder she said "havent you got one of those cards " we showed it her and she moved us to the front of the line
she told us to always use it as our little girl was obviously getting distressed by the waiting
BUT at other times when we did try to use it for character greetings they told us it was only for rides !! but something we noticed was that it was usually the male minders that refused it
hope that helps
steve
Actually we did notice a few times people seem to "push in" - now you mention it, that's likely what it was. To be honest we didnt mind the wait for the characters as generally they werent that bad.
Thinking back now, my littlun was very well behaved in all the parks. In fact he was like a seasoned liner! Mind you, that would have been very different if we'd had 60-90 minute waits like some rides did have. (Incredible Hulk and Everest got up to 120 minutes!) People must be mad waiting that long!
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