Disney World and Disneyland Guest Assistance Card (GAC) program is changing because of year’s of abuse by people with no disabilities taking advantage of the program.
Dishonest guests would get the GAC cards and use them to skirt the lines to all attractions at Disney World and Disneyland. There are reports in the news that some tour agencies would get the GAC cards and bring families into parks, and also reports of people buying the cards from others. After these stories broke in the news, everyone knew it was not long until Disney would address the problem.
Here are the facts about the new Disney Guest Assistance Program
(Disabled Assistance System):
The Facts:
The GAC is going away, but it is being replaced with a new program so guests with disabilities can still enjoy the Disney Parks. So the posts everyone is writing / reading about Disney is no longer assisting guests with special needs are false.
When will the Disabled Assistance System start?:
The new Disabled Assistance System will roll out October 9, 2013
What is the Disney Disabled Assistance System?:
When you arrive at the park you will go to Guest Relations. There is no change there.
You will pick up an assistance card. No change there either.
What is new is that the DAS card is planned to be good for your park visit that day. This keeps dishonest people from getting assistance cards and selling them on ebay, and to others.
Also a photo will be added to the card. Again this keeps dishonest people from selling them, or getting multiple cards and giving them to others that are not disabled.
Also Give Kids the World and Make a Wish Foundation eligible guests will still have the unlimited front of the line access that was given with the GAC pass before. So no change there. These guests should contact Give Kids the World and Make a Wish for how they can obtain a Disabled Assistance System card.
How the Disabled Assistance System works:
The new Disabled Assistance System works on reservations, just like the FastPass+ system Disney has today. So guests use the card to make ride reservations so they do not have to wait in lines. So there is still no waiting in line with the new system and the guest is free to enjoy the park, other attractions, dining, shopping, games and everything Disney Parks have to offer.
The new system is not out yet so everything else at this point is speculation. How guests in wheelchairs and ECV’s will tour the park and how many reservations guests can make for rides at one time have not officially been released by Disney yet. Some people are reporting that guests with the assistance card can make one ride reservation at a time.
I have to say that Disney is the one company that knows how to treat guests. I am sure they will make sure their guests are taken care of and if the new system needs tweaks, they will make them and adapt to make sure people with disabilities can enjoy a day at their theme parks and people without disabilities trying to make a buck selling GAC cards to others get shut down.
As more updated come out from Disney about the new Disney Disabled Assistance System (DAS) we will update you here. We will also be sure to report back with in the field report form some of our friends that visit the parks in wheelchairs and with kids with disabilities, so you know exactly how the system works once it is in place.
