sharadoc
Visit WDW since '86, driving since '94.
- Joined
- May 6, 2008
I guess we should thank the people who take advantage of the system and really don't need special help. You know, get a wheelchair for front of the line, take 18 people in on a 6 person GAC, get your kid to "pretend" so you can get a GAC, rent an ECV to be first on the bus, be in front for shows and parades etc. etc.
We just got back yesterday and we get an alternate waiting area GAC for my DS. We were questioned numerous times by a CM who asked to see DS and "scrutinized" him.
The worst was Haunted Mansion. We can no longer go to the "back" door and wait. As any of you who use that area know, that wait is usually really long, so there's no time benefit to using that area. Anyway, I took DS there and noticed no cast members. Went back to the front area and the greeter cast member told me that they no longer do that, that you go through the regular line, the "straight shot" version. DS has a hard time being surrounded by people, which I explained. He also can't handle the stretching room. So we were instructed to tell the CM when we went in that we wanted to skip the stretching room. He took us through the exit and where did we go? To wait outside on the wall at the ride exit. Where we waited another 10-15 minutes for a CM who came out to take a wheelchair guest. I asked if someone knew we were there and he didn't know, but he took us in as well and passed us to another CM.
So, bottom line, we had to go through the regular line to walk back outside. Plus we had the added stress of dealing with getting him through the line unscathed (or insulting the other guests by touching, or grabbing them).
The explanation by the CM for the change - they found that all guests were not having the same experience, so they wanted to give everyone the same opportunity. I said we didn't need the "same" opportunity, just needed to wait quietly and get on a Doom Buggy. No chance.
I saw other instances of stern questioning, attitude and general "yeah, you better really need this thing" situations. POTC refused to allow us to wait separately and basically said this is your only choice, so we had to go through the regular line. We did okay because of the low crowd situation and holding onto him tightly - two of us.
Sadly, it seems as if those taking advantage of the system have made it harder for those of us who need it. I'm afraid as more of these things change, the less likely we will be to go to Disney World for our vacation.
We just got back yesterday and we get an alternate waiting area GAC for my DS. We were questioned numerous times by a CM who asked to see DS and "scrutinized" him.
The worst was Haunted Mansion. We can no longer go to the "back" door and wait. As any of you who use that area know, that wait is usually really long, so there's no time benefit to using that area. Anyway, I took DS there and noticed no cast members. Went back to the front area and the greeter cast member told me that they no longer do that, that you go through the regular line, the "straight shot" version. DS has a hard time being surrounded by people, which I explained. He also can't handle the stretching room. So we were instructed to tell the CM when we went in that we wanted to skip the stretching room. He took us through the exit and where did we go? To wait outside on the wall at the ride exit. Where we waited another 10-15 minutes for a CM who came out to take a wheelchair guest. I asked if someone knew we were there and he didn't know, but he took us in as well and passed us to another CM.
So, bottom line, we had to go through the regular line to walk back outside. Plus we had the added stress of dealing with getting him through the line unscathed (or insulting the other guests by touching, or grabbing them).
The explanation by the CM for the change - they found that all guests were not having the same experience, so they wanted to give everyone the same opportunity. I said we didn't need the "same" opportunity, just needed to wait quietly and get on a Doom Buggy. No chance.
I saw other instances of stern questioning, attitude and general "yeah, you better really need this thing" situations. POTC refused to allow us to wait separately and basically said this is your only choice, so we had to go through the regular line. We did okay because of the low crowd situation and holding onto him tightly - two of us.
Sadly, it seems as if those taking advantage of the system have made it harder for those of us who need it. I'm afraid as more of these things change, the less likely we will be to go to Disney World for our vacation.