Okay, I think I will get flamed here, but to me the focus, even with the law, is on "equal". Too many times people see the the GAC as unlimited access. I have read that with fast passes, "we can only get one at a time". Well, that is equal to what everyone else gets.
Last trip, we saw a family, "lap" us four times on RnR in MGM. That is while we waited in line, we saw the same family go on with a GAC 4 times. The last time, a group of teens, very obviously not with them, followed them on, told the CM "we are with them" and went on. We were next in the regular line, so we followed the teens. At no time, did they talk or communicate with the family that was using the GAC. Without getting into specifics, it was very visable they were not with the family. I don't think the family even knew the teens used them to get through the fast pass line (something to look out for when using a GAC). So, abuse is evident.
I don't know why Disney can't do something like a golden fast pass, where a GAC allows access to a ride once, and then if you want to go on again, get normal fast passes. Right now, the current set-up just asks to be abused. Or use a bar code system (supposedly Disney got a patent on a system that can do just this last year) to allow certain access. On our last trip, I saw people handing off GAC's to strangers when they were leaving the park. What made me sick was we would be standing in line with very, very disabled children in wheelchairs in the regular line, and I wanted to explain to their parents that their were other alternatives, but regretfully, minded my own business.
Before you flame me, I have a child with disabilities although we don't look at it that way. We deal with epilepsy among other things, and the effects of the drugs to try to control seizures, so I know what a lot, although not all, of what everyone on here goes through. But more than anything, I want my child to be treated like normal...by her peers, at school....and at Disney. For us, that means getting a fast pass like everyone else. While her neurologist gave normal warnings about our trip this summer (stay hydrated, out of the sun, lots of rest, medication, not over doing it, not quite sure about the strobe lights yet but last EEG show that strobes are probably not a trigger of spikes and waves for her) we don't plan on getting a GAC (now if my daughter went into full gran-mal seizure mode that would possible change, but I am not anticipating that). If we don't get everything in during this trip due to fatigue, so be it. On past trips, before her diagnosis, we never got everything in as well. It is a natural part of a Disney vacation. Normal families sometimes only get in a few rides in a day, without disabilities. Regardless for us, it will still be the vacation that we are all dreaming about.
I cringe when I read about people wanting GACS for migraines, etc (my DH gets a migraine every day, does that mean we should skip lines?) If the access gets too broad in base, then ultimately I think it will eventually limit the people who need it the most. I always think about all our trips to Children's Hospital in Pitt. While I would be upset due to my daughter's condition, we would always see so many children that had it so, so much harder that she, on feeding tubes or ventilators, and severely disabled, and it would make me ashamed for feeling sorry for ourselves for the little strife that we had to put up with due to epilepsy. And to me, these are the children that need and deserve to be given unlimited access, whether Make-a-Wish or not. Whether or not everyone wants to admit it, there is a difference.
