disney GAC card

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Many of you asked about the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) that I mentioned repeatedly in my letter to Disney. The GAC was a Godsend to us during our stay. As I said in the letter, “We were grateful beyond measure for the Guest Assistance Card that allowed us to largely bypass the long lines that would have otherwise made the parks nearly impossible for Brooke to access no less enjoy.”

We found that the card served a number of purposes. It did, as I said, allow us to bypass many of the long waits for rides. Upon seeing the card, cast members would guide us to the Fast Pass lanes on the rides that had them or to the handicapped access in those that didn’t. Our longest wait for a ride was never more than ten to fifteen minutes.

But I also found that the card served as an unobtrusive and innocuous way to alert cast members to Brooke’s challenges. Characters tended to give her just a little more time and leeway, photographers gave her a bit more space than her typical peers. Nearly everyone we encountered seemed to ‘get it’ when they saw the card. A generous store clerk even comped eight of the twenty-four bags of Goldfish we bought in a panic one day when Brooke was desperate for a familiar snack. The card, for us, was a lifesaver.

To get the GAC, we went to the Guest Services Window at the first park that we visited. The Guest Services Windows can be found just outside the entrance gate at each of Disney’s parks. We explained the situation and offered documentation (we’d brought the top page of Brooke’s latest neuropsych evaluation and the categorization page from her IEP both detailing her diagnosis), but we were told it wasn’t necessary. We were given a card that was good for all of the parks for the duration of our stay. (The GAC is good for its user and up to five others. You must tell them at the time that you get the card how many there are in your party.)

Please note, I have heard stories from friends and readers that indicate that, except for physical and limited other disabilities, the cards are not usually issued to people who do not have an autism diagnosis specifically. I can only speak to our experience, so if your child has social/ emotional challenges other than autism, please contact Disney directly to learn more about their policies.

As for finding Mickey, Minnie and the princesses -

Since their prior home in Toon Town is currently closed for renovation, they are housed in the theater at the base of Main Street USA, just to the right of the main entrance to the Magic Kingdom. The secret will be out shortly, I’m sure but for us, they were like our own little treasure. There were almost no lines to see them – the most coveted characters in all of Disney. In fact, the lines were so short that we went three times during our stay.

For the princess lovers, there is also a relatively new way to see them – the Princess Storybook Dining in Norway at Epcot. My girls loved the opportunity to eat with and meet the princesses. The cast is variable, but always includes the standards. For us it was Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White – all in one place. It wasn’t cheap, but we found it well worth the splurge. They even include a photo, which they bring right to the table – of the kids with Belle that they take on the way in.

It was also a real treat to be in Epcot before the attractions were open. Brooke was thrilled to be somewhere where the crowds weren’t.

I hope that helps. If you’re heading to Disney soon and have any questions or concerns, talk to them. They have proven to me that they really care about our kids and, in my experience, they will do whatever they can to make your stay work for you.

P.S. I’d be most grateful if you’d leave your own tips and ideas for traveling to Disney with autism or similar challenges in the comments so that others can benefit from your experience. Thank you and Happy Travels!