Disabled Disney Tour
Guides
This morning NBC TV Today Show had
a special report about Disabled Tour Guides at Disneyland Resort. This is the second such report in as many
weeks. The first report was in a newspaper and reported it was rich New York
families that were hiring disabled tour guides at WDW.
Once again I will start by saying I
believe that Disney does the best job of making rides and attractions as accessible
to as many people as possible, regardless of disabilities. Disney goes way
above the industry standard for accessibility and makes it more than possible
for anyone to enjoy the park. Having family that has disabilities and use
Disney’s Guest Assistance Card (GAC) we appreciate it and would NEVER think of
abusing it!
This is what is happening. Disabled
people are offering their services as tour guides. In New York there is a tour
company that hires the disabled to act as tour guides to help the rich families
bypass the lines in the parks. In California it is independent entrepreneurs
advertising on Craigslist and in other ways their services. In Walt Disney
World they were charging as much as $1000 per 8 hour day and in Disneyland is
between $50 an hour and $200 for the day.
You may say, “What is wrong with
this? The disabled are getting some much-needed money and a day of fun and
those it can afford it are being able to bypass lines.” Here’s the problem, the
GAC is meant to help the disabled and those with them have access to
attractions that their disability may have otherwise made it unable for them to
enjoy together.
The GAC is not intended to be a cut
the line pass. For those that can’t do stairs it gives you a way to bypass the
stairs. You may have to stay in the regular line to the point that you can
bypass the stairs. If you have autism, ADHD or a panic/stress disorder and you
can’t take being in a long line confined with a lot of other people, depending
on the ride you may be able to go up the exit or have an alternate quiet place
to wait for your turn to ride. If you are in a wheelchair and the line cannot
accommodate a wheelchair you may have to wait longer to get on the ride. This
is especially true for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Space Mountain.
Radiator Springs Racers has a unique GAC policy. In a way you have to get a Fastpass
for the attraction. But don’t worry if the Fastpasses are gone for the day they
have a cast member that will give guests with a GAC a special Fastpass with a
return time to get in the standard Fastpass line. The wait time to return will
correspond with a Standby Line wait time.
So now you know how the GAC should
work and how some are abusing the system. If you are disabled and need the GAC
ask for it! If you have one please don’t abuse it! If you see someone abusing
it please report it! If we, the guests don’t work together to support Disney in
controlling the situation we won’t be able to continue to have the GAC access.
If we do not Disney will be forced to do something drastic and we may end up
losing the positive assistance we now have. Please help stop the abuse. Report
ads you see for disabled tour guides to Disney. If you see someone in the park
that is abusing their GAC report it!
Disney’s response to the situation,
so far is to say they are looking into the situation. They are watching
Craigslist and other ad sites. When they find offending GAC users abusing the
GAC they are revoking their GAC and if they are an Annual Passholder there are
revoking their pass. I think this is more than fair.
NBC Today Show Report
CNN Report on WDW
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