The Wonderful World of Disney

 To go or not to go, that is the question...

The Internet is a buzz regarding the new Disney change in policy for the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) intended for use by those with disablilities. I have seen at least 3 separate blog posts from other mom's who have children with Autism, as well as news reports, google alerts, etc.

Two years ago, abut 2 months after C's diagnosis, we took our family to WDW to celebrate my niece and O's birthdays (they happen to be just 2 days apart). We were new to the wonderful world of Autism, and had no idea that there was such a thing as a "GAC". Gosh, had we known about such a wonderful service, our experience may have been just a bit more magical.

Let's be honest, it is hard to have a bad time in Walt Disney World. We have been 4 times in 6 years and feel as though we have mastered the 14 hour car ride, parks, attractions, rides, and Disney Best Practices. We embrace the Disney Culture year round, never missing a new movie release, staying current on the newest shows on Disney Junior, Disney and even Disney XD.

In the month prior to Disney, we had been to countless doctor's appointments, including specialists, blood tests, etc. and had not received any results prior to our trip. Of course, C was not speaking at the time, and unknowingly, we were just throwing him into the apex of what is the worst case scenario for most on the spectrum; crowds, noise, personal space invasion, large characters that seem so small on screen poking and prodding, lines, noise, people, lines, noise, people... I wish I had known.

While our trip was wonderful, and full of lasting memories, many of those moments were superseded by C's moments of angst. A moment I know is permanently engraved in my brain is our Nemo experience. We couldn't wait to take him on Nemo in Epcot. We watched Finding Nemo on the car ride down to Disney and just knew that he would love every bit of the ride. We parked our stroller in the designated area and into Nemo's tunnel we went. 

Disney is notorious for creating magical spaces for it's guests during the wait to get on a ride. Always in theme, always engaging, but just enough so that the ride remains the main attraction. I just know that Nemo had that same appeal, I knew that if we could focus C on the awesomeness of the exhibits, the rocks, the music, Nemo talking to us, he would and could stop crying. It didn't matter to me that he was curled in my arms in the fetal position and that our line neighbors had begun to question our parental decision making, if C could just focus on all the magic happening inside that dark, enclosed, loud, people filled tunnel, I just knew he would love every second of it. Oh so naive.

Finally, it was our turn to board the ride. My ever patient and understanding O boarded the ride with C and me. Try as I might, C wanted nothing to do with the awesomeness that was the Nemo ride. As soon as our train started to move, he slumped down, like wet spaghetti, on the floor of our car and curled into the fetal position, continuing to scream and cry. And of course, having O in the car with me, I gave myself the mama pep talk. "I will not cry, I will not scream, I will be strong, I will love this ride!" C cried and cried, the poor baby, unable at 3 to tell us why he was upset.

O loved Nemo! He, along with A and his cousins and Aunt and Uncle took a few moments to walk around the small aquarium that meets you at the end of the exhibit.

Kell and I whisked C outside, and there, we cried. We were completely overcome with emotion. We knew nothing of what it meant to have a child with Autism. We were advised in C's early stages to refrain from Google searches, they would only lead us to the worst possible scenario, that the information we researched might not be relevant to C and his particular case. Unfortunately, that advice led us to be completely uneducated and unprepared. We had no clue that being in that type of environment was like feeding our sweet child poison. 

Had we known about the wonderful option of obtaining a "GAC" we could have avoided the whole Nemo incident, and many others that plagued us that trip. We have been planning our next trip to WDW, for spring of 2014. Ready to take on the challenge of showing our son the magic and wonder the parks have to offer, in a way that is sensitive to his needs. With the change in policy, we have seriously reconsidered our trip, and are thankful that we have not yet secured a date.

The press release regarding the policy change and the effective date of the policy change are in such close proximity, Disney cut off the ability to receive feedback, and make appropriate changes that will continue to cater to their customer, while ensuring the proper use of the privilege, prior to the unveiling of "Disabled Assistance System" (proposed new policy, also known as DAS). As of today, 9/24/13 it appears that there have been no changes that I could locate regarding the policy change on the Disney Website. After speaking directly with a customer service representative on the phone, I was told that there is no policy in effect yet, nor is there a policy in writing, for the public to review. She indicated that it is all speculation, however we do know that the current GAC will expire on October 9, 2013, and the proposed DAS is going to be similar to a "Fast Pass" System. Her best advice to me was to simply call back after October 9th, when the new policy is put in place.

For those that are in a wheelchair, that may have a cast, might have a non- sensory related diagnosis, the proposed policy of having guests receive a pass with a time to come back to the ride, in the Fast Pass fashion (and still wait in a line, shorter line maybe, but still wait), I think the policy is acceptable. For my child, who is unable to handle the pressure, the atmosphere, the anxiety of waiting in a line, they have done our population a gross disservice. In addition, was the disabled community conferred with, prior to the policy change? Why not punish those abusing the system, why should my child be stripped of the Disney experience because of the thoughtlessness and selfishness of the abuser?

To those that took advantage of this system... SHAME ON YOU! Money should not be able to buy you everything, and your poor choice, to take advantage of a privilege, has stripped my child and countless others, of an experience that can't be bought. While the GAC system may have had loopholes and flaws, and change may be required, there should be consideration of those that are impacted the most, not an overhaul not something entirely new, but perhaps a fix...