For anyone that is visiting Walt Disney World in a wheelchair or if you have another medical condition that requires accommodations, I highly recommend stopping by guest relations to pick up a Guest Assistance Card. This card will help alert Cast Members of your needs and can make your vacation a little easier.The type of card that is issued to you will depend on your needs. They are extremely useful if you have a disability that is hidden. This could include Autism, heat sensitivity, or crowd phobias.
When you arrive at guest relations all you need to do is explain your needs to the Cast Members. If you don’t want to disclose your exact medical condition you are not required to do so. You just need to explain the type of accommodations that you need. Also, make sure that the person requiring the Guest Assistance Card is present when you are requesting it.
If you have a disability that is not visible, I would recommend getting a note from your doctor. It is not required but it can be helpful. Again, you don’t have to disclose your medical condition. Your doctor can just explain what you need to make your vacation more magical. You should also get the Guest Assistance Card if you are using a stroller as a wheelchair so that you can take the stroller into queues when other strollers have to be parked. You can also get a stroller as a wheelchair tag that will help alert Cast Members.You only have to stop at Guest Relations at one park. Once you have the card it is good for all four parks and will be valid for the length of your stay. The type of accommodations that you receive will depend on the type of card that you are issued.
If you are using the Guest Assistance Card at an attraction that does not offer a FASTPASS line you will do one of two things. You will either enter through the standard queue or the Cast Members will take you to an alternate entrance on some attractions, this is usually the exit. One thing that I would like to stress is that a Guest Assistance Card is not a front of the line pass. There are some queues that wheelchairs cannot enter, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and you must enter through alternative entrance but that does not mean shorter wait times. There have been times where I have waited longer than the posted wait times. What it does do is make your trip better and let Cast Members know how they can help.
Related articles
- Disney World Quick Tip – Using a Stroller as a Wheelchair (chipandco.com)
- Vacationing with Special Needs: ASD/ADHD (chipandco.com)
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
My son has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. It is my belief that he would benefit from a GAC to cut lines and ultimately reduce his possible exposure to nut oils. I will be brining a Drs note with me and requestion a GSC.
My daughter has a kidney issue and can not hold it when she needs to pee. this was great during our trip to disney. No hospitalization due to UTI’s during our trip to disney. thank god!!
Thank you for the article! My daughter needs a wheelchair and the GAC has saved our Disney lives! I don’t want to vacation anywhere else because it’s so much more difficult to get around.
Love the GAC. My son is in a wheelchair and usually the different entrance is a lot more negotiable than the regular. In some cases the wait is shorter in some the same and in a very rare case it is actually longer. I was very upset when the lady in front of us in the handicap accessibility was proudly commenting how she had nothing wrong with her but how it was usually faster! Please DONT DO THIS! Believe me I would trade my son’s handicap away any day to wait in a typical line!
The GAC is what keeps us coming back to Disney. My daughter would not enjoy the trip without the accommodations. I wish other amusement parks were as accommodating.
this is good to know for my son who has austism
I love the GAC at WDW! There is no way I would be able to go on rides without it. Especially when it’s really busy I have to stand in a separate line or else it will trigger my agoraphobia w/ panic attacks. I could careless if I had to wait longer as long as I wasn’t in the standard line. They have made it really easy for me to enjoy the rides. I know that there would be no way we would visit Disney World so much if it wasn’t for the Guest Assistance Card.
My little brother (23 yrs old) has down syndrome and always gets a GAC at Disneyland. He gets very impatient waiting in lines. He has learned what he needs to do and is so excited to do it himself! Sometimes at Disneyland the line at City Hall is very long, but worth the wait to get the GAC.
Thanks for the article. I didn’t know about the stroller as a wheelchair option either. We don’t need it, but it is good to know and explains those that I have seen in line and wondered about.
I was on Casey Jr. line at Disneyland. The lady behind me needed a GAC because of arthritis. Bad news was that she did not get one upon entering the park. Her options was to have her mother go back to City Hall and lie to get a GAC or she could go all the way back to City Hall for a GAC.
Even if you think you do not need a GAC, please, get one upon entering a park at WDW or DLR. It is free and a lot better than being like that young lady. Stuck facing lines and stairs or wearing herself out walking back. I rarely use my GAC at DLR but I never travel without one just in case I need one.
Me too! 🙂
This is used if you or someone in your party needs help with attractions and queues. Dining is something separate and it sounds like you’ve done what you need to to ensure your son is taken care of. I hope you have a great time!
Would you need one of these cards if your child has a food allergy? I have reservations for a trip in December and have already noted my son’s dairy allergy in our dining reservations but would we need one of these just in case or is this for larger issues like mobility and such?
I have to use either a wheelchair or a scooter when I’m at Disney. I’ve run into very few problems with accessibility. I love that Disney is so accessible to everyone!