Guest Access Card

The first thing you should do when you arrive in your first park is to go to Guest Relations and ask for a Guest Assistance Card (GAC). Bring your doctor's note to the Guest Relations window at any Disney theme park and ask for the Guest Assistance Card. The Guest Assistance Card is a special pass designed to allow you to wait in a separate, un-crowded holding area apart from the regular queues at most attractions. One Card is good for all four parks, so you do not need to obtain separate Cards at each park.

It's also important to know that the GAC is not a "front of the line pass." It only allows guests with special needs and their parties to use a different entrance or queue when available, and you will still have to wait your turn, just in a different location.

Speaking of queues, there are many different types of queues at the rides and attractions. Some have a special entrance for special needs guests, and some allow guests to stay in their wheelchair or special stroller through the regular queue. Others require each guest in the special needs guest's party to obtain a Fastpass and to use the Fastpass queue during their valid Fastpass time window. If you are in doubt, ask the Cast Member stationed at the entrance to the ride or show.

TIP: Many guests wear the GAC on a lanyard to keep it readily available to show to Cast Members.

February 2013 Walt Disney World Refurbishments

Magic Kingdom® Park

Splash Moutain                    01/02/2013 - 03/19/2013
Main Street Bakery              01/12/2013 - 05/17/2013
Liberty Square Riverboat    02/01/2013 - 02/07/2013

Epcot®

Character Spot                        10/21/12 - Late March 2013
American Heritage Gallery     01/22/2013 - 03/01/2013

Disney's Hollywood Studios®

Disney Junior - Live on Stage!            01/14/2013 - 02/14/2013


Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Kali River Rapids                    01/06/2013 - 02/14/2013

Downtown Disney
None!

Testimonial

Thanks again for all your help!  We had a blast!  Keep us in mind if they ever run some deals for Disney cruises in the future!!!
  Maggie, Alabama

Testimonial

Thank you for all of your assistance!!! We truly had a magical time and loved every minute. Only wish we could have stayed in castaway key one more day. We were prepared and knowledgeable about all things and we are thankful for all of your help. You really made the trip easy. Thanks again for everything!!!!

Libby, TN

What's the best way to get to the Disney Cruise Line Terminal?

Here's a breakdown of the Cruise Transportation Options to and from Port Canaveral....and a few extra things to note;

1. Disney Cruise Line Transfers:
Cost: Approx $32 per person (each way)

Pros: Easy! They pick you up at the airport after you retrieve your luggage, deliver you to the Disney Cruise Line terminal, and then return you to the airport at the end of the cruise.

Cons: This might be a costly option for you.

2. Car Service -
Cost: Approx $117 each way or $210 if you book round-trip

Pros: Easy.
A driver will pick you up at the airport, help you retrieve your luggage and deliver you to/from  the Disney Cruise Line Terminal.

Cons: Schedule. This driver will be scheduled for pickup and delivery, so you will need to make sure to get to the Baggage Claim area as quickly as possible after your flight has landed. And the same at the end of the cruise. This will be a scheduled pickup, so you will need to be time-aware.

Some people are "particular" and don't want a "stranger" driving them....in a standard vehicle.
And this might be a little costly for your budget.

3. Taxi -
Cost: Approx $110 each way

Pros: Flexible schedule. When your flight lands, you retrieve your luggage and proceed to the Taxi area to secure your Taxi.

Cons:
Sometimes, you might have to wait on the next available taxi.
Some people are not comfortable with Taxi drivers in general.
Cost might be an issue for this method.

4. One way rental car
Cost: Approx $50 each way

Pros: Complete flexibility. This allows you the opportunity to pick up the car when you are ready to leave the airport, at your convenience.
And it gives you the flexibility of being able to make stops along the way, for groceries, or lunch, or if you realize you have forgotten something at home :)

Cons:
You have to pay the tolls on the interstate.

Of the 4 options, this one requires the most "effort" on your part.
You will have to pickup the car at the airport. And return it to the rental location NEAR the cruise line terminal, but not AT the cruise line terminal.
When you arrive at the Rental Car location, you will return the car, and then, they will shuttle you and your family and your luggage to the terminal.

*This is a very easy process, but it does take a little bit of time. So I would allow 30 minutes from when you arrive at the Rental Car location....until your arrival at the Cruise Line terminal.

Then the same thing in reverse, when your cruise is complete.
You will retrieve your luggage, and then proceed to the Rental Car Shuttle area.
They will shuttle you to the Rental Car location, and then you will pick up your car there, and drive to the airport. And then return the car.
Then proceed inside for your flight, as usual.

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Now----on a personal note,
I have used all 4 of these options, with my family.

I have listed them in order of convenience, and they are in reverse order of cost.

So, this is such a personal decision as to which option is best for you and your family.

But, if you are trying to decide...and still need my opinion, please feel free to ask!

But no matter what you choose, I can help you set it all up, and help make it as easy for you as possible :)


www.facebook.com/MyMainStreetMemories

Testimonial

Brittney,

Thank you so much for all of your help planning this vacation! The twins LOVED Disney World!! We had such an amazing time and got tons of pictures. I have given your name to 4 friends that are trying to plan trips so hopefully you will be hearing from them soon. We are already trying to figure out when our next trip will be!! You will definitely be hearing from us again :)

Hope you had a fantastic Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!!

Vicki-- Richmond, TX

Main Street Memories 365 - Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Main Street Memories!

Thanks for tagging along with us all year! What a fun time we have had, and we have so enjoyed hearing your stories, planning your vacations, seeing your photos and just "getting to know" you better!!!

See ya next year :)