so katy, do you think they will have accomodations after oct. 9 for sitting in front of shows? thanks! we'll be there for3 days before the change, then there for 3 days after. figures...
I do not think there will be a DAS card or anything involved in this part. I think you would just approach the CM at the entrance to any show (I am trying to think of which shows have you line up beforehand - Aladdin, Muppets, and Magical Map. Capt Eo. Fantasy Faire, too, if you want to see a show).
I would just go early to the show (for example, Mickey and the Magical Map opens the house somewhere around 25 minutes early, so if you got there 10 minutes before show time, it would not matter what GAC you had, those seats were long since full). Go early, tell a CM that you have a vision impairment (? I am not sure what else gets you front row) and that you need to sit in the front row to be able to see anything.
For Aladdin and Magical Map, I would plan on getting there at least 30-40 minutes before the show. Like I said, Magical Map opens the house 25 minutes before showtime, and Aladdin opens closer to 15 minutes before.
For Muppets it is continuous shows, and there is always a CM at the line entrance, and where you go into the pre-show. There is also usually a CM in the preshow area. I would tell the first CM you encounter, and they should be able to help you. It is a 3D movie, so much of it makes so difference where you sit, but they should be able to direct you to the front.
Capt Eo is the same, with continuous shows, so again just talk to the CM when you get there and they should be able to help you.
Fantasy Faire's Royal Theatre has very cute shows, Tangled in the morning and Beauty and the Beast in the afternoon. These shows can fill up fast. The front part of the seating area is filled with carpet circles, and kids and some adults sit on the floor in front of the stage. There are benches in back of these - again, just talk to the CM early (when I go to see the sign language interpreters, and need a certain spot, I generally check in about 30 minutes prior, basically at the end of the show before). Just tell them you have a vision impairment (or whatever) and need to sit in the front row. They will generally do their best.
This show fills up every time, even on non-crowded days, so there may already be a long line when you get there. I would plan an extra "show" as padding - that is, try not to go to the last Tangled show if seeing it is a must. That way if the line for the 12:15 Tangled is too long for the CMs to accommodate you when you arrive, they may be able to say "Plan to come back for the 1:30 show" and then they will reserve seats as soon as the previous show clears. I sincerely hope that you will not need to do this, but I tell people who have no disability/special need to do this, because these shows can be very popular and it is a *very* small space. It fits maybe 200 people, including those sitting on the floor, while the other theatres I mentioned fit closer to 1800 people.
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies is in the Big Thunder Ranch arena right now, and there is no seating control - people just come and go as they please. In this case, just get there about 20-30 minutes early, and if need be ask a CM to help you. Generally you do not need to see much for this show as much as hear it, so you should do okay.
I completely forget It's Tough to be a Bug exists, and I almost never see people go in there. I have never been in the theatre, so I can tell you nothing about it (sorry) but I am sure a CM can help you. It is continuous like the other two 3D shows, so there should not be a problem.
I guess the rule of thumb for the 3 theatres (Aladdin, Magical Map, and Fantasy Faire Royal Theatre) is get there early! I say about 30-40 minutes early, or even stop by the theatre earlier in the day and ask what you should do (especially with Aladdin). And this goes for both the GAC and DAS system! Even though you will have a card for the GAC days, and will need to tell people on the DAS days, you will still need to get there early.
For the continuous shows (Capt Eo, Muppets, and ITTBAB), speak to the first CM you see, and they will direct you from there.
Unfortunately, for the nighttime shows and fireworks, the GAC never helped anyway. There has never been a "front row" section for Fantasmic or World of Color, although speaking to a CM cannot hurt - they may have a suggestion for the best place to sit/stand.
I know this was very long, but I hope it helped some. I was hoping to answer as many questions as I could anticipate about vision impairment/front row GACs and shows in theatres. Hope this helps!