WDW -Disability Access Service (DAS) - ARCHIVED THREAD; no longer vslid

[lovethattink]

Ahh....Aladdin....that one is out for us regardless of any accommodation. Even a true FOTL wouldn't get DS near it. He sees what looks like a huge crowd and won't have anything to do with it. Thank God that for the majority of attractions the line is hidden. While he does melt down with extended wait times, seeing a crowd or long line is the worst of it for him. I think if I play it smart between FP and DAS I should be able to make it work without too much criss-crossing. He is OK with a return time as long as we can do something else he wants in the meantime. Last trip he did good with "we'll get a ticket to ride Space Mountain later" and then go ride Buzz and maybe get a snack.

The CM's will surely get a chuckle out of his DAS card if we have to use it....SpaceM, Buzz, POTC, repeat. If MK had nothing but those three attractions he would be happy.

For my son, it's POTC he avoids like the plague, too dark.

I noticed that most of the FP+ lines go along the regular lines without all that winding back and forth.

The day after Columbus Day was fairly crowded at Epcot. When I got the return time for Character Spot, the entrance was moved to where the exit use to be. The FP+ Entrance looked like it was sandwiched between the windows and the standby queue. We never made it to our return time, so I don't know if the queue actually was set up that way. It did look like a sea of people though. Before, the alternate entrance was away from the queue.

My son's DAS only has three return times written on it after 3 visits. 2 crossed out and one not.

 

[bookwormde]

"Stamina and endurance are not a disability"

I just wanted to clarify that while this can be true it also can be false, there are plenty of circumstance where if this is that manifestation of a disability that if would be considered a accomadatable situation under ADA. Lots of factor including duration of the existence of the condition, and if it impacts major life functions on a day to day basis are involved in determining this.

 

[Schmeck]

"Stamina and endurance are not a disability"

I just wanted to clarify that while this can be true it also can be false, there are plenty of circumstance where if this is that manifestation of a disability that if would be considered a accomadatable situation under ADA. Lots of factor including duration of the existence of the condition, and if it impacts major life functions on a day to day basis are involved in determining this.

And the accommodation would be a wheelchair or ECV.

 

[cmwade77]

And the accommodation would be a wheelchair or ECV.

Yes, barring other factors that would make this unsafe or impractical. If there is no over in the party that can physically push a wheelchair, this would not be a practical solution and there are conditions that might make it unsafe to operate an ECV and by all accounts Disney is being reasonable about making accommodations in such cases. So I don't think we can say that this is the only accommodation that will be provided in these cases, just that it is if it is a reasonable accomodation.

 

[Poohsmommi]

Figured it was coming- a class action suit against Disney for discrimination as a result of the GAC change. All disabilities will be represented not just autism.

Ridiculous. I hope it is thrown out.

 

[tinkerpea]

Has anybody had any experience with needing 2 DAS cards for their family?

We have a son with autism with the traditional needs.

And I have another son who is younger with needs, they both will need a DAS card and both like completely different rides.
So using one card for the family won't work due to the fact the oldest wont go nr certain roller coaster's HM and the youngest loves them!

We always travel with my mum who takes oldest son off to do separate rides while we take you get son to do the more thrill types.

I really hope this wont be a problem as I can see this ruin the trip, we have dressy scheduled FPs for each child's likes.

 

[tinkerpea]

Has anybody had any experience with needing 2 DAS cards for their family?

We have a son with autism with the traditional needs.

And I have another son who is younger with needs, they both will need a DAS card and both like completely different rides.
So using one card for the family won't work due to the fact the oldest wont go nr certain roller coaster's HM and the youngest loves them!

We always travel with my mum who takes oldest son off to do separate rides while we take you get son to do the more thrill types.

I really hope this wont be a problem as I can see this ruin the trip, we have dressy scheduled FPs for each child's likes.

Already scheduled not dressy scheduled lol stupid iPhone!!!!

 

[cmwade77]

Has anybody had any experience with needing 2 DAS cards for their family?

We have a son with autism with the traditional needs.

And I have another son who is younger with needs, they both will need a DAS card and both like completely different rides.
So using one card for the family won't work due to the fact the oldest wont go nr certain roller coaster's HM and the youngest loves them!

We always travel with my mum who takes oldest son off to do separate rides while we take you get son to do the more thrill types.

I really hope this wont be a problem as I can see this ruin the trip, we have dressy scheduled FPs for each child's likes.

The easiest way to deal with this is have her take him in to get a DAS at a different time than you.

That's what we did, as both DW and I need a pass and we're going to be there at different times, sometimes without the other. Then other times we will be together. This was at DL, but I would think it would be similar.

 

[Objectivity]

My biggest concern remains the inequity between different disabilities. I don't mean in regard to the DAS being to meet a need and not a disability, I mean because it forces certain disabilities to continually justify their need.

If someone is visually impaired, they often won't qualify for the DAS. Instead, their needs, often seating, are provided at the attraction. That means explaining to every CM that special seating is needed. That could be multiple CMs per attraction times the total number of attractions. How is that appropriate? Why must someone with that specific need have to repeatedly explain themselves? Those with wheelchairs don't. Those who qualify for the DAS don't.

it sounds like Disney wants the DAS to be a magic bullet that fits the parameters necessary to reduce system overload. The problem is that its inefficient. Someone visually impaired should be able to get a card that says that and just show it at attractions with seating. No need to waste a CMs time with something that could be confirmed elsewhere. And no reason someone with a disability should be put in a position to fear a lack of accommodation due to a flaw in the system or to feel their disability is seen as lesser.

 

[andersonsc]

Why must someone with that specific need have to repeatedly explain themselves? Those with wheelchairs don't. Those who qualify for the DAS don't.


Why not just make a card that says you are visually impaired if you don't want to explain verbally to each cm

 

[curemyreed]

Question about closing a park down with a DAS. Basically a das will not work for night time. For example we had an hour left ( was going to hop to Epcot). Soaring was 90 mins and so was test track. How do they handle it then? The park closes in an hour. Our return time would be 80 mins. So do they just turn people away? We didn't go because they were the only rides we wanted to ride, but it got me thinking.

Can anyone with experience tell us how this worked out?

 

[PatMcDuck]

What kind of chair do you use? Are are looking for a new one for our 10 year old daughter with autism as she has outgrown her special needs stroller. We use it for all the same reason you do. Thanks!

My son has the largest size (I think) Convaid Chair, his is a "Scout" model. They are very expensive, I got his on Ebay for $1000 or $1200, I forget. It sells for 2-3X that. (it was new, never used, tags still on it, family had to put their adult daughter in an institution). It even had the height extension for the back. Sean is about 5'8" and 160 pounds.

It is actually more than he needs, in a way. I did not want a wheelchair, he has scoliosis too, and leans forward too much. I wanted a chair that tilted back, more like a stroller. The only downside, it is heavy, and does not fold up small (but it does fold). I gate check it at the airport.

These chairs last a long time, and can be repaired if necessary. Parts are available. They come in many sizes, Sean will never outgrow it (he is 23) unless he gets overweight, I guess. We went from a McClaren, to using a transport chair (wheelchair without the big wheels on the side). I hated the way he hunched over in that transport chair, and it was not that comfortable.

 

[Queenie122]

That is what we currently have but she is too tall for it. My daughter is 4' 9" and weighs 87 pounds. Technically she is still under the weight limit but her legs are so long and she look awkward in it.

We also have a Convaid and love it. I'm not sure what kind of insurance you have, but ours paid for my daughter's wheelchair. It is a lifesaver when we go to Disney!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I'm thankful that I'll be able to receive a return pass that enables me to go to the First Aid station if need be, I can rest if I need to, & my family can go on attractions that I can't. That surprises me a bit that I don't hear about ppl with disabilities not being able to go on some of the attractions? I hear ppl talk about stairs in certain areas, but maybe it's just not something that's mentioned in this thread.

I think mostly people haven't talked in this thread about rides they can't ride because for discussions of the DAS it's not really relevant. If you can't do a ride even with accommodations, then you can't do it and you don't really need to worry about a DAS for it.

Also, for most people, even wheelchair users and other disabled people, most rides/attractions are do-able. As a wheelchair user, the only attractions I really can't access at all purely due to using a wheelchair are Tom Sawyer Island & Tomorrowland Transit Authority. There are other attractions I can't do because of my impairment and how it effects me (pain, strain on body, etc.), but all other queues/attractions have accessible entrances. There's a guy who posts occasionally on the board who has paraplegia and I think he's been on most, if not all, rides with accessible entrances since he became paralyzed.

I don't think any of us have problems replying to specific threads discussing things that might prevent people from riding specific rides (regardless of accommodations), but this thread isn't for that. A general thread about "what can't you ride and why not" without specifics to at least a certain condition and/or symptom is just so huge that I'm not sure it would be useful. People with the same diagnosis or symptoms aren't even going to have the same limitations, so if you just opened at thread up to the wide range of impairments represented on the board it would be too confusing and probably depressing for people reading it. Within the last few months there was a post on the disAbilities forum about "what rides/attractions do you miss", but most of the answers were relating to attractions that don't exist anymore.

 

[Mom2six]

yes, that's what I meant. I know GAC didn't get literal front of line but 20 min is a lot better then 60+ min!! It's really the comment that some people can't stay all day in the park and therefore the DAS doesn't work b/c it involves waiting. Well, I think there is a lot of people (not disabled) who can't stay all day in a park for one reason or another. If people are going to decide not use a wheelchair, then it limits their time in the park because they tire from the walking. I don't think they should get a DAS because there are way to meet their needs if stamina or walking is the issue.

I thought this thread was for how the DAS works not personal opinion about whether or not people should have one or not/ opinion about who is disabled/ view on accommodations.

 

[Mom2six]

There is no way my mom could walk eight hours in the park, so we rent her an ECV. I have never even considered asking for a GAC for her. She doesn't need one. Her problems are mobility, balance, and endurance and an ECV handles that. It's just one of the expenses we have to count into the budget. FYI: she is an annual passholder and will get three or four trips out of this AP, so will have to rent an ECV multiple times this year. Due to heat issues she will also not be able to stay in the parks all day. Again WDW is not responsible and should not be expected to give her front of the line pass, just so she can get through the rides quicker. An ECV provides her with what she needs and makes lines accessible for her. That is all the law requires WDW do. They are not required and shouldn't be expected to do anything else for her. She has been though alot in her 80 years and has alot of health problems, but WDW does not owe her a pass to skip the lines. WDW's answer for mobility problems has always been to rent an ECV or wheelchair. Some people have just gotten lucky and finagled a GAC to cut their wait time. That has never been the purpose of the GAC, so WDW had to address the issue. Too many people were wanting to avoid the standby lines, so used whatever handicap they had (and even some made up ones) to get the GAC that allowed them to use the fast pass lines. I think it's funny that for so many years, people who were familiar and used the GAC regularly said the GAC did not give front of the line access and frequently made their waits longer are now changing their tunes saying that in fact they did get to enter through the fastpass lines, were able to finish the parks in just a few hours, and got repeat rides anytime they wanted, and now they absolutely must have that accommodation because it is what their kids are used to. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that they think it's OK for typical kids to have to wait longer, just so their kids can cut in front of them and ride the rides quicker and repeatedly. They seem to think it's their right and everyone with typical kids should be fine with it. I'm not trying to be mean and unsympathetic, but it just doesn't seem right to make other kids waits longer, just so their kid can have their perfect vacation with no waits, no crowds, repeat rides, etc. I can see why WDW had to change the GAC system. This is coming from a grandmother who has seven grandkids, three of whom are considered handicapped (one with ADHD and OCD, one with autism, and one with Zellweger's syndrome (blind, deaf, mentally and physically delayed, with lots of liver and feeding problems). My grand daughter that is autistic is fixated on the Little Mermaid movie. She will watch it all day over and over and over and have a melt down when it's cut off. Should she get to spend a day at WDW riding the Little Mermaid over and over with no waits, while other kids (including her cousins) have to wait in a long line to ride it just once? No. The old system was not fair and not equal. It had to be changed. It's not about which person has the bigger handicap, rougher life, etc. It's not fair that my youngest grand daughter is blind, deaf, has feeding and liver problems, has to have PT and OT several times a week, spends alot of her life at Children's Medical Center, and still has a good chance of not living until her fifth birthday and will probably never walk, but the world doesn't owe her anything either. Everyone who enters Disney's gates deserve the perfect vacation and catering to one group at the expense of another's is just wrong. Typical guests should not have to wait longer just so handicapped guests can cut in front of them and do the parks in half the time. WDW is trying to make sure all wait the same amount of time.

How is this helpful in this thread about using the DAS? This is your personal opinion and this thread is not a debate as it has been posted before. Sometimes I think people post things like this in a thread about using the DAS just to be argumentative and insulting knowing that the people reading this thread are the ones who need assistance in the parks and then the thread gets hijacked by all the people who want to state an "opinion".

 

[Gracie09]

How is this helpful in this thread about using the DAS? This is your personal opinion and this thread is not a debate as it has been posted before. Sometimes I think people post things like this in a thread about using the DAS just to be argumentative and insulting knowing that the people reading this thread are the ones who need assistance in the parks and then the thread gets hijacked by all the people who want to state an "opinion".

and that would be your opinion. This was in response to another post so why shouldn't it be here. Sue does a great job keeping this thread on track. If she has a problem with something that is posted she deal with it.

 

[aaarcher86]

Quoting discussions that have ended and been addressed furthers the debate.

Lets move on.

 

[delmar411]

Can anyone with experience tell us how this worked out?

My YDD did this on Friday night at HS. She had gotten a time for RNRC but this is one of the rides she would normally loop and after riding with her time (she waited nearly an hour for her time) she took off to ride again while I was trying to convince her leave (was not working!) so I told her we'd go over to the CM and ask.

So there was 4 mins until park close, the standby was still 30mins but there was no one in the FP lane since the park was kept open an extra hour at the last minute. I went over and asked if she would possibly be able to ride again before the park closed. The CM was very nice and gave her a rider swap pass to use right then instead of writing a time down on her card since that would be pretty much useless.

Now, I took it as a bit of pixie dust instead of policy but it can't hurt to ask nicely at the end of the night.

 

[Twende]

Why must someone with that specific need have to repeatedly explain themselves? Those with wheelchairs don't. Those who qualify for the DAS don't.


Why not just make a card that says you are visually impaired if you don't want to explain verbally to each cm

I agree with you and this was one of my frustrations from our last trip. On one attraction I had to explain my visual need to 4 CMs and was still literally left in the dark in a mob of people entering an attraction to get seats. I felt that the treatment I received was humiliating to me and extremely rude to other guests around me!

I am working on some wording to place on my own GAC like card. It needs to be very simple wording and only a sentence or two explaining my vision needs. I just can not keep explaining my needs multiple times on attractions. It gets VERY old!

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear your wording. I do not need front row seating just near enough to see and I am mostly blind in dark or low light places. Flashlights only help so much as my eyes also have trouble adjusting to light changes and using a bright light only prolongs this adjustment time.