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

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Did wheelchairs go through the regular entrance? Was FP+ taken into consideration for wheelchairs? I just don't want to waste a FP+ selection if it can't be used with a wheelchair. There used to be a different entrance for wheelchairs and I haven't heard if anything's changed.

When I was there yes you could use FP+ then the separate wheelchair entrance like before but that was before DAS card. In september I still had a GAC card so it might have changed. I would book it on FP+ then check when you get there to be sure.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

ETWB is Enchanted Tales With Belle. Both ETWB and Turtle Talk now have FP+ so I assume also DAS return times. I believe PP was trying to demonstrate how beneficial FP+ can be somewhere that as GAC didn't help.

yes that exactly forgive me if I confused matters I should have explained!

 

[Rowanonfire]

I posted this in another place...

Most attractions at WDW have Mainstream Lines, so are accessible and don't have a line up of guests with wheelchairs, ECV.

This is the list of attractions that WDW gives different instructions than just "enter the standard queue". We were at WDW for over 2 weeks in October/November 2013. It was not busy, and we saw no return time cards for any attractions. I expect that they will possibly only give return times when it is busy.

I put the ones in blue that I expect could likely give return times. Most of the others are shows that can hold multiple wheelchairs and the specific entry location is to put guests with mobility devices in the area they will need to be to get to the correct door into the show.

MK

WDW Railroad:Enter using ramp on the RIGHT on Main Street

WDW Railroad:Enter using wheelchair ramp on RIGHT at Frontierland

WDW Railroad: Enter using wheelchair ramp at Fairytale Circus

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Obtain Fastpass or see Host for options. If FASTPASS is not available, enter thru access on RIGHT
note: people have reported getting return time cards for BTMRR before the DAS was introduced.

Country Bear Jamboree:Enter thru door on LEFT

Hall of Presidents:Enter through door on RIGHT

Liberty Square Riverboat:Enter through exit on RIGHT or LEFT

it's a small world:Follow directional signs to designated load area

Peter Pan's Flight:Obtain FASTPASS or see host for options. If Fastpass is not available, see a host for options.
Note: we don't know if the recent line renovation changed/will change this, but they had a small area for waiting.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel:Enter through exit on RIGHTNote: there is a small area for waiting, but because if difficult transfer, I have never seen more then one waiting.

Tea Party:Enter through exit on RIGHTNote: there is a small area for waiting, but because if difficult transfer, I have never seen more then one waiting.

Space Mountain:Obtain a FASTPASS or see a host for options. If FASTPASS not available, enter through queue on RIGHTNote: small area for waiting

Epcot

Spaceship Earth:Enter through the exit on the RIGHT or LEFT.
Note: this attraction already had a system set up for guests traveling with mobility devices where the guests checked in with a CM at the handicapped access point. They were placed into a waiting area in order of arrival.
At some points in the past, when waits were long, the CM was writing names on a clipboard and verbally gave the guest a return time.
This could be adapted to giving return times and because of the way the waiting area is set in, they could give priority to DAS holders.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the 3 Caballeros: Follow directional signs to designated load area.
Note: the waiting area is very small, but this attraction usually has short waits. They could give return times and have guests wait outside of the line.
No matter when we have gone, we have not seen large numbers of guests with mobility devices, so doubt they would give return times.

American Adventure:See a host or hostess for access to second floor

Impressions de France:Enter through LEFT side of entrance hallway

Studio

Great Movie Ride:Enter through the Standard queue. A host will provide directions in the pre-show area

Studio Backlot Tour:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT

Fantasmic:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT

Animal Kingdom

Wildlife Express Trainroceed through standard queue. A host will direct boarding

Thank you! This is exactly the info I was looking for.

 

[mkymouse40]

I'm here now and the Gac program is awful. I argued for 15minutes with cast member at MK and he kept saying there was no disabillity pass. Their new rule is they only give passes to autistic children and severely mentally challenged adults. No disability passes of any kind. Can we say discrimination! !

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm here now and the Gac program is awful. I argued for 15minutes with cast member at MK and he kept saying there was no disabillity pass. Their new rule is they only give passes to autistic children and severely mentally challenged adults. No disability passes of any kind. Can we say discrimination! !

People are really throwing the word discrimination like the word bully. The more people use it for everything the less meaning it has.

What are your needs? It's entirely possible the DAS is not meant for your needs. Not giving it to everyone that asks is not discrimination. It's a tool that help with specific issues. I will say, it's not a rule that it's for autistic kids I just think they are the largest and most common group that qualify. I do wish they'd stop saying that.

 

[Rowanonfire]

People are really throwing the word discrimination like the word bully. The more people use it for everything the less meaning it has.

What are your needs? It's entirely possible the DAS is not meant for your needs. Not giving it to everyone that asks is not discrimination. It's a tool that help with specific issues. I will say, it's not a rule that it's for autistic kids I just think they are the largest and most common group that qualify. I do wish they'd stop saying that.

You're right - but a lot of it is also the CM's way of dealing with it to. if I were to ask for a DAS, and the reason given was that it was only for those with a certain disability, and they didn't explain how it wouldn't meet my needs and give me any tips about touring without it, I'd be really upset and angry too. If you felt you were relying on the DAS and all of a sudden it's not offered to you, it's very jolting I imagine. I have had to plan very very carefully to get to a point where I think I might be able to manage without it...If I didn't know I had to do that, my trip would be ruined.

And honestly, even if it's only certain CM's....if they are denying it based on not having a specific diagnosis, that IS discrimination.

 

[aaarcher86]

You're right - but a lot of it is also the CM's way of dealing with it to. if I were to ask for a DAS, and the reason given was that it was only for those with a certain disability, and they didn't explain how it wouldn't meet my needs and give me any tips about touring without it, I'd be really upset and angry too. If you felt you were relying on the DAS and all of a sudden it's not offered to you, it's very jolting I imagine. I have had to plan very very carefully to get to a point where I think I might be able to manage without it...If I didn't know I had to do that, my trip would be ruined. And honestly, even if it's only certain CM's....if they are denying it based on not having a specific diagnosis, that IS discrimination.

Yeah, I definitely thing some of them aren't handling it well. It wouldn't necessarily be discrimination to deny based on diagnosis. If I walked in and said I was deaf and they said it's not for me but let me know what is available. That would be acceptable.

I don't know what the poster's needs are, but I imagine a lot of people are walking up expecting a DAS because they used to get a GAC and are unpleasantly surprised that they do not qualify (not saying that's what happened in this case). I could see CMs saying something like 'it's for guests with autism' to try and keep it simple or give an example, although I wish they'd stop. Since they don't ask for a diagnosis and ask what accommodations are needed I don't know why it comes up much at all.

 

[lovethattink]

I'm here now and the Gac program is awful. I argued for 15minutes with cast member at MK and he kept saying there was no disabillity pass. Their new rule is they only give passes to autistic children and severely mentally challenged adults. No disability passes of any kind. Can we say discrimination! !

That's not true. Perhaps you were given that answer based on the type of accommodation you said you needed?

Technically there isn't a pass, but there is a card for return times. Could the answer be based on asking for a pass?

 

[ttintagel]

You're right - but a lot of it is also the CM's way of dealing with it to. if I were to ask for a DAS, and the reason given was that it was only for those with a certain disability, and they didn't explain how it wouldn't meet my needs and give me any tips about touring without it, I'd be really upset and angry too. If you felt you were relying on the DAS and all of a sudden it's not offered to you, it's very jolting I imagine. I have had to plan very very carefully to get to a point where I think I might be able to manage without it...If I didn't know I had to do that, my trip would be ruined.

And honestly, even if it's only certain CM's....if they are denying it based on not having a specific diagnosis, that IS discrimination.

Right - I have a need that used to be helped by the GAC and is now not helped by the DAS or any formal policy at all as far as I can tell. If I had gone down without doing research and a CM had given me such a weird response, it would have probably thrown me for a loop, too. I would HOPE I would have then gone on to ask someone else for more information, but it can be easy to get overwhelmed in the moment.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yeah, I definitely thing some of them aren't handling it well. It wouldn't necessarily be discrimination to deny based on diagnosis. If I walked in and said I was deaf and they said it's not for me but let me know what is available. That would be acceptable.

I don't know what the poster's needs are, but I imagine a lot of people are walking up expecting a DAS because they used to get a GAC and are unpleasantly surprised that they do not qualify (not saying that's what happened in this case). I could see CMs saying something like 'it's for guests with autism' to try and keep it simple or give an example, although I wish they'd stop. Since they don't ask for a diagnosis and ask what accommodations are needed I don't know why it comes up much at all.

Bolding mine, and I think you are exactly right. I saw a post on another board complaining about the fact that the poster's two kids, both of whom have juvenile arthritis, weren't issued a DAS, when they were always able to get a GAC.

 

[Schmeck]

I'm here now and the Gac program is awful. I argued for 15minutes with cast member at MK and he kept saying there was no disabillity pass. Their new rule is they only give passes to autistic children and severely mentally challenged adults. No disability passes of any kind. Can we say discrimination! !

The GAC program no longer exists. It has been replaced by the DAS. There are no 'passes', only cards used to get a return time at attractions that have a wait of longer than 10-15 minutes. This is how Disney gives equal access to guests who cannot wait in the physical queue. WDW no longer has a service that would be like an unlimited FP.

When you go to guest services, you need to be able to articulate what your needs are, what difficulties you have experienced in the past, etc.

 

[tiggspring]

I'm just trying to clarify this because it doesn't make sense. If you've never used your GAC before, how do you think anything will change for you? Just do what you've always done.

No it is a big deal. I got lucky. On any given day I may or may not be able to do things for no ryme or reason. Everyday I awake to an adventure A simple rain storm and it pressure changes can take me from a good day to a bad within 30 min. Couple degrees warmer, unexpectedly longer wait times could have made the planning I did for a year and the Ridmax plan I adhered to useless and it wouldn't have just affected one day but most likely several days. I would have needed the card just to stay. I didnt use my GAC because I wanted all those with worse situations that day to not be affected by my use. It was respect for my fellow GAC tourists. Since this is off topic a bit, if you still don't understand I welcome you to come lurk around the Fibromyalgia thread here or ask anyone with early MS, Parkinson's, migraines, arthritis ect how different their illness can be from day to day even hr to hour. Having multiple contingencies is the only way we survive.

The "Today Show" report on NBC was in May, the changes announced in September, and the DAS went into effect in October.

Sorry, You are correct I mispoke. NBC did the report and within a week NBC REPORTED that WDW was changing there policies (no specifics but a point of great pride for NBC and Rosen report)and it took until October for WDW to implement. Disney has contingencies for their contingencies so it doesn't surprise me they had one. The when and how they did it is why I feel the abuses were the main impetus.


The best advise I can give people like me is to find an online planing program that gives you estimated wait times, walk times, ride times. Avoid the buses as they waste energy and precious time. Stay close preferably on the Monorail. Disney will do the right thing and tweak this eventually because they WILL wind up with more people needing medical evaluation or just rest in a first aid station due to the restrictions. People will try and fail. There are too many of us.

Like I said before I don't blame disney but as it stands right now they need to tweek this significantly. Personally I would prefer needing to show Drs note or my handicap plate certificate but realize that it brings all sorts of legal issues of its own.

Thanks to all who are posting your current experiences you are helping those of who must plan tremendously!

 

[aaarcher86]

I don't recall anything of the sort. Do you have a link? The earliest reports of changes I can find are in September right before the change.

Again, Sue has already pointed out this has been in the works for sometime. It's not a knee jerk reaction. This system is very similar to other theme parks across the country because it's the system that makes the most sense for the most people and has been successful.

 

[tiggspring]

I don't recall anything of the sort. Do you have a link? The earliest reports of changes I can find are in September right before the change.

Again, Sue has already pointed out this has been in the works for sometime. It's not a knee jerk reaction. This system is very similar to other theme parks across the country because it's the system that makes the most sense for the most people and has been successful.

Unless you watched all three hours of the today show daily and watched every on/ off the cuff comment by Rosen made that week you probably missed it. I could go through all 15 hours of tape online to try to find it but that seems a waste of time since this thread is supposed to be about how to handle the changes. I gave my best advice for that . You can look for the comments yourself or believe what you want. I know what I heard and would prefer to hear how the system is working and/or changing over the next few weeks and months rather than beating a dead horse.

 

[KPeveler]

Hey - Since i have a DAS ( for DL though my needs are not going to change in WDW, I am assuming I will get one there as well), AND a wheelchair, will FP+ make any difference for my and my family (total of 4) for Fantasmic? Or would I just be put in the wheelchair line anyway?

Also, I assumed some major rides in MK have switched to the wc return times. Here in DL, the wheelchair return cards now have a return window, not just an open ended time. Have they switched to that in WDW? It will make a definite difference to my touring plans?

Also, can anyone confirm wheelchair return cards being used for American Adventure show? I plan on bringing my wheelchair in as close as I can and then transferring. I hate sitting in the back of that show with my family split up. Also, they run out of spots so easily that I do not want to take up a spot since I can transfer (as long as I can bring my wc up the elevator and then have it waiting for me inside after the show).

Any other advice for a person with a wheelchair and a DAS and FP+ would be appreciated!

 

[buffettgirl]

No it is a big deal. I got lucky. On any given day I may or may not be able to do things for no ryme or reason. Everyday I awake to an adventure A simple rain storm and it pressure changes can take me from a good day to a bad within 30 min. Couple degrees warmer, unexpectedly longer wait times could have made the planning I did for a year and the Ridmax plan I adhered to useless and it wouldn't have just affected one day but most likely several days. I would have needed the card just to stay. I didnt use my GAC because I wanted all those with worse situations that day to not be affected by my use. It was respect for my fellow GAC tourists. Since this is off topic a bit, if you still don't understand I welcome you to come lurk around the Fibromyalgia thread here or ask anyone with early MS, Parkinson's, migraines, arthritis ect how different their illness can be from day to day even hr to hour. Having multiple contingencies is the only way we survive.

Actually, I wasn't questioning your need for a GAC / DAS, that's your own personal business. And it's quite presumptuous to assume that I don't know anything about those diseases.

What I'm asking; IF you've never used the GAC in the past (though you've received one) and IF you've not been to Disney under the new DAS policy, why do you assume that things will be any different for you now? You seem willing to discard one of the 'multiple contingencies' that you clearly need, without ever having given them a try.

I too, appreciate the folks on here who are posting about actual experiences with the new system.

 

[tiggspring]

I'm just trying to clarify this because it doesn't make sense. If you've never used your GAC before, how do you think anything will change for you? Just do what you've always done.

Actually, I wasn't questioning your need for a GAC / DAS, that's your own personal business. And it's quite presumptuous to assume that I don't know anything about those diseases.

First I did not presume you didn't understand these diseases you said it didn't make sense to you (ie you don't understand). Anyone who has had to deal one of these diseases would understand how minor things can bring on big issues.

What I'm asking; IF you've never used the GAC in the past (though you've received one) and IF you've not been to Disney under the new DAS policy, why do you assume that things will be any different for you now? You seem willing to discard one of the 'multiple contingencies' that you clearly need, without ever having given them a try.

I too, appreciate the folks on here who are posting about actual experiences with the new system.

It appears, at the moment the standard "help" is rent a wheel chair. Which is not help at all. Other forms of assistance seem to be reliant the CM in frount of you. There is chaos and major inconsistencies which is not helpful at all. At the moment, from the reports this new program would be more stress than it worth. I fully expect WDW to tweak it like I have said several times. I look forward to the changes and I am lucky not to be going to WDW in the near future. Until then those with MS, Fibro etc have my sympathy as their vacations will not be as easy in the past.

I'm not looking for a fight so I will not be posting again until I hear something new about the program worth commenting on.

 

[StregaNona]

Nijagirl,
For those of you that dont understand the issues of an invisible disability these are just a few and a wheel chair fixes none of them. On our three trips to WDW I have always gotten a GAC but because of good planning and some luck have never used it because I believe I should only use it when I have to. By the looks of it the new passes will be useless to many of us with invisible mobility/exhaustion issues. The new FP+ with tier system looks like it will hurt us too.

I do hope they get these passes tweeked a bit so they would be a good fall back for people like us.

Those cheaters who used their passes to make money really ruined it for the rest of us WDW was a fantastic place for accommodating those of us with invisible disabilities.

I was at WDW after Thanksgiving and spoke to CMs at Guest Relations about why I used to get a GAC. I was told each time that the new cards are only for children with autism or mental disabilities. Our trip became stressful not only without a disability card, but because of all the guests using FP+, magic bands, etc. I never saw so many people having issues, walking and staring into their phones, etc.

I agree that hopefully Disney will tweek the DAS and that the cheaters ruined the stress free trips of the past.

 

[OneMoreTry]

I want to say something that may not be well-accepted, but it seems that some people need to hear.

Disney World is not for everyone. The lines and crowds are difficult for everyone that visits -- even people without disabilities. Everyone gets tired and faces obstacles. The enjoyment comes at a price for even "normal" people. they get tired feet and headaches and joint pain and dehydration and wish they could sit down and rest in the shade when there is no shade to be had. And some people, even those without disabilities just can't take it. So they do something else.

I think that Disney does a great job trying to accommodate the disabled, but they are not able to make it possible for everyone to enjoy the rides and parks. That's just the way it is.

If the misery is greater than the pleasure maybe it's not for you. There are so many great things to do for enjoyment in this country, maybe waiting in line for a 1 minute ride is just not worth it. Think about it. Even at WDW there are fun things to do other than ride the rides.

I hope that Disney can accommodate everyone here, but the "magic" isn't that magic for real.

 

[aaarcher86]

I was at WDW after Thanksgiving and spoke to CMs at Guest Relations about why I used to get a GAC. I was told each time that the new cards are only for children with autism or mental disabilities. Our trip became stressful not only without a disability card, but because of all the guests using FP+, magic bands, etc. I never saw so many people having issues, walking and staring into their phones, etc. I agree that hopefully Disney will tweek the DAS and that the cheaters ruined the stress free trips of the past.

What are your needs? Perhaps you do not qualify for a DAS (which is not just for autistic/mental disabilities) whereas you may have been able to get a GAC. Not everyone that used to get a GAC qualifies for a DAS. On other threads you mention being in an EVC. If your needs are purely mobility related you would not qualify.

I don't like that CMs are saying the DAS is for autism. I imagine that many people who no longer qualify for the card are being told as such to help them understand a basic idea of what the card is for without having to explain the ins and outs.