DLR DAS Questions

LaurenDis

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
There will be 7 of us (Mom, Dad, 4, 4, 5, Grandma, Grandpa) and my son, age 4, needs the DAS. How does this work for our group? Will we need to split up?

Also, we won't know until we are ready to board a ride if my son will get on or not. What happens if he refuses to get on? Will the others be allowed to go ahead or will they need to go back in the main line?

What happens if he freaks out mid-ride, is there a way to get off or do the poor souls next to us have to listen to the screaming the rest of the way? I'm very nervous about others getting mad at us if he starts screaming and hitting if he gets upset. I'm taking noise-cancelling headphones and a compression vest, but you just don't know.

Thanks everyone!
 
Your DAS pass will be granted for the 7 people most likely, it is always and exception but they allow families to stay together.

I am not sure what would happen if he decides not to go. I guess I would put most ahead of him, since most rides will have four in the first car and three in the second. So like if you go to Snow White, have grandma, papa, and kids go, then you, husband and son go. Then they can't make the others get off if he refuses. But if her refuses on a ride like canal boats than yes, they could make you all get off, would they, I doubt it, but the rule does say the DAS person must ride.

There is no way off a ride until the end. So I would make sure you start out slow and work your way up to the more excited ones. I would get videos or Disney vacation videos, or u tube videos of any and all rides and show them to him for weeks before you go, then he may have a better reaction. Or if he reacts at the which in Snow White at home you will no not to go on it.
 
Thank you for your quick reply. We have been doing lots of you tube videos and planning our touring around what he doesn't like (the castle walkthrough was a definite no!). Good idea to send the others ahead.
 
The DAS rules state that the DAS holder must ride.

There is no way to stop and get off a ride attraction once it has started. My advise is what I have told my DD when in this situation: "Close your eyes and hang on, it will be over in a minute." If at all possible, I try to hold onto her tightly by her shoulders so she feels that more than anything. Space Mountain was her worst experience. The ride barely started and she yelled, "Mom! Stop this! I want to get off!" I was seated behind her and calmly said, "Close your eyes, hang on and it will be over in a minute." I then reached forward and put my arms around her. It has ended up being something we laugh about quite frequently.

Since you will have others in your party that would like to ride most attractions, you might consider splitting up on the attractions that you know your DS will not do. You will still have plenty of together time as a family. Check out youtube and other videos so you and your DS have an idea of what the attraction is like.
 
For 7 people you will all need to go to GS to get the DAS because they scan tickets at DLR. If you do end up exiting return line before all tickets are scanned, just be prepared to go back to a kiosk, explain that you'd like to change you DAS return and they'll have to change it on the tickets. If you're worried about a mid-ride incident where he starts hitting, you or the person in your party sitting next to him should be prepared to hold his hands for up to 10 minutes (the length of POTC). There are rides with shared vehicles where the other parties may have to hear screaming, but being hit is something that is in your control. I'd also worry about Storybookland where the boat is not on a track and could tip if someone is moving around.
 
Good tip about the Storybookland boats - I didn't realize that. Yes, we try to control the hitting/kicking as much as possible and if he seems agitated we won't even try to take him on a ride. I've planned to start really easy with the rides and work our way up. We got 5 day tickets so we could take our time and not feel pressured to get the rides in.
 


You do know about child swap. If there are rides you know he will not ride, or is to small to ride, you can get a child swap, like at indy,tot, and such, it has been a long time since we needed them, I think it was when I was little. Anyway, you all go to the ride, then some go forward, and your son and one or two stay behind off to the side. Then when they get off the ride, you and one person get to go back on. It is not for every ride but is for some rides, usually the ones with height restrictions. I know my mom use to get them when my sister could not ride on everything, she was in a w/c, and some times could not ride indy and space and we would get a rider swap.
 
I would just add, ear plugs and sun glasses (bring multiple of each) seem to rachett the intensity down for my DS at Disney (he will sometimes wear sunglasses even on the rides). I don't know what his triggers are but you might try to start with something interactive like Buzz (dark) or Toy Story (bright). That might get him into the spirit of things. DCA also has the more typical carnival rides at paradise pier (or whatever that area over by toy story is called). If you are worried, I would start your trip at DCA at rope drop rather than DLR. It is considerably more empty and calm (I would probably skip Radio Springs Racers and Soarin until you know how he reacts). Don't forget, you can get fast passes in addition to the DAS. I would fastpass the rides you think are going to be a problem for him, so the rest of the you can go even if he backs out. You can also ask what happens if he backs out at the last minute when you are getting the DAS but I'm not sure the answer you get will mean much. My experience a couple of months ago was that how the DAS worked was very inconsistent throughout the parks.
 
Thanks for the sunglasses idea. We are taking noise canceling headphones, compression vest, fidgets, etc. I'm considering using the stroller as a wheelchair (he's 4) just in case it helps calm him down. The stroller is a double (so his twin sister can ride too). Is that okay for the stroller as a wheelchair?
 
I would definitely take his stroller and get the stroller as a wheelchair tag at Guest Services. It can provide that "safe" space and you can provide a "buffer" zone by placing part of your party in front of the stroller and the other part behind the stroller.

Just keep in mind that you can either use a DAS return time or a wheelchair return time. No double dipping (not saying that you would - just be aware). Disneyland electronically attaches park tickets to the return times.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned to you (haven't read the entire thread), but, always have a return time in the making. Stopping for a break - get a DAS return time, having lunch - get a DAS return time, watching the parade - get a DAS return time. Aladora has excellent suggestions on this Forum regarding how she has managed the DAS with her DS. I don't know how to link, or I would.
 
We have used a wheelchair tag for our double stroller many times without problem. That means that our disabled son gets the wheelchair he needs and his brother gets a free ride. It's the only stroller we had, so it's the one we used, and no one ever gave us a hard time for it.
 
Think of the stroller as a wheel chair tag as a das that lets you take your stroller up to the ride. That is basically how it worked for us. Although my dd is actually in a wheelchair. One more thing that we found worked well for ds was a swim shammy. Like the kind divers use. It kind of has a thick rubbery texture like a compression vest and is heavy when wet. with the added benefit of cooling ds down. He could put it over his face or on his head or chew on it. We just happened to have it in the bottom of the wheel chair and it was a pleasant surprise how well it worked
 
My DS-8 who needs a DAS sometimes develops strange phobias of certain things on rides (seemingly friendly characters, etc.) and used to refuse to ride. What I found worked with him was giving him his Buzz Lightyear blaster (nothing to loud or that throws off enough light to bother anyone else) to "shoot" anything that bothered him. We still use it today - it gives him a feeling of empowerment and helps with the phobias.
 

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