Low vision and DAS

Twice_as_Nice · May 22, 2015

Our son has extremely low vision, he wears glasses but he is loosing his vision progressively. We are going on a MAW trip in Sept and I am wondering will we need a DAS for the shows in order to be able to sit up close, is there such a thing? So he can actually see the show?

We wouldn't mind if only one of us could go with him and sit closer, if they don't allow the whole party. We realize seating might be limited and want everyone who actually needs closer seating to get it.

design_mom · May 22, 2015

I do not believe you will need a DAS (it provides accommodations for people who can't wait in line)*. Other concerns, like seating arrangements at shows, are handled at the attraction. You just need to tell the cast member greeter what you need and they should be able to help you get it.

*and since you'll be on a trip with MAW, MAW is like to provide a different pass for lines.

lanejudy · May 22, 2015

Since you will be on a MAW trip, you should get a Genie pass and not need to worry about the DAS.

Unlike GAC which had a stamp for first row, DAS won't be issued for things like seating. You simply make that request known at the various attractions and they'll accommodate at the location. DAS is simply for issues with the queues. He may have other needs that qualify for the DAS -- but again if you are on a true MAW trip (and not a different organization) you won't need it anyway.

Enjoy your vacation!

Twice_as_Nice · May 22, 2015

lanejudy said:
Since you will be on a MAW trip, you should get a Genie pass and not need to worry about the DAS.

Unlike GAC which had a stamp for first row, DAS won't be issued for things like seating. You simply make that request known at the various attractions and they'll accommodate at the location. DAS is simply for issues with the queues. He may have other needs that qualify for the DAS -- but again if you are on a true MAW trip (and not a different organization) you won't need it anyway.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thank you so much that's great to know, yes our trip is through Make a Wish not another wish organization.

SueM in MN · May 22, 2015

As the other posters mentioned, the accommodation provided by DAS is the ability to wait outside of lines.
If you are on a Make A Wish trip or other wish organization that is associated with Disney, you will receive a special pass from the organization that allows access to attractions without waiting.

GAC (Guest Assistance Card) was very different and had stamps for different things, like front row seating. Many people found that it worked better to just ask the CM for what they needed because 'front row seating' was not exact enough - they needed to be more toward one side, or they didn't necessarily want front row, just close to the front.
So, that made it easier to just tell the CM and not use the GAC at all. For most shows, the majority of guests want to be in the middle of the 4th or 5th row, so there is not a lot of competition for the front row. And, in most cases, guests choose their own row, so don't be surprised if the CM just tells you to sit wherever you want.

TheRustyScupper · May 22, 2015

Twice_as_Nice said:
. . . We are going on a MAW trip in Sept . . .

Are you staying at our GKTW village?

Twice_as_Nice · May 22, 2015

TheRustyScupper said:
Are you staying at our GKTW village?

Yes we are

TheRustyScupper · May 22, 2015

Twice_as_Nice said:
Yes we are

1) You will have a SPECIAL PASS that gets you incomparable access.
2) Do not worry - we take care of our guests!

disney world dreamer · May 22, 2015

you don't need a DAS to sit close at shows.
i've never gotten one even last month when i went solo.
i just walk up to a CM and let them know i'm visually impaired and that i need to sit close and they assist me to a close seat.
my family has always been able to sit with me up close.

ttintagel · May 29, 2015

lanejudy said:
You simply make that request known at the various attractions and they'll accommodate at the location.

They MIGHT accommodate you - they're not REQUIRED to. The GAC was the only thing that ever consistently made CM's give me the seating I needed as a person with low vision. Many CM's don't understand that if you can see anything <i>at all,</i> you still may need some accommodation, and will try to fob you off with "Oh, there are no bad seats in the house" and things like that. I don't say this to be negative or scary, but I don't want people to be surprised like I was. You may find yourself needing to advocate for your son's needs rather than just making the request and having it automatically granted.

beckydisneyb · Jun 28, 2015

I too have a son with an degenerative eye disease. He has ok (not the best by far) vision in brightly lit areas. He is also night blind. Him being 10, it can be frustrating on him trying to navigate in the queues. Seems like most of the lines are very dark. We have gotten the DAS on past visits and plan on it for our upcoming Sept. Trip. For our family it is a away of making sure he doesn't feel uncomfortable in those dark areas. We don't abuse it though only for rides we know there would be a vision issue. Enjoy your trip!!

disney world dreamer · Jun 28, 2015

beckydisneyb said:
I too have a son with an degenerative eye disease. He has ok (not the best by far) vision in brightly lit areas. He is also night blind. Him being 10, it can be frustrating on him trying to navigate in the queues. Seems like most of the lines are very dark. We have gotten the DAS on past visits and plan on it for our upcoming Sept. Trip. For our family it is a away of making sure he doesn't feel uncomfortable in those dark areas. We don't abuse it though only for rides we know there would be a vision issue. Enjoy your trip!!

but how do you avoid having to walk in the dark by using DAS.?
from what others have said and the CM from guest services the alternate entrance is the FP+ line which in most cases is just as dark and in some cases is just as winding as it runs along side the SB line (take space mountain or splash mountain for example).
i'd get the DAS if the alternate entrance for most dark lines was the exit since the exit is much brighter and more straight forward than the regular line.

SueM in MN · Jun 28, 2015

disney world dreamer said:
but how do you avoid having to walk in the dark by using DAS.?
from what others have said and the CM from guest services the alternate entrance is the FP+ line which in most cases is just as dark and in some cases is just as winding as it runs along side the SB line (take space mountain or splash mountain for example).
i'd get the DAS if the alternate entrance for most dark lines was the exit since the exit is much brighter and more straight forward than the regular line.

The entrance for DAS is the Fastpass return line in almost as attractions at WDW.
There are almost no alternate entrances that are not the Fastpass Retirn line.
In many cases, the Fastpass line is parallel to the regular line. It shares the same light and sound conditions as the regular line and may be the same distance (for example, the Fastpass line for Soarin' exactly parallels the regular line).

A long time ago, many attractions were not wheelchair accessible and had alternate entrances in order to provide wheelchair accessibility; they often involved entering thru the exit. Since most attractions required a transfer to a ride vehicle, it made more sense to have guests with wheelchairs enter where their wheelchairs would be in the same place when they exited.
Guests with other types of disabilities used those same 'alternate entrances'.

As time went on, more attractions added wheelchair accessible ride cars and lines changed so that the majority of attractions are accessible thru the regular and Fastpass line at WDW.
Since using many of the alternate entrances went 'backstage' and required a CM escort, they stopped using them.
At this point, the only alternate entrances in use are those required for wheelchair accessibility. For example, there is an alternate entrance for Spaceship Earth. Guests who don't need to use that entrance for mobility reasons use the Fastpass Line as the DAS Return line.

disney world dreamer · Jun 28, 2015

SueM in MN said:
The entrance for DAS is the Fastpass return line in almost as attractions at WDW.
There are almost no alternate entrances that are not the Fastpass Retirn line.
In many cases, the Fastpass line is parallel to the regular line. It shares the same light and sound conditions as the regular line and may be the same distance (for example, the Fastpass line for Soarin' exactly parallels the regular line).

A long time ago, many attractions were not wheelchair accessible and had alternate entrances in order to provide wheelchair accessibility; they often involved entering thru the exit. Since most attractions required a transfer to a ride vehicle, it made more sense to have guests with wheelchairs enter where their wheelchairs would be in the same place when they exited.
Guests with other types of disabilities used those same 'alternate entrances'.

As time went on, more attractions added wheelchair accessible ride cars and lines changed so that the majority of attractions are accessible thru the regular and Fastpass line at WDW.
Since using many of the alternate entrances went 'backstage' and required a CM escort, they stopped using them.
At this point, the only alternate entrances in use are those required for wheelchair accessibility. For example, there is an alternate entrance for Spaceship Earth. Guests who don't need to use that entrance for mobility reasons use the Fastpass Line as the DAS Return line.

that was my point.
PP said they use DAS for their DS due to his visual impairment and night blindness but i don't see how DAS would help in that situation which is why i was asking PP how DAS would help them to avoid the dark/winding lines.

beckydisneyb · Jun 28, 2015

disney world dreamer said:
that was my point.
PP said they use DAS for their DS due to his visual impairment and night blindness but i don't see how DAS would help in that situation which is why i was asking PP how DAS would help them to avoid the dark/winding lines.

Trust me you can never avoid certain places. But if going thru the fp line cuts down the uncomfortable feeling he has. He would much rather be able to see 40 minutes outside the attraction and a small wait in the darkness winding. Than the whole 60 minutes of ??. Please don't get me wrong, we don't abuse it by any means. Probably once per day, depending on what we do.

disney world dreamer · Jun 28, 2015

beckydisneyb said:
Trust me you can never avoid certain places. But if going thru the fp line cuts down the uncomfortable feeling he has. He would much rather be able to see 40 minutes outside the attraction and a small wait in the darkness winding. Than the whole 60 minutes of ??. Please don't get me wrong, we don't abuse it by any means. Probably once per day, depending on what we do.

i never thought you were abusing it.
personally i'd rather spend the time in the SB line though as after a while my vision does start to adjust so by the time i get to the ride its easier for me to see.

on the other hand the people i go with walk quick so when in a FP+ line with no one in front of us they whip through the line and i end up running into a post/railing.

Low vision and DAS

Twice_as_Nice

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