DAS question

emmakatbaby · May 28, 2015

Last December we went to Disney and we were issued a DAS card for my 13 year old son. He is going back in November with a school group. Will they be able to issue him another card based on what is in their computer system, or do I need to send a letter with him explaining why he needs it?

gap2368 · May 28, 2015

I would send a letter and also talk to his teacher ( or who ever is going with hime) about his needs in the park so that they can help him also bring his old DAS card if you have it. they may be able to look him up in the system if they have the bar code at the bottom of the DAS card. with the new digital DAS it will be in the system so re getting one should be easer

anonymousegirl · Jun 1, 2015

I wonder how Guest services will view the group. Typically a DAS is issued for the recipient and up to 5 family members. They stretch it somewhat for larger families. How large is this school group? Will the group be breaking into smaller groups? If they are sticking together, how will the DAS work for your son. Will he and a select few use the DAS and the rest of the group do their own thing? Or will he use the DAS and have everyone try to coordinate their Fastpasses and stand-by line times?

OurBigTrip · Jun 1, 2015

anonymousegirl said:
I wonder how Guest services will view the group. Typically a DAS is issued for the recipient and up to 5 family members. They stretch it somewhat for larger families. How large is this school group? Will the group be breaking into smaller groups? If they are sticking together, how will the DAS work for your son. Will he and a select few use the DAS and the rest of the group do their own thing? Or will he use the DAS and have everyone try to coordinate their Fastpasses and stand-by line times?

Great questions - I think this might be a bigger challenge than getting the DAS itself, unless they already plan to break off into smaller groups.

emmakatbaby · Jun 2, 2015

They do plan to break into smaller groups of 5. He does not want to disclose to his friends as to why he is getting the DAS card so I was hoping not to have to write any of it down on paper. I do have his old card from December so I will definetely send that with him. That is a GREAT idea!!! They also won't have access to fast pass + because the leader of the group holds all of the tickets so they don't lose any. So his DAS card is his only chance at riding anything since waiting in line for more than 20-30 minutes just isn't an option for him. He does understand this also. I am just trying to get some guidance on obtaining a card for him without my presence. We didn't have any problems getting one when we were there in December when I explained his situation to the CM. Does anyone know if the computer system saves the information? or does his situation need to be explained again at Guest Relations?

HopperFan · Jun 2, 2015

Just back. They took his, scanned but told us they would need new picture. All the kids will need to be there for them to put them on it. I don't see anyway they won't know he's getting something very unusual. He can get times alone but then if they are looking online or at kiosk at their FP+ they will see they have a Disability Return time. Then the process of him first with a multi color Mickey scan change before they can scan. While not everyone looks you can see the screen at the podium, my DS photo comes up on it with his name, while the rest of us are just a name. Even though DS clearly stood out in our group they made an effort to look and sometimes addressed him by name. Since I am guessing maybe 5-6 boys together, they are going to get looked at even closer to make sure the face on the screen is the boy scanning. Not trying to bum you out, just so he knows ahead what to expect. Given kids attraction to IT/electronics, I don't think the DAS will go by unnoticed.

emmakatbaby · Jun 2, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
They do plan to break into smaller groups of 5. He does not want to disclose to his friends as to why he is getting the DAS card so I was hoping not to have to write any of it down on paper. I do have his old card from December so I will definetely send that with him. That is a GREAT idea!!! Does anyone know if the computer system saves the information? or does his situation need to be explained again at Guest Relations?

emmakatbaby · Jun 2, 2015

They won't have magic bands so hopefully this won't be an issue. Also, they didn't do any of this in December. The DAS has already changed, WOW!! I am just concerned about him getting it the first day and having the 4 other group members with him. He really didn't want to explain to a CM what he needed.

aaarcher86 · Jun 2, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
They won't have magic bands so hopefully this won't be an issue. Also, they didn't do any of this in December. The DAS has already changed, WOW!! I am just concerned about him getting it the first day and having the 4 other group members with him. He really didn't want to explain to a CM what he needed.

He's likely going to have to. The DL and WDW systems don't speak to each other as far as I know. Maybe not as extensively. But a bit.

His friends will also likely be curious why your son has to always scan his ticket or band first when redeeming a DAS time, or when he's requesting a new one.

I can respect him not wanting to disclose issues, but I don't think there's a way around the kids knowing he's got something different than regular guests.

SMD · Jun 2, 2015

Is this a multi-day trip? He'll need the tickets/admission media for everyone in his party to be linked to his DAS. Then if that changes the next day they'll need to go back to GS to get that switched. Only 1 person needs to give their ticket to get the return time, but everyone will need to scan when they use the return.

lanejudy · Jun 2, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
They do plan to break into smaller groups of 5. He does not want to disclose to his friends as to why he is getting the DAS card so I was hoping not to have to write any of it down on paper. I do have his old card from December so I will definetely send that with him. That is a GREAT idea!!! They also won't have access to fast pass + because the leader of the group holds all of the tickets so they don't lose any. So his DAS card is his only chance at riding anything since waiting in line for more than 20-30 minutes just isn't an option for him. He does understand this also. I am just trying to get some guidance on obtaining a card for him without my presence. We didn't have any problems getting one when we were there in December when I explained his situation to the CM. Does anyone know if the computer system saves the information? or does his situation need to be explained again at Guest Relations?

If his previous paper DAS is from WDW, he can bring that and they'll scan the code on the back. Even if it's from DL it could be helpful. But he is likely to have to speak up (or someone on his behalf) and at least answer "have your needs changed any since the last visit?" and possibly more questions. In addition to sending his previous DAS, you can write out a short bulleted list either for him or a teacher to share with Guest Relations in requesting the DAS.

I honestly don't think this is something that can be "hidden" from the rest of the group, though, unless he tours entirely by himself. Anyone who will ride with him will likely want to know 1) why he goes to the ride but doesn't ride then, 2) why they have to return later to ride, and 3) why they have to scan their tickets if they aren't using FP+? Whether they have MagicBands or ticket media, the tickets for his small group will need to be presented at Guest Relations so they can ride with him at the DAS return time.

I strongly suggest you have a frank discussion with his teachers about logistics of the trip, maybe at the IEP meeting kicking off the school year in September. Unless they have taken a WDW trip with someone else who needed a DAS, they likely have no idea how the system works. You will want to explain it to them. See if they can help you brainstorm ways to help your son not be too obviously different from his classmates in how he tours the park(s).

Good luck and I hope he enjoys the trip!

OurBigTrip · Jun 2, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
They do plan to break into smaller groups of 5. He does not want to disclose to his friends as to why he is getting the DAS card so I was hoping not to have to write any of it down on paper. I do have his old card from December so I will definetely send that with him. That is a GREAT idea!!! They also won't have access to fast pass + because the leader of the group holds all of the tickets so they don't lose any. So his DAS card is his only chance at riding anything since waiting in line for more than 20-30 minutes just isn't an option for him. He does understand this also. I am just trying to get some guidance on obtaining a card for him without my presence. We didn't have any problems getting one when we were there in December when I explained his situation to the CM. Does anyone know if the computer system saves the information? or does his situation need to be explained again at Guest Relations?

If the teacher is holding all of the tickets, and they aren't going to have Magic Bands, he won't be able to have a DAS.

SueM in MN · Jun 2, 2015

It's also not going to work for the teacher to hold all of their tickets unless the teacher goes with them and scans the tickets for each DAS Return Time.

As was mentioned, the passes will need to be linked first of all in Guest Relations. Then anyone in the linked group can get a DAS Return Time.
When it's time to go on the attraction, his card will need to be scanned first. After that, the rest of the group will scan their passes.

emmakatbaby · Jun 3, 2015

I must have missed an extremely important update. In December, we did not scan his DAS card nor was it linked to our magic bands. We just went to the ride/attraction, got our return time and then went back when it was time to use it. Please tell me the "new" way.

aaarcher86 · Jun 3, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
I must have missed an extremely important update. In December, we did not scan his DAS card nor was it linked to our magic bands. We just went to the ride/attraction, got our return time and then went back when it was time to use it. Please tell me the "new" way.

It works the same way. The only difference is that instead of having a paper DAS card that cms wrote return times on, the DAS is electronically attached to your MB or ticket. They electronically put a return time on that you can see using MDE. You scan your bands to use it.

The actual process is the same though.

SMD · Jun 3, 2015

aaarcher86 said:
It works the same way. The only difference is that instead of having a paper DAS card that cms wrote return times on, the DAS is electronically attached to your MB or ticket. They electronically put a return time on that you can see using MDE. You scan your bands to use it.

The actual process is the same though.

The lack of a physical card, and that everyone in the party needs their ticket linked to the electronic DAS as well. With the paper card if it said party of 4 it could be any 4 people. Now everyone needs to have their ticket attached by GS and scanned to ride.

HopperFan · Jun 3, 2015

The biggest difference in procedure I see is when you go get your new DAS - all persons who will be entering the rides with him will need to go with him and give the GR CM their ticket or magicband so they can be added to the DAS file. When he goes to get times, all their names will appear and he will tell the CM who is riding with them or all of them if he is the limit allowed for him. If he switches who he is hanging out with, they will have to go back to GR. They no longer allow you to take anyone in with you on rides, they have to have been entered into the DAS system.

And now at FP+ line the DAS holder must scan and be cleared first before others can scan. It will turn blue to alert CM to look and see if he matched the photo on the screen so they can okay the rest to scan and come in. I think some had hope was that no card it meant less folks saw what you were doing but we felt on our trip that since our blue scan was holding up the line if the CMs were not right on top of it and we still got sent through (as opposed to others who were early or late) folks did look at us more.

OurBigTrip · Jun 3, 2015

OP, I highly recommend that you speak with his teacher about this so that he or she knows that he and anyone that will be riding with him will have to have their tickets with them. Otherwise, he won't be able to use the DAS.

Good luck, and I hope it all works out.

emmakatbaby · Jun 4, 2015

I did end up speaking to his teacher last night. We are going to try and work something out, just not sure how yet. Without DAS or fast pass +, he simply can't go as waiting in 30 minute + lines is just not something he can do with his physical condition. It really is ashame that Disney is "singleling out" people who use the DAS with a different color etc. We adapted to the change to DAS without any problems but now......I just don't know. I will probably end up having to go with him just to be sure he has a chance at enjoying himself but that will cost more $$$$ that we just weren't planning to spend. I guess I have some really hard decisions to make now.

Another question:: do DAS holders still go to the attraction that they want a return time for? Does the CM at the attraction add it to the magic band? My experience is only with them writing the time down on the card. Sorry.

SMD · Jun 4, 2015

emmakatbaby said:
I did end up speaking to his teacher last night. We are going to try and work something out, just not sure how yet. Without DAS or fast pass +, he simply can't go as waiting in 30 minute + lines is just not something he can do with his physical condition. It really is ashame that Disney is "singleling out" people who use the DAS with a different color etc. We adapted to the change to DAS without any problems but now......I just don't know. I will probably end up having to go with him just to be sure he has a chance at enjoying himself but that will cost more $$$$ that we just weren't planning to spend. I guess I have some really hard decisions to make now.

Another question:: do DAS holders still go to the attraction that they want a return time for? Does the CM at the attraction add it to the magic band? My experience is only with them writing the time down on the card. Sorry.

They add it to his band/ticket or anyone in the group can go get the return. He only has to be there when they use the DAS return time. I guess I don't see how a different color scan is singling out but having to present a card and have it marked isn't moreso. It sounds like his group will need a chaperone with them to hold the tickets, maybe that person can handle getting the return times, then he'll only need to be first with her when they return to scan.

DAS question

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