WDW DAS going digital? - YES - started April 30, 2015. See page 6

[lovethattink]

Will shows be included as before?

 

[lanejudy]

Will shows be included as before?

There should be no difference in which attractions are available with DAS -- any attraction with both a standby and FP+ line utilizes DAS. That includes some shows. The only difference is the DAS is electronically attached to the ticket/MagicBand rather than on a separate card to carry.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[wdhinn89]

I read that a DAS can not be used for SWW special event shows

 

[aaarcher86]

I read that a DAS can not be used for SWW special event shows

Where? I don't think there have been any yet to even know that?

 

[lovethattink]

I read that a DAS can not be used for SWW special event shows

Where? I don't think there have been any yet to even know that?

It's been that way in the past. Back with GAC they stamped the card during sww saying not for celeb or something like that. We had FP for those shows last year.

But I was more concerned about the Frozen singalong. My son would much rather sit through the singalong than ride any rides at dhs. And sometimes we can't get a frozen singalong fp.

 

[lanejudy]

I read that a DAS can not be used for SWW special event shows

I've never attended SWW but I don't believe DAS (or the previous GAC) has ever been available for use during special events. It can be used during regular park hours at standard attractions which utilize both FP+ and standby line. DAS is not an option for EMH, the Halloween or Christmas parties, Candlelight Processional, etc.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Talking Hands]

I wonder what they will do when you get a situation like I did the Mine Train. It was easy with the card as the CM just crossed it off and gave me a pass to come back later when it opened again. Hopefully they will be able to drop it when a ride goes 101 and then you can get a new one.
NOw I wish they could also add in the interpreted shows so everything coordinates.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've been searching social media and the web today for more info about this.
Touring Plans added a blog post about DAS going digital at WDW. Here's a link:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/04/30/disability-access-service-now-digital-at-walt-disney-world/

I am repeating and adding to information posted yesterday on page 5:

Reports are that the digital DAS did start 4/30/15 at WDW, although some people have said they heard it did not start in all parks.
There is nothing official (yet, or maybe they won't release anything official?) from Disney other than a small notice that DAS was going digital.
I am starting to see some of the same things reported in various places, so even though what I am writing here is not official, it is probably correct.

REQUESTNG DAS
- DAS is still issued at Guest Relations in the theme parks.

- your whole party must be together when requesting DAS so that all the tickets can be linked to the DAS holder's ticket
(Some reports have said your whole party - some have said just the person with a disability and the Magicbands of each member of your party. )

- the person getting the DAS will need their picture taken

- the USUAL number of guests linked to one DAS will be 6 (same as previously). Reports are saying 6 is the maximum, but that was not the case before.
Numbers over 6 required a supervisor; there is no reason to believe that changed.

- a party CAN reportedly have more than one DAS if more than one has need for DAS.
I have seen this in several places and the report says ALL members of the group will be linked to both DAS. Each person can only be active on ONE DAS Return Time at one time.

- if the size of the group increases or the guests change after DAS was issued, the party will need to return to Guest Relations to have the new members added.

- reports and stories published previously said DAS will be authorized for 60 day; the guests I have seen reporting a time have been Annual Passholders, whose DAS were authorized for up to 60 days previously.

GETTING A DAS RETURN TIME
- DAS Return Times are still obtained directly at attractions

- someone else in the party can still go to the attraction for the DAS holder to obtain a Return Time

- ANY of the Magicband/tickets that are linked to DAS can be used to obtain a DAS Return Time for that person

- a Magicband/ticket will be scanned to obtain a Return Time.
The CM will ask which people in the group are planning to ride and authorize DAS Return for those guests

- after the Magicband/ticket is scanned, the system will automatically assign a DAS Return Time equal to the current Standby wait time minus 10 minutes.

- DAS Return Time will show up in My Disney Experience app. There will be a beginning time, listed the same as Fastpass Plus window times.
The window end time for DAS times will be listed as midnight.

- only ONE DAS Return Time may be active at a time (this is not a change)

USING DAS RETURN TIME
- when the Return Time comes, the group will return to Fastpass Return.

- all members of the group who are going on the attraction must be together.

- the DAS holder scans their Magicband/ticket and must be the first to scan. The Fastpass Mickey Head will glow blue to let the CM know they must check that the DAS holder is present.

- the Fastpass CM will verify that the DAS holder is present and riding by comparing the picture that shows on the screen with the guest. The DAS holder must ride.
If the DAS holder is not present or chooses not to ride, the rest of the party will be directed to the Standby line.

- after the DAS holder's Magicband/ticket is scanned and approved, the other members of the group will scan their Magicbands/tickets.

- Magicbands/tickets will be scanned as usual at the second Fastpass Plus scanner. The Mickey head will glow green after scanning at the second point.

FASTPASS
- guests using DAS can still use (and are encouraged to use) the Fastpass Plus system

WHEELCHAIR RETURN TIMES
- I have not heard anything specific about wheelchair return times.
Since the only official announcement from Disney said the disability program would work as before, my guess is this will not change.
Some attractions, such as Peter Pan and Small World had previously given wheelchair return times were no longer going so on our last trip around New Years 2015.
Both were handling wheelchairs thru the regular line.

I will add more to this thread as I hear more. Also, I'm asking people to post their WDW DAS digital experiences to this thread, so we can keep the information in one spot.
I will summarize and update here and also on the WDW DAS thread.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I've been searching social media and the web today for more info about this.
Touring Plans added a blog post about DAS going digital at WDW. Here's a link:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/04/30/disability-access-service-now-digital-at-walt-disney-world/

Autism At The Parks on Facebook was there all day today, and has some great info.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm hoping the lack of "chatter" about how it's going today is good news

 

[HopperFan]

Love that the DAS is listed on MDE FastPass+ section. Will be much easier to keep up with!

https://www.facebook.com/autismatth...3783100996045/940470339327315/?type=1&theater

 

[SueM in MN]

Autism At The Parks on Facebook was there all day today, and has some great info.

Thanks - that was one of the sources I had seen.

I had started the post and then went back to copy the information from page 5 and update it.

 

[dismom57]

Just want to say that we were at HS today, and the new system worked very well. We had linked everyone last evening in Epcot, and it was very easy today to ride what we wanted (TSMM). The DAS holder did not have to approach the ride, anyone linked could get a return time. The DAS holders band is scanned first, turns blue and the CMs identify the pass holder from the picture. Others then scan their bands, at the second FPP check point it is same as always, a green mickey shows up for everyone. In fact in our opinion it was an easier process, and as pointed out above the time shows up in your MDE.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm hoping the lack of "chatter" about how it's going today is good news

I've only seen good things!

Just want to say that we were at HS today, and the new system worked very well. We had linked everyone last evening in Epcot, and it was very easy today to ride what we wanted (TSMM). The DAS holder did not have to approach the ride, anyone linked could get a return time. The DAS holders band is scanned first, turns blue and the CMs identify the pass holder from the picture. Others then scan their bands, at the second FPP check point it is same as always, a green mickey shows up for everyone. In fact in our opinion it was an easier process, and as pointed out above the time shows up in your MDE.

Thanks for the first hand report.

I added your information to the post above.
I'll update the info again tomorrow. We will be at WDW in 2 weeks and can't wait to try it.

 

[aaarcher86]

It's been that way in the past. Back with GAC they stamped the card during sww saying not for celeb or something like that. We had FP for those shows last year.

But I was more concerned about the Frozen singalong. My son would much rather sit through the singalong than ride any rides at dhs. And sometimes we can't get a frozen singalong fp.

Totally read that as "can be" - Ugh! Sorry!

 

[aaarcher86]

Just want to say that we were at HS today, and the new system worked very well. We had linked everyone last evening in Epcot, and it was very easy today to ride what we wanted (TSMM). The DAS holder did not have to approach the ride, anyone linked could get a return time. The DAS holders band is scanned first, turns blue and the CMs identify the pass holder from the picture. Others then scan their bands, at the second FPP check point it is same as always, a green mickey shows up for everyone. In fact in our opinion it was an easier process, and as pointed out above the time shows up in your MDE.

Did you feel like the Mickey turning blue and verification was awkward or took longer than expected?

 

[cmwade77]

I have a question, if the end of the return window is listed as midnight, what happens when the parks close after midnight? I know this isn't super common, but it does happen, say for the 24 hour party day or New Year's Eve, etc.

Just curious how this would be handled.

 

[mamattorney]

What is the actual process for getting a return time? Does it automatically put all of your family as riders for each ride? Does everyone have to scan their cards/bands when it comes time to ride?

 

[SueM in MN]

I have a question, if the end of the return window is listed as midnight, what happens when the parks close after midnight? I know this isn't super common, but it does happen, say for the 24 hour party day or New Year's Eve, etc.

Just curious how this would be handled.

The page on the Disey website about SA that was posted in November says the DAS Return Time is valid until park closing. There may be some adjustment made when closing is after midnight.

What is the actual process for getting a return time? Does it automatically put all of your family as riders for each ride? Does everyone have to scan their cards/bands when it comes time to ride?

I'm reposting the information from above that answers your questions. For more info, scroll up to my whole post.

GETTING A DAS RETURN TIME
- DAS Return Times are still obtained directly at attractions

- someone else in the party can still go to the attraction for the DAS holder to obtain a Return Time

- ANY of the Magicband/tickets that are linked to DAS can be used to obtain a DAS Return Time for that person

- a Magicband/ticket will be scanned to obtain a Return Time.
The CM will ask which people in the group are planning to ride and authorize DAS Return for those guests

- after the Magicband/ticket is scanned, the system will automatically assign a DAS Return Time equal to the current Standby wait time minus 10 minutes.

- DAS Return Time will show up in My Disney Experience app. There will be a beginning time, listed the same as Fastpass Plus window times.
The window end time for DAS times will be listed as midnight.

- only ONE DAS Return Time may be active at a time (this is not a change)

USING DAS RETURN TIME
- when the Return Time comes, the group will return to Fastpass Return.

- all members of the group who are going on the attraction must be together.

- the DAS holder scans their Magicband/ticket and must be the first to scan. The Fastpass Mickey Head will glow blue to let the CM know they must check that the DAS holder is present.

- the Fastpass CM will verify that the DAS holder is present and riding by comparing the picture that shows on the screen with the guest. The DAS holder must ride.
If the DAS holder is not present or chooses not to ride, the rest of the party will be directed to the Standby line.

- after the DAS holder's Magicband/ticket is scanned and approved, the other members of the group will scan their Magicbands/tickets.

- Magicbands/tickets will be scanned as usual at the second Fastpass Plus scanner. The Mickey head will glow green after scanning at the second point.

FASTPASS
- guests using DAS can still use (and are encouraged to use) the Fastpass Plus system

WHEELCHAIR RETURN TIMES
- I have not heard anything specific about wheelchair return times.
Since the only official announcement from Disney said the disability program would work as before, my guess is this will not change.
Some attractions, such as Peter Pan and Small World had previously given wheelchair return times were no longer going so on our last trip around New Years 2015.
Both were handling wheelchairs thru the regular line.[/QUOTE]

 

[dismom57]

Did you feel like the Mickey turning blue and verification was awkward or took longer than expected?

I think that process would depend on the DAS holder. In our case DS loved the attention, and the fact that the CM welcomed him personally. It did not take any longer than having the time crossed off your paper card, but we positioned him so he was easily seen.