Autism and DAS

[cuches]

Just got back yesterday and I am happy to report the DAS was not as bad as I thought it would be! We used fast pass plus in between the DAS and we waited on some lines that moved fast like its a small world. No meltdowns or negative behaviors. I also think my severely autistic girl is understanding more and understands waiting in line better (and if the line moves quick she's totally ok with that).

The only problem was if we arrived to the ride to get a return time she was getting upset that we would walk away. Explaining to her that we are coming back to it doesn't work. Easiest fix was to have her wait with DH away from the ride while I got the return time. But if DH was not with me this could have been a serious problem. I wish there were kiosks set up away from the rides so getting a return time without teasing her with the ride in sight would be great. I do miss the ease of just showing the GAC and getting in. This system takes a little more effort but still worked out great for us. It also gave us time to sit and enjoy a snack and RELAX a bit in between rides. I think I enjoyed that more then the rides at times!

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Hi! glad your trip went well! we find basically the same thing with our daughter! 105 days til we're there again! nor sure the spring break crowds will be so fun though!!

 

[sharadoc]

I agree with the need to go somewhere else for the return time. We use it for our DS who was VERY accustomed to the old GAC but has been okay as long as we don't go to the front door of something he wants to ride. Having a return time is good so we can give him the schedule for the day.

I wish there was a way to code our Magic Bands and give us an app for reservations. The bands that belong to the family members would be paired with the DAS holder, and the DAS holder's account would make the reservation.

Because we need to go the front door, we have had to split up the family so one of us gets the reservation and misses something that the rest of the family is doing. Hate that!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

OP, glad you had a good experience.

I agree that it would be helpful to be able to get return times at a kiosk or somewhere other than the front of the ride. I'm a single mom and travel alone with DD so I don't have the option of sending someone else to the ride to get the RT. DD did okay once she understood the procedure, but we had a near meltdown our first day at the parks because even though I'd explained a couple times how the DAS worked, she still didn't quite understand.

 

[Goddesstree]

I agree with the need to go somewhere else for the return time. We use it for our DS who was VERY accustomed to the old GAC but has been okay as long as we don't go to the front door of something he wants to ride. Having a return time is good so we can give him the schedule for the day.

I wish there was a way to code our Magic Bands and give us an app for reservations. The bands that belong to the family members would be paired with the DAS holder, and the DAS holder's account would make the reservation.

Because we need to go the front door, we have had to split up the family so one of us gets the reservation and misses something that the rest of the family is doing. Hate that!

You could just have the rest of the family wait a bit away from the attraction entrance, walk the 30 seconds to the CM at the entrance, and then walk back to the group, couldn't you?

 

[nyrebecca]

I really wish you could get return times at like the FP+ kiosks where people go to make more reservations.

 

[Docvaden]

We did ok with the new card.... I really wished it would let you put more than one ride on it at a time that way I could pretty much plan way in advance, but oct was our first try with it and the fast pass + and we actually did pretty well with keeping us moving and enjoying the things she wanted without any meltdown

 

[aaarcher86]

We did ok with the new card.... I really wished it would let you put more than one ride on it at a time that way I could pretty much plan way in advance, but oct was our first try with it and the fast pass + and we actually did pretty well with keeping us moving and enjoying the things she wanted without any meltdowndde04 so I consider it a win!!

It's essentially a virtual you waiting in line. I like to picture a ghost me moving through the standard line as a visual. It'd defeat the purpose of the change to allow for more than one time - but that's why it's important to use it with FP+.

 

[sharadoc]

You could just have the rest of the family wait a bit away from the attraction entrance, walk the 30 seconds to the CM at the entrance, and then walk back to the group, couldn't you?

No, because my DS would see the ride and would want to continue to walk there and go on, rather than be told to wait a distance away while Mom goes to the ride. He wouldn't understand.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

How are the kiosks working out in DL? I remember complaints that people didn't like the kiosks because there weren't enough and sometimes lines formed there.

 

[Aladora]

How are the kiosks working out in DL? I remember complaints that people didn't like the kiosks because there weren't enough and sometimes lines formed there.

We've used the DAS at DL twice and are heading back next month again. I love the kiosks and although there were sometimes some other people in line before us, the wait never seemed that bad. Yes, there was some extra walking to get to the kiosk, but it really was not too onerous.

 

[aaarcher86]

No, because my DS would see the ride and would want to continue to walk there and go on, rather than be told to wait a distance away while Mom goes to the ride. He wouldn't understand.

I think she's just asking why it's taking you so long to get a return time that you're missing things.

 

[Coonhound]

As approaching the ride is unavoidable, is it possible to make the child believe that you are not approaching the ride to get on it, but rather to ask if you may ride now? For example, "We are walking up to the ride to ask when we can ride." This way the child thinks that we have to ask first and wait to see what they say.
All ASD children are different and some may understand this thinking and for some it may be too abstract.

 

[PatMcDuck]

How are the kiosks working out in DL? I remember complaints that people didn't like the kiosks because there weren't enough and sometimes lines formed there.

The kiosks at DL work great. I have been there twice and used them. Just back a few days ago. They do have a new thing there, no more DAS cards. They load the return time onto your pass itself. I had trouble remembering my return times, lol, they give you an optional paper to make note of it though. (I tended to say to myself, Ill remember, and then I would not!)

The locals were not happy with the fact that they had to hand over the passes for the entire group to get each return time (many seemed to have LARGE groups). This prevents groups who have several guests with DAS from getting multiple return times for different rides).

It also seemed to me, that they load the "WC" return times onto the pass as well?? This prevents guests from double dipping a WC return time with a DAS return time. It seemed like this was what was happening; I had DS in a WC there. Of course you can combine DAS/WC with regular FP- and some FP ar not connected to the rides, like the ones for shows or RSR.

I think the DAS there is just about perfect. The ability to get a return time for any ride, in either park from the kiosks is fantastic. And as I have said before, LOTS of non-DAS guests approach the kiosks with various questions, a great use of guest relations CMs.

My only criticism might be that some of the kiosks are hard to spot, they sort of blend in, which is nice, but a day-glo umbrella would be ugly but helpful. Lines were pretty short at them or nonexistent and I was there on days rates 9-10 in attendance.

PS I tour with just me and DS so having him with me to approach the rides for return times at WDW is unavoidable.

 

[SueM in MN]

I really wish you could get return times at like the FP+ kiosks where people go to make more reservations.

After seeing the waits at those lines this week, no, that would not be good.

At least at this point, everyone at WDW who wants to make another Fastpass Plus time after the first 3 are used has to go to the FP + kiosk to do it.
Besides them, there are also people who don't have a smart phone and want to change a FP+, people who did not have any set up or are having problems.
So, the lines can get really long at WDW.

It is different at DL (at least right now) because they don't have FP + yet and the kiosks are mostly busy with DAS.

 

[msr709]

I'm so glad I read this thread. The suggestion of one in the party getting the reservation is great, I would just go get the DAS return time while my DD stays with my autistic DGS! Have not had a chance to use the DAS yet so I'm doing my research on these threads.

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm so glad I read this thread. The suggestion of one in the party getting the reservation is great, I would just go get the DAS return time while my DD stays with my autistic DGS! Have not had a chance to use the DAS yet so I'm doing my research on these threads.

That's what we do. I haven't had the experience of missing anything when I'm getting a return time - it's really quick.

Also, ALWAYS have a return time. It's so helpful. If you know you're going to get lunch, go grab a return time so your eating up the wait while you're literally eating lol.

Or grab a return time on your way out if you know your DGS will want to ride again. For example, we rode 7DMT, got a return time on the way out, ate lunch, used a FP+ and then used our return time for 7DMT. If you can alternate DAS times and FP+ times it really works great.

 

[Aladora]

That's what we do. I haven't had the experience of missing anything when I'm getting a return time - it's really quick.

Also, ALWAYS have a return time. It's so helpful. If you know you're going to get lunch, go grab a return time so your eating up the wait while you're literally eating lol.

Or grab a return time on your way out if you know your DGS will want to ride again. For example, we rode 7DMT, got a return time on the way out, ate lunch, used a FP+ and then used our return time for 7DMT. If you can alternate DAS times and FP+ times it really works great.

Heck, we've grabbed a return time when DS was done for the evening just in case he changed his mind and wanted to go back later.

That is probably the BEST piece of advice I can think of for effective use of the DAS, always always always have an active return time. Get to the park first thing in the morning? Grab a return time. Going to get lunch? Grab a return time first. Tired and heading back to the hotel for an afternoon rest? Grab a return time!

The second best piece of advice is if you are at DL/DCA make sure you also always grab a FP and if you are at WDW, schedule your FP+ and get return times to use between the FP+ times.

Oh, there is actually one piece of advice that I think it the absolute most important thing:

Be polite to the CMs who are helping you. They have likely taken some grief about the DAS that day already and a smile along with a "how are you doing today" will go a long way to making their day better and is just generally a good thing to do. I am normally a very polite person, please and thank you figure a lot into my daily speech (I'm Canadian, politeness is bred into us!) but even more so at Disneyland. Plaids take a lot of grief, be nice to them!

 

[aaarcher86]

Heck, we've grabbed a return time when DS was done for the evening just in case he changed his mind and wanted to go back later. That is probably the BEST piece of advice I can think of for effective use of the DAS, always always always have an active return time. Get to the park first thing in the morning? Grab a return time. Going to get lunch? Grab a return time first. Tired and heading back to the hotel for an afternoon rest? Grab a return time! The second best piece of advice is if you are at DL/DCA make sure you also always grab a FP and if you are at WDW, schedule your FP+ and get return times to use between the FP+ times. Oh, there is actually one piece of advice that I think it the absolute most important thing: Be polite to the CMs who are helping you. They have likely taken some grief about the DAS that day already and a smile along with a "how are you doing today" will go a long way to making their day better and is just generally a good thing to do. I am normally a very polite person, please and thank you figure a lot into my daily speech (I'm Canadian, politeness is bred into us!) but even more so at Disneyland. Plaids take a lot of grief, be nice to them!

Along with the CMs comment, I noticed a lot of them are writing down DAS times AND having to monitor the FP+ scanners. No easy task! They'll definitely appreciate patience, politeness, and a smile!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

We area anoxious to try DAS in WDW. We were big fans of GAC and fast pass-, so this will be a totally different experience for us. We did go to Disneyland last summer and used DAS there. It worked for the most part, but we did have a very un magical experience at a kiosk and CM that shouldn't have been doing customer service. They wrote our dates down wrong on our DAS when we first got it, and he tore the card up in front of us at the kiosk when we were trying to get a return time and we had to go all the way back to guest services. By the time we we got there, we'd all melted down.