Complete Disney World newbie - utterly overwhelmed

[carlins_leap]

Good evening everyone,

First of all, please accept my apologies if I ask any silly questions and also for what I'm sure is going to be long post (I really do tend to waffle at times ). I also apologise for referencing Disneyland Paris - I know that DLP & WDW are totally different places, but it's the only Disney experience we have to call on...I am starting to feel really overwhelmed as I start planning what would be or first trip to Disney World...I've looked at some of the threads on here and they've been great for answering some of my questions, but there are some things that I've not been able to understand and I was hoping some of you amazing people could help me out with some answers/pointers please.

We are a family of five - my wife & I and our three daughters who are 13, 10 & 5 years old.
Our youngest has cerebral palsy and cannot yet walk, so would be visiting Disney using either a wheelchair or adapted stroller/pram to get around.
We are veterans visitors to Disneyland Paris and know the details of the easy access pass scheme inside out....I was surprised to see such a huge distance in how disability access is handled at Disney World and this has led to some apprehension around swapping our 2/3 trips to Disneyland Paris for one big trip to Disney World in 2016.

My biggest worry is what I'm perceiving (perhaps incorrectly) as a fairly informal approach to the DAS.

In Paris, there is a fairly straight forward approach of presenting medical evidence of the need for easy access and they issue a pass - but I understand that this isn't the case in Florida.
I'm worried about paying so much and travelling so far for the need for the DAS to be decided with an informal chat....so I suppose that my question here is - is it a possibility that a CM could decide our youngest daughter doesn't qualify for the DAS despite the fact that she has a definite disability?

My second worry is a little more general and is about the effectiveness of the DAS.
I understand that we can use it to book a slot to revisit an attraction, but I'm not really sure on the details and hoped someone could clear some things up for me please:

1 - how do they work out how long it is before we come back to the attraction?
2 - where do you join the queue when you come back?
3 - what is the definition of "stand-by line minus 10 minutes"? - I'm not sure what the stand by line is...
4 - can you use other attractions whilst waiting for the DAS time slot to come around?
5 - for extended waits where there are no other attractions to use, what do you tend to do with the time waiting for the DAS time slot - I'm worried about spending lots of time waiting around doing nothing

It's be a big help if someone could really dumb it down for me please - i.e. if the posted wait time for an attraction is 60 minutes and my daughter uses her DAS, it would be "x" minutes before we would return and it will be "x" minutes wait when we return (approx).

My third worry touches on the one thing really dislike about visiting Disneyland Paris and is about transport to and from the different Disney parks...we plan to stay at a Disney hotel and we'd rather use the mainstream bus the parks, but I am worried about how easy this is.
In Paris, getting back from the parks can be daunting with disorderly / unruly "queues" for buses and I wondered how this works in Florida - is it orderly? Do guests queue fairly? Are there CM's controlling this?

Lastly, I wanted to ask about queuing in general.
Queuing in Disneyland Paris can be a trying experience at times with queue jumping/ignoring at attraction, but in particularly at meet and greets in the parks where it can be a scrum of people gathered around a character with no queue at all.
How is this in WDW - Are queues in general ok? Are meet n greets organised with a queue

Again, apologies for the lengthy post, but we'd be extremely grateful if anyone could share their knowledge and experiences with us.

Thanks
Steve

 

[OurBigTrip]

Steve, if your daughter's issues are all mobility related, she most likely won't receive a DAS, as most of the lines are accessible for a wheelchair or adaptive stroller. You can obtain a stroller as a wheelchair tag which will allow your daughter to stay in the stroller in line.

If she has other issues that make it difficult for her to wait in line and if she is issued a DAS, the return time would be standby (wait time) minus 10 minutes. When you return, you would enter the FP+ line, which is usually pretty short. While waiting for your return time, you can ride other attractions, see a show, get a snack, use the restroom, shop, etc.

Most of buses are wheelchair accessible, and I've always found the lines to be pretty organized. Same with meet & greets.

Make sure you reserve your 3 rides per day with FP+ - those are a huge help!

 

[disney david]

For the buses

If you rent a wheelchair or a special need stroller you be board through the back door through a ramp. If the stroller has tie down options then the driver can tie it down like a wheelchair if not it will still be treated like a wheelchair and once on board you have to transfer the child to a seat then fold the stroller. Or if you want to do that with the wheelchair to you can but that your option. You be boarded first for safety reasons and if they can't or if their no spots left the driver will call for another bus so you don't have to wait so long.

Their ques at the parks so and drivers as for the most part around waiting for the bus to switch drivers out so they do keep an eye out. At the resorts hey will not all the time have dispatch cms their helping guests so they do keep an eye out to.

The buses are easy to use the drivers work hard to transport every guest safely and quickly.

 

[aaarcher86]

To visualize - there are two types of lines.

Standby is just your typical line that would form while waiting for something.

The FP line is the line for people with time reservations, essentially.

With the DAS, your return time is 10 minutes less than the standby estimated wait time. So a 60 minute wait gets you a return time 50 minutes later. The FP line is generally 10 minutes long on average, and that is the line you'd get into when using the DAS.

As far as getting the DAS, it's not about just having a disability. It's about having your daughters ability to wait in a line. If it's simply a stamina/mobility issue, a DAS isn't necessary. There are people with cp who qualify for the DAS and others who do not. It depends on symptoms, not diagnosis.

 

[redberyl]

To answer 4&5, yes you can do other attractions while you wait. It's Disney world, there is always something to see or do, I can't conceive of not being able to find something to fill the wait many use the wait time to simply get a cold drink and rest out of the Sun. For characters, some have a designated line you can use das or fp for, these are orderly. Others are more random, usually a line forms but I've also seen it be chaotic. For queues, I've only seen blatant line jumping once, but sometimes people will push through a line to meet up with others in their party.

 

[lanejudy]

Here is a link to the WDW - Disability Access Service thread pinned near the top of this forum. You only need to read the first post, as the rest is discussion that occurred around the time the program launched. http://www.disboards.com/threads/wd...15-digital-das-on-tickets-magicbands.3178976/ The differences between how disabilities are handled at WDW vs DLP is due to considerable differences in the laws in the U.S. vs France. The DAS was designed to follow U.S. laws regarding asking about disabilities and accommodating those with disabilities; accommodations are for equal access not preferential (faster) access, and the U.S. prohibits requiring medical documentation to prove a disability.

1 - how do they work out how long it is before we come back to the attraction?

The return time for a DAS is based on how long the regular (or standby) queue is estimated. The DAS return time deducts 10 minutes from that time. If the regular standby queue is posted at 30 minutes, the DAS return time will be in 20 minutes. If the regular standby queue is posted at 70 minutes, the DAS return time will be in 60 minutes.

2 - where do you join the queue when you come back?

When returning to an attraction to use the DAS return time, you will enter through the Fastpass Plus (FP+) queue. Most often the FP+ queue runs parallel to the regular standby queue, but with fewer switchbacks (back-and-forth in the line), though occasionally it may be somewhat separate. The CMs at the attraction will direct you appropriately. This is the same queue you will enter if you are using one of your pre-scheduled FP+ times.

3 - what is the definition of "stand-by line minus 10 minutes"? - I'm not sure what the stand by line is...

As noted above in response to question #1 -- the "standby line" is the regular queue that guests enter if they are simply walking up to ride without a FP+ or DAS return time. The DAS return time is 10 minutes less than the posted time for the standby (regular) queue. The FP+ queue may not be immediate access, it can easily be another 10 minutes or so in that queue before you board the ride.

4 - can you use other attractions whilst waiting for the DAS time slot to come around?

You may do whatever you wish while waiting for the DAS return time. You can use a FP+ (for the same same or another attraction), you may ride "standby" (using the regular queue for the same or another attraction), you may use the restrooms, get a snack or meal, shop, or sit and people-watch. You may also take a break back at your resort and return to the park later that same day to use the DAS return time. DAS return times are valid until park close of the same day; unlike FP+ the DAS does not use a 1-hour window.

5 - for extended waits where there are no other attractions to use, what do you tend to do with the time waiting for the DAS time slot - I'm worried about spending lots of time waiting around doing nothing

As noted in response to question #4 -- you may do whatever you wish while waiting for the DAS return time. Most guests find the best use of time combines your pre-scheduled FP+ attractions with DAS return times. It is also a good time for a meal or snack or restroom break.

As to behavior in queues, whether at attractions or for transportation, I'm going to say there are rude people everywhere and that goes for WDW as well. Most guests are polite and join the end of a line and wait their turn. Unfortunately, not all guests do. Hopefully you will not encounter too many of the self-absorbed individuals who feel they are superior. If you do, try not to let it ruin your vacation. You can avoid madness at the resort bus queues by traveling at off-times -- leaving the parks mid-day or not right after a parade; hang back a bit to let the crowds thin out before heading to the bus area.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

... Our youngest has cerebral palsy and cannot yet walk, so would be visiting Disney using either a wheelchair or adapted stroller/pram to get around. ... I'm worried about paying so much and travelling so far for the need for the DAS to be decided with an informal chat....so I suppose that my question here is - is it a possibility that a CM could decide our youngest daughter doesn't qualify for the DAS despite the fact that she has a definite disability? ...

Just to address this question: As prior posters have stated, the DAS is for non-mobility needs. If your daughter's needs are accommodated by use of a wheelchair or stroller, then she will not be given a DAS card. (If using a stroller, be sure to stop by Guest Relations to get a stroller-as-wheelchair tag which allows you to take it through queues.) Most queues at WDW are wheelchair accessible through boht the main (standby) queue and the FP+ queue. For the few that are not, you will be directed accordingly to an accessible entrance. If you daughter has additional needs not accommodated by use of the wheelchair/stroller, specifically needs associated with waiting in a standard queue environment, those are the needs to discuss with a CM at Guest Relations in requesting a DAS. CMs are not medical professionals, and needs may vary from person to person with the same diagnosis. Therefore, you should discuss NEEDS as opposed to her diagnosis.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[gap2368]

to be honest I do not think your child will need a DAS but I could be wrong as a wheel chair or a stroller as a wheel chair take will be what she needs. the way this works is that you can take the stroller in lines with you ( it acts just like a wheel chair) when you go to disney world go to GR and just explain your daughters need do she need something for lines like she needs to be in a stroller because so can not walk, she need_____ because she can not/ has a hard time with ______ the CM at GR will help you come up with the best way to do disney world. If you have talked to the CM at GR and you do not feel the accommodation is what your daughter need I would try it and see if she is having a hard time then go back to GR and say my daughter is having a hard time with _____ and it is causing her _____ how ca you help my daughter with _____


as fair a charters most have a good line system and the handler are good about keeping people in line there are not many just out and about meeting people I can think of 2 in fanticy land not sure who they are but a man and a woman and there really is not line they just walk around and talk to people more or less no one really take picture with them ( I have no idea who they are or there name )

 

[SueM in MN]

I have been to WDW too many times to count and to DL Paris a few times.

Your specific questions were answered pretty well by the other posters and especially by the links that lanejudy posted.
I can clarify a bit regarding the differences between DL Paris and WDW.
Proof of disability - European countries have a system of certified disabilities and law does allow asking for proof (in many cases, people with disabilities gave a card that shows the holder is 'certified disabled').
The US does not have any method of certifying a person is disabled and requiring proof of disability to obtain accommodations the person needs related to their disability is not allowed.

Disabilities and accommodations at WDW - Accommodations are things like using a wheelchair/mobility device, which guests don't need DAS for, or being able to wait outside of the line, which does require DAS.
Things like cerebral palsy are conditions that may cause a disability, but not all people with CP (or any other condition) are disabled. It depends on how their condition affects them - some may only need to be able to bring their mobility device in line and don't need DAS. Some have other disabilitied that make waiting in the regular line difficult for them (that could be the only disability, but could also be in addition to mobility).
People have suggested getting a 'stroller as wheelchair tag' because your child is young and the special needs stroller or small wheelchair might be confused with a regular stroller (which are not allowed in most lines). That tag is separate from DAS; not all guests using it would have or need DAS.
If your child has additional needs related to waiting in the regular line, you would need to explain those in Guest Relations.

Wheelchair accessible queues/attractions - the majority of Disneyland Paris park queues are not wheelchair accessible and access is thru the exit or another area. That is why guests to that park need an Easy Access Card - so CMs can see they need that access.
The Disneyland Paris Studio was built with a lot more accessible queues, so in many cases, guests using wheelchairs/mobility devices wait in the same queues and areas as other guests.
My understanding of DL Paris Easy Access Card is more for mobility, that only one person can accompany the disabled guest and that it is used for attractions without accessible queues. DL Paris has another card called Priority Card, which is more used for disabilites other than or in addition to mobility and can be used for up to 4 people.

Almost all attractions at WDW parks have accessible queues and any number of people can accompany the guest using a mobility device in the regular line.
There are a few exceptions, but almost all attractions at WDW are accessible thru the regular queue and guests don't need anything special to bring a mobility device into queues/attractions. You also don't need anything to use special accessible entrances or boarding areas if the regular area is not accessible. In general, the guest with a disability can be accompanied by up to 5 people when using a special entrance (not just one like DL Paris)

If you only used the Easy Access Pass, chances are good that your child would not need DAS and would possibly need a stroller as wheelchair tag.

 

[carlins_leap]

Hi all,

Thanks all for the detailed replies - I really appreciate the help and advice

I've been reading through all the links and with the bits that you kind folk have cleared up for me, I think I've got all the information I need to decide whether WDW is right for our family.

After many discussions I think that DLP is going to be easier and more accommodating for us - certainly whilst our youngest princess is so young.

Thanks once again
Steve

 

[Joanna71985]

as fair a charters most have a good line system and the handler are good about keeping people in line there are not many just out and about meeting people I can think of 2 in fanticy land not sure who they are but a man and a woman and there really is not line they just walk around and talk to people more or less no one really take picture with them ( I have no idea who they are or there name )

You are most likely referring to the Majesty Makers, and they are not characters (they are citizens of Fantasyland)