Concerning News I Got about DAS

[mlggator22]

I have a "hidden" disability. I have a back condition that causes a lot of back pain that can lead pretty bad peripheral neuropathy if it flares up. Beside awful pain in my back, I can electrical shocks running down my legs. It's awful. I really can't stand for extended periods of time. I also cannot sit straight up and down for long periods of time, so wheel chairs don't work. Walking is best when at Disney. So I get a DAS so I can be moving around the park, keeping my back loose and not standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

My friend just took his wife to Disneyland yesterday for her birthday. He had hip-replacement surgery 4 months ago and is still recovering. I told him he should look into a DAS. What he reported back was super concerning to me. He said he had to go through an "interview process" and was initially denied a DAS. He then spoke to someone higher up, who told him that the only way to get a DAS was to be in a wheel chair. They were asking for proof (which I didn't think they were allowed to do).

Now I am really worried because I don't look disabled, and that they will deny me a DAS. I'm guessing this may be from the new pay to ride systems they have in place. If I don't have a DAS, then I will not be able to stay a full day (which I am paying $200 for) and it will take me weeks to recover vs a day or two to recover.

I'm wondering if anyone has recently obtained a DAS (since they started the new Genie system) and if they encountered any problems.

 

[Chickinvic]

I thought they started asking for proof years ago due to so many people scamming the system? Would a doctor's note that outlines your physical issues be sufficient for them?

 

[mlggator22]

I have never had to show proof to get my DAS before and my understanding is that under ADA laws they are not allowed to. I could get a doctor's note, but that is going to entail scheduling a new appt with my doctor and taking time off work. So yes, I can do that. But it would be nice to know ahead of time, if they are requiring it.

 

[SherylLC]

The wheelchair part is definitely not true. I have a friend who needs to use DAS so I know where the podiums are. Most people are not using wheelchairs.

 

[mlggator22]

That's good to hear. I hope my friend is wrong. That is why I came here. I haven't been a little while and was worried things have changed since putting Genie+ in place. Thought I would check in with my Disney experts.

 

[Marrila]

That's good to hear. I hope my friend is wrong. That is why I came here. I haven't been a little while and was worried things have changed since putting Genie+ in place. Thought I would check in with my Disney experts.

There is a whole section here at the DIS with lots of info on visiting Disney with a disability.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I have never had to show proof to get my DAS before and my understanding is that under ADA laws they are not allowed to. I could get a doctor's note, but that is going to entail scheduling a new appt with my doctor and taking time off work. So yes, I can do that. But it would be nice to know ahead of time, if they are requiring it.

I hope that you will be able to get the DAS pass but if you want a doctors note you could call your dr and leave a message with the nurse about your situation and they might be able to send you a note about your condition without scheduling an appointment. Some clinics even have a message feature online.

 

[Marrila]

I hope that you will be able to get the DAS pass but if you want a doctors note you could call your dr and leave a message with the nurse about your situation and they might be able to send you a note about your condition without scheduling an appointment. Some clinics even have a message feature online.

Disney Guest Services will not look at a Dr's note. There is lots of helpful information about the DAS in the disability section of this board. It's also a great place to ask questions. (Link in post #6.)

 

[mlggator22]

There is a whole section here at the DIS with lots of info on visiting Disney with a disability.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/disabilities.20/

Yes, I have held a DAS now for a while. I am just concerned that policies have changed and I was trying to get some info specifically about Disneyland. Since I will be using new tickets, I'm not sure that they retained the previous DAS information.

My friend's story just got me concerned and so I wanted to reach out to see if anyone else has had similar experiences recently (since Genie+). I am going in November and want to be ready and prepared if there are changes.

 

[evilmommie]

Everyone's situation who needs DAS at the DLR is so unique, it's hard to give definitive answers related to the program. I agree with the previous posters about checking in with the folks in the disability forum, they always have great info.

 

[dcfromva]

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/disability-access-service/
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/

 

[DLgal]

Nothing with the DAS program has changed and the vast majority of DAS users don't have wheelchairs or scooters.

Your friend misunderstood something, but also, having a recent hip replacement isn't typically something that necessitates a DAS. People with mobility concerns are advised to use a wheelchair. If the wheelchair alone cannot address the issues encountered with waiting in lines, they will grant a DAS, but they will ask specifically what problems the person encounters in lines and how a DAS could alleviate them. That is the "interview" part of the equation. You have to explain why you need a DAS, you can't just ask for it and be granted one.

 

[Imkarlawithak2005]

My dad uses an electric wheelchair. On our previous trips to DLR and WDW he was told not to get a DAS and we haven’t. Most lines accommodate his wheelchair and when we get to a point in a queue where it isn’t accessible, they just direct him to another area.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I think your friend misunderstood or reported back incorrectly to you. Being in a wheelchair alone (mobility in general) is the one that DOESN’T qualify for DAS.

I can tell you that DD needed DAS in June and while we had to explain to the first CM the reason and what accommodation she needed, they took us at our word. We could prove it if necessary, but were never asked to.

 

[Malcon10t]

I have never had to show proof to get my DAS before and my understanding is that under ADA laws they are not allowed to.

I just wanted to clarify, under the ADA they are allowed to ask questions. Without questions, how can they best help you? Most people also confuse it with HIPAA and think they can't ask because of HIPAA, which is also incorrect. HIPAA prevents your medical records from being passed from your insurance or MD to anyone without your permission.

That said, Disney doesn't ask proof. Disney asks what issues you encounter. If you say you can't stand for long periods of time, they will recommend a wheelchair/ECV. But there can be other issues that may need a DAS to mitigate. For me, an ECV handles my issues. At the rides, the ones that aren't accessible, I can get a return time. I also know that if I ride something, I need to be able to get myself off the ride in an E-Stop. (With the help of my kids.). This isn't as easy as it looks on some rides. I would hope people who have issues, particularly with walking, will take into consideration.

 

[5forMickey]

My 78 yro Mother accompanied us on our recent trip. We rented her an ecv but it was also challenging getting her on and off some rides. We did not have a DAS for her however the Cm’s were wonderful about accommodating her. Most times they just let her join with us after we waited in line. I have always found the CM’s to be awesome with mobility challenges with our group even without a specific pass. We just had to specifically say “can she” and we never had an issue. Best of luck on your trip.

 

[twodogs]

We were there this weekend. We had a ROTR BG, and were in line for it nearing noon, when we were going to try for a WS BG since we had hoppers. We were chatting with those around us in the ROTR line about who was trying for WS, did we think we would have enough signal while in the ROTR line, etc. The folks in front of us were young men (early 20s) and they said they were not going to have to try for WS because they already had a BG. I thought this was impossible since it was clearly before 1pm PH time, and clearly before noon drop of WS (and they were in line for ROTR, so I assumed they got that BG at the 7am drop). He said his brother was a CM and had gotten them WS BG’s before noon with “some kind of disability pass” even though they were not disabled by their own admission. Is this allowed??

 

[lalasmama]

That's good to hear. I hope my friend is wrong. That is why I came here. I haven't been a little while and was worried things have changed since putting Genie+ in place. Thought I would check in with my Disney experts.

Genie+ hasn't yet started, and there's not been a start date announced for Disneyland. DAS has always performed separately from Fast Pass, then Max Pass, and no reason to expect it would be any different with Genie+.

I think your friend was perhaps a bit confused or not explaining or understanding ot correctly.

 

[Malcon10t]

We were there this weekend. We had a ROTR BG, and were in line for it nearing noon, when we were going to try for a WS BG since we had hoppers. We were chatting with those around us in the ROTR line about who was trying for WS, did we think we would have enough signal while in the ROTR line, etc. The folks in front of us were young men (early 20s) and they said they were not going to have to try for WS because they already had a BG. I thought this was impossible since it was clearly before 1pm PH time, and clearly before noon drop of WS (and they were in line for ROTR, so I assumed they got that BG at the 7am drop). He said his brother was a CM and had gotten them WS BG’s before noon with “some kind of disability pass” even though they were not disabled by their own admission. Is this allowed??

No. Even with a DAS, you have to get a BG like everyone else. If the CM did do something like this, they could get in trouble.

That said, we had great signals all the way thru the line. We have gotten WS several times in the Rise line, even inside the caves.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I didn't know that they issued a DAS pass for that. My daughter suffers with the same condition. Sitting is her worst position. Standing without moving is second worse position. She's flying down today and won't have time to get a doctors note for tomorrow. I wonder if she should still try to do the interview. She might be able to pull up her recent MRI report from her phone. She actually can't even ride many of the rides.