DAS and anna/elsa

[harrowgirl]

My 4 year old son has autism and has a very difficult time waiting in line, so we are hopeful we can obtain a DAS. He LOVES frozen. We have not been able to get a fp+ time for Anna and Elsa. Will I be able to use the DAS to avoid a chunk of the wait for Anna and Elsa? Not sure if the DAS works for Anna and elsa

 

[LilyWDW]

It will at Disney World since there is FP+. That said, when you get the DAS return time it will most likely be pretty far out. Which means you will not be able to use the DAS again until your time for A&E comes up.

 

[kcsocalmama]

No you can't use the DAS or fast pass for Anna and Elsa. Already tried this weekend and my son had a major meltdown which led to a seizure (he has Epilepsy too). And Disneyland (where this happened) could have cares less

 

[lanejudy]

clarifying...

at WDW in Florida...the Anna & Elsa meet & greet uses FP+ and as such should allow for use of DAS -- which will be the standby time minus 10 minutes, standby time could be 2-3 hours so the DAS will may not be used for anything else during that time period

at DLR in California...the Anna & Elsa meet & greet does not use FP and therefore DAS is not in use here

 

[Gracie09]

No you can't use the DAS or fast pass for Anna and Elsa. Already tried this weekend and my son had a major meltdown which led to a seizure (he has Epilepsy too). And Disneyland (where this happened) could have cares less

Disney world has fp+ for anna and Elsa. So das can be used at that m&g. Disneyland does not have fp for anna and Elsa so das cannot be used there. I agree with the pp about how you may want to use the das. Once you use it for anna and Elsa you may not be able to use it for several hours. There have been reports of shorter lines in the afternoon so that may be when it would be best to use it.

 

[harrowgirl]

Hmmm....we are looking at taking an afternoon break - so maybe our best bet is to attempt to use the DAS right before we want to leave for our break....if we get a long return time, that would work perfect. it isn't the end of the world if we don't see them, but if we can make it work without a huge wait, I'd like to do that.

 

[Gracie09]

If you do decide to get it before you leave, your some doesn't need to go and get the return time himself, you can send anyone in your party. It may help if you decide not to return to the parks for him not to know you have it. Also there is no end time for it's use but it has to be the day you get it. So if the return time if 4:00 you can use it anytime after 4. But right now anna and Elsa are only meeting until 5 (usually). So keep that in mind.

 

[SMD]

You could schedule your other FP+ in one block! then get your DAS time before that block, to eat up a chunk of that time.

 

[harrowgirl]

So if the return time if 4:00 you can use it anytime after 4. But right now anna and Elsa are only meeting until 5 (usually). So keep that in mind.

Oh - good to know it is good for any time after the stamp.

 

[harrowgirl]

You could schedule your other FP+ in one block! then get your DAS time before that block, to eat up a chunk of that time.

This could work too - because all our fastpasses for MK are booked before I think 1pm (could be 2pm end time) - so if we hit rope drop, a lot of the lines shouldn't be too bad...so we might be able to "do without" the DAS for the first couple hours (because we are using it for a/e) then use our fast passes, and by then it might be time for a/e.....oh...getting excited now.....we might get to see a/e after all.

Having a kid with autism has a lot of downsides - this might be one of the few perks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

You could schedule your other FP+ in one block! then get your DAS time before that block, to eat up a chunk of that time.

This is a good strategy, along with visiting attractions with short waits. When you schedule your FP+ ahead of time, the one hour windows can't overlap. However, once you use a FP+, you can then move up the time of your next FP+ (subject to availability).

Add in some of the shows that have short waits but take up more time, like Philharmagic or Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, and that will help with the wait.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

No you can't use the DAS or fast pass for Anna and Elsa. Already tried this weekend and my son had a major meltdown which led to a seizure (he has Epilepsy too). And Disneyland (where this happened) could have cares less

kcsocalmama, have you read the responses to your other thread? If not, you might want to peek at that because you can use FP+ and the DAS for A&E at WDW.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

You can also go to guest services and get a re ad or an extra any time fp to use (they can add them to your band) just for a and e. Then you can use your das like normal.

 

[lanejudy]

You can also go to guest services and get a re ad or an extra any time fp to use (they can add them to your band) just for a and e. Then you can use your das like normal.

I don't believe this any kind of "standard" accommodation for anyone. Use-anywhere FP are usually given in unusual situations -- such as ride break-downs or maybe as a good-will gesture after a bad experience.

I would not recommend that anybody expect this be readily available for the asking.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

I don't believe this any kind of "standard" accommodation for anyone. Use-anywhere FP are usually given in unusual situations -- such as ride break-downs or maybe as a good-will gesture after a bad experience.

I would not recommend that anybody expect this be readily available for the asking.

Enjoy your vacation!

no it's an additional accommodation that guest services can give if they think it is needed. We had some for emergencies along with the das but used only a couple.

 

[aaarcher86]

no it's an additional accommodation that guest services can give if they think it is needed. We had some for emergencies along with the das but used only a couple.

There was a pretty big uproar months ago when they stopped doing this right off the bat and stopped creating accounts ahead of time.

It's not something I would ever suggest because it's not guaranteed at all. People should plan to use the DAS as it's meant in conjunction with FP+. They count on something additional.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

There was a pretty big uproar months ago when they stopped doing this right off the bat and stopped creating accounts ahead of time.

It's not something I would ever suggest because it's not guaranteed at all. People should plan to use the DAS as it's meant in conjunction with FP+. They count on something additional.

Yes I agree it's not guaranteed. I think if the person uses the das for a and e with a 2 hour wait it is going to be very hard for both the child with autism and parent without the das for 2 hours. Was just trying to help.

 

[kcsocalmama]

kcsocalmama, have you read the responses to your other thread? If not, you might want to peek at that because you can use FP+ and the DAS for A&E at WDW.

Thanks! I can't seem to find my thread...I am not good at this sort of thing. I did see these responses though and I am thrilled beyond words to hear that we will be able to use the DAS to see Anna and Elsa at WDW. I am going next month with my two kids and can't wait. Feeling less dread for sure.

DL is going downhill and fast. They upped the prices for like the third year in a row over $20 each time! People are outraged. This combined with their treatment of people with disabilities will probably mean an end for DL for us after our annual passes run out.

A & E Fiasco, meltdown and seizure... Luckily because of the seizure...never thought I would hear myself say those words...my son doesn't remember the whole morning leading up to it, so hopefully if we go back to DL I can just avoid all of Fantasyland to avoid that fiasco again. He hasn't had a seizure in about 6 months and was completely controlled on meds. The seizures are sooo scary if anyone here knows what that is like...to see your 6 year old on the ground convulsing and then spending 8 hours in the ER...yeah not feeling Disney Magic at that point .

 

[Coonhound]

Yes I agree it's not guaranteed. I think if the person uses the das for a and e with a 2 hour wait it is going to be very hard for both the child with autism and parent without the das for 2 hours. Was just trying to help.

ReAds were never part of disability accommodations. ReAds were things CMs could give out it if someone had a bad experience such as being on a ride that broke down, or being scared by something, etc. It is supposed to be extra pixie dust that a CM can give out when they feel it would be nice.
However word got out that some people were being given ReAds due to having meltdowns, and from there on out people thought it was part of the GAC program/DAS program. Some families have demanded handfuls of ReAds due to disability and it led to ReAds being discontinued.

 

[SueM in MN]

ReAds were never part of disability accommodations. ReAds were things CMs could give out it if someone had a bad experience such as being on a ride that broke down, or being scared by something, etc. It is supposed to be extra pixie dust that a CM can give out when they feel it would be nice.
However word got out that some people were being given ReAds due to having meltdowns, and from there on out people thought it was part of the GAC program/DAS program. Some families have demanded handfuls of ReAds due to disability and it led to ReAds being discontinued.

Good summary...
I saw one story on Facebook where someone was complaining the guests were being given reAds, which they called "DAS accommodations" because an attraction broke down and guests had to be evacuated.

That is a totally wrong interpretation.
ReAds have been around for a long time for exactly the reasons Coonhound wrote - extra pixie dust just to be nice or to help in a bad experience situation.
We got one (not stacks) once when the bus we were on got sideswiped by a car trying to pass. Sorting it all out took over an hour and an extra wait for another bus to come pick us up and then figure out how to get DD in her wheelchair out of the bus since there was a grass filled ditch and the ramp could not be put down.
Most situations where they give reAds are not quite that extreme, but the idea is that they are a pixie dust and guest recovery tool; never part of the DAS.

The best explanation I've heard about reAds with DAS is that they were sometimes being offered as a 'bridge' to help people who were having an especially difficult time making the transition from GAC to DAS.
They were not part of DAS and were not meant to be permanent, just a temporary tool as people learned how to use DAS.

So, as previous posters mentioned, they can't be counted on.