DAS Approval/Denial with New DAS Guidelines START 5/20 WDW & 6/18 DL

[Donald - my hero]

Huh that's interesting your approved for all the way until Jan 25th. I'm an AP as well and the DL pass was good only until NYE from my start date on the 2nd. Which would put it at 120 days. Is your trip somewhere around the 20s of next month? Because that might be why your window is that long.

Because I know my CM altered the original start date to reflect my first date at the park after we had a discussion about when the 120 days would be up and if I needed to renew before my trip in January (which the answer to is yes.). So its definitely something they can do.

(Wouldn't expect to do that everytime though. Pretty sure this is just them doing something nice and not required.)

If her 1st day using DAS is September 26th, it would run until January 25th. This seems consistent with everything else we've seen for AP--it just means she applied right at the beginning of her 30 day window.

sorry i neglected to add that we're not going until the end of September. I needed to give myself enough time to cope with the response!

 

[Greenlawler]

I keep seeing that they ask about schooling and speaking to the kids? Are they asking about accommodations they get at school? My kiddo is non-verbal so do I just tell them that?

Just IMO this is the kind of Information that should not be passed on. It's giving the folks, who like to abuse the system, ammunition. I was hoping the new system would actually cut down on the abuse so they would not get rid of it all together.

But if people keep giving folks "help" or a "heads up" on what Disney asks, and what to say or do, we are only a couple of years before another reboot or the total elimination of the program.

Maybe start a private conversation? Or just answer the questions straight up.

 

[StarGirl11]

sorry i neglected to add that we're not going until the end of September. I needed to give myself enough time to cope with the response!

Don't worry about it. I get it. While my reason for DAS is for another medical thing related (though having it definitely doesn't help. It wasn't the primary reason I need the DAS). . I have an anxiety disorder myself. So I get sometimes it takes a while to respond.

Just IMO this is the kind of Information that should not be passed on. It's giving the folks, who like to abuse the system, ammunition. I was hoping the new system would actually cut down on the abuse so they would not get rid of it all together.

But if people keep giving folks "help" or a "heads up" on what Disney asks, and what to say or do, we are only a couple of years before another reboot or the total elimination of the program.

Maybe start a private conversation? Or just answer the questions straight up.

Agreed. I was fairly careful about what I put in my post (actually rewrote it about 3 times before I thought it was vague enough that it wasn't giving ammunition) because I didn't want it to backfire on me. It won't stop the conversations entirely of course. But not accidentally adding fuel to the metaphorical fire is a good idea.

Like I def sympathize with wanting the information. Because it can help people mentally prepare for what they are getting into in these calls. And I know other ND folks will sometimes practice what they'll say before they get into certain situations (not unique to Disney). But this still needs to be handled carefully.

 

[Greenlawler]

Don't worry about it. I get it. While my reason for DAS is for another medical thing related (though having it definitely doesn't help. It wasn't the primary reason I need the DAS). . I have an anxiety disorder myself. So I get sometimes it takes a while to respond worry about.

Agreed. I was fairly careful about what I put in my post (actually rewrote it about 3 times before I thought it was vague enough that it wasn't giving ammunition) because I didn't want it to backfire on me. It won't stop the conversations entirely of course. But not accidentally adding fuel to the metaphorical fire is a good idea.

Like I def sympathize with wanting the information. Because it can help people mentally prepare for what they are getting into in these calls. And I know other ND folks will sometimes practice what they'll say before they get into certain situations (not unique to Disney). But this still needs to be handled carefully.

I appreciate the sentiment of course, but even telling folks they ask about school, or that they speak to the kids, is information folks can use to prepare their case. Folks will get information on other sites of course, but i am not going to give any direction.

 

[Keladry84]

Just IMO this is the kind of Information that should not be passed on. It's giving the folks, who like to abuse the system, ammunition. I was hoping the new system would actually cut down on the abuse so they would not get rid of it all together.

But if people keep giving folks "help" or a "heads up" on what Disney asks, and what to say or do, we are only a couple of years before another reboot or the total elimination of the program.

Maybe start a private conversation? Or just answer the questions straight up.

I don’t think giving someone heads up that they might ask about accommodations in other areas of life is providing a path for someone to cheat the system….however giving specific examples of what accommodations someone receives and why would be. Someone who is trying to cheat the system would most likely have difficulty explaining that day to day without having lived it.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I appreciate the sentiment of course, but even telling folks they ask about school, or that they speak to the kids, is information folks can use to prepare their case. Folks will get information on other sites of course, but i am not going to give any direction.

I don’t think giving someone heads up that they might ask about accommodations in other areas of life is providing a path for someone to cheat the system….however giving specific examples of what accommodations someone receives and why would be. Someone who is trying to cheat the system would most likely have difficulty explaining that day to day without having lived it.

100 % agree with this! I've been following both this thread and the massive general info one since the news broke about the changes and was dealing with an incredible amount of stress over the possibility of losing my ability to function in the parks. When I first read the suggestions about how I handle general life as well as the queues I started feeling better about the process. There's no way that someone could game/cheat the system without actually experiencing what we go thru in the "real world" and what tools/accommodations we already use. Coupled with being able to explain the exact problems I had BEFORE and AFTER having the DAS pass is what allowed me to successfully navigate the process. If I hadn't been prepared with details of those examples I'm fairly confident I would have been denied. I would have frozen on the spot!!!

 

[keishashadow]

My friend has DAS and we are going to MNNSHP. Does it work the same during this event as it does the rest of the time?

Unless line is short, you can use DAS

2) I don't think they put DAS on the party tickets, but you might want to ask in the chat.

They were able to add @ GS inside DCA this week

 

[Greenlawler]

I don’t think giving someone heads up that they might ask about accommodations in other areas of life is providing a path for someone to cheat the system….however giving specific examples of what accommodations someone receives and why would be. Someone who is trying to cheat the system would most likely have difficulty explaining that day to day without having lived it.

No worries. I simply do not want the DAS pass to go away. I think less is more. If you qualify you should know you qualify IMO. and not have to worry. But I do understand the anxiety of reaching a CM who does not agree. We are ultimately on the same team.

 

[honeymo78]

My future neice was approved for DAS. She has a form of PTSD that is triggered by certain aspects of most queues. We had made plans under the assumption she would no longer be approved but it's much easier this way, even though only part of our group will be able to ride with her when she uses her DAS instead of LL.

 

[bookgirl]

Okay I finally decided to talk to DAS.

I marked physical/medical not approved. I also marked Other as I was given some accommodations.

I had two issues. 1 was mobility related and we discussed what I was doing proactively. The other is a medical issue that is the main reason I have problems in line because it’s severe and the nature of lines contribute to possible emergency.

My cast member was nice and was pretty much a no from the start but was very patient as I discussed my needs and my fears. I mentioned that I was aware of folks having trouble with the alternative accommodations but she talked me through it.

I was very clear that I was being proactive (renting an ECV, strategic touring plans, and I bought MLL for my one full day at DL) and that I was wanting accommodations more as an additional tool.


I will say there were a few times where we just miscommunicated and we had to kind of reset, but by the end we found some middle ground.

The dreaded Location Return, which I’m actually okay with trying. She also sprinkled some pixie dust on my tickets that I think were meant to soften the rejection.


She did say that Location Return should be simple as I would be in an ECV and that is a visual cue for cast members to use those alternative entrances and to give out a return time.

I got the impression that the discussions about what were you doing to help yourself were important as I would talk about what I was doing and she would talk about what I could do and that if I had problems I had some avenues I could take.

And as I mentioned she did give me some pixie dust.

I won’t talk about my issues except to say the are tied to my cancer and that my pixie dust was not a golden ticket

 

[cdobert]

Just registered my son for DAS under the new system, we've been going since it was GAC. Cast member was kind while walking me through the questions. Total call was under 10 minutes.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

Just some suggestions - write down some bullet points about what happens when you wait in line and also how you deal with situations in your everyday life (work, school, other). It will help you to have something written down to reference when you forget what to say or if you’ve already said something

That's the plan. The thing is, I've managed to arrange my life specifically to avoid having to wait in lines places, so the answer to questions like "What do you do at the grocery store?" is "I don't. I get them delivered because that's easier with my needs." I'm self-employed and work from home, which is for a variety of reasons but definitely helps with my needs. But I know those answers won't be helpful, so I need to take myself back to what did happen when I used to have less flexibility over my surroundings and make my list that way. Of course that makes me feel dishonest because it's answering a question about the present with information about the past...because I'm autistic so of course that rule rigidity gets to me. But I'll definitely be taking your suggestion to write it down beforehand!

 

[KPeterso]

The dreaded Location Return, which I’m actually okay with trying. She also sprinkled some pixie dust on my tickets that I think were meant to soften the rejection.


She did say that Location Return should be simple as I would be in an ECV and that is a visual cue for cast members to use those alternative entrances and to give out a return time.

If using a mobility device at Disneyland, you will have no problem using the Location Return Time at the rides that offer it. That has been around for year and the cast members are very familiar with that process since those are at the rides that mobility devices will not fit through as they are much older queues and rides. We are locals and use a wheelchair and have no issues with the cast members seeing the wheelchair and giving the return time. One hint for Haunted Mansion, they ask if you can walk a short distance and stand for about 10 minutes. It is always much longer than that and I am not sure I buy the distance either. We always insist on the wheelchair going all the way in now (plus we need the belt stopped so we always wait a little longer). So keep that in mind for that ride!

 

[Barbday62]

I second that about haunted mansion. Once we said yes before husband was 95% wheelchair user and they took us down the side for a long walk, then the stand time was pretty short as they got him right on. But when we got off the horror started. The ramp out of Haunted Mansion Disneyland is a super steep moving sidewalk. Because of his disease he couldn’t hold himself upright to get out. I had to stand behind him to lean into him so he didn’t fall. After that our answer was always nope he needs the wheel chair at entrance and exit. Today about 15 years later he uses a wheelchair almost 100% of the time so it’s a no brainer using wheel chair at all entrances and exits. His walking is now less than 10 feet

 

[AussieCaribou]

DAS approved (self, 56, cognitive disability, party size: 2 adults) - WDW

My experience: we started the process at 9:15 am (Western) and had been approved for DAS and finished at 9:34 am.

The CM asked the normal sorts of questions from facilities about why I can’t stand in traditional lines and what might happen if I do. I was able to give examples and I think that helped. She asked how I reregulate after I have an issue.

It was very quick because I was prepared. I had spent the last few days pulling together experiences I have had and getting them to the front of my memory.

After I was approved, she offered several useful guides and step by step on how to use DAS (all linked to the chat so we could read them after).

Then she asked if we had questions (I had my hubby with me on the call). After answering them. We ended the call.

In my chat were the link to the downloads, the how to use DAS step by step, and a note that I had been granted DAS. I took a screenshot just in case.

The interesting thing to me was that my DAS is good for 160 days. I live in Australia and am only at Disney for 14 days. But hey, if I come back before it runs out, I don’t have to re sit the chat. Bonus!

 

[PrincessV]

WDW, AP, Solo visitor

I shared the full story on the other thread, but I was semi-approved at WDW for a non-physical disability: I was only approved for my next planned visit day and was told I’ll need to do the chat to reapply for every single day I wish to visit, even if I have a multi-day trip planned. I’m an AP, but that didn't matter - the CM said for a multi-day visit I’ll need to do the chat for Day 1, visit on Day 1, then chat again for Day 2 and so on. And I can only be approved if visiting solo.

Maybe I missed it, but I’ve not seen anyone else share an “approval” like this before.

 

[diskids2]

Was just approved. Chat went as normal (as before). She said how can I help you and I told her why I have trouble waiting in line. Was approved for 120 days with my three other family members. Whole process from start to finish including computer chat took about 10 minutes. I am an adult.

 

[poffalina]

Has anyone had experience with DAS and travel groups larger than three? I forgot to ask at my live chat and thought perhaps this group would know. Do I have to use the chat to change the three people attached to my DAS every time I want to change who I am going on a ride with or can they associate all the people but then I only can choose three when requesting the return time?

 

[lanejudy]

Has anyone had experience with DAS and travel groups larger than three? I forgot to ask at my live chat and thought perhaps this group would know. Do I have to use the chat to change the three people attached to my DAS every time I want to change who I am going on a ride with or can they associate all the people but then I only can choose three when requesting the return time?

I think you'll need to go through the chat (not the video again) to get the full travel party linked. Then you'll select the 3 who are riding with you for each Return Time.

 

[dizneedoll]

Was just approved. Chat went as normal (as before). She said how can I help you and I told her why I have trouble waiting in line. Was approved for 120 days with my three other family members. Whole process from start to finish including computer chat took about 10 minutes. I am an adult.

Are you an AP holder? I have two trips coming up in Oct and Dec but Im not AP. Just wondering if I can get approved for both or I will need to make separate calls. I wasn't sure if that 120 day approvals were just for AP holders.