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

[Perdita&Pongo]

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.

It may depend on your particular situation, but I am not AP (I have 7 day PH tickets) and I was approved for 120 days. My CM wrote it in the chat during our video call and I made sure to get a screen shot of the start and end date range she listed just in case there is any question in the future.

 

[elvispursley]

So I chose not to apply for DAS is trip as it was too anxiety-inducing. I figured id try without it and see how the trip went. I did purchase LLMP/SP for about half of our 8-day trip. The queues were extremely short during our trip. We also sucked it up and did EE most mornings, which really helped with rides like FoP, RotR. I’d say the majority of the queues we did were 30 min or less (majority were “less”). Of course, we went the end of Aug into Sep. when attendance was quite low.

 

[Jperiod]

Is it true that the online queue for disneyland is even longer now? I waited like 6 hours in November. Does the DAS holder still need to be present at the call? I'm trying to figure out how to do this with my 19 year old's schedule. Any tips for timing? Are there any changes in regard to speaking to the DAS holder? He has autism.

 

[jennab]

Is it true that the online queue for disneyland is even longer now? I waited like 6 hours in November. Does the DAS holder still need to be present at the call? I'm trying to figure out how to do this with my 19 year old's schedule. Any tips for timing? Are there any changes in regard to speaking to the DAS holder? He has autism.

For Disneyland you can also go in person if that is easier. But yes the person who is applying for the DAS must be present for a picture.

 

[Jperiod]

For Disneyland you can also go in person if that is easier. But yes the person who is applying for the DAS must be present for a picture.

can you go the day before your first park reservation? Have lines been short in person?

 

[lanejudy]

can you go the day before your first park reservation? Have lines been short in person?

My understanding (and it may have changed) is that if you go in person on a day you do not intend to enter a park then they will give you a QR code to connect using your own personal device while there on the esplanade. So it's more immediate connection but not necessarily "in person" at the kiosk.

And yes, the person qualifying for DAS must be present. If verbal they may or may not have a brief chat that could be as simple as "hi, how are you? I'm going to take your picture now."

 

[ToyStoryManiaMouse]

Just did DAS for my Autistic daughter (my entire family is neurodivergent). Process took 10 minutes including the time to log in and was approved. Really simple. All the talk about it made me a bit nervous but it was no problem.

 

[CariadMartin]

We have had DAS in the past at Disneyland Paris as APs, although different system/criteria.
Our DAS for Disneyland, CA was approved this summer.
They also sent us really helpful PDFs and info about quiet areas and other tips and tricks for navigating the Parks with ND people in our party.
They also allowed us to have a family of 5.

One thing to be aware of if calling from the UK is that the phoneline only opens up at 4pm UK time, and my child goes to bed at 7pm often! Not leaving much time to get through as he needed to be present for the call. However, I followed a tip about calling as soon as the lines open and that helped, I got through in about 30 mins I think.

 

[Jperiod]

what time should I start online for disneyland?

 

[VAtink]

We got approved for DAS this morning, I expected not to be based on so many stories I've read, especially since it's not a developmental disability, but the CM was great. It's for my mom, and she didn't mention anything about the diagnosis, just what physically happens to her in long lines. The CM asked some follow-up questions about real life situations, and then approved her. Much easier than I expected!

 

[dizneedoll]

what time should I start online for disneyland?

They open at 8am Pacific time. I would try getting on at 8am or as close to it as you can.

 

[koszmok]

I got approved this morning. My disabilities are mostly medical but I do have PTSD too. I never mentioned any diagnosis. I just said what I feel and what's happening to me in lines. I did give examples from past Disney visits and real life. The cast member was kind and understanding and he said he best option for me would be DAS. It take I think 10-15 min.

It took me a lot of courage to try to apply and I was very anxious during the call.

Thank you for the help and support this thread provided.

The travel party is just me and my husband (I don't know if being only me and my care giver played any role in granting the DAS or not. It might be.)

I wish good luck for everyone who needs accommodation!

 

[HopperFan]

I have to say I waited until the last possible minute because of all the stories on here (and a few elsewhere) had me so nervous. Note I had never done a virtual approval, we only got at the parks in person. I was mostly concerned that DS would not be approved but plenty of worry was getting one of these "rouge" or "under trained" CMs folks have described.

Got on today around 2:50 and got right through. Same person in Chat as in the Video. Took a few minutes for ZOOM app to update my computer, and then MY camera didn't work. She was so patient and was trying to talk me through it. Luckily my other DS walked in early from work and quickly got my technology working.

It went smooth as it could be and DS was approved for 120 days (we are AP). DS joined at beginning to meet her and she said he didn't have to stay after photo but he did. He said hello, I did all the talking.

She went over how the DAS works that is slightly different (no advance bookings, waiting period before getting next return time, tile will show up when we arrive, how it will work at Halloween party and the hour gap etc.) and nothing was new from what I already have learned. She was spot on as to having her facts straight and covering everything.

She sent me a link to two brochures ~ (1) Accessibility Planning Guide and Recommendations (2) Sensory Experience Details for Guest with Disabilities. Was so easy to just download from link and they are now in my phone files.

She also told me ~ We are free to go to First Aid if he needs privacy, calm and air conditioning and they have "cubicles" for him to rest. / If any line feels like it will be too difficult for him we can ask for a complimentary wheelchair to borrow while in queue.

We talked for some time after approval with the above information and more as she was doing the search for the brochures (had a computer change and documents had moved).

She said that [paraphrasing] that they believe that Standby lines have been shorter and moving better since there are now less people in the LL. That we might find we can utilize some of the lines that before were not accessible.

She is a Disney CM who is in Orlando, not a third party employee located elsewhere.

She shared her resume and she was 1000% qualified for this position.

I had no plan to share our experience as I didn't think our interaction was of any importance, and overall I still don't as it's just between us and Disney. But I am sharing because I wanted to share a positive experience with a very qualified CM who was professional. She made every effort from helping me with my computer, to getting me brochures, explaining everything she could and was willing to answer all questions I may have. I think even if we were not approved, she would have still shared all the information she could for our trip to be successful. Hopefully we are only hearing the outliers and most are like her.

 

[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.

I’m realizing I never updated here - I did a long, thorough update in the other thread, but here’s a short version for the interest of this thread:

I wound up needing to cancel the one day for which I was approved and didn’t know how that would impact my approval, so I reentered the chat a few days later to ask about that and took the opportunity to ask for more clarity about what I’d been told, because it was so confusing to me.

After writing in the text chat exactly what the first CM had told me and my questions about it, the new CM asked if I’d like to switch to video, throw out the previous “approval” and start over - I said yes. I offered the same information I have every time I’ve asked about DAS and this time was approved for 120 days (AP). I was also told I’m welcome to add up to 4 people to my party in the future if I’m not visiting solo.

 

[dizneedoll]

I’m realizing I never updated here - I did a long, thorough update in the other thread, but here’s a short version for the interest of this thread:

I wound up needing to cancel the one day for which I was approved and didn’t know how that would impact my approval, so I reentered the chat a few days later to ask about that and took the opportunity to ask for more clarity about what I’d been told, because it was so confusing to me.

After writing in the text chat exactly what the first CM had told me and my questions about it, the new CM asked if I’d like to switch to video, throw out the previous “approval” and start over - I said yes. I offered the same information I have every time I’ve asked about DAS and this time was approved for 120 days (AP). I was also told I’m welcome to add up to 4 people to my party in the future if I’m not visiting solo.

Im glad you got it sorted. I thought the first accomodations and info they gave you was strange and confusing. I hadn't read any other reports from anywhere that had been told what you had been told. That's great you are all set now. I have to do my call in about a week or so and Im a lot less nervous than I was when this change first started.

 

[SueM in MN]

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.

I have seen someone else report they were approved only when visiting solo (if not solo, others in their party could wait in line and they could join closer to the front).
Yours is the first time I heard anything about reapplying each day. Something was strange there - I see you got it fixed though.

Is it true that the online queue for disneyland is even longer now? I waited like 6 hours in November. Does the DAS holder still need to be present at the call? I'm trying to figure out how to do this with my 19 year old's schedule. Any tips for timing? Are there any changes in regard to speaking to the DAS holder? He has autism.

The person applying for DAS always needed/needs to be present, even if only to be introduced and get their picture taken if they are approved.
Adults are expected to apply fo themselves if able. People with disabilities who can't speak/advocated for themselves can have someone else apply for them, but the disabled person still needs to be present (that's my daughter's situation).

My understanding (and it may have changed) is that if you go in person on a day you do not intend to enter a park then they will give you a QR code to connect using your own personal device while there on the esplanade. So it's more immediate connection but not necessarily "in person" at the kiosk.

And yes, the person qualifying for DAS must be present. If verbal they may or may not have a brief chat that could be as simple as "hi, how are you? I'm going to take your picture now."

Agree

Im glad you got it sorted. I thought the first accomodations and info they gave you was strange and confusing. I hadn't read any other reports from anywhere that had been told what you had been told. That's great you are all set now. I have to do my call in about a week or so and Im a lot less nervous than I was when this change first started.

I haven't seen any reports like that either.
I will also add that the majority of social media reports I've seen where someone felt the CM was rude, unprofessional or poorly trained have been people who expected that just saying their diagnosis would automatically mean DAS would be granted. Many of those people felt any questions asked of them at all were rude.

 

[keishashadow]

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.

When my party applied, only selected three total.

To be clear, If the DAS holder does visit with other F&F currently linked to the MDE, we can call in and request modifying the party’s individuals that would be with them on that trip?

 

[lanejudy]

To be clear, If the DAS holder does visit with other F&F currently linked to the MDE, we can call in and request modifying the party’s individuals that would be with them on that trip?

You need to reconnect to the chat and request for the others to be added. I won’t give any guarantee because reports have varied — it may depend on the make-up of the original party as well as those in the additional party. If the others get added, expect that only a max of 3 (+DAS holder) can be included for each DAS Return Time.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I wanted to create a thread that was STRICTLY for feedback on your DAS conversation with MS.

First time DAS applicate or have had DAS in the past?
- If it is not your first time, did the process go differently?
Approved for DAS? Give other options?
- If given another option please explain the process!

- I have had/used DAS for several years.
- This process was VERY different.
- Yes, I was approved (as was my daughter during the same call- we share hereditary issues)
- I was given other options, but even as she was offering them- she would say how that wouldn’t work for us… then she’d try again… and again… until finally, she said I clearly needed something like DAS, but I couldn’t qualify bc I don’t have autism (& interestingly… that CM did!). At that point, I calmly & politely told her I understood that she’s just trying to do her job, but I’d like to please speak with her supervisor. He & I chatted a long time & then he asked a medical professional to join the call with us… they both asked some pretty probing questions. It was long (like ~2 hrs!!) and painful.

Both the supervisor & the medical professional apologized (pretty profusely) that I was going to have to go through this again in another 4 months

 

[Angel Ariel]

- I have had/used DAS for several years.
- This process was VERY different.
- Yes, I was approved (as was my daughter during the same call- we share hereditary issues)
- I was given other options, but even as she was offering them- she would say how that wouldn’t work for us… then she’d try again… and again… until finally, she said I clearly needed something like DAS, but I couldn’t qualify bc I don’t have autism (& interestingly… that CM did!). At that point, I calmly & politely told her I understood that she’s just trying to do her job, but I’d like to please speak with her supervisor. He & I chatted a long time & then he asked a medical professional to join the call with us… they both asked some pretty probing questions. It was long (like ~2 hrs!!) and painful.

Both the supervisor & the medical professional apologized (pretty profusely) that I was going to have to go through this again in another 4 months

A 2 hour long call to determine DAS eligibility!? My goodness. The waits themselves are bad enough, but a 2 hr call is just. Yikes. I'm glad you were approved after all that!