DAS card @ DW

[tinkerpea]

we also always have a letter from his surgeon and his doctor - as much for the airlines as for disney..
he has to carry an oversized medical bag onboard the plane with him - which is permitted by TSA - but you need proof.

So we have the letters from his doctors.
But disney has never asked for them.

we never had a problem obtaining a GAC, i sure hope we don't have trouble with the DAS.
Even the GAC wasn't perfect for him, but it certainly helped a great deal.
The DAS will be more difficult, but it will help i'm sure.

i do understand why it happened. There was a tremendous amount of abuse of the system. So they had to do something.

It would be much easier if they would take medical documents however it's against the ADA so there not allowed to look at any sort of doctors letters etc,
Getting a Gac was incredibly easy they was given out like candy,
I really wish it had not been abused in the way it was,
Have you looked the the disabilities board? They have loads of info on how the changes effect many disabilities that revolve around people who can't stand for long periods, and mobility issues,many unfortunately that have been denied the Das it's been very hard for anyone without a conginitive disability to obtain the Das,

I have written to disney about all of this,and do have somebody very close to me who works in GS and they have said if you get sent away to go back again and ask to speak to a manager.
X

 

[chmurf]

Answering a few of the posts above

wheelchairs will fit a fair number of ride lines. Mostly at the newer parks (DHS and DAK), older parks (MK and EP) were not designed with the same accessibility concerns.
They are being reworked, but a few lines cant accomodate for wheelchairs.
For example BTMRR or It's a Small World to name just 2

The DAS was primarily designed for guests with hidden disability.
Guests with wheelchairs/ECV can get DAS but they are not required to. A wheelchair is self explanatory.
So the whole discussion about disney having to change due to abuse is absolutely irrelevant and off topic. The main issue behind the abuse was that wheelchair users used their disability to obtain front of the line access for guests who paid them.
So disney stopped GAC to move to DAS, but this is a cop out at best. Because the change from GAC to DAS does not impact wheelchair users. (actually it depends on the CM-greeter)

next, stamina issues are not eligible for DAS. If it's a stamina issue, disney's policy is for the guest to use a wheelchair or ECV.

On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt. And that's the difference and that's why I get a DAS when the next guest with the same condition making it a stamina issue will not get the DAS.
So it's really important to know how to express the needs and limits of the disabled guest.

The DAS will not allow you to cut lines, it will allow you to spend your regular wait time at a place of your choosing instead of being in the line.

you don't need any medical proof, CMs won't even look at it.
I usually carry my disabled parking permit with me (blue badge, I request a Florida temporary parking permit for the car) and briefly show it at GS when I request my DAS. I tell the CM that "I know you're not allowed to ask for proof, but here is an official document to let you know my disability is genuine", usually that's enough for the CM not to ask any further question.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt. And that's the difference and that's why I get a DAS when the next guest with the same condition making it a stamina issue will not get the DAS.
So it's really important to know how to express the needs and limits of the disabled guest.

You have pretty much explained the same issues that I have and the reasons I have used a GAC in the past. How do you explain this in terms of needs when speaking to GS? Don't they still try to tell you to use a wheelchair (as I have had happen)?

 

[married2mm]

Answering a few of the posts above

wheelchairs will fit a fair number of ride lines. Mostly at the newer parks (DHS and DAK), older parks (MK and EP) were not designed with the same accessibility concerns.
They are being reworked, but a few lines cant accomodate for wheelchairs.
For example BTMRR or It's a Small World to name just 2

The DAS was primarily designed for guests with hidden disability.
Guests with wheelchairs/ECV can get DAS but they are not required to. A wheelchair is self explanatory.
So the whole discussion about disney having to change due to abuse is absolutely irrelevant and off topic. The main issue behind the abuse was that wheelchair users used their disability to obtain front of the line access for guests who paid them.
So disney stopped GAC to move to DAS, but this is a cop out at best. Because the change from GAC to DAS does not impact wheelchair users. (actually it depends on the CM-greeter)

next, stamina issues are not eligible for DAS. If it's a stamina issue, disney's policy is for the guest to use a wheelchair or ECV.

On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt. And that's the difference and that's why I get a DAS when the next guest with the same condition making it a stamina issue will not get the DAS.
So it's really important to know how to express the needs and limits of the disabled guest.

The DAS will not allow you to cut lines, it will allow you to spend your regular wait time at a place of your choosing instead of being in the line.

you don't need any medical proof, CMs won't even look at it.
I usually carry my disabled parking permit with me (blue badge, I request a Florida temporary parking permit for the car) and briefly show it at GS when I request my DAS. I tell the CM that "I know you're not allowed to ask for proof, but here is an official document to let you know my disability is genuine", usually that's enough for the CM not to ask any further question.

Your post is really interesting-thanks from an interested 3rd party!

I have various health issues also.

Initially, we did not have a gac-only found out about them from the dis

Halfway through our second trip, a cm told us at soarin we did not require fast passes with gac-we were still using fp system where it was in place.

It was certainly helpful and assisted us greatly-
I am slightly nervous about our forthcoming trip with the introduction of gac.
Whether we receive a gac or not will not affect our happiness, but obviously will impact on our trip.

I shall take blue badge also-and see what happens.

 

[cliveywolves]

Thanks chmurf..... Very well put !!!

"On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt. And that's the difference and that's why I get a DAS when the next guest with the same condition making it a stamina issue will not get the DAS."

This is pretty much how our DD suffers with her issues as I previously said she has mild for CP, it then cause her to raise and stand on her tip toes when this happens also causing more pain, she does not tire just causes pain and is not nice for her.. Nothing to do with the heat or humidity we have same probs in the UK.. Like you say we shall just have to try to explain her condition to GS best we can ...

 

[wilma-bride]

This is what I'm struggling to get my head around here. I suffer with sciatica, I'm not disabled but I have a bad back. Standing in long lines (i.e standing for a period of time) causes my sciatica to play up so I either choose to stand in line and suffer or I choose not to stand in line. There is no way on this Earth that I need (or would use) a wheelchair so I make the choice. I will probably be unpopular for saying this but I don't understand why others can't make that choice (to wait or not, to be in pain or not) as well

 

[chmurf]

I will probably be unpopular for saying this but I don't understand why others can't make that choice (to wait or not, to be in pain or not) as well

The DAS has been designed exactly for conditions like yours and mine.

It's like a chair, you can choose to stand or sit. It's your decision, but you shouldn't be "ashamed" to use the chair, because if it's there, it's for someone to use.

As a disabled person, I know that it's sometimes hard to accept to use an "accessibility feature", because, 1st we don't want to accept a condition, and 2nd we think that it's more useful to others with worse conditions and we're taking their place when they need it more. But we don't.

People think that, for people in pain, accepting the "chair" (as I call it) is the easy path. It's not. Accepting to get "help" is the hardest part of all when dealing with a disability, condition, or pain. Acceptance.

When you're on vacations, you don't have to be in pain, and you don't have to have to choose between being in pain, or missing out. Because Disney has provided guests with a way to wait as painlessly as possible.
With DAS you are waiting, the same amount of time as any other guest. But you are waiting where you choose to wait, and how you choose to wait.
You're not getting any advantage over other guests, you are "in line" but not "in the line".
But you don't skip the wait. You DO wait, but in a way that does not cause you pain.

 

[tinkerpea]

Answering a few of the posts above

wheelchairs will fit a fair number of ride lines. Mostly at the newer parks (DHS and DAK), older parks (MK and EP) were not designed with the same accessibility concerns.
They are being reworked, but a few lines cant accomodate for wheelchairs.
For example BTMRR or It's a Small World to name just 2

The DAS was primarily designed for guests with hidden disability.
Guests with wheelchairs/ECV can get DAS but they are not required to. A wheelchair is self explanatory.
So the whole discussion about disney having to change due to abuse is absolutely irrelevant and off topic. The main issue behind the abuse was that wheelchair users used their disability to obtain front of the line access for guests who paid them.
So disney stopped GAC to move to DAS, but this is a cop out at best. Because the change from GAC to DAS does not impact wheelchair users. (actually it depends on the CM-greeter)

next, stamina issues are not eligible for DAS. If it's a stamina issue, disney's policy is for the guest to use a wheelchair or ECV.

On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt. And that's the difference and that's why I get a DAS when the next guest with the same condition making it a stamina issue will not get the DAS.
So it's really important to know how to express the needs and limits of the disabled guest.

The DAS will not allow you to cut lines, it will allow you to spend your regular wait time at a place of your choosing instead of being in the line.

you don't need any medical proof, CMs won't even look at it.
I usually carry my disabled parking permit with me (blue badge, I request a Florida temporary parking permit for the car) and briefly show it at GS when I request my DAS. I tell the CM that "I know you're not allowed to ask for proof, but here is an official document to let you know my disability is genuine", usually that's enough for the CM not to ask any further question.

When did you last use the DAS?
It has been all over the Dis and many other sites that they have from this yr not been giving out Das cards for anything even pain related if it can be illevated by using a mobility device,
I'm not trying to be funny I just want people to be aware that they moat like will get turned away if they say that they can't stand for long periods due to pain,they will tell them to use a chair and sit instead.
It's awful but it's the truth.
I know somebody who just came back can't stand in lines due to having a condition where if they stand they get severe pain in there hips,they told the CM they did not need a wheelchair and
They was told there was no accommodation's for them.

Yes by all means make sure you tell them it's not a stamina issue,
For the person who asked what to say.

You tell them that you get pain when having to stand for periods of a certain time.
And it would be a great help if they could provide you the accommodation of waiting outside the line.

 

[chmurf]

it was in november

 

[DISWolves]

With the new DAC return window ruling, it seems Disney are slowly steering everyone into the FP+ system.

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm not going to worry about it.
Either he'll get the DAS or he won't.

i think he will get the DAS as he definitely needs it. If he doesn't, we'll just have to spend less time in the parks. Perhaps not the best solution, but there's no way we'll let him suffer.

 

[mackay_j]

Hi used to get a gac - But not sure what while happen in our visit in Aug. My dd can only come off her insulin pump for about 1hr and I have major health issues which means I have to stay in the shade due to SLE. (I even get suncream and protective clothing on NHS for this - as too much UV causes major problems for me including the possibility of more paralysis (I am a wheelchair user at the moment but next TM lesion is tacking place at C3 -I am also on daily chemo to try and prevent further damage to C spine region which initself causes me issues with suddenly not feeling to great /tired so I would have to give in and leave the park.

If I don't get a DAS we can only do ride where all the wait is in the shade. Or use up our fast passes for any that are not.

I am now trying to remember which rides have any waiting outside and book my fast pass+ for these- Problem is I have never really taken notice of which these are as since I took ill I have had a gac.

And because of my DD pump issue we can also only go on rides that the total wait and ride time will be less than 1hr (ish). Beginning to sort of dread this next trip.


I think that this will be our last venture to disney it is all getting to complicated for us. I do not mind the DAS system -we have used similar in universal and Busch - it dose mean no queue jumping but that's fine as long as we know roughly when we will ride. It's the not getting the DAS that worries me esp as I am going to roll up in a wheelchair to asked for one and that seems to be a no no.

 

[disneyholic family]

splash mountain has an outdoor line for part of the line (though there are a lot of trees for shade)..

i'm trying to think of any others like that...

i think most of the others are at least under a roof of some kind...

oh...that little car one -that kids like....you drive around in a car..that one is outdoors...but that's a minor ride...

hmm...what else...

tower of terror has some of its line outdoors, but that's only if the line is really long...
same for rock and roller coaster i think...
but there's some shade for both of them and it's only for a part of the line and only if the line is very long..

 

[eblondie]

With the new DAC return window ruling, it seems Disney are slowly steering everyone into the FP+ system.

Just in case people are not aware, even if you do get the DAS, it's best used in conjunction with FP+

 

[disneyholic family]

Just in case people are not aware, even if you do get the DAS, it's best used in conjunction with FP+

definitely sounds that way..
this is different from the GAC...
i'm sure we'll get used to the new system...
assuming we get a DAS....
the CMs were very nice to us when we requested the GAC, so i'm hoping they'll be equally nice regarding the DAS.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed

 

[chmurf]

If he doesn't, we'll just have to spend less time in the parks.

That's what I was thinking too for myself.

This thread got me a bit worried that I may not get the DAS on our next trip
but, come to think of it, I only used the DAS for 4 or 5 rides over our 21 days stay.
I must admit that the parks are not our main objective during a WDW stay.

But this might change our strategy. I planned on booking 3FP+ afternoons/evenings, and add some DAS in between, and keep mornings for waterparks, shopping, disneyquesting or crazy golfing, but I might just switch to RDs with morning FP+s and pray for more rolling FP+ after we use our first
3

no biggie, just back to the drawing board

 

[tinkerpea]

I can't think of too many rides that are outside for very long,and most have shaded areas throughout.
So hopefully you will not be too bad,

I've had 5 major head surgeries had iv chemo last September and a picc line in 4 months,we did our trip in November only 8wks after my last 9 hour op, I was denied the DAS even though I was still on oral chemo,and many meds which effect how long I can be in the park,and I have severe dizzying when standing for to long,I was also still majorly suffering from pain.
We was told that the DAS is only for conginitive disabilities...
We also have a son with autism and was given a card for him,however I wanted one so that when my husband took the boys on fast rides I could do small world etc,
We went right through to management who still insisted that everything has changed and the Das is not given out like it was when it was the Gac.

We managed due to using the Das my son had,I.just didn't do anything alone.

We have completely changed up our touring plans,and although I will ask again for the Das next wk I.expect to be denied however like I said in a pp
I have called and spoken to disney customer relations that deal with the Das, and was told to go back again if you have done everything you can without the card.
And try again.
The person I mentioned who works in GS also told me they've been trained to not give the Das out unless it's a problem within the spectrum,but they have had so many complaints that they are having to re-look at the way it's handled.
They had a grace period while they changed over last yr,but they have clamped right down from Feb this yr.

I'll report back next wk,on where I went what needs I had and whether successful.

 

[wmson2000]

On a personnal level, I can't stand up still for long, I can walk, but it's the slow moving in lines, stopping, starting 2 steps forward, stopping ... it's killing me, so waiting in line is not possible. It's not a stamina issue, it's a pain issue. I don't tire, I hurt.

Same deal with me. Prosthetic legs. Walking = no pain. Standing without much movement for more than a few minutes = pain. I do not use a wheelchair (they actually cause me more pain than walking, walking keeps my residual limbs from swelling and less hip pain.)

I actually attempted to get a DAS card this past spring. The CM said "You don't qualify." When I very nicely asked for a bit more information, the same CM cut me off and rudely (nearly yelled) said, "Sir, I said you DO NOT qualify." I had only mentioned the fake legs, didn't mention the pain issue.

But it become the joke of the day at our visit to HS. Anytime I asked a question, my wife and kids would repeat: "Sir, you DO NOT qualify."

 

[edinburghlass]

I can't think of too many rides that are outside for very long,and most have shaded areas throughout. So hopefully you will not be too bad, I've had 5 major head surgeries had iv chemo last September and a picc line in 4 months,we did our trip in November only 8wks after my last 9 hour op, I was denied the DAS even though I was still on oral chemo,and many meds which effect how long I can be in the park,and I have severe dizzying when standing for to long,I was also still majorly suffering from pain. We was told that the DAS is only for conginitive disabilities... We also have a son with autism and was given a card for him,however I wanted one so that when my husband took the boys on fast rides I could do small world etc, We went right through to management who still insisted that everything has changed and the Das is not given out like it was when it was the Gac. We managed due to using the Das my son had,I.just didn't do anything alone. We have completely changed up our touring plans,and although I will ask again for the Das next wk I.expect to be denied however like I said in a pp I have called and spoken to disney customer relations that deal with the Das, and was told to go back again if you have done everything you can without the card. And try again. The person I mentioned who works in GS also told me they've been trained to not give the Das out unless it's a problem within the spectrum,but they have had so many complaints that they are having to re-look at the way it's handled. They had a grace period while they changed over last yr,but they have clamped right down from Feb this yr. I'll report back next wk,on where I went what needs I had and whether successful.

Not sure I follow this post about you being refused a DAS when you previously said in your thread about FP and DAS that you got a card no problem at MK in about 3 minutes? As I understand it you can take back both cards for this trip and they should issue new ones without any problem.

 

[mackay_j]

I may end up with the not able to wait in line type symptoms - if we wait for about 50mins and my DD's blood sugars start to rise thus we need to leave so she can go back on her pump - I will end up having a melt down - Would I qualify then

Can people post on here how they get on trying get the das card in the near future - I will report back to this thread in Aug.