DAS card- priority seating with shows?

[csp1984]

Hi all, I am hoping someone could point me in the right direction on this. We are AP holders and so my 3 year old has been to Disney more times than I can count. She has a visual impairment and a DAS card because of that and we have always used it with no issues.

(Just FYI, the reason that she needs the card is because her eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight, and it is painful for her to wait in line in the sun (learned that one the hard way!)).

However, I can't seem to figure out what to do about shows and parades where she truly cannot see the stage/performers. It seems like the DAS card goes above and beyond accommodating us so that we do not have to wait in lines in the sun, which is great, but the bigger problem is that she literally can't see the shows she wants to see because we never end up close enough to the stage- whether we have fast passes or not. I feel like I am missing something, because someone with such a severe visual impairment should be able to have priority seating of some sort, right?

I have asked about this a few times and the CM has said that nothing is available. Am I missing something? It just seems so weird to me that they would go so far in one direction with the lines, but the stage stuff seems like a more obvious problem with someone who has a visual impairment.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SueM in MN]

The accommodation provided by DAS is basically related to lines and providing a place to wait outside of the lines.
Other accommodations are given at the attraction individually by CMs.

In the previous program, GAC (Guest Assistance Card), there were various stamps put on the card (which often had contradictory messages). There was a stamp for front row seating, but many people reported it really didn't help a lot. In order to use it, the guest still had to talk to the CM and generally was directed to the front, not escorted there. Besides that, in some cases, people needed different than front row - maybe front row, left side or toward the front rather than the very front.
Many people reported that since guests seat themselves, it worked better/as well to just check with the CM at the entrance to find out which way to turn to get to the front of the theater as they enter it. The majority of guests are looking to sit in middle seats about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way toward the back, not in the very front row. So, you should be Ok.

For shows like Festival of the Lion King and Flights of Wonder, ask the CM at the entrance and the CMs directing guests to areas inside.
Be aware that seating for guests using mobility devices is often all or mostly in the back row.

 

[DisneyOma]

For day parades, I'm guessing the sunlight would make it too hard for her to be there anyways? If it's the night parades, you stake out an area an hour before the parade, or when you see people start to claim areas. That way, she'd be in the front. The CMs will start to set up the ropes along the parade route, so you can use those as your guide.

For shows, speak to the CM as you enter the queue. Get there early, so you can be positioned to get in the front row.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No priority seating. All the DAS gets you is the ability to wait to enter somewhere other than the regular line. When you entered the show/attraction you would probably need to alert a cast member to any needs your party member(s) have related to their disability that would require specific seating. Such an accommodation may be available, or it may not be. If you are there early, they may be able to seat you in the front row. They don't have seats blocked out for guests with visual impairments.

 

[smidgy]

it is true that , unfortunately, they don't have seats blocked out for guest with visual impairments.. but!! do not give up hope! sometimes I get a FP plus for my husband, sometimes i use the DAS. (which I get for himbecause of visual impairment.)
either way. go directly to the Cm and infomr them that a person in our party has low vision and needs to sit very close to the stage in order to see anything.. at l;ion king, they put us in the handicap line.. we were able to enter with the wheelchair guests.. before all the others, and could sit in the front.

at nemo. we needed someone to "direct" us (for some reason" down the wheelchair ramp. it was slow going, as hubby couldn't see too well. ( but it was that or us slowly going down all those steps in the dark.)but I made sure they knew that we needed to be up close because of low vision. I don't care if their new system has a name for it or not. my husband's vision disbility is very real and i will talk to the Cm at every show about it so we can sit close enough to the stage that he has a chance at seeing something.
the DAS is NOT only for those to wait elsewhere.. there are those who cannot navigate the winding, dark queues of the lines, and therefor need a DAS. there ARE accomodations for those with visual disabilities! the DAS IS for those with visual disabilites!

 

[DisneyOma]

it is true that , unfortunately, they don't have seats blocked out for guest with visual impairments.. but!! do not give up hope! sometimes I get a FP plus for my husband, sometimes i use the DAS. (which I get for himbecause of visual impairment.)
either way. go directly to the Cm and infomr them that a person in our party has low vision and needs to sit very close to the stage in order to see anything.. at l;ion king, they put us in the handicap line.. we were able to enter with the wheelchair guests.. before all the others, and could sit in the front.

at nemo. we needed someone to "direct" us (for some reason" down the wheelchair ramp. it was slow going, as hubby couldn't see too well. ( but it was that or us slowly going down all those steps in the dark.)but I made sure they knew that we needed to be up close because of low vision. I don't care if their new system has a name for it or not. my husband's vision disbility is very real and i will talk to the Cm at every show about it so we can sit close enough to the stage that he has a chance at seeing something.
the DAS is NOT only for those to wait elsewhere.. there are those who cannot navigate the winding, dark queues of the lines, and therefor need a DAS. there ARE accomodations for those with visual disabilities! the DAS IS for those with visual disabilites!

What is it about the DAS that helps someone with visual diabilities? I'm trying to figure out how it helps - is it some difference in the FP+ queue compared to the stnadby queue? Because that's all a DAS does, moves the bulk of the waiting to somewhere outside the queue, then you have to navigate the FP+ ueue.

 

[OurBigTrip]

What is it about the DAS that helps someone with visual diabilities? I'm trying to figure out how it helps - is it some difference in the FP+ queue compared to the stnadby queue? Because that's all a DAS does, moves the bulk of the waiting to somewhere outside the queue, then you have to navigate the FP+ ueue.

Exactly. Disney says the DAS is for waiting outside the queue, so I'll take their word for what's supposed to be used for.

I do see how being in a standard queue could be difficult for someone with visual impairments, so allowing them to wait outside the line and enter the FP line could definitely be helpful. But the accommodations the previous poster is mentioning for visual impairments can be done without the DAS.

 

[smidgy]

for those with cognitive disabilites, the FP line they use (with the DAS) is shorrter in terms of TIME.
for those with visual disabilites, the way it helps us is the FP line is shorter in terms of DISTANCE. we actually don't need to go somewhere else for the duration of the standby time. but that is what we need to do, according to the rules. what we really need is to shorten the line (distance, not time) that he needs to navigate through dark winding switchback queues (and what is light to you and me is dark to him) we always have people behind us stepping on our heels and complaining because we are slow.
at some attractions, when you explain to the CM, they do just let you into the exit (what used to be the alternate entrance)
but, at shows, I often get either a FP+ or use the DAS ( we always get a DAS, low vision is entitled to it)
but just tell the CM that someone in your party NEEDS to sit up front in order to see anything at all. even with a FP I tell the Cm my husband needs to sit close to the front. I have never had a problem. disny is accomodating for those with many various disabilites.. it's just that some of them don't fit into the "pigeon-hole definitions they have newly designed. don't worry about it.. You just need to ADVOCATE for your loved one with a disability.
visual disabilities ARE real disabilities, and disney can and will accomodate for them, if you ask (and if, necessary, insist)

 

[smidgy]

What is it about the DAS that helps someone with visual diabilities? I'm trying to figure out how it helps - is it some difference in the FP+ queue compared to the stnadby queue? Because that's all a DAS does, moves the bulk of the waiting to somewhere outside the queue, then you have to navigate the FP+ ueue.

yes, then we have to navigate th FP queue, which is much shorter (in terms of distance ) than the standby queue

 

[smidgy]

so basically, if someone in your party has low vision (or another type of visual disability) by all mean go to Gr and get a DAS. it will help you becuase the queue you need to navigate won't be asl long.. you can also go to the Cm and expaling the situation.. perhaps they will let you in the exit,' (you might need to wait the time of the standby queue to do so.. no problem)
in terms of shows. sma thing.. talk to the Cms . you should be directed to the front because of visual disabilites. it isn't as common a disability as others, so some CMS don't know how to handle it. you have to insist that you need to sit up front. we once were with a group of disser friends.at the nemo show. and since one in the party was in a scooter, they sat us way in the back in the wheelchair/handicapped area. my husband didn't see one single thing in the whole show.

 

[OurBigTrip]

at some attractions, when you explain to the CM, they do just let you into the exit (what used to be the alternate entrance)
but, at shows, I often get either a FP+ or use the DAS ( we always get a DAS, low vision is entitled to it)

No disability is "entitled" to a DAS, period. It's based on individual need, not disability diagnosis.

 

[gap2368]

we all need to remember that two or more people can have the same disability and have two different aaccomidation given to them by disney. Disney dose not care about you DX just how if affects you in the park. I know people who are blind, have autism, and have chrome(SP?) disease and CP ( four different people) and none of them use a DAS card because there disability they do not need the accommodation could they get one sure they could

 

[SMD]

There is no physical card, so once you're inside the theater there really isn't anything to show a CM. In theory you shouldn't need to show anything to get a seat near the front, but if they're already full I don't see how they're going to clear them. Have you considered getting a descriptive audio device to have as a backup, so that if you get in the theater and your seats are farther back you can use that too.

 

[smidgy]

No disability is "entitled" to a DAS, period. It's based on individual need, not disability diagnosis.

ok, I shouldn't have said "entitled" bad, bad word! lol...
" many people with low vision can be aided by the provisions of a DAS. " how is that? it helps us a lot. we need it we ask for it we get it.

at the shows, yes, there no longer is a physical card to show anyone. this is why we get in the queue for the handicapped. the wheelchairs, etc. we simply explain to the CM our NEEDS. that my husband needs to sit close to the front to see anything. there may be a day when all he will have is the audio description, but that day is not today.. while he can still see anything, we will do what we need to do the ensure he is close enough to do so.

so the seat up front aren't already full because we go in before the standard queue.

 

[unwritten01]

Going back to what csp originally brought up and the moderator built on: DAS/visual impairment - tell the CM. They MAY accommodate you with something like the wheelchair entrance. My son has Partial Trisomy 7, Autism, and visual impairment. Every time at a show we mentioned it to the CM they directed us in some way to a "closer" spot. This included wheelchair entrance such as Beauty and the Beast and one CM walked us to the front row of the Little Mermaid. This was over Thanksgiving weekend.

I am aware they could have said too bad. If that happened (and we were aware it could) we would have gotten as close as possible and used the wife's large iPhone screen to zoom in (some use Ipads) as needed to make it more enjoyable for him. That worked well once at Indiana Jones (previous trip). We also will go as much as possible at less crowded times such as February, late Jan, etc. By the way, was it that long ago people wanted small mobile phones?

csb1984 - keep on doing the best you can for your beautiful daughter! Blessings!

 

[SMD]

I am aware they could have said too bad. If that happened (and we were aware it could) we would have gotten as close as possible and used the wife's large iPhone screen to zoom in (some use Ipads) as needed to make it more enjoyable for him. That worked well once at Indiana Jones (previous trip). We also will go as much as possible at less crowded times such as February, late Jan, etc. By the way, was it that long ago people wanted small mobile phones?

When you do this do you have members of your party sit behind everyone else so that you don't block the view of the people behind you by holding up an iPad? This sounds like rather than planning ahead to arrive early and obtain the seats you need in the front you feel entitled to block the view of many other people who waited for the show just as you did. I would complain very loudly if someone held an iPad up in front of me during a show. When people on this board say other need more compassion for the disabled, these are the kinds of posts I think of, where someone feels entitled to ruin the experience for others.

 

[Baklava]

Would opera glasses or binoculars help the situation? Then if you can't get seats right up front you have a way for him to view without ruining someone else's experience.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

No priority seating.

1) DAS and ADA allow for ACCESS, not EXCESS.
2) Many feel that priority seating is excess.
3) Yes, I understand your issue/problem.
4) But, providing a DAS section could take up much of the better seats in the show.
5) And, for people taking advantage and not necessarily needing the better seats. (Yes, people do that OFTEN.)
6) This would be unfair to others.

 

[smidgy]

and many do not. a simple solution is to NOT" take up much of the better seats" with priority seating. only a small amount for those with visual disabilities. like there are some areas set up for wheelchairs for parades and fireworks.

and open them up 5-10 minutes before the show for everyone.

with nemo, they used to let you in the side entrance (to the eft of the stage. we were able to enter andmake it down to the front while there were still seats available.

now you have to go in at the top of the theater and make your way down the dark stairs. so it'
s impossible for us to "scamper" down quickly to beat others to the front. so a CM escorts us down the wheelchair ramp. and we hope we can get there in time.

we make sure we are in line early and talk to a CM. and just like handicapped sections for parades, etc. you can't expect to arrive at the last minutes and expect accomodations. as mentioned by someone earlier, if the seats are taken, they're taken.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

simple solution is to NOT" take up much of the better seats" with priority seating.

1) It sounds reasonable.
2) But, in reality won't work.
3) If they place a few spots, then those who can't get them will complain there are not enough of them.
4) Better to just not have them at all.

NOTE: Lots of times we get people at The Desk who complain they were able to do something because there were not enough seats/spots/opportunities/etc. We can commiserate, but it usually does not satisfy them.