DAS changed at Disneyland

[DG24]

We arrived last Saturday and found out the DAS pass changed at Disneyland, since January. We had not heard it so was not expecting it. So I will pass on what we experienced.
Mom went to guest relationships, and asked for DAS to be put on her annual pass, since she has not been since January.
They told her things have changed a little since then and that they no longer have you go to guest relation people through park and get a return time. You have to go to the attraction, and it is only for certain attractions.
The first five hours we had no problem. Then we went to autotopia which is not a ride that gives you a time to come back, so we went thru the line half way thru we had a problem, cast member was very nice about it and said, go back to guest relations and explain what just happened and how it could have been better and they will give you a different pass. Well we had enough for that day and all left. Next day we did go back to guest relations and they did give us a different pass, and we now again go to the green umbrellas.

Anyway I thought I would pass this on. Hope I was genetic enough not so pass on info for specific disabilities.

 

[nikkislaght]

Thanks for the updated info.. hope you had a great trip..

 

[DG24]

Thanks we are having a fantastic time. The DAS is working great. We had an awful experience with Aladin, we will try again today to see it, hope it goes much better. If anyone needs more specific they can pm me. But these little changes are needed to keep the masses from finding out how it all works I think. I do like the new system, it has been over a year, now with a few more tweaks they will get it so for a while most masses can not cheat the system. I think of space mountain the last few days, compared to a year ago and even if I have to get a wait time and go back and wait another 20 minutes, it is so much better than it was back over a year ago when I had to wait 2 hours. Also, POTC, we have not had to wait more than 10 minutes, it has been so great. They now put five families in w/c on at one time, and take up a whole boat, instead of one family every time the boat goes all the way around, before putting another on.

 

[lanejudy]

You have to go to the attraction, and it is only for certain attractions.

Could you please clarify... with a DAS you had to go to the attraction for a return time? Or for a wheelchair return time at non-accessible queues? It sounds like initially your mother was not given a DAS due to mobility needs, which is standard unless there are other needs. At the California parks, DAS return times have been issued at kiosks while wheelchair return times are issued at the ride itself.

I'm glad you have enjoying your trip!

 

[SMD]

Could you please clarify... with a DAS you had to go to the attraction for a return time? Or for a wheelchair return time at non-accessible queues? It sounds like initially your mother was not given a DAS due to mobility needs, which is standard unless there are other needs. At the California parks, DAS return times have been issued at kiosks while wheelchair return times are issued at the ride itself.

I'm glad you have enjoying your trip!

It sounds like they were originally doing WC return times, which are given at the attraction (when given, sometimes you just wait) and were later actually issued a DAS which is why they then started using the kiosk. Both use your ticket, so to the guest they would appear to be the same thing.

 

[DG24]

Maybe they are two seperate things. Last summer we had a DAS card and used it. This jan they did away with DAS cards and just told us to go to green unbrellas. This time they gave us a paper that told us on these attractions you go to attraction and get a return time. Well the attractions you get a return time for have accessible lines, those that don't have accessible lines where not on the list, also those on the list all have FP. So to me it really did not make sense. Anyway when we had the problem, they gave us access to the old way, get a return time at the kiosk. Even those at the kiosk where turning people away. And last summer and in jan there were a lot more people using the kiosk, now every time I go I am the only one using it. I have only seen two other people in 5 days get return times at the kiosk, so something changed. When I say kiosk I mean unbrellas, with guest relation people.

 

[DG24]

Oh I should also say, they told me and I heard them tell a lot of other people that the policy now is for people to use fastpass system, which I am sure it always has been, but now they are telling everyone that is the new way to go. I have never heard them tell my mother before to use the fastpass system, but both times we were at guest relations to talk to them about her DAS pass, they were telling everyone that comes in that new policy for this issue or that issue is fast pass and then on these attractions you can get a return time.

 

[lanejudy]

I haven't heard that DAS has been fully eliminated with all guests directed to only use FP. Disneyland went "digital" with DAS in November 2014, so the physical DAS card was eliminated but not the DAS program; the DAS is now electronically attached to your ticket. It sounds like at your visit in January they didn't renew your DAS for some reason.

Guests who only need mobility access do not typically get a DAS even though some were used to receiving a GAC in the past. DAS is for those with invisible needs which cannot be accommodated by a wheelchair or ECV. There are "wheelchair return cards" at the attractions which do not have an accessible queue. I admittedly have not been to DL but was under the impression that "wheelchair return times" were given at the ride itself, while DAS return times are given at the kiosks.

It is recommended to use DAS along with FP, and has been since DAS started as well as GAC before that. Whether guests do so or not is up to them.

Again, I'm glad you/your mom have received the accommodations needed and you are having a good vacation!

 

[SMD]

Are you sure that they didn't just say as a reminder that if you've had your ticket scanned for a return time you can still use FP? Many GAC users didn't use FP because GAC was faster, so some haven't considered using it in addition to DAS. I imagine it can be even more confusing now that tickets are being scanned for return times. Also, I believe there are some attractions that issue return times that you can't use DAS for. Olaf and Anna & Elsa. Were they possibly just trying to explain that? I don't think it's time yet to alarm anyone about changes when it's pretty unclear what your mother was actually told.

 

[DG24]

You don't have to believe me, it changed. In jan it was DAS. In jan and last summer the DAS line at kiosk was always five or six families waiting for a scanned return time. Now no one. The first pass we got this time, whether a DAS or just a w/c pass which we do not have, the only rides you could get a return pass to is JC, indy,POTC, HM, sm, BTMr, pp, aw, IASW, sm, st. Every one of them has a FP, a lot of them have mostly accessible lines. Indy, HM and such are accessible up to right before the ride and then you go to elevator or such. But rides like dumbo, wt, auto, buzz, and so on that do not have an accessible line are not on the list. Since we did not use the whatever we got first time around more than 5 hours, I have no idea how a w/c person would get on that ride. But since you do not belive me anyway, I don't need to figure it out. It changed, how I don't know, but very very few people have a pass whatever you want to call it, that can be used at kiosk or the unbrellas, many many people are going and asking and being to,d no. I am not saying they are not giving any out, but unless I happen to be here during a week that no other persons needs a DAS pass, there are very very few people here now getting a return time from kiosk. Also very few people are getting anything when they go in to ask, I have had to run into guest services three times, call me lucky or unlucky, because I have found three tickets and returned them to gr, every time I go in, I hear someone arguing with them about the system. Now we did not have to argue, when we got the wrong pass, or whatever, we just explained what happened to us because we had not been accommodated and why and how, and we got the pass. I don't like to say specific disabilities, but the one accommodated the most with out a w/c, I have seen two parents arguing with gr over things and both times walked out without the DAS pass, or the paper I was giving when mom got her pass. Maybe they were like mom at first and just did not explain right and got it later, but something has changed, the fact that no one is going to kiosk at all tells you that, both last summer and last jan, the lines at then io sky were four or five people every time you went, no no one every is at them. I think many are getting two fast passes, the one to return to the ride as they walk to the ride, and the one out of the machine, and that is how they are being accommodated, that is what we were doing our first few hours. But again since no one believes me, wait and see what comes up when others tell you there has been some kind of change to the system, and it seems to be really new, because at first even gr told us they had no more gr kiosk. And at first when we went to them, they told us they did not give return times. Then the next day they did.

 

[SMD]

You don't have to believe me, it changed. In jan it was DAS. In jan and last summer the DAS line at kiosk was always five or six families waiting for a scanned return time. Now no one. The first pass we got this time, whether a DAS or just a w/c pass which we do not have, the only rides you could get a return pass to is JC, indy,POTC, HM, sm, BTMr, pp, aw, IASW, sm, st. Every one of them has a FP, a lot of them have mostly accessible lines. Indy, HM and such are accessible up to right before the ride and then you go to elevator or such. But rides like dumbo, wt, auto, buzz, and so on that do not have an accessible line are not on the list. Since we did not use the whatever we got first time around more than 5 hours, I have no idea how a w/c person would get on that ride. But since you do not belive me anyway, I don't need to figure it out. It changed, how I don't know, but very very few people have a pass whatever you want to call it, that can be used at kiosk or the unbrellas, many many people are going and asking and being to,d no. I am not saying they are not giving any out, but unless I happen to be here during a week that no other persons needs a DAS pass, there are very very few people here now getting a return time from kiosk. Also very few people are getting anything when they go in to ask, I have had to run into guest services three times, call me lucky or unlucky, because I have found three tickets and returned them to gr, every time I go in, I hear someone arguing with them about the system. Now we did not have to argue, when we got the wrong pass, or whatever, we just explained what happened to us because we had not been accommodated and why and how, and we got the pass. I don't like to say specific disabilities, but the one accommodated the most with out a w/c, I have seen two parents arguing with gr over things and both times walked out without the DAS pass, or the paper I was giving when mom got her pass. Maybe they were like mom at first and just did not explain right and got it later, but something has changed, the fact that no one is going to kiosk at all tells you that, both last summer and last jan, the lines at then io sky were four or five people every time you went, no no one every is at them. I think many are getting two fast passes, the one to return to the ride as they walk to the ride, and the one out of the machine, and that is how they are being accommodated, that is what we were doing our first few hours. But again since no one believes me, wait and see what comes up when others tell you there has been some kind of change to the system, and it seems to be really new, because at first even gr told us they had no more gr kiosk. And at first when we went to them, they told us they did not give return times. Then the next day they did.

What are you talking about? You went to Disneyland in California, right? Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Peter Pan (which is currently closed) do not use FP. Further, none of those, plus Space Mountain and Splash Mountain do not have accessible lines. I don't know what "aw" stands for. I don't know what "wt" stand for, but Buzz Lightyear is an accessible line. You go through it until a door just before the moving platform where the ride loads. You go through the door and load there while everyone else turns the corner. I'm not sure about Dumbo, a small wheelchair or walker probably could go through that line, it might be tight for an ECV. Autopia is also accessible to a point where you take a lift to avoid the final stairs to the loading platform, and it uses FP. DAS did change. Instead of being issued a physical card it is now attached to your ticket, which is scanned for return times for both DAS and WC return. You cannot double dip and get one of each at the same time, but having either a DAS return or WC return does not affect your ability to use FP. I was just in the park 2 days last week and there were plenty of people getting return times at kiosks and using them on rides. One thing I found interesting is that if there is no mobility issue they are now sending DAS returns through the Space Mountain FP line instead of through the exit. The woman in front of my when I was trying to use my FP screaming at the CM because after her DAS return was scanned they handed her a card that said "3" for the 3 people in her party to give to the CM collecting FP. Maybe there were less people at the kiosks because Spring break is over and it's a slow time right now.

 

[keishashadow]

You don't have to believe me, it changed. In jan it was DAS. In jan and last summer the DAS line at kiosk was always five or six families waiting for a scanned return time. Now no one. The first pass we got this time, whether a DAS or just a w/c pass which we do not have, the only rides you could get a return pass to is JC, indy,POTC, HM, sm, BTMr, pp, aw, IASW, sm, st. Every one of them has a FP, a lot of them have mostly accessible lines. Indy, HM and such are accessible up to right before the ride and then you go to elevator or such. But rides like dumbo, wt, auto, buzz, and so on that do not have an accessible line are not on the list. Since we did not use the whatever we got first time around more than 5 hours, I have no idea how a w/c person would get on that ride. But since you do not belive me anyway, I don't need to figure it out. It changed, how I don't know, but very very few people have a pass whatever you want to call it, that can be used at kiosk or the unbrellas, many many people are going and asking and being to,d no. I am not saying they are not giving any out, but unless I happen to be here during a week that no other persons needs a DAS pass, there are very very few people here now getting a return time from kiosk. Also very few people are getting anything when they go in to ask, I have had to run into guest services three times, call me lucky or unlucky, because I have found three tickets and returned them to gr, every time I go in, I hear someone arguing with them about the system. Now we did not have to argue, when we got the wrong pass, or whatever, we just explained what happened to us because we had not been accommodated and why and how, and we got the pass. I don't like to say specific disabilities, but the one accommodated the most with out a w/c, I have seen two parents arguing with gr over things and both times walked out without the DAS pass, or the paper I was giving when mom got her pass. Maybe they were like mom at first and just did not explain right and got it later, but something has changed, the fact that no one is going to kiosk at all tells you that, both last summer and last jan, the lines at then io sky were four or five people every time you went, no no one every is at them. I think many are getting two fast passes, the one to return to the ride as they walk to the ride, and the one out of the machine, and that is how they are being accommodated, that is what we were doing our first few hours. But again since no one believes me, wait and see what comes up when others tell you there has been some kind of change to the system, and it seems to be really new, because at first even gr told us they had no more gr kiosk. And at first when we went to them, they told us they did not give return times. Then the next day they did.

you lost me here as to two FP. Know they do many things differently than WDW but don't understand how people are obtaining two FP, DAS or not.

 

[DG24]

you lost me here as to two FP. Know they do many things differently than WDW but don't understand how people are obtaining two FP, DAS or not.

I guess I called it wrong, a fast pass gives you a time to come back, and the people who go to attractions get a return time, it is not actually called a FP and it is not actually called a DAS, so whatever you want to call it. Those in w/c and believe me, those with certain disabilities are now giving this option, you can go to the attraction and get a return time for the disabled person and for everyone in the party, they are hooked to your ticket, then you can walk over and get a FP out of a machine, so basically you are holding two fastpasses, on from a machine and one from your ticket.
Even thou some people don't believe me, but they are telling you at guest relations that, this makes you walk less. The way guest relation explained it to me and mom was, go to star tours and get a return time, go to space and pull a fast pass, the. Go and ride buzz, ride star tours and then space.
For us that is not how we ever used our DAS pass. Last summer, in jan and now, we go to the park during EE, ride two big attractions. Then a few small ones. Then leave the park. Come back hours later, we get a fastpass for a big attraction, we do a show, parade or something then use the fast pass. Then maybe get a return time and use it. We used our DAS pass the most for things like dumbo, wild toad, autotopia, why because they are out in the sun. We use our DAS pass twice as much at dca than at DL, why because almost all lines at dca are out in the sun.
We finished our fifth day at DL, three more days, I have not once in all those days gone up to a kiosk and had another person ask for a return time, except us. We have been in gr several times and not once heard another person get a DAS pass. I am not saying they do not give them, I am saying something changed. When we first went to gr, we asked for the DAS the same why we did, last year and for over thirty years going to Disney my mother knows her disability and how to ask for her card, she explained what she needed, she explained why it was needed and how it would help. They told her they no longer give that kind of pass out for that disability and we were issued whatever they call it. They told us to go and get a FP and to go to an attraction listed and only those attractions would accommodate her, she does not have a w/c. Her disability is not easily known, at first look, but if you watch you will see it. As I said we had slight problems but not bad that first day until we went to autotopia, we had major problems and cm told us what to do.
This is way to much explaination for people who insist they know it all and nothing has changed. Three visits a year for 24 years, I am telling you something changed, but you can believe what you want because I only have to deal with us and we have the card we need for us. And since we seem to be the only one in the parks with this kind of pass and not one other person is standing at gr asking for a time except us, it is working even better than it ever has. I gave you a list of the only attractions that allow you to go get a return time and someone has to argue that Peter pan is closed. So be it. Please close this post I don't feel like explaining anymore. Let someone else tell you that the pass has changed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ook

This is way to much explaination for people who insist they know it all and nothing has changed. Three visits a year for 24 years,

Nobody said nothing changed. Over 24 years, much has.
Since October 2013, guests whose non-mobility-related disabilities make them unable to wait in a standard queue are given a DAS. Originally the U.S. parks required guests to get a return time applied to the card by a CM. A recent change at DL/DCA attaches the return time to the party's tickets instead.
The DAS is similar to a FastPass, but clearly issued for a different purpose and under limited conditions. It can be used in conjunction with the FastPass. There is also the wheelchair return pass when a line isn't accessible.
There is currently no other kind of pass.
Prior to the DAS there was the over-issued and overusdd GAC. Before that there was the GAP. Before that, something else. Things do change, but there have been no changes like what you're describing advised by Disney or mentioned by anyone else.

 

[aaarcher86]

This literally sounds like a poor explanation of the current electronic DAS system in DL... In conjunction with FP and WC return times.

If there was some kind of major change we would have heard about it by multiple people by now.

 

[Aladora]

Since we have a trip coming up in a few months and I always prepare our son for any changes well in advance, I just sent Disney a quick e-mail asking for clarification on this issue. I will post the reply when I receive it.

 

[2tinkerbell]

Since we have a trip coming up in a few months and I always prepare our son for any changes well in advance, I just sent Disney a quick e-mail asking for clarification on this issue. I will post the reply when I receive it.

Thanks Aladora for doing this. Our trip is in 13 days and like you, I always try to prepare my DD for any changes. I had her all prepped that she isn't going to receive an actual card. I also have her prepped that she needs to present both of our tickets to the CM.

Now that the tickets are scanned at the attraction, I am wondering if the ability to issue a DAS return time at the attraction as well. I hope that we can still get a DAS return time in Disneyland for an attraction in California Adventure (one of our favorite strategies).

We have always had a DAS return time and a FastPass, so this is not something new. We will pick up a FastPass and then go get a DAS return time and alternate throughout the day.

 

[keishashadow]

I guess I called it wrong, a fast pass gives you a time to come back, and the people who go to attractions get a return time, it is not actually called a FP and it is not actually called a DAS, so whatever you want to call it. Those in w/c and believe me, those with certain disabilities are now giving this option, you can go to the attraction and get a return time for the disabled person and for everyone in the party, they are hooked to your ticket, then you can walk over and get a FP out of a machine, so basically you are holding two fastpasses, on from a machine and one from your ticket.
Even thou some people don't believe me, but they are telling you at guest relations that, this makes you walk less. The way guest relation explained it to me and mom was, go to star tours and get a return time, go to space and pull a fast pass, the. Go and ride buzz, ride star tours and then space.
For us that is not how we ever used our DAS pass. Last summer, in jan and now, we go to the park during EE, ride two big attractions. Then a few small ones. Then leave the park. Come back hours later, we get a fastpass for a big attraction, we do a show, parade or something then use the fast pass. Then maybe get a return time and use it. We used our DAS pass the most for things like dumbo, wild toad, autotopia, why because they are out in the sun. We use our DAS pass twice as much at dca than at DL, why because almost all lines at dca are out in the sun.
We finished our fifth day at DL, three more days, I have not once in all those days gone up to a kiosk and had another person ask for a return time, except us. We have been in gr several times and not once heard another person get a DAS pass. I am not saying they do not give them, I am saying something changed. When we first went to gr, we asked for the DAS the same why we did, last year and for over thirty years going to Disney my mother knows her disability and how to ask for her card, she explained what she needed, she explained why it was needed and how it would help. They told her they no longer give that kind of pass out for that disability and we were issued whatever they call it. They told us to go and get a FP and to go to an attraction listed and only those attractions would accommodate her, she does not have a w/c. Her disability is not easily known, at first look, but if you watch you will see it. As I said we had slight problems but not bad that first day until we went to autotopia, we had major problems and cm told us what to do.
This is way to much explaination for people who insist they know it all and nothing has changed. Three visits a year for 24 years, I am telling you something changed, but you can believe what you want because I only have to deal with us and we have the card we need for us. And since we seem to be the only one in the parks with this kind of pass and not one other person is standing at gr asking for a time except us, it is working even better than it ever has. I gave you a list of the only attractions that allow you to go get a return time and someone has to argue that Peter pan is closed. So be it. Please close this post I don't feel like explaining anymore. Let someone else tell you that the pass has changed.

I wasn't trying to be confrontational, just haven't been to DL since they changed over to the DAS. I still remember being excited to find out back in the day that you could collect several open ended FPs. Guess that became a bit too popular & they went to the standard 1 FP. The GAC/DAS has always been issued with proviso that FP should be utilized in connection with it.

From what I gathered from these boards, the old GAC was heavily requested @ DL (being a locals' park of sorts) and they felt the need to make modifications such as having the entire party on file, etc.

I believe you are stating GS denied your mother a DAS based upon her stated needs. that had to be very difficult considering they accommodated her needs for so many years. I would be very disappointed to find myself in that situation.

We will find out soon enough if your mother received some sort of special one-time accommodation/card or that your experience is the new reality...based upon majority consensus of reports that show up here.

 

[Aladora]

Thanks Aladora for doing this. Our trip is in 13 days and like you, I always try to prepare my DD for any changes. I had her all prepped that she isn't going to receive an actual card. I also have her prepped that she needs to present both of our tickets to the CM.

Now that the tickets are scanned at the attraction, I am wondering if the ability to issue a DAS return time at the attraction as well. I hope that we can still get a DAS return time in Disneyland for an attraction in California Adventure (one of our favorite strategies).

We have always had a DAS return time and a FastPass, so this is not something new. We will pick up a FastPass and then go get a DAS return time and alternate throughout the day.

I just missed a call from the Disney Disability Services, she did leave a message and this is what she said.

The only recent change to the DAS is that it is now added to your tickets electronically rather than being a physical card.

The kiosks are still there and you definitely go the the kiosks to get the return times put on to the DAS. You can still also go to either City Hall or the Chamber of Commerce to get a return time.

You are still able to use Fastpass in addition to the DAS return time, it is in fact recommended that you do.

You can have both a Fastpass and DAS return time at the same time.

You CANNOT have a DAS return time and a Wheelchair return time at the same time.

You do not get DAS return times at the attraction.

You do get Wheelchair return times at the attraction.

Hope that clears it up for everyone, it seems as though nothing has changed since we were last there in February.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks.
I am going to update the DL DAS sticky thread this weekend, so will add that information.