DAS for daughter with heart condition?

[merina888]

We leave a week from Monday for WDW. It will be me, my husband, my son who is 6 years old and my daughter who is 3 years old. My daughter was born with a congenital heart condition and congenital tracheal condition. She had surgery on her heart and trachea at 4 months old. For the most part, she's a pretty normal 3 year old. However I have noticed that she does not manage heat and humidity well. Her cheeks get very pink and she gets a bit lethargic the longer she spends in the sun, heat and humidity. The last time we went to WDW, she was 13 months old and didn't ride many rides so we kept her in the AC as much as possible. Plus Tropical Storm Isaac when through so the parks were less crowded. We fastpassed things she was going to ride that had longer lines. I'm wondering if we should consider a DAS for her for rides that have longer waits so that she can wait out of the sun, heat and humidity. I have made fastpass + reservations for many things, but obviously it won't cover everything. Thanks for the help. I feel a bit self-conscious about the whole thing since I don't think of my daughter as having a disability.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't looked at it yet, there is a WDW DAS thread stuck near the top of this board. There is a separate one for Disneyland, so check that you have the correct one. The first post of each thread is DAS FAQs - that's the post you want to read.

DAS (Disability Access Service) is designed as an accommodation for guests with difficulty waiting in traditional lines.
So, think about the issues that the disability causes while waiting/being in lines. Those are the things you want to discuss.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Will she be walking the park, or using a stroller? If a stroller, be certain to describe her needs in a manner that makes clear that more than a mobility issue is involved, that she needs to be able to wait in cooler less humid areas.

 

[AndreaA]

Will she be walking the park, or using a stroller? If a stroller, be certain to describe her needs in a manner that makes clear that more than a mobility issue is involved, that she needs to be able to wait in cooler less humid areas.

Yes, this. People may try to tell you that "there's more sun and heat and humidity just walking around WDW than in the lines", yada, yada, yada, but frankly, that's just not true. You can practically go from one end of the park to the other stopping in air conditioned gift shops which are conveniently located EVERYWHERE.

The lines, on the other hand, even the ones which are under cover or inside are always hot and humid due to the amount of people there if nothing else.

Stroller as Wheelchair tag might also be useful for you. That would enable her to stay in her stroller (expending less energy, keeping cooler, possibly with clip-on fan) in the standby lines you might go through while waiting for a DAS or FP+ time to come up.

 

[merina888]

Probably some of both. We are renting a double stroller so that both kids can ride when necessary (my 6 year old typically walks everywhere but WDW is the only place I know of where he voluntarily rides). My daughter is at that age where she wants to walk everywhere. However she is small for her age (around 35 inches) and less than 30 lbs. She does not walk very fast and honestly, she's a bit clumsy and it's not uncommon for her to fall because she trips over her own feet. She's strong willed though and I suspect there will be times when she insists that she walk. I should add that at this stage she has no restrictions from her cardiologist nor is she currently on any medications. Aside from her size and the very visible scar on her chest, she looks like any other toddler.

I think my request would be that she needs to wait in an alternate location out of the sun, heat and humidity for long standby lines (do I need to give them an estimate of how long the line needs to be?). And perhaps stroller as a wheelchair is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Yes, this. People may try to tell you that "there's more sun and heat and humidity just walking around WDW than in the lines", yada, yada, yada, but frankly, that's just not true. You can practically go from one end of the park to the other stopping in air conditioned gift shops which are conveniently located EVERYWHERE . . .

Correctomondo.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I think my request would be that she needs to wait in an alternate location out of the sun, heat and humidity for long standby lines (do I need to give them an estimate of how long the line needs to be?). And perhaps stroller as a wheelchair is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for the suggestion.

I would try to articulate WHY she needs to be out of the sun, heat and humidity for long standby lines. What happens to her when she's in the heat, how is she physically affected, etc.

 

[Coonhound]

I think the biggest thing you can do that will help her is request a stroller as wheelchair tag. Then she will not have to get out of her stroller in line, she can still sit in the stroller while waiting in line. She's still small enough that a stroller won't be a big deal to anyone, she won't be embarrassed sitting in one. And you can put clip on fans on the stroller so she's got more air flow on her face. Plus a stroller with a roof will keep the sun off her. And being in the stroller will give her some space, so she's not smooshed between people while waiting in line.
I'd also see about getting a cooling vest for her to wear.

 

[Goddesstree]

I disagree with those stating that you can go through the parks from AC to AC. Also found the queues to be cooler than expected, with most having either indoor regular AC or fans with AC in outdoor areas.

How do you get from the park entrance at EPCOT to the living seas pavilion, or example? There is one little hallway with AC that I can think of, that's it. All the rest of it is outside. World Showcase is the same - no AC connections between the countries. And what about AK?

Cooling vests and freezing damp facecloths overnight, and staying hydrated can make a big difference. OP, I'd ask your medical team for advice.

 

[Goddesstree]

At WDW right now. It is very hot and humid. Did EPCOT for the afternoon. Queues are pretty cool, and the ones we did are indoors (Land, Living Seas, Figment, Oh Canada) but it was beastly hot getting from the parking lot/bus area through security, and walking to the Land Pavilion. We did get a nice blast of AC at Innoventions, but that was it.

I will report on other queue situations as our trip progresses. We're heading to Disney Studios tomorrow morning.

 

[SueM in MN]

I disagree with those stating that you can go through the parks from AC to AC. Also found the queues to be cooler than expected, with most having either indoor regular AC or fans with AC in outdoor areas.

How do you get from the park entrance at EPCOT to the living seas pavilion, or example? There is one little hallway with AC that I can think of, that's it. All the rest of it is outside. World Showcase is the same - no AC connections between the countries. And what about AK?

Cooling vests and freezing damp facecloths overnight, and staying hydrated can make a big difference. OP, I'd ask your medical team for advice.

I agree with you.

There are limited areas where guests can go thru the parks from AC to AC.
For example, at MK, it is possible to go on the left side of the street at the park entrance from the Emporium to Casey's Corner without going outside. That brings you to the end of Main Street, but since it involves going thru stores, it may not be the quickest, especially either children.
It's not possible to go down the right side of the Main Street thru the stores all the way to the end of Main Street - Starbucks is closed off, so guests can only enter in one place and can't just walk outside.
Once you have passed a Main Street, whichever land you go in, there will be a long distance before reaching the first air conditioned gift shop, and most of those are isolated, not connected to any other shop.

Epcot, as you mentioned, has long areas between buildings. Once you are in a building, OK, but there are few places to cut thru where you could be in air conditioning and avoid bring outside.

The Studio has some interconnected shops on the street where you enter the park and on Sunset Blvd, but those streets are not that long and there are long distances with nowhere to get into air conditioning.

Animal Kingdom has relatively few shops and lots of outdoor spaces.

At WDW right now. It is very hot and humid. Did EPCOT for the afternoon. Queues are pretty cool, and the ones we did are indoors (Land, Living Seas, Figment, Oh Canada) but it was beastly hot getting from the parking lot/bus area through security, and walking to the Land Pavilion. We did get a nice blast of AC at Innoventions, but that was it.

I will report on other queue situations as our trip progresses. We're heading to Disney Studios tomorrow morning.

As you found out, anyone who is concerned about sun, heat and humidity does need to be concerned about it everywhere, not just in lines. The lines at Epcot are indoors and, even outdoor lines at most of the other parks are shaded, covered, have fans or even some of the outdoor lines have air conditioning.

Whether guests avoid waiting in lines by using DAS, Fastpass or a touring plan, they will get more heat and humidity moving around the parks than they will in lines. So, it is still important to plan for other ways to beat the heat,menu and humidity.

For Disney's Hollywood Studios, one of the worst places is Lights, Motors, Action. The queue is mostly shaded, but most of the seating is in direct sun during the morning and until early afternoon.

 

[TulipsNZ]

Both my Dad & sister have major heart conditions, Dad is better since his heart transplant but both of them have issues with standing in lines let alone hot lines. I don't know if your cardiologists have discussed this and I don't know how she copes with strollers. Neither of my family members can cope with stationery situations very well especially if they are hot. They are terrified of theme parks and I am trying to convince them to come on an Australian theme park holiday with us but even with much shorter lines they are scared of the lines. Is she ok if she keeps moving slowly? Is she ok with heat at low speeds? What exactly does she need?

 

[North of Mouse]

I disagree with those stating that you can go through the parks from AC to AC. Also found the queues to be cooler than expected, with most having either indoor regular AC or fans with AC in outdoor areas.

I also disagree. I don't usually get exceptionally hot in lines unless I'm in the sun. But walking about in the parks (in the sun) is brutal during the summer.
I never take the time to duck in and out of air conditioned buildings while getting to a certain area. I would never get there. The only way I'd do that is if I am meandering, and sort of shopping as I go with no hurry.

OP, (as a pp mentioned) probably a stroller, as wheelchair, with clip on fans and sun canopy would be the best thing for your daughter. She shouldn't get overly hot then, as she would not be exerting any energy herself and have the fans to boot.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My adult dd does get the DAS. She has four totally unrelated heart issues. She uses a ECV as well but she can't use it full time or she will end up on the ground (so I get to drive it). She is heat/cold intolerant. She always has a jacket for when things get chilly but does need to stay out of the sun for extended periods.

My dd10 started having some of the same symptoms a couple of years ago. She was just diagnosed with NCS/POTS. She got to lay on the bench at Toys R Us just this past weekend trying to keep her from passing out. She also started getting hives this summer every time she swims (happened a few times last winter as well). Turns out she's allergic to cold (we are in Ohio, it gets cold in the winter) so we have to be careful with the a/c with her as well.

Our next trip will be more challenging but we will have to deal with it the best we can.