DAS Pass Questions

[JJ2017]

Where would we register for the DAS pass and can this be done outside the parks, say the night before our first park day?

What do we need to have with us?

How does it work??? If there is a thread on this or a good resource that you know of, please share!

Thanks!

 

[maleficent55]

You can’t do it before arriving, it can only be done in the parks.

at City Hall in Disneyland or the Chamber of Commerce in DCA

and there is nothing you need to have with you, Disney can’t look at notes or doctors notes or medical records. You’ll explain your reason and they will accept or not

 

[bcla]

It can be set up at any information kiosk inside the park in addition to City Hall and Chamber of Commerce. Return times have to be requested in person at any of these locations.

The Disneyland app will allow the guest to monitor the DAS return times.

 

[JJ2017]

It can be set up at any information kiosk inside the park in addition to City Hall and Chamber of Commerce. Return times have to be requested in person at any of these locations.

The Disneyland app will allow the guest to monitor the DAS return times.

thank you. i started to read some articles. i also read that you can get a return time from a CM at a particular ride as well (for that ride only). is that true?

 

[Mamato4boys]

Unless something has changed since June 2018 when we last went, you could not get return times from ride CMs, just at the information kiosks throughout the park.

My son was approved at one of the kiosks. The CM asked a few questions (about how a pass would help our situation, not specific medical or diagnosis questions) and interacted with my son just a bit before approving the pass.

I've read a bit where people were upset with changes that were made to the program and how it made it inconvenient to use, but honestly, I thought it was great! It made such a huge difference in our ability to enjoy the parks with our special needs kiddo.

 

[bcla]

thank you. i started to read some articles. i also read that you can get a return time from a CM at a particular ride as well (for that ride only). is that true?

Not that I know of. I never saw that happening, and it would take up a lot of time. Many are at the regular FastPass return, where there are a lot of guests scanning tickets and they really need to keep the line moving. The CMs are checking their phones for more info in those checking in. DAS can also be used for return times where there's no FastPass.

I do remember being at City Hall where it was just so crowded that they were recommending anyone needing a DAS return time to find one of the kiosks.

 

[bcla]

I've read a bit where people were upset with changes that were made to the program and how it made it inconvenient to use, but honestly, I thought it was great! It made such a huge difference in our ability to enjoy the parks with our special needs kiddo.

The key seems to be that it's now a return time rather than a skip the line now pass. For someone who might just have problems with meltdowns in lines but not with crowds it probably would work out pretty well. Also - it's for more than just kids with non-physical injuries. Adults can get them, including ones who have issues such as pain from standing in line too long.

The complaints I heard were about some parents who just wanted to skip the line in order to limit the length of the day, rather than maximize the number of rides over a longer day. The rationale was that they couldn't handle a full day, but riding a lot of rides over a short time was more tolerable.

 

[midnight star]

thank you. i started to read some articles. i also read that you can get a return time from a CM at a particular ride as well (for that ride only). is that true?

I’ve only seen that done at Peter Pan. Not other rides.

 

[siren0119]

The key seems to be that it's now a return time rather than a skip the line now pass. For someone who might just have problems with meltdowns in lines but not with crowds it probably would work out pretty well. Also - it's for more than just kids with non-physical injuries. Adults can get them, including ones who have issues such as pain from standing in line too long.

The bolded is incorrect - DAS does not address mobility issues (which includes inability to stand for long periods). However adults and children CAN get DAS if they have a need that prevents them from being in lines for long periods unrelated to mobility.

OP - regarding getting return times at the rides instead of a kiosk, that is how it is done at DisneyWORLD - it might be that you were given info that was specific to WDW instead of Disneyland.

 

[bcla]

One more thing is that only a single return time can be active at one time for any ride in Disneyland or California Adventure. However, regardless of where the ride is, the return time can be requested at DL or DCA.

 

[bcla]

The bolded is incorrect - DAS does not address mobility issues (which includes inability to stand for long periods). However adults and children CAN get DAS if they have a need that prevents them from being in lines for long periods unrelated to mobility.

None of the information on the Disneyland website says that it can't be mobility related. It just has to be a disability of some type that makes it difficult to be in line for long periods. Even with a wheelchair or scooter there's an option to get a return time, although I saw quite a few just waiting in line.

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me.../dlr-disability-access-service_2017-07-17.pdf​

DAS is intended for Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue environment. This service allows Guests to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction. Once a return time is issued, Guests are free to enjoy other theme park offerings such as meeting a Character, grabbing a bite to eat, enjoying entertainment or even visiting another attraction until their listed return time. Return times are valid until redeemed prior to park closing.​

​

I recall the issue that forced the creation of DAS over the original Guest Assistance Card was people hiring out "guides" with visible physical disabilities as pretend family members. They were allowed to skip the lines.

 

[JJ2017]

OK - thank you everyone. I will continue to do some more research to understand if this is the right thing for my son!

 

[siren0119]

None of the information on the Disneyland website says that it can't be mobility related. It just has to be a disability of some type that makes it difficult to be in line for long periods. Even with a wheelchair or scooter there's an option to get a return time, although I saw quite a few just waiting in line.

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me.../dlr-disability-access-service_2017-07-17.pdf​

DAS is intended for Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue environment. This service allows Guests to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction. Once a return time is issued, Guests are free to enjoy other theme park offerings such as meeting a Character, grabbing a bite to eat, enjoying entertainment or even visiting another attraction until their listed return time. Return times are valid until redeemed prior to park closing.​

It's literally in the first sentence of the second paragraph.

"A Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter does not need DAS. "

The "necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter" is referring to mobility based issues, not necessarily someone who cannot walk at all.

 

[Mamato4boys]

The key seems to be that it's now a return time rather than a skip the line now pass. For someone who might just have problems with meltdowns in lines but not with crowds it probably would work out pretty well. Also - it's for more than just kids with non-physical injuries. Adults can get them, including ones who have issues such as pain from standing in line too long.

The complaints I heard were about some parents who just wanted to skip the line in order to limit the length of the day, rather than maximize the number of rides over a longer day. The rationale was that they couldn't handle a full day, but riding a lot of rides over a short time was more tolerable.

I didn't know physical issues (adults standing too long) qualified. It has been nearly 2 years since I was researching and came across the complaints I was referring to, so I'm not sure the exact reasoning behind it, but I do know that our last trip was so much better than the one prior to that because of the pass.

My son does have issues with getting overwhelmed in crowds, but this helped that significantly because we entered through the exit (at least most of the time, if I remember correctly), so we skipped a lot of the feeling of being trapped in a crowd/line.

Unfortunately, I think a program that would be all things for all people would make it more likely to be abused, like I believe I have heard the former program was. DAS isn't perfect, but, for my family's situation, it was great!

 

[bcla]

It's literally in the first sentence of the second paragraph.

"A Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter does not need DAS. "

The "necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter" is referring to mobility based issues, not necessarily someone who cannot walk at all.

Again, it only means that a scooter or wheelchair is self-evident of a disability and doesn't require a DAS registration. You're implying that a mobility issue doesn't qualify. The wording is pretty broad - "Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue environment".

 

[bcla]

My son does have issues with getting overwhelmed in crowds, but this helped that significantly because we entered through the exit (at least most of the time, if I remember correctly), so we skipped a lot of the feeling of being trapped in a crowd/line.

Depends on the ride I guess. In many of the rides it's just sharing the same FastPass entrance, and some of those waits can be pretty long, such as Indy or Radiator Springs Racers. Heck - Indy goes up and down stairs although I heard a CM asking someone with a DAS if the guest had issues that prevented using stairs. Still - those rides were up to 150 minute standby waits.

 

[siren0119]

Again, it only means that a scooter or wheelchair is self-evident of a disability and doesn't require a DAS registration. You're implying that a mobility issue doesn't qualify. The wording is pretty broad - "Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue environment".

A person with a mobility issue is directed to rent a wheelchair to accommodate their mobility issues. Speaking from experience. Now that the lines at the rides are almost entirely ADA accessible there is no longer a need to issue DAS to folks experiencing mobility related issues (which include standing for long periods).

 

[tsumgirl]

A person with a mobility issue is directed to rent a wheelchair to accommodate their mobility issues. Speaking from experience. Now that the lines at the rides are almost entirely ADA accessible there is no longer a need to issue DAS to folks experiencing mobility related issues (which include standing for long periods).

This is correct.

There are individuals that use a scooter (like me), who have issues with lines beyond our mobility needs, which may give the impression that all wheelchair or scooter users qualify for DAS. They do not qualify based on mobility related issues alone.

 

[Mamato4boys]

Depends on the ride I guess. In many of the rides it's just sharing the same FastPass entrance, and some of those waits can be pretty long, such as Indy or Radiator Springs Racers. Heck - Indy goes up and down stairs although I heard a CM asking someone with a DAS if the guest had issues that prevented using stairs. Still - those rides were up to 150 minute standby waits.

That makes sense. We didn't use our pass on anything that has a FastPass, not that I remember anyway. Mostly we did things like Dumbo, Astro Orbitors, Pirates, Monsters Inc, Mater's. Our son did ride a few FP rides, but we just got FPs for them (used Maxpass, which was also a huge help!).

 

[bcla]

That makes sense. We didn't use our pass on anything that has a FastPass, not that I remember anyway. Mostly we did things like Dumbo, Astro Orbitors, Pirates, Monsters Inc, Mater's. Our son did ride a few FP rides, but we just got FPs for them (used Maxpass, which was also a huge help!).

In the FP entries everyone was treated equally. Even those skipping the lines on VIP tours had to wait. On Radiator Springs Racers I think it was a good 20-25 minutes. I saw a VIP tour group there that had waited about 15 minutes and then asked to leave. Surprised that they would do that after paying about $400/hr.