DAS Question - need longer loading time

[rewardsinlife]

Hello everyone. I hope you are all having a good day.

I looked at the DAS thread and many other posts, but haven't found the answer yet to this question. On my better days I can walk and stand in lines to a certain degree. However, once I am at the ride, because of perception, mobility, and balance issues I take a longer time to load into and out of the vehicles. ( usually about twice the amount of time of what a person without any disabilities would be able to load.) Does DAS cover this? I have a couple times unintentionally been the one to shut down and restart rides because I took too long to load in or out and messed up the timing when I went through the regular line. (Mattahorn, space mountain). ( I am at DL and DCA by the way), I was told to get a GAC after that which helped me out a lot. So..you can see my dilemma now that does not exist anymore. And for rides with moving walkways I must have it slowed down or stopped or I I will land flat on my face. Anyone have experience or know anything on this topic in relation to the new DAS system?

Thanks in advance! Moderators please feel free to move this to the appropriate spot if you are keeping all the DAS threads together. Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

There are no stamps on the DAS like there were for the GAC. The DAS is basically intended for those who cannot wait in a standard queue. It doesn't sound like that is your concern; The DAS would make you wait "outside the line" before entering the FP line, but will do nothing to tell the ride operators of your needs entering and exiting the ride car. It sounds like you need the moving walkways slowed and/or stopped. You should request this at each ride for which you anticipate needing extra time. Fortunately, you've been before so you probaby have a good idea of which rides.

If you have other needs as well that interfere with your ability to wait in a standard queue, then you should discuss those concerns with Guest Relations to see about a DAS. But for slowing the walkways, you just need to ask at each attraction.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[aubriee]

Lanejudy is correct. My mom uses an ECV at WDW, but can get out of it and onto most rides. However, she is very slow and absolutely can not board a ride with a moving walkway, due to poor mobility, needing a cane, vision perception and balance problems. At WDW they can not stop the walkways at Peter Pan or the People Mover, so we know we just can't ride those. The Haunted Mansion is a crap shoot. Most times the CMs will let us go in the back (after leaving the stretching room) and will stop it completely, but we have had some CMs, say the ride is too busy that day and they will only slow it down, refusing to stop it completely. When they do, we just have to leave without riding. This has happened twice in the last year.

Supposedly a DAS is just for people who can't wait in lines, for other problems (like mobility and vision) you must talk with the CMs at each ride about your needs.

 

[ttintagel]

The Haunted Mansion is a crap shoot. Most times the CMs will let us go in the back (after leaving the stretching room) and will stop it completely, but we have had some CMs, say the ride is too busy that day and they will only slow it down, refusing to stop it completely.

My sister and I had one HM CM simply shake her head, sigh, turn on her heel, walk away from us to the other end of the load area, and start helping other guests while we were in the middle of asking her if she could slow the belt down for us.

Luckily, another CM came along after a while (We just stood there staring and in the way for as long as it took) and helped us. I'll repeat it for anyone who's new to this board: my pet theory is that any MK CM with poor people skills or a personality problem gets assigned to the HM in the hopes that his or her antisocial behavior will be mistaken for general "spookiness" and not get noticed by the general public.

 

[DopeyDame]

My dad moves slowly as well. We've never used a GAC at WDW and there have been a few times when he was the cause of the ride slowing down or stopping. Truly, no biggie. Take the time you need to safely load the ride, and if they stop it for you or slow it down, that's just fine.

 

[cmwade77]

My sister and I had one HM CM simply shake her head, sigh, turn on her heel, walk away from us to the other end of the load area, and start helping other guests while we were in the middle of asking her if she could slow the belt down for us.

Luckily, another CM came along after a while (We just stood there staring and in the way for as long as it took) and helped us. I'll repeat it for anyone who's new to this board: my pet theory is that any MK CM with poor people skills or a personality problem gets assigned to the HM in the hopes that his or her antisocial behavior will be mistaken for general "spookiness" and not get noticed by the general public.

This is wrong, if your needs are that they need to stop the ride to allow you to board, they need to stop the ride. If you need it slowed down, they need to slow it and without ANY attitude about it.

Since you are now waiting the length of the standby line with the DAS, I really wouldn't tolerate any problems like this and if they won't stop it, ask for a lead. Be nice, but be firm about it.

 

[ttintagel]

I really wouldn't tolerate any problems like this and if they won't stop it, ask for a lead.

Well, you really can't ask for *anything* when the person you're trying to ask turns and walks hurriedly away from you in the middle of your sentence and you're not physically able to chase her.

We did the only thing we were capable of doing - we waited where we were until we could catch the attention of another CM, which is no easy feat in the dark, noise, and hubbub of that area.

 

[cmwade77]

Well, you really can't ask for *anything* when the person you're trying to ask turns and walks hurriedly away from you in the middle of your sentence and you're not physically able to chase her.

We did the only thing we were capable of doing - we waited where we were until we could catch the attention of another CM, which is no easy feat in the dark, noise, and hubbub of that area.

Yikes, if I were feeling up to it or had an extra person in the party, I might have gone to the attraction host/hostess. There is really NO excuse for that kind of behavior IMO.

 

[SueM in MN]

My sister and I had one HM CM simply shake her head, sigh, turn on her heel, walk away from us to the other end of the load area, and start helping other guests while we were in the middle of asking her if she could slow the belt down for us.

Luckily, another CM came along after a while (We just stood there staring and in the way for as long as it took) and helped us. I'll repeat it for anyone who's new to this board: my pet theory is that any MK CM with poor people skills or a personality problem gets assigned to the HM in the hopes that his or her antisocial behavior will be mistaken for general "spookiness" and not get noticed by the general public.

Most attractions can be more easily controlled for stopping or slowing at the exit, so anyone needing that needs to board at the exit.

 

[ttintagel]

Most attractions can be more easily controlled for stopping or slowing at the exit, so anyone needing that needs to board at the exit.

That's another thing we asked to do and were told no and then ignored when we tried to explain why.

 

[SueM in MN]

That's another thing we asked to do and were told no and then ignored when we tried to explain why.

Where & when did you ask?
They no longer have people go in the exit, without going thru the stretching room. So, the places to ask would be before entering the first room, and as you are entering the stretching room. Once you are in the boarding area is too late.

 

[rewardsinlife]

Where & when did you ask?
They no longer have people go in the exit, without going thru the stretching room. So, the places to ask would be before entering the first room, and as you are entering the stretching room. Once you are in the boarding area is too late.

I tried once notifying every single host and hostess I saw to slow down the belt so I could board. I asked the hostess outside, the one in the first room, the one in the stretching room after everyone was exiting to the hallway...all directed me to talk to the hostess by the ride. Unfortunately, it gets really hard to talk over the noise of the ride and people so I attempted communicate with sign language to show the host it had to be slowed down. Finally, they got the idea and slowed it down once I stepped on the moving walkway.

Bottom line, if you are going through the regular line at HM and have balance issues or sight issues that you need the belt slowed down ..good luck. It can go either way depending on the host or hostess you get. There is no way for the other CM 's ( at least at DL) to communicate your need ahead of time if you have a hidden disability and take the regular line.

Thanks everyone for your responses to my initial question. It helped immensely :

 

[ttintagel]

Where & when did you ask?
They no longer have people go in the exit, without going thru the stretching room. So, the places to ask would be before entering the first room, and as you are entering the stretching room. Once you are in the boarding area is too late.

We've asked in both those places. The HM CM's simply don't want to know.