DAS Question

[wdw4rfam]

Sorry, I am sure this is posted somewhere, cant seem to get a straight answer. We have used GAC for 10 years for DS with Autism. I will start by saying that we are fans of DAS, as it serves the purpose for us. I have no problem waiting like everyone else, just not in a crowded area, for long periods. So my question is we have a family of 7. In the past we have had to break up because only 6 were allowed to go. Now that we are actually "waiting" the same amount as people in line are we allowed to all ride together? I have heard 6 still is the max, and I have heard 10? I absolutely am a fan of DAS making lines more fair for EVERYONE, but in all fairness, would think that if we are all waiting, we should be able to all ride together, and not have to put half the party in line, and half wait someplace else, and NEVER get to ride together.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Sorry, I am sure this is posted somewhere, cant seem to get a straight answer. We have used GAC for 10 years for DS with Autism. I will start by saying that we are fans of DAS, as it serves the purpose for us. I have no problem waiting like everyone else, just not in a crowded area, for long periods. So my question is we have a family of 7. In the past we have had to break up because only 6 were allowed to go. Now that we are actually "waiting" the same amount as people in line are we allowed to all ride together? I have heard 6 still is the max, and I have heard 10? I absolutely am a fan of DAS making lines more fair for EVERYONE, but in all fairness, would think that if we are all waiting, we should be able to all ride together, and not have to put half the party in line, and half wait someplace else, and NEVER get to ride together.

I'm almost certain that I've read here that you can get it for more than 6, with a supervisor's approval. I also believe that all 7 of you have to be there at the time the DAS is issued.

 

[lanejudy]

Families have always been able to request an override of the "max 6" to use the card. You will all need to be present at Guest Relations when the card is requested, and it likely will require a supervisor's approval. None of us can guarantee they will grant the request, but if your party is 2 parents and 5 kids, pretty likely yes. I have even read some reports of getting an extended party to include grandparents and others. Keep in mind that most ride vehicles will not accommodate your full group, so you will still be splitting to actually ride, but you should most likely be allowed through the line together with the DAS.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Michigan]

As long as your entire party goes to request the DAS you will have no problem getting on for 7.

 

[disneyguyla]

It should be the disabled person and one other or two that is allowed on the DAS card, the rest should have to stay in line and wait...... Your family or group is not disabled . I have a nephew who is D. S. and we take turns in lines with him, so yes I do know how it is . But he also is learning that the world is not perfect and you do not get it your way all the time. I am so proud of him because he is growing into a young intelligent man.

 

[SueM in MN]

It should be the disabled person and one other or two that is allowed on the DAS card, the rest should have to stay in line and wait...... Your family or group is not disabled . I have a nephew who is D. S. and we take turns in lines with him, so yes I do know how it is . But he also is learning that the world is not perfect and you do not get it your way all the time. I am so proud of him because he is growing into a young intelligent man.

With the DAS, the whole party waits a similar time to the Standby line, just not in line.
With your suggestion, the family would never get to be together since there is no way/place for the guest with DAS and one or 2 others to join those who waited in line.
It would also be discriminatory, since people without disabilities are allowed to be together, but those with disabilities are made to wait apart for no reason.

 

[SueM in MN]

For the OP, the usual number on the DAS is up to 6 - five people plus the person with a disability.
The DAS can be made valid for up to 10. At WDW, anything over 6 requires a Supervisor to approve and the entire party is required to be at Guest Relations at the time the DAS card is requested.
At DL/DCA, anything over 4 requires a Supervisor to approve and the entire party is required to be at Guest Relations at the time the DAS card is requested.

There may be times when the party is required to split at attractions into smaller groups - this is usually because of space or if special seating is being used. As was mentioned already, ride cars don't typically hold 10 people in one ride car, so the group would have to split to board.

 

[wdw4rfam]

With the DAS, the whole party waits a similar time to the Standby line, just not in line.
With your suggestion, the family would never get to be together since there is no way/place for the guest with DAS and one or 2 others to join those who waited in line.
It would also be discriminatory, since people without disabilities are allowed to be together, but those with disabilities are made to wait apart for no reason.

Thanks, my thoughts exactly. We are ALL waiting now

 

[wdw4rfam]

Thanks everyone. Its me, my DH ,our 3 kids and my parents. We all travel together every year. We will all be together when the card is issued as well as all 10 days. Thanks for the info everyone, you guys are great.

 

[happinessisdisney]

We were just there in February. We got a DAS card for our daughter and were a party of 8. No supervisor approval needed. The entire party was not present. They will take a picture of the person the DAS is for and that person must be present and go on the ride. You will get a return time 10 minutes less than the current standby time.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

We were just there in February. We got a DAS card for our daughter and were a party of 8. No supervisor approval needed. The entire party was not present.

In case it hasn't been clear from the other posts, this experience is definitely an exception to the official rule. Officially the entire party has to be present if there are more than 6 people (including the person needing the DAS). I'm sure that individual CMs make exceptions, but I wouldn't count on them. You could have part of the party wait off to the side rather than in the actual queue and then join when you get to the window.

 

[stitchlovestink]

We were just there in February. We got a DAS card for our daughter and were a party of 8. No supervisor approval needed. The entire party was not present. They will take a picture of the person the DAS is for and that person must be present and go on the ride. You will get a return time 10 minutes less than the current standby time.

It could have been that the CM helping you at Guest Services was a supervisor and you were just unaware of it.

 

[Minuet888]

For the OP, the usual number on the DAS is up to 6 - five people plus the person with a disability.
The DAS can be made valid for up to 10. At WDW, anything over 6 requires a Supervisor to approve and the entire party is required to be at Guest Relations at the time the DAS card is requested.
At DL/DCA, anything over 4 requires a Supervisor to approve and the entire party is required to be at Guest Relations at the time the DAS card is requested.

There may be times when the party is required to split at attractions into smaller groups - this is usually because of space or if special seating is being used. As was mentioned already, ride cars don't typically hold 10 people in one ride car, so the group would have to split to board.

Actually at DL/DCA the max is 6 but if you ask and your entire party is there they can make it for more this happened with the people right next to me in City Hall.

 

[oklamomof4boys]

We were just at Disneyland 2 weeks ago. With the old card it was a max of 6. With the new one the first time we went, they told us that unless our entire party was there they could only make it for 4. I had only brought DS so we got it for 4 but they told us to come back with the entire party. So later that night when the line had died down we went back and they made it for the entire party- 11. No supervisor approval needed. Sounds like maybe different CMs are doing different things.