DAS Severe Fatigue

[alexsmomali]

I have tried to browse through most of the DAS info. My son has a disorder that doesn't allow his body to turn food and oxygen into energy correctly. We were at DW once when he was 3 and the GAC was great. We typically cannot last a full day at the park as he tires out after a few hours. The new DAS does not seem to help with this type of disability. Do you know if there are any other accomodations to help guests who the DAS doesn't help.

Thank you,
Ali

 

[anonymousegirl]

Sorry, the standard response from Disney concerning mobility or fatigue issues are to rent a wheelchair or ECV. In this case, it would be a wheelchair due to your son's age. Disney's wheelchairs are adult size so they can be uncomfortable for children. You might look into renting from off site and getting a pediatric chair (smaller, easier to push, way more comfortable for the child)

 

[alexsmomali]

We have a wheelchair for him. Unfortunately, with his disease it will still limit how long we can spend in the park. He typically naps 4-5 hours a day and goes to sleep by 8. I completely understand why Disney had to make changes, but it is disappointing to those of us who really need the accomodations.

 

[emldrl]

Are you willing to elaborate? A lot of times diseases can be complex, and require more accommodations than others. If it IS strictly fatigue, than he wouldn't get the DAS, most likely, but there could be other ways to manage it. I have different problems with fatigue, so on top of a mobility aide, we will go early, take a big midday break, and then try to go back for awhile after resting. Also, FP+ should help some, at least. Anyway, hopefully you can still have a great vacation!

 

[aaarcher86]

We have a wheelchair for him. Unfortunately, with his disease it will still limit how long we can spend in the park. He typically naps 4-5 hours a day and goes to sleep by 8. I completely understand why Disney had to make changes, but it is disappointing to those of us who really need the accomodations.

There isn't anything offered to get through more stuff in a short amount of time. The GAC wasn't even meant to become that.

With FP+ you can schedule 3 things within 3 hours. If you plan ell you can get several things don't with short waits in between.

 

[lanejudy]

...With FP+ you can schedule 3 things within 3 hours. If you plan ell you can get several things don't with short waits in between.

This will be your best plan of attack. Plan your FP+ for the most important rides. Once you have used the first 3, you can schedule a 4th, and then a 5th, etc.

You don't mention your son's age -- if he is young enough that he'd be more comfortable in a stroller, you can get a stroller-as-wheelchair tag to allow that into the queues.

Unless your son has other issues beyond the fatigue that directly impact his ability to wait in a standard queue environment, he won't qualify for the DAS. And the DAS doesn't shorten waits, it simply allows the user to wait outside the line.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . it will still limit how long we can spend in the park . . . disappointing to those of us who really need the accomodations.

1) We understand.
2) However, why should anyone be able to get more rides than anyone else?
3) The card allows for access, not excess. *
4) DAS (and the previous GAC) were never meant to be front-of-line or immediate-access passes.
5) To allow folks to get more rides would be unfair to other guests.

* It is right and proper to make arrangements for access for all, just not frequency or quicker timing.

 

[alexsmomali]

Sorry, my son is 10. He has a huge list of medical diagnoses. The ones that would probably impact the DAS are an immune deficiency, anxiety and OCD.

Let me change my question a little since you guys have so much knowledge... We will be there November 15-22nd. We picked that week based on weather and the hope of less crowds. Do you know if that is generally a pretty light week since it is the week before Thanksgiving?

Thanks for all of your help.
Ali

 

[infopurposesonly]

WDW can and does (sometimes) provide additional accommodations for needs like your son's. Ask at Guest Services. However, what we found most helpful was morning Extra Magic Hours. Are you staying onsite, and is your son able to get up and get out early? We found we really didn't even need the DAS often at that time, as many rides were walk-on. The park with EMH tends to get crowded as the day goes on, but we always had to leave after just a few hours, so that didn't affect us.

 

[emldrl]

Ok, so it sounds like more than just a stamina issue. Just explain to the guest relations cm's what his needs are, as far as being unable to wait in the actual line. The DAS card won't get you through lines quicker, but it should help, when used with FP+ and a good touring plan. And from what I've been able to find out in my own research, that week is typically a slow week, but I've also read a lot of people posting that even the slow times are getting busier. Good luck with your vacation, I hope it is awesome!

 

[aaarcher86]

Sorry, my son is 10. He has a huge list of medical diagnoses. The ones that would probably impact the DAS are an immune deficiency, anxiety and OCD. Let me change my question a little since you guys have so much knowledge... We will be there November 15-22nd. We picked that week based on weather and the hope of less crowds. Do you know if that is generally a pretty light week since it is the week before Thanksgiving? Thanks for all of your help. Ali

If he has other issues besides stamina, fatigue, and shortened time in the park, talk to guest services about them.

However, the DAS doesn't do what the GAC used to, so I'd definitely evaluate wether you think it will be helpful or not. It will not shorten the wait time for rides or get you on more things in a short period of time. If the standby line is 60 minutes, you'd wait 50 minutes outside the line and then enter the FP line for it's length (usually 10/15 minutes).

I really don't know about crowds at this time, but October this year was much more crowded than previous years so it's probably hard to anticipate now.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It appears what you are asking is whether or not any accommodation exists that will allow your party to board attractions faster so that you can get through more attractions in a shorter period of time.

They will allow you to wait elsewhere if your son cannot wait in the regular line, but DAS does not allow guests to board attractions immediately. They used to allow guests to get immediately into the FP line, but it doesn't sound as if they do anymore, because there are other options (FP+, mobility aids, the ability to wait elsewhere with a DAS). as far as I see, the only guests who still get immediate access to FP lines are Make a Wish parties.

FP+ could work well for you, probably better than a DAS might.

 

[SirDuff]

FP+ could work well for you, probably better than a DAS might.

Actually, the two together would work very well!

Staggering their FP+ rides with DAS returns means that they can ride a ride using the FP+ while waiting for the DAS return time to hit. Since the DAS return times are open ended (unlike FP+ return times), there is flexibility here (i.e. if a FP+ return time is near to a DAS return time, there is no fear of missing the ride that has the DAS return time while riding the ride with their FP+).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually, the two together would work very well!

Staggering their FP+ rides with DAS returns means that they can ride a ride using the FP+ while waiting for the DAS return time to hit. Since the DAS return times are open ended (unlike FP+ return times), there is flexibility here (i.e. if a FP+ return time is near to a DAS return time, there is no fear of missing the ride that has the DAS return time while riding the ride with their FP+).

True, but if nobody in a party is eligible for the DAS, it can't work together with FP+ (or minus, or plain...).

 

[SirDuff]

True, but if nobody in a party is eligible for the DAS, it can't work together with FP+ (or minus, or plain...).

Yes, of course. Sorry, I just assumed that that was a given. I should not have.