DAS: What happens if the applicant bails?

[Princesca]

What happens if you have a group traveling with a small child (who holds the DAS) who decides to bail right at the entrance or just past the entrance to an attraction? Do they make the whole group leave or do they let them on? I would not knowingly use DAS on a ride I knew would be questionable for our son (like HM) but I can't predict on what or when he might bail, and I would hate to randomly be sending our party back to square one.

 

[lanejudy]

Technically, yes, the DAS-holder must ride so the whole group may be turned away. However reports vary. But if there is concern the DAS-holder may back-out of a given attraction, I strongly suggest planning Genie+ or ILL$ for that attraction.

 

[Princesca]

Technically, yes, the DAS-holder must ride so the whole group may be turned away. However reports vary. But if there is concern the DAS-holder may back-out of a given attraction, I strongly suggest planning Genie+ or ILL$ for that attraction.

Yeah - as I mentioned, I wouldn't try it on something I thought there was a good chance of him bailing on. But a) we've never taken him to WDW, b) he's 2, c) he's speech delayed and can't communicate his feelings about anything verbally, in even the most basic sense.

So I really don't know what to expect. For all I know, we could get up to board on IASW and he could decide he didn't want to go on it because he doesn't like boats all of a sudden. It seems like they should let the people board, because they did wait to get on the ride, they just didn't wait in a line. Idk, I'm probably overthinking it, but I've never used DAS before so it's making me a little anxious.

 

[lanejudy]

You may get lucky and they'll let you board (minus whoever takes the little guy out). At boarding the CMs are unlikely to know whether your party used DAS or G+. However if he balks before the final scan, or even before you enter the queue, the party could be turned away. I've seen reports both ways. So just be prepared to abandon plans and adapt if necessary -- which pretty much any party with a toddler has to plan like that. Fortunately since he's a toddler you won't be using DAS on any headliners with the longest standby queues.

 

[Princesca]

You may get lucky and they'll let you board (minus whoever takes the little guy out). At boarding the CMs are unlikely to know whether your party used DAS or G+. However if he balks before the final scan, or even before you enter the queue, the party could be turned away. I've seen reports both ways. So just be prepared to abandon plans and adapt if necessary -- which pretty much any party with a toddler has to plan like that. Fortunately since he's a toddler you won't be using DAS on any headliners with the longest standby queues.

Yeah, we were not even going to do G+ because I don't think he'll be a candidate for a lot of the rides. We were going to try to just get by with an ILL for RotR for the grownups. But having DAS might make the park days a bit less painful in general.

I do have to admit that I second guess myself on DAS because so many of our kid's issues seem like just typical toddler stuff, outside of his speech delay, but the OT seems to think it is a really good idea, and he has been evaluated and is part of our state's early intervention program, so it's not like we are without bonafides.

 

[lanejudy]

he has been evaluated and is part of our state's early intervention program, so it's not like we are without bonafides

I'm not second-guessing his needs, but you'll have to be ready to explain his needs beyond just that he qualifies for SLP and/or OT through EI. None of those (alone) particularly indicates a need for DAS. No need to post specifics here, but be sure you plan to explain his needs within a standard queue environment, not just that the OT recommends or that he qualifies for EI.

we were not even going to do G+ because I don't think he'll be a candidate for a lot of the rides

I would consider G+ for the rest of the party, assuming there are more in your party than just a parent plus the toddler. At least for some parks.

 

[DLgal]

If your child bails AFTER the tap in location(s), the rest of the party will be able to ride. If the child changes his mind before you go through the tapstyles, no one else will be able to ride.

Once you pass through the tapstyles, the cast members have no way of knowing who the DAS holder is.

 

[Princesca]

I'm not second-guessing his needs, but you'll have to be ready to explain his needs beyond just that he qualifies for SLP and/or OT through EI. None of those (alone) particularly indicates a need for DAS. No need to post specifics here, but be sure you plan to explain his needs within a standard queue environment, not just that the OT recommends or that he qualifies for EI.


I would consider G+ for the rest of the party, assuming there are more in your party than just a parent plus the toddler. At least for some parks.

That's good to know. We're kind of new to the therapy, and this is a totally new environment for him, so I can't really predict how he'll react to lines, but there are some behaviors he already has that will make it difficult, I imagine.

I've been going back and forth on G+. Ultimately, we have two days at MK and two days at EP, and one day at AK and one day at HS. I was previously going to manage HS MAYBE with G+ and/or ILL, but I really don't want to be tied to my phone all day as the primary group planner. (Though now it looks like DAS is going to kind of require that anyway, so maybe all hope is gone with that.) I prefer to drop my phone in my bag and not pull it out again until we're back at the hotel. I miss FP+. *sniffle*

 

[DLgal]

That's good to know. We're kind of new to the therapy, and this is a totally new environment for him, so I can't really predict how he'll react to lines, but there are some behaviors he already has that will make it difficult, I imagine.

I've been going back and forth on G+. Ultimately, we have two days at MK and two days at EP, and one day at AK and one day at HS. I was previously going to manage HS MAYBE with G+ and/or ILL, but I really don't want to be tied to my phone all day as the primary group planner. (Though now it looks like DAS is going to kind of require that anyway, so maybe all hope is gone with that.) I prefer to drop my phone in my bag and not pull it out again until we're back at the hotel. I miss FP+. *sniffle*

I'd pair DAS with Genie+.

 

[AmyMac1109]

I've been going back and forth on G+. Ultimately, we have two days at MK and two days at EP, and one day at AK and one day at HS. I was previously going to manage HS MAYBE with G+ and/or ILL, but I really don't want to be tied to my phone all day as the primary group planner. (Though now it looks like DAS is going to kind of require that anyway, so maybe all hope is gone with that.) I prefer to drop my phone in my bag and not pull it out again until we're back at the hotel. I miss FP+. *sniffle*

My 4 year old has DAS and the rest of our party are all teenagers or adults. So, similar situation- my little one can't/won't ride any of the "thrill" rides. We found Genie+ to be very helpful at MK and HS. The adults/teens still rode all of the rides with the DAS return times, but we were able to use Genie+ to help them avoid lines on the other rides. The extra benefit was that we could also use Genie+ for the little guy as well. So between DAS and Genie+, we were practically walking off one ride and right on to another. And the big people got to ride everything they wanted.

We did not bother with Genie+ for AK or EPCOT since we didn't feel like there were enough rides to make it worthwhile. We did buy Genie+ on one EPCOT day, but only because we were planning to hop to MK. So we stacked afternoon return times for MK while we were in EPCOT.

 

[HopperFan]

Just my 2 cents without quoting. My DS was born multi-disabled and is non-verbal, therapy from day one and never got a pass (GAC then) until he was 18 because at that point medical issues came in to play that completely changed him and his ability to tolerate the queues. Just because he had medical documentation ~ he didn't need the pass because he had nothing going on that really qualified him. You qualify based on needs not diagnosis.

I am not saying your child will not qualify but just know that all your documentation is irrelevant. If I were you I would do the Advance DAS approval because then you (1) know that you have it or not before arriving (2) you will get 2 advance DAS times each day, book ones you know he'll enjoy (3) reduces your stress planning. PS If online refuses you, you can try again on arrival at GR.

As far as him not wanting to ride last minute. He HAS to enter the queue, he'll go first, they verify it is him and once he scans the rest of the party scans. If he doesn't enter, no one else can enter.

If he changed his mind in the ride it can vary by ride. For many they will not realize you are there with DAS as you are in LL. But if it is a ride with a second scan, the scan might or might now work. It is a difficult situation since the purpose of the DAS is for the holder, not the rest of the party. You'll just have to be ready for anything. Also have a plan in place that if he balks last minute on loading, who is going to leave with him.

Genie+ may seem like it's unimportant but how many rides will there be that your party wants to ride on that your son will not be riding. You can do child swap or one adult just not ride, but how will your day go for your son if the rest are waiting in long lines all day. Genie+ can be a real asset to families that have non-riders and saving time so that your party can spend more time together. There might be lots he won't ride or can't ride so the Genie+ can help the rest in your party.

 

[Kerr84]

Once you have scanned in, they will not know that you were using DAS and who the DAS holder is. If he bailed right after entering, then they might send you all out because it would look suspicious. If he gets scared and bails later in the queue, it should not be a problem.

My daughter has DAS, but she is too short for lots of rides, so we use G+ for those and DAS for ones she can ride. It worked out well for us, but is a lot to manage on your phone and keep the times in your head.

 

[RoseGold]

Some rides have more than one tap in, like ToT and I think Millennium Falcon. You won't make it past that. But if you make it past the tap in, and they leave on the chicken exit, I don't see how Disney would know that you aren't just a G+ guest. You can also rider swap with DAS, so maybe that's a consideration.

 

[SueM in MN]

Some rides have more than one tap in, like ToT and I think Millennium Falcon. You won't make it past that. But if you make it past the tap in, and they leave on the chicken exit, I don't see how Disney would know that you aren't just a G+ guest. You can also rider swap with DAS, so maybe that's a consideration.

You can use Rider Switch for a different guest, but not for the guest who is registered for DAS.

Keep in mind that the 2 main reasons Disney says the guest registered for DAS is supposed to ride are:
1) DAS is to meet the needs of the disabled person who is registered for DAS and is for their benefit
2) one of the issues with the previous disability programs (GAC = Guest Assistance Card) was people getting the card for ‘grandma’ or someone else who couldn’t ride and leaving ‘grandma’ to sit out while the rest of the group went on rides

 

[Princesca]

You can use Rider Switch for a different guest, but not for the guest who is registered for DAS.

Keep in mind that the 2 main reasons Disney says the guest registered for DAS is supposed to ride are:
1) DAS is to meet the needs of the disabled person who is registered for DAS and is for their benefit
2) one of the issues with the previous disability programs (GAC = Guest Assistance Card) was people getting the card for ‘grandma’ or someone else who couldn’t ride and leaving ‘grandma’ to sit out while the rest of the group went on rides

Yeah, I'm aware of the preceding abuse, and that certainly isn't anything I intend. I'm just thinking about how our DAS kid bailing on a ride unexpectedly could impact our traveling group and possibly cause them to have to wait for a ride twice.

 

[Lewisc]

Yeah, I'm aware of the preceding abuse, and that certainly isn't anything I intend. I'm just thinking about how our DAS kid bailing on a ride unexpectedly could impact our traveling group and possibly cause them to have to wait for a ride twice.

You'd be waiting one time on the relatively short LL then a second time on the line you should have been using.

JMO you wouldn't be posting if you didn't think there is reasonable chance your kid will bail.

 

[FreeTime]

You wouldn’t be waiting any extra than anyone else if he bails. The initial wait until your window time will be used to do other attractions. The short LL wait is a risk you will take having him line for something he may bail on. This is no different than many other parents getting out of line with their kids that change their mind which is often after waiting in a very long line and then having to get back in line to ride themselves.

 

[TwoMisfits]

The DAS is for the benefit of the DAS holder only. If the DAS holder does not ride, do not expect anyone else in the party to ride.

So, if you are relying on a 2 year old's DAS to get your party on most rides quickly, it's unlikely you will have a successful park trip, b/c the child is likely to behave like a toddler, even without considering any extra needs.

Therefore, I would strongly suggest G+ and LLs for the older members of your party if low lines are your priority. Then, no one is upset if they keep having to leave queues with the 2 year old when the DAS times for the child come around. They can rely on their own short line passes, not the child's.

 

[HopperFan]

Yeah, I'm aware of the preceding abuse, and that certainly isn't anything I intend. I'm just thinking about how our DAS kid bailing on a ride unexpectedly could impact our traveling group and possibly cause them to have to wait for a ride twice.

I think that is why many of us are saying, based on what sounds like a high possibility of him not wanting to ride, that the Genie+ is a great tool to use to make sure everyone gets to ride, even if he bails ~ especially if he doesn't want to enter the queue. If he doesn't enter, no one enters. Then use the DAS on rides you are sure he is going to ride. Many of the simplest rides like Peter Pan still have huge lines that the DAS would help with.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yeah, I'm aware of the preceding abuse, and that certainly isn't anything I intend. I'm just thinking about how our DAS kid bailing on a ride unexpectedly could impact our traveling group and possibly cause them to have to wait for a ride twice.

Probably so, but the DAS isn’t for other guests, it’s for the guest with a disability. If that guest isn’t riding, then no one in the party should be able to ride on the DAS.