Dinner shows/shows with visually impaired children

[Abow75]

Will be traveling with my husband, 12 year old daughter, 9 year old daughter, and 3 year old son In April. My oldest and youngest children are visually impaired. They do have sight, but they are technically legally blind and have great difficulty with distance vision. We are hoping to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue when we are able to make reservations. Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated? We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions? Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online? Also, is it first come first serve for any of the shows, like Disney Jr. live? Even if I fastpass the show?

 

[siskaren]

You should post this question in the DISabilities forum:

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[minnie mum]

Will be traveling with my husband, 12 year old daughter, 9 year old daughter, and 3 year old son In April. My oldest and youngest children are visually impaired. They do have sight, but they are technically legally blind and have great difficulty with distance vision. We are hoping to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue when we are able to make reservations. Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated? We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions? Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online? Also, is it first come first serve for any of the shows, like Disney Jr. live? Even if I fastpass the show?

You can't fast pass a dinner show. You have to make a dining ADR for it. The seats closest to the stage are Category one tables and are only covered by the DDP for the late show. If you want front row tables for the earlier shows, you would have to pay OOP for them. Cat 2 and 3 tables are towards the back of the dining room or on the balcony.

Tables are assigned in order as the reservation is made, so, yes, first come first served. However, once your ADR window opens it would be worthwhile o make your ADR by phone and add a request to be seated front and center due to the visual disability. Probably no guarantee though.

 

[Abow75]

You can't fast pass a dinner show. You have to make a dining ADR for it. The seats closest to the stage are Category one tables and are only covered by the DDP for the late show. If you want front row tables for the earlier shows, you would have to pay OOP for them. Cat 2 and 3 tables are towards the back of the dining room or on the balcony. Tables are assigned in order as the reservation is made, so, yes, first come first served. However, once your ADR window opens it would be worthwhile o make your ADR by phone and add a request to be seated front and center due to the visual disability. Probably no guarantee though.

Thanks...I did know you can't FP dinner shows, that part was for the live shows (Nemo, disney jr. Live, etc) but thanks for the info. I guess I will try calling for that show and request seating and get he best I can with my dining plan.

 

[Fantasmic303]

A close friend of mine has two children with Albinism and greatly impaired eyesight, and she was able to use accessible seating for all the live shows in the parks. She said it was terrific for the kids to be up close for things like Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and Nemo, so I wouldn't worry about that at all. Another friend went with her mom who has impaired vision as well, and she used a guest assistance pass to get into similarly accessible seating.

I'm not sure about options for Hoop Dee Doo, but you'll be fine in the parks.

 

[MagicalMerida]

I'm pretty sure for shows like Disney Jr, if you asked they would let you, Just let the cast member know and I'm sure they'll let you sit where's best for you. I'm visually impaired myself but I've never really needed to ask, I've always managed to get near the front anyway. But I'd be really surprised if they didn't let you sit where was best.
As for the dinner shows, I'm really not sure. I think calling would be a good idea. Good luck!

 

[Abow75]

Thank you both...yes, two of my three children have occulantaneous albinism, like your friends' children. Do I call Disney about this accessibility card or the accessibility seating or do I just let the cast member know before the live shows in the park? Thank you for your help!

 

[kmb584]

Thank you both...yes, two of my three children have occulantaneous albinism, like your friends' children. Do I call Disney about this accessibility card or the accessibility seating or do I just let the cast member know before the live shows in the park? Thank you for your help!

The accessibility card is known as the DAS card and needs to be obtained in person at guest relations inside of the park. You'll need to explain to the CM what your children need, not their diagnosis. When making ADRs there's an accessibility option for wheelchairs so you'll probably need to call and explain the situation to a CM and then again remind them when checking in for the meal.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Exactly as above - she used the DAS card and just let the CMs know what the accommodation they needed was for the kids. They'll take a photo of each kid for the pass and you'll (obviously) need to have them with you to enter the seating area, but she said it could not have been easier. For as much as she stressed before the trip, she had no worries after their first experience in the parks!

 

[LaurenT]

I would definitely get the DAS card! I'm sure that CM's would do their best to accommodate you, but the card just makes it an automatic thing and will keep you from having to constantly explain.
As for the Hoop De Doo, if you can do the late show, then go ahead and book Category 1 as soon as your 180 window opens! You'll be right up front! Of course you can follow up with a phone call just to make sure the ressie has your special need listed....
If you can't do the late show, but can swing it, I would go out of pocket for the show and then you'll have an extra credit to use on another special dining experience! If it's not in the budget and you know the kids won't be able to hang on for the late show, call GS as soon as the 180 opens and see if they can give you Cat 1 anyway for any earlier show, explaining the situation. I bet they have accommodations in place for things like that.
You're gonna love it! We're doing it for the second time so that my friend and her daughter can see it when we go in August - and when I saw it the first time I didn't really think it would be my cup of tea.....

 

[Abow75]

Thank you all so much! My kids do amazingly well adapting to their condition, but I want them to be able to SEE the shows they are excited to see. I appreciate your help. Sooo, I don't have to do anything ahead of time, just visit guest relations inside the park and maybe call for the dinner show reservation to see what can be done...got it!!!

 

[Abow75]

I'm a lot less worried!

 

[Abow75]

I would definitely get the DAS card! I'm sure that CM's would do their best to accommodate you, but the card just makes it an automatic thing and will keep you from having to constantly explain. As for the Hoop De Doo, if you can do the late show, then go ahead and book Category 1 as soon as your 180 window opens! You'll be right up front! Of course you can follow up with a phone call just to make sure the ressie has your special need listed.... If you can't do the late show, but can swing it, I would go out of pocket for the show and then you'll have an extra credit to use on another special dining experience! If it's not in the budget and you know the kids won't be able to hang on for the late show, call GS as soon as the 180 opens and see if they can give you Cat 1 anyway for any earlier show, explaining the situation. I bet they have accommodations in place for things like that. You're gonna love it! We're doing it for the second time so that my friend and her daughter can see it when we go in August - and when I saw it the first time I didn't really think it would be my cup of tea.....

So if I book the late show, I can book cat 1 w/o going out of pocket?

 

[LaurenT]

So if I book the late show, I can book cat 1 w/o going out of pocket?

I don't do the DDP myself (I have an AP and I get the tables in wonderland card), but that is what Minnie mum said in her post on this thread and she's a very knowledgable Disney fan.... So I would trust that info.

 

[SueM in MN]

A close friend of mine has two children with Albinism and greatly impaired eyesight, and she was able to use accessible seating for all the live shows in the parks. She said it was terrific for the kids to be up close for things like Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and Nemo, so I wouldn't worry about that at all. Another friend went with her mom who has impaired vision as well, and she used a guest assistance pass to get into similarly accessible seating.

I'm not sure about options for Hoop Dee Doo, but you'll be fine in the parks.

The old Guest Assistance Card had a stamp for 'front row seating'.
The Guest Assistance Card was discontinued in October 2013 and was replaced with DAS (Disability Access Service). Here is a link to the Disney website information about DAS:
https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...Disability-Access-Service-Card-2014-04-08.pdf

The DAS card has one accommodation - getting a Return Time for attractions that allows guests who have difficulty waiting in line for attractions wait outside of the line.

Guests with other needs are directed to discuss their needs with the CMs at the attraction. That includes needs like avoiding stairs, seating in a specific area or near the front.
So, although a DAS might be helpful for your children, it is not designed for needs like close seating.

 

[Abow75]

The old Guest Assistance Card had a stamp for 'front row seating'. The Guest Assistance Card was discontinued in October 2013 and was replaced with DAS (Disability Access Service). Here is a link to the Disney website information about DAS: https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/media/wdpro-assets/dlr/help/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/Disney-Parks-Disability-Access-Service-Card-2014-04-08.pdf The DAS card has one accommodation - getting a Return Time for attractions that allows guests who have difficulty waiting in line for attractions wait outside of the line. Guests with other needs are directed to discuss their needs with the CMs at the attraction. That includes needs like avoiding stairs, seating in a specific area or near the front. So, although a DAS might be helpful for your children, it is not designed for needs like close seating.

Shoot...oh well. I'll mention it to the CMs and maybe FP the shows so we can get first seating. It wouldn't be the end all by any means, but again, I know my son would love he shows if he could see them.

 

[SueM in MN]

Shoot...oh well. I'll mention it to the CMs and maybe FP the shows so we can get first seating. It wouldn't be the end all by any means, but again, I know my son would love he shows if he could see them.

DAS may still be helpful for you - it won't cut the wait, but when you do go into an attraction, you will be entering into the Fastpass Plus line.
That line usually has less turns, which might be helpful for your daughter.
You might want to look into using a stroller as a wheelchair for your 3 year old. That is a sticker (kind of like a luggage tag) that is placed on a stroller. The stroller can then be used in lines and buildings where strollers are not usually allowed. It would be treated just like a wheelchair. That is separate from DAS and you could choose for each attraction whether to use the stroller for that attraction or not.
Because he has a vision related disability, there are some shows you would not want to use the stroller for because the wheelchair accessible seating is in the rear of the theater.
Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. On the third page of that thread, there is a post listing where the wheelchair accessible seating is for different attractions.

Since your daughter is older, she may appreciate the audio descriptions that are available for some attractions. Here is a link to the Disney webpage about services for guests with vision impairments.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/visual-disability-services/