Do I need a DAS?

[livndisney]

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Yes, which will work for the 3 rides per day where I get a FP+ (assuming there are some available for the rides I'll most likely need them on, since we don't get our MB until we arrive on property). And someone else mentioned that the DAS doesn't help for characters or for standing in QS food lines ... well, we don't really care about characters (except I want a pic of the SD with Pluto, just because I think it would be cute) enough to stand in long lines. If we see one with a short/no wait, we'll go get a picture, but other than that we really don't care. And if the line is really *THAT* long at a QS restaurant (I'm OK for a few minutes, it's not like my hip locks up if I stand still for 10 seconds), we'll just go to another one.

So what exactly do you want Disney to do for you? You state you can stand still for a few minutes. Most lines in WDW are continuously loading so you are not standing still. (You also have the option to move in line).

 

[JillyBean1899]

So what exactly do you want Disney to do for you? You state you can stand still for a few minutes. Most lines in WDW are continuously loading so you are not standing still. (You also have the option to move in line).

"Continuously loading" is wonderful ... in concept. But as anyone that has sat at a traffic light or some sort of bottleneck on the road knows, the cars in front of you don't always move when they should. People in queues are the same way. Taking 2 steps is not enough to unlock my hip once it starts to freeze up, it takes a good 5-10 minutes of walking at a normal pace (not 1 step every 30 seconds) to do that; likewise, shuffling my feet doesn't help, either. Trust me, I tried everything while waiting in lines, it doesn't help. But apparently I'm not "disabled enough" for it to matter, so I'll just go get a wheelchair and pray I can make it through the day without my arms falling off from wheeling myself around. Or maybe I should just stay home, since as another person said if I can't afford an ECV or wheelchair rental, I can't afford a Disney trip. Does that mean one of you will volunteer to help my friends with vision impairments around?

To the OP, I'm sorry that this has hijacked your thread, and I'm dropping off it. Who knew that an innocent question would be met with this much hostility?

 

[Schmeck]

"Continuously loading" is wonderful ... in concept. But as anyone that has sat at a traffic light or some sort of bottleneck on the road knows, the cars in front of you don't always move when they should. People in queues are the same way. Taking 2 steps is not enough to unlock my hip once it starts to freeze up, it takes a good 5-10 minutes of walking at a normal pace (not 1 step every 30 seconds) to do that; likewise, shuffling my feet doesn't help, either. Trust me, I tried everything while waiting in lines, it doesn't help. But apparently I'm not "disabled enough" for it to matter, so I'll just go get a wheelchair and pray I can make it through the day without my arms falling off from wheeling myself around. Or maybe I should just stay home, since as another person said if I can't afford an ECV or wheelchair rental, I can't afford a Disney trip. Does that mean one of you will volunteer to help my friends with vision impairments around?

To the OP, I'm sorry that this has hijacked your thread, and I'm dropping off it. Who knew that an innocent question would be met with this much hostility?

So what do you do at the grocery store? At the bank?

What does your physical therapist recommend about the hip locking issue?

The DAS is only going to give you an alternate place to wait, you know. Then you could still be in a queue for 10-15 minutes, and your hip could lock up then as well. Disney does not offer front of the line access to anyone besides MAW. So you do need to come up with a plan for yourself on how to deal with waiting in a queue. Disney has done enough by giving the opportunity for access.

 

[powellrj]

Jellybean, I understand about your issue with standing in one place. What you need to do is learn stretching exercises to use while in line. I can't even stand to brush my teeth anymore without doing exercises. Ask your physical therapist about some exercises to use. You may find that you will need to take a cane in line with you to help balance while you stretch, but a cane is a small expense. I have found many cute ones at goodwill for a few dollars that will fold up so you can take them out as needed.

I have found you just need to learn to be creative when you have a disability. I have many coping skills that I have developed on my own and I have also found there are many things I just can't do anymore and thats ok too.

 

[dragonfly57005]

Again, moving doesn't bother my joints. Standing in one place does. I spent 18 hours walking around IoA and USF and riding everything in both parks; it wasn't until I stood basically in one place for 40 minutes in line for Rip Ride Rockit that I was in pain. After riding and walking around for a few minutes, my hip and knee loosened up, and I was fine again. It's only the standing still

Don't we all have that issue? When I've scrubbed into to a surgery that lasts more than an hour I ache too. You learn to shift and adapt.

That skill came in handy when I was in London shortly after the Lion King musical debuted. I stood behind the last row of chairs for the 3 hours. Completely worth it.

 

[stitchlovestink]

They aren't required by law to even provide you with a wheelchair to rent.

If you need a bench buy one of these canes with a seat and you can sit in the line while you wait for $37 http://www.walmart.com/ip/Revolutio...bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n

good suggestion!

Those are not allowed in the parks. They are a tripping hazard.

They ABSOLUTELY are allowed in the parks!! I emailed the Disabilities dept and they verified Via email just yesterday that they ARE permitted in WDW parks. They are NOT considered folding chairs and fall under the Jurisdiction of a "MEDICAL AID/DEVICE".

I have seen CMs deny guests from using them multiple times, including my own family members. They may not be strict about them all of the time, but they cannot be relied on being able to be used, and folding chairs are listed as a prohibited item. I will say that the times I have seen them denied have been at night for the parade, so it is possible that they are less strict about them during daylight hours.

Well those CMs need retraining....because the Disabilities dept says they ARE permitted. For anyone who wants to use one, I would suggest emailing the disabilities dept just before your trip and that way when they respond back that they are permitted... if you have a smart phone, you can pull out the phone and show them the email stating that they are permitted...that they are under the same jurisdiction as a wheelchair or ECV.

I believe that they (canes with seats) are allowed at Disneyland.

as well as WDW...just because the wording isn't on the website doesn't mean they aren't permitted..

Yes, they are. They are listed as acceptable for Disneyland, but that wording is not listed for Disney World parks.

I also remember someone trying to use one in the PPF queue during the day, and the CM told them it needed to be folded.

as stated above, just because the wording isn't on the WDW portion of the website doesn't mean that they are not permitted there...

incorrect they ( and rollators) are permitted and are everywhere.

Exactly!! The disabilities dept for WDW says they are permitted.

Regarding canes with seats, my comments are based on my family's experiences. Others have had different experiences and that is great. As mentioned on page 1, my husband now tours with his cane. If he thought a cane with a seat was acceptable, he would probably buy one, but given our experience, it is not something we would buy. YMMV.

Well if it would help him, maybe he should think about purchasing one, because the CMs who are telling your family members that they are not permitted are DEFINITELY WRONG according to the Disability dept. I have that in writing from them. I'm sure the CMs are thinking that these are just 'regular' seats but they clearly need some additional retraining on what to look for as they are considered a mobility aid. The Disability dept commented that these were a GREAT IDEA if it would aid/assist in someone's comfort of touring the park. Just repeating what they said to me!

 

[Schmeck]

good suggestion!



They ABSOLUTELY are allowed in the parks!! I emailed the Disabilities dept and they verified Via email just yesterday that they ARE permitted in WDW parks. They are NOT considered folding chairs and fall under the Jurisdiction of a "MEDICAL AID/DEVICE".



Well those CMs need retraining....because the Disabilities dept says they ARE permitted. For anyone who wants to use one, I would suggest emailing the disabilities dept just before your trip and that way when they respond back that they are permitted... if you have a smart phone, you can pull out the phone and show them the email stating that they are permitted...that they are under the same jurisdiction as a wheelchair or ECV.


as well as WDW...just because the wording isn't on the website doesn't mean they aren't permitted..


as stated above, just because the wording isn't on the WDW portion of the website doesn't mean that they are not permitted there...



Exactly!! The disabilities dept for WDW says they are permitted.



Well if it would help him, maybe he should think about purchasing one, because the CMs who are telling your family members that they are not permitted are DEFINITELY WRONG according to the Disability dept. I have that in writing from them. I'm sure the CMs are thinking that these are just 'regular' seats but they clearly need some additional retraining on what to look for as they are considered a mobility aid. The Disability dept commented that these were a GREAT IDEA if it would aid/assist in someone's comfort of touring the park. Just repeating what they said to me!

But how do you know the one person in the 'disability department' was right? You know the saying - "if you ask one castmember a question you get one answer, if you ask ten, you get 10!"

Would it be worth the risk to depend on the cane/seat only to get there and have it be useless? And then you don't have what you need to make it through the day?

 

[smitch425]

good suggestion!



They ABSOLUTELY are allowed in the parks!! I emailed the Disabilities dept and they verified Via email just yesterday that they ARE permitted in WDW parks. They are NOT considered folding chairs and fall under the Jurisdiction of a "MEDICAL AID/DEVICE".



Well those CMs need retraining....because the Disabilities dept says they ARE permitted. For anyone who wants to use one, I would suggest emailing the disabilities dept just before your trip and that way when they respond back that they are permitted... if you have a smart phone, you can pull out the phone and show them the email stating that they are permitted...that they are under the same jurisdiction as a wheelchair or ECV.


as well as WDW...just because the wording isn't on the website doesn't mean they aren't permitted..


as stated above, just because the wording isn't on the WDW portion of the website doesn't mean that they are not permitted there...



Exactly!! The disabilities dept for WDW says they are permitted.



Well if it would help him, maybe he should think about purchasing one, because the CMs who are telling your family members that they are not permitted are DEFINITELY WRONG according to the Disability dept. I have that in writing from them. I'm sure the CMs are thinking that these are just 'regular' seats but they clearly need some additional retraining on what to look for as they are considered a mobility aid. The Disability dept commented that these were a GREAT IDEA if it would aid/assist in someone's comfort of touring the park. Just repeating what they said to me!

Did you really need to tell me they are allowed 4 separate times in the same post?

I got it. Would anyone else like to tell me how wrong I am? Clearly it needs to be said more than once despite stating that my comments were based on things I witnessed, and that others may have a different experience. Good grief...

 

[aubriee]

Did you really need to tell me they are allowed 4 separate times in the same post?

I got it. Would anyone else like to tell me how wrong I am? Clearly it needs to be said more than once despite stating that my comments were based on things I witnessed, and that others may have a different experience. Good grief...

We were also told by CMs at both MK and DS that my mom could not use her cane with a seat either (that the chair part had to be folded up). Now she also had an ECV, but due to severe stiffness after sitting for periods, she frequently needs to get up and walk around, so sometimes leaves the ECV in the stroller parking and walks using her cane. On the same trip last year, she was told by two different CMs that she could have the chair cane as long as she used it just as a cane, but the seat must be kept folded up at all times and she could not use it as a seat in lines or for parades.

 

[stitchlovestink]

But how do you know the one person in the 'disability department' was right? You know the saying - "if you ask one castmember a question you get one answer, if you ask ten, you get 10!"

Would it be worth the risk to depend on the cane/seat only to get there and have it be useless? And then you don't have what you need to make it through the day?

So I emailed them again....different person...Same answer. They are ALLOWED. I also asked what to do in the event I was told by a CM that I was not permitted to use one. They advised showing the CM a copy of the email they sent saying they are permitted. If that wasn't satisfactory to the CM (but they would hope it would be) ask that CM to get their manager. If managers have any concerns, they can contact Guest Services at the park and Guest Services will clarify that policy of acceptability (based on the fact that they are medical devices/aids... same as a WC or ECV) for the manager.
So there you have it....right from WDW ' S mouth. They are permitted and the CMs saying they are saying that they are not allowed are wrong and need to be retrained on the difference between a 'typical folding chair' and what Disney has agreed and deemed to be a 'medical device/aid'.