experience getting DAS at HS?

[opusone]

I've read some nightmare stories of shameful treatment of guests trying to get DAS at Epcot. Does anyone know how it is at HS? We are scheduled to be at HS on our first day of our upcoming trip.
I have only dealt with getting the old GAC at MK. We will be at MK on our 2nd day, so if the service/treatment of guests at HS is close to what I've read happening at Epcot we might just wait until day two and just rely on our FP+ for day one.

Also: is it at all helpful to take our old GAC to guest services when asking for a DAS? Does that speed things up? I ask because on our first trip getting a GAC it seemed we were questioned heavily (not rudely, but having to discuss my son's difficulties and struggles in such detail brings me to tears every single time). But on our last trip I took our GAC from the prior year and they just took one glance at it and reissued a new one with the same accommodations w/o one word. I don't know if this is a ymmv situation, but i'd like to be prepared either way.

We just returned from our WDW trip on Saturday, and our first day was at HS as well. I am happy to report that we had no problems getting a DAS card at HS (9-year old son with autism). I did bring our GAC from three years ago, but never even took it out.

 

[ttintagel]

I've been reading that people with ECVs don't get DAS cards, so if I can't get a DAS in October, we'll tweak the itinerary and make do without it.

From what I've been reading, if you have additional needs, not related to mobility or stamina, that the ECV doesn't solve but the DAS does, and if you're capable of doing so, it may be helpful to leave the ECV outside, walk in, and not mention your mobility/stamina issues at all when requesting the DAS.

 

[Coonhound]

From what I've been reading, if you have additional needs, not related to mobility or stamina, that the ECV doesn't solve but the DAS does, and if you're capable of doing so, it may be helpful to leave the ECV outside, walk in, and not mention your mobility/stamina issues at all when requesting the DAS.

That seems...sneaky, somehow. I'm not sure why, but it just does for some reason.

 

[ttintagel]

That seems...sneaky, somehow. I'm not sure why, but it just does for some reason.

Well, I think of it more as removing a distraction. I've read more than a few reports from people who said that the CM's were so focused on the fact that they were using a wheelchair or ECV that they didn't even listen to guests' descriptions of needs that the WC/ECV didn't solve.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Will it help to bring my son's DAS card from DL, to WDW? We are going to WDW in OCtober, and have a DAS from DL from February of this year.

Thanks.

I would recomend it. I think my family did this when I went inn June. This was my first trip with the DAS

 

[nushiekitty]

Can you get the card without entering the park? Ideally we would like to get it on the day we arrive but we do not plan on entering the parks until the following day. Yes, I understand that I would need to go to one of the guest relations outside of one of the parks. If this is possible is there one park that is better than another. Getting this ahead of time would help my daughter who will not understand why she can't just go into the park and rather has to wait and do this first. (She is already aware of the fact that she isn't going in the first day).

 

[aaarcher86]

Can you get the card without entering the park? Ideally we would like to get it on the day we arrive but we do not plan on entering the parks until the following day. Yes, I understand that I would need to go to one of the guest relations outside of one of the parks. If this is possible is there one park that is better than another. Getting this ahead of time would help my daughter who will not understand why she can't just go into the park and rather has to wait and do this first. (She is already aware of the fact that she isn't going in the first day).

It's hit or miss with the outside GR areas.

 

[LisaBi]

We got DAS outside HS yesterday (I had to stop outside to get tickets prioritized, so figured I'd kill two birds with one stone.) I walked up and said I needed to make sure our tickets were right and needed to see about getting the DAS. DS was in his wheelchair, so I was very ready to explain his non-mobility needs. She fixed our tickets then said "hang on...I need to come around to take his picture." I never said ANYTHING besides "I need to see about getting a disability card." I was shocked!

The downside is that so far it hasn't been much help. DS's preferred rides are too spread out to get much use from it. I cant do that much backtracking. Then today TWICE we waited around on an extended return time only to return, get in line, and have the ride go down. (Test Track and Space Mountain). Park hopping is definitely not a god fit for us. I was thinking that I could get a fourth FP while en-route from Epcot to MK, so I could have a FP ready shortly after we arrived and could a get DAS return when we first got there, so i could have two rides on deck. Well, I didn't realize that the fourth and subsequent FPs can only be obtained at the kiosks. So we arrived at MK, waited about 10 minutes to get a SpaceM FP for about 1.5 hours later. Then we went to Buzz to get a DAS time that was 20 minutes. CS about melted waiting that 20 min. (Remember, this was coming off the disappointment of waiting for Test Track then having it go down while we were in line.) So then i convinced him we should go het dinner while we waited for Space. After we ate, we were in our FP window, so got in line at Space, only to have it go down. We are trying MK again tomorrow. It should be a challenge.

Reading about DAS, I thought it work for us. I would get FP for the stuff with longer waits, get DAS for favorites he wants to repeat or moderate waits, the standby everything else between DAS and FP times. Problem is stuff that I'm used to seeing at 20 or less minutes now has 45 min plus lines thanks to FP+.

 

[FoxyGranny]

DH and I were at WDW for four days beginning of Sept. DH is in a power wheelchair and has cast on one leg. That being said, mobility issues were solved with his wheelchair. DH had a melt down trying to express his needs at guest services. Unfortunately my My DH caused much of our difficulty. DH became defensive and childish insisting he couldn't walk nor tolerate the heat.
The CM attempted to explain, the queue were cooler and addressed his concern. DH insisted on a manager. I was mortified, but when the mgr came outside to talk I did the talking. DH tried to talk over me saying he can't stand, taking 31 medication, diabetes etc. I held my ground and told the manager, "obviously his mobility issues are resolved by his wheelchair." Then I proceeded to explain the non mobility issues. Mgr promptly took DH picture on his iPad and give us the card. I apologized for DH outburst, and asked him to apologize on our behalf to the young man (CM) that first assisted us.
Imagine after all that, I still wanted to enter park with DH. LOL

Just be sure non mobility issues are explained concisely.
After all the reward is The Happiest Place on earth!