First Time DAS in Disneyland Question

[Aliciahere]

TIA, This is my first time I’m needed to use DAS, and while I’ve read all I can- I haven’t been able to find answers to these particular questions.

We are a family of four and I would like to get a DAS for my DD14. She’s been officially diagnosed with Tourette’s and OCD. With it she also has ADD tendencies and anxiety. Her Tourette’s and anxiety kick in like crazy with large crowds and waiting. She’s getting anxious just thinking about our trip in sept. I explain that I would apply for a DAS and she was so happy.

I know we do the video call within 30-2 days prior to our trip, and that DD needs to be there, but how do they actually assess the need for DAS? I know they can’t ask for official diagnosis- but is it beneficial if I have a Drs note? She is good at managing her symptoms at home and in comfortable spaces, so I’m not sure if she will show outward signs. Any insight is appreciated.

Also, we will be traveling with friends- another family of four. How do we navigate traveling together and enjoying the rides together as they won’t have DAS? What’s the best way to coordinate?

Thanx for any info you can give

Edit: oh, she also has severe arachnophobia. I know Indiana Jones and Web Slingers would be out - any other rides we should watch out for?

 

[tobikaye]

Basically, come up with a brief statement on what issues your DD might have waiting in a traditional queue for attractions. The CM will ask additional questions if needed. If she has been in any long lines similar to the queues, you can give an example of what issues she has encountered. I have not felt the need to have a doctor's note when talking to Disney about a DAS for my sister. I doubt it would be helpful in explaining any issues my sister would have with waiting in lines that I cannot verbalize myself.

As for traveling with friends, try figuring out what the length of time your DD could wait in line for an attraction or type of queue and then try and do the attractions with your friends. You do not have to use the DAS for all attractions if there are queues or times your DD can handle. My sister will usually be okay with queue length of 20-25 minutes if it is an attraction where she can see the load and unload of the attraction for most of the queue (Tow Mater/Luigi). For something like StarTours, with the same wait time, she has to use the DAS.

As for coordinating on using when using the DAS, I am not as sure. You are allowed up to 5 plus the DAS holder so you could go ahead and add 2 of the four friends. Once onsite, you could just ask at GS/blue umbrella if by chance they will add the entire family of 4, but there is no guarantee that the CM at the attraction may only issue for 6. I do not know enough about G+ to know if there is a way to coordinate using that since I know the DAS is the current wait time minus 10 so even if G+ is out the DAS will still work.

 

[gap2368]

The cm asked me what my concerns were for waiting in line

I think he was reading a script too. They do not need DX or dr notes

 

[DLgal]

So, since you don't have actual experience with your daughter waiting in lines, it can be useful to the CM to hear the outcome of an anxiety inducing environment. Like, what WOULD happen if she was suddenly overcome with anxiety/panic in a line. Would she bolt, scream, lash out verbally or physically, shut down and want to leave, etc.

With my son, he has a threshold of tolerance for standby wait queue environmenta and once he reaches the limit he's DONE, mentally, and we have to bail out early. The DAS allows us to alternate standby lines with faster access so that he doesn't reach that breaking point so quickly. A key purpose of the DAS is to help guests stay in the parks as long as possible, because $$$$. So, they are motivated to help those who have difficulty with that.

We have had success in the past creating a DAS party of 10. Ask in park, when your whole group is with you.

 

[SueM in MN]

They do not need or want a doctor note or a diagnosis - people with the same diagnosis may have very different needs; some may not need DAS at all and some may not be able to tour without it.

Be prepared to answer a question regarding why you expect she will have difficulty waiting in lines - what are your concerns with waiting in lines?

The reason the person registering for DAS needs to be present for the video registration is to see that they actually exist and to take a picture of them. The picture is used when entering attractions so the CM at the attraction can check that the person DAS was issued to is actually the one entering.

The usual number for DAS is 6 (the disabled person DAS was issued to plus 5 linked guests). People have posted they were not able to go over 6 total on the video registration. Some were able to add more guests at a park, but anything over 6 is an exception. It’s also possible that individual attractions may not allow more than 6 on the DAS Return Time

 

[DLgal]

They do not need or want a doctor note or a diagnosis - people with the same diagnosis may have very different needs; some may not need DAS at all and some may not be able to tour without it.

Be prepared to answer a question regarding why you expect she will have difficulty waiting in lines - what are your concerns with waiting in lines?

The reason the person registering for DAS needs to be present for the video registration is to see that they actually exist and to take a picture of them. The picture is used when entering attractions so the CM at the attraction can check that the person DAS was issued to is actually the one entering.

The usual number for DAS is 6 (the disabled person DAS was issued to plus 5 linked guests). People have posted they were not able to go over 6 total on the video registration. Some were able to add more guests at a park, but anything over 6 is an exception. It’s also possible that individual attractions may not allow more than 6 on the DAS Return Time

So, at least at Disneyland, the picture no longer shows up on the handheld scanners that the CMs have, which I find odd. I have looked at their screens numerous times when scanning in and all that comes up is a split screen with two options of boxes to check off, that look like large blue buttons with a check mark symbol. The CM has to manually check one of the boxes to turn it green. No picture comes up. I'm not sure how they are verifying that the DAS user is, in fact, present at scan in. They have asked me a few times "where is X?" and I simply point to him, and that's it. They don't usually ask, though.

In addition, we recently renewed a DAS and for the first time ever, were not asked about our son's needs. We were helped by a GR CM with a full sized Ipad. He asked for my son's ticket, and when he scanned it, the screen showed our family's names with check boxes next to. No photo came up either. The CM asked "do you want the same people added to the DAS?" I said yes, he checked our names and said "You're all set! You know how to make return times in the app, right?"

It seems they are now using the same system that they had in place at WDW that stores former DAS registration information. We've been doing this for a long time and this is the first time my son's info came up automatically and we were not asked to start from scratch, agree to the terms and conditions, etc. It was nice.

 

[tsumgirl]

So, at least at Disneyland, the picture no longer shows up on the handheld scanners that the CMs have, which I find odd. I have looked at their screens numerous times when scanning in and all that comes up is a split screen with two options of boxes to check off, that look like large blue buttons with a check mark symbol. The CM has to manually check one of the boxes to turn it green. No picture comes up. I'm not sure how they are verifying that the DAS user is, in fact, present at scan in. They have asked me a few times "where is X?" and I simply point to him, and that's it. They don't usually ask, though.

In addition, we recently renewed a DAS and for the first time ever, were not asked about our son's needs. We were helped by a GR CM with a full sized Ipad. He asked for my son's ticket, and when he scanned it, the screen showed our family's names with check boxes next to. No photo came up either. The CM asked "do you want the same people added to the DAS?" I said yes, he checked our names and said "You're all set! You know how to make return times in the app, right?"

It seems they are now using the same system that they had in place at WDW that stores former DAS registration information. We've been doing this for a long time and this is the first time my son's info came up automatically and we were not asked to start from scratch, agree to the terms and conditions, etc. It was nice.

Thanks for the heads up! I may skip doing the video chat before my next trip, and just renew it in the parks now, since the Advance Selections aren't that big of a deal for me.