First Trip with disabilities. Stressed.

[Ziscka8]

Hi everyone!!

We are taking our kiddos on a surprise trip to Disneyland in a few months. We are super excited, but very stressed....

We have 3 kids, ranging from tot to teen, that have different, medically diagnosed intellectual and emotional disabilities. All 3 struggle with lines, large crowds, and noise, but one also has hearing and visual issues.

I am vaguely familiar with the DAS pass from reading on the Disney website, but not sure I fully understand it, it's requirements, or it's capabilities. Are we able to utilize a pass assigned to 1 child if that 1 child is having issues and not wanting, or is unable to ride (too small), something that one of the other 2 want to ride? Can certain seating be arranged for shows that isn't as crowded or is better for those with visual issues? What if a stroller is needed while in a line, or if a break down happens in line?

I am also looking for advice and tips to help prepare our kids - what to bring, safety preparations (ID tags, etc.), and whatnot.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Start by reading the sticky about the DAS, right at the top of this board:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...15-digital-das-on-tickets-magicbands.3178976/

Then ask questions if you do not understand.

 

[siren0119]

I'm sure someone with experience in visual impairment accomodations can answer that particular question, but I can explain a bit about the DAS pass.

As far as requirements - it is for non-mobility related disabilities. You do not need to disclose diagnoses or provide any medical documentation, but you do need to be able to articulate what the wait-related challenges are. Strollers needed for waiting in line are mobility-related and would not be included in DAS. When DAS is set up, all members of their party (up to 6 people) are connected to the DAS pass.

The DAS allows for a return time to be set up when the wait for a ride is outside the child's zone of tolerance/when the standby queue would present challenges not related to mobility. Only one return time can be active at a time - the CM will scan the magic band of the person setting up the DAS time, and give you a time to come back that is based on whatever the current wait is, +/- 5 or 10 minutes. So you are basically waiting roughly the same amount of time to ride as the standby line, but are able to wait outside of the queue. At your return time (or anytime after) you go to the Fastpass lane and scan in there to enter the ride. Your child does NOT need to be in crisis to use a DAS pass...being able to use DAS access actually prevented our son from spinning out.

If you're waiting in a line and a breakdown occurs, the DAS does not grant you any special privileges or line holds to attend to the issue - but if you tried to wait in the standby line and it didn't work out, you could always set up a DAS return time on your way out of the line, which would give you a chance to attend to the issue and then come back to the ride at the return time or later.

You can still book fastpasses as normal, the DAS and FP are two different animals - FP is a reservation, while DAS places you in a "virtual" queue.

 

[OurBigTrip]

For the sake of clarification, stroller as a wheelchair is not necessarily mobility related, and you can have both a DAS and a stroller as a wheelchair tag, you just need to explain the needs for both.

 

[Ziscka8]

For the sake of clarification, stroller as a wheelchair is not necessarily mobility related, and you can have both a DAS and a stroller as a wheelchair tag, you just need to explain the needs for both.

I see!! I should have clarified better in my original post. A stroller isn't needed for mobility issues, more for my child's comfort as he can cover himself in his stroller if he feels overwhelmed.

 

[Ziscka8]

I'm sure someone with experience in visual impairment accomodations can answer that particular question, but I can explain a bit about the DAS pass.

As far as requirements - it is for non-mobility related disabilities. You do not need to disclose diagnoses or provide any medical documentation, but you do need to be able to articulate what the wait-related challenges are. Strollers needed for waiting in line are mobility-related and would not be included in DAS. When DAS is set up, all members of their party (up to 6 people) are connected to the DAS pass.

The DAS allows for a return time to be set up when the wait for a ride is outside the child's zone of tolerance/when the standby queue would present challenges not related to mobility. Only one return time can be active at a time - the CM will scan the magic band of the person setting up the DAS time, and give you a time to come back that is based on whatever the current wait is, +/- 5 or 10 minutes. So you are basically waiting roughly the same amount of time to ride as the standby line, but are able to wait outside of the queue. At your return time (or anytime after) you go to the Fastpass lane and scan in there to enter the ride. Your child does NOT need to be in crisis to use a DAS pass...being able to use DAS access actually prevented our son from spinning out.

If you're waiting in a line and a breakdown occurs, the DAS does not grant you any special privileges or line holds to attend to the issue - but if you tried to wait in the standby line and it didn't work out, you could always set up a DAS return time on your way out of the line, which would give you a chance to attend to the issue and then come back to the ride at the return time or later.

You can still book fastpasses as normal, the DAS and FP are two different animals - FP is a reservation, while DAS places you in a "virtual" queue.

Thank you for the information!!

I should have clarified the stroller need. It isn't used for mobility issues, it is used more as a safe haven for my tot.

 

[gap2368]

I would bring things that help your kids ( like noise-canceling headphones for noise, ) as far as setting for show you can talk to the CM at the show about the children needs to sit up close or in a certain spot.

 

[Aladora]

Hi everyone!!

We are taking our kiddos on a surprise trip to Disneyland in a few months. We are super excited, but very stressed....

We have 3 kids, ranging from tot to teen, that have different, medically diagnosed intellectual and emotional disabilities. All 3 struggle with lines, large crowds, and noise, but one also has hearing and visual issues.

I am vaguely familiar with the DAS pass from reading on the Disney website, but not sure I fully understand it, it's requirements, or it's capabilities. Are we able to utilize a pass assigned to 1 child if that 1 child is having issues and not wanting, or is unable to ride (too small), something that one of the other 2 want to ride? Can certain seating be arranged for shows that isn't as crowded or is better for those with visual issues? What if a stroller is needed while in a line, or if a break down happens in line?

I am also looking for advice and tips to help prepare our kids - what to bring, safety preparations (ID tags, etc.), and whatnot.

Thanks in advance!!

The guest the DAS is assigned to must go on the attraction so your other 2 children cannot use it for something the DAS holder does not want or is not able to ride. For attractions like those, you should use Fastpasses for sure!

We have used the DAS for our son quite a few times at DL so if you wanted to pepper me with any questions, please feel free to send me a pm and I will try and help!

 

[Ziscka8]

The guest the DAS is assigned to must go on the attraction so your other 2 children cannot use it for something the DAS holder does not want or is not able to ride. For attractions like those, you should use Fastpasses for sure!

We have used the DAS for our son quite a few times at DL so if you wanted to pepper me with any questions, please feel free to send me a pm and I will try and help!

Thank you so much for your reply!!

I do have another question. If a group has more than 1 individual with qualifying disabilities, would the group be able to be issued more than 1 DAS pass?

 

[Aladora]

Thank you so much for your reply!!

I do have another question. If a group has more than 1 individual with qualifying disabilities, would the group be able to be issued more than 1 DAS pass?

Yes but each DAS holder can only be attached to one pass and each person can only have one active das return time at a time.

Not sure if that makes sense or not, the sentence worked in my head!

 

[Aladora]

Let me see if I can make that last answer clearer...

Let’s get a hypothetical family, 2 parents and 3 kids, all kids have disabilities that need a das.

K1 is on DAS1
K2 is on DAS2
K3 is on DAS3
P1 is attached to DAS1, 2 and 3
P2 is attached to DAS1, 2 and 3

All want to ride Space.

K1 gets a return time for Space
K2 gets a return time for Space
K3 gets a return time for Space
P1 is attached to the RT with K1
P2 is also attached to the RT with K1

All go and ride Space together.

Same scenario except K1 is not tall enough for Space.

K1 gets a RT for Peter Pan
K2 gets a return time for Space
K3 gets a return time for Space
P1 is attached to the RT with K1
P2 is attached to the RT with K2

K1 and P1 go and ride Peter Pan.
K2, K3 and P2 go and ride Space

What can’t happen in the last scenario is for P1 to be on the RT for both K1 and K2. Also what can’t happen is for K2 to be on the RT with K1 since they each have a DAS.

Clear as mud?

 

[ttintagel]

As far as accommodation for visual impairment, all you can do is ask the cast member at the attraction if you can sit where you can see the stage, or whatever accommodation you need. Unfortunately, however, they're not obligated to give you any accommodation. It's completely up to their individual discretion whether to say yes or no.

 

[lanejudy]

Just to clarify... the link posted above is for DAS at WDW. You indicated Disneyland and this is a similar thread but specific to the CA parks: https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...-1-update-12-7-14-das-tied-to-ticket.3179460/

If it's possible someone may not want to ride, or may not be tall enough, I recommend getting a DAS for each of the children who need it. The DAS-holder must ride, and if s/he were to meltdown at ride load or otherwise back out, they could deny the rest of the party from riding. I'd rather be safe then sorry.

Enjoy your vacation!