Hopeful Disney trip may not be so Disney???

[My little Minnie]

Our future Disneyworld trip in October may not be as Disney as before for our granddaughter. She is 10, DSM-5, stroller bound, with intermittent feeding needs at various times with a feeding tube, among other disabilities. We have gotten all the reservations made and have been scheduling all the fastPass+ for the attractions that she will ride on. And some of the few rides that she will ride on we have found out as of moment on the fastPass+ that she will only get to ride will be only once. On a couple the only schedule we can get for is on the last day of the week long trip. My wife has called Disney a few times to check about arrangements for my granddaughter, and they verbally assured her that our granddaughter will be accommodated when she arrives. My concerned is from what I have read from some the posts on your forum is that these are only words and nothing written. Are there any people who have similar situations and experiences with Disney since they have changed their GAC to the DAS? Before the changes it was great for her. We have acquired written letters from all of her doctors verifying and describing her disabilities. After a 12+ hour drive that we will make to Disney we want to make this another perfect Disney trip for her, but afraid it could be her last, because of the changes that Disney made.

 

[aaarcher86]

Our future Disneyworld trip in October may not be as Disney as before for our granddaughter. She is 10, DSM-5, stroller bound, with intermittent feeding needs at various times with a feeding tube, among other disabilities. We have gotten all the reservations made and have been scheduling all the fastPass+ for the attractions that she will ride on. And some of the few rides that she will ride on we have found out as of moment on the fastPass+ that she will only get to ride will be only once. On a couple the only schedule we can get for is on the last day of the week long trip. My wife has called Disney a few times to check about arrangements for my granddaughter, and they verbally assured her that our granddaughter will be accommodated when she arrives. My concerned is from what I have read from some the posts on your forum is that these are only words and nothing written. Are there any people who have similar situations and experiences with Disney since they have changed their GAC to the DAS? Before the changes it was great for her. We have acquired written letters from all of her doctors verifying and describing her disabilities. After a 12+ hour drive that we will make to Disney we want to make this another perfect Disney trip for her, but afraid it could be her last, because of the changes that Disney made.

They won't look at or ask for doctors notes. You'll need to explain why she can't wait in a normal line to GR. If being in a wheelchair solves her issues with the line, they can give you a stroller as a wheelchair tag, but the more than likely wouldn't be given. If she has other issues with the line, explain those. Google is only pulling up the diagnostic criteria for mental disorders for DSM-5, so I can't really figure out what the symptoms are for whatever issue that references for any better advice.

As far as the DAS works, you'll get a return time based on the standby time minus 10 minutes. It won't increase the speed at which you can access attractions, but she could get return times for rides she likes to do more than once. If timed correctly, you could use a DAS return time alongside a FP time and ride almost back to back. You can also get more FP times via a kiosk once your original 3 are up.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DSM-5? What does this mean?

 

[anonymousegirl]

Yes, this trip will be different from your GD's previous trips. Multiple rides in a row on a certain ride were possible using the old GAC system. The new DAS system, while not precluding multiple rides, works very differently. Your GD will be able to ride certain rides multiple times, but she will have to go through the FP lane after waiting for her appointment time if she qualifies for the DAS.
As for your worry about certain rides only being available for FP on your last day, if she qualifies for a DAS, she can ride earlier in your trip by getting a return time, and then going through the FP line.

 

[SueM in MN]

DSM-5? What does this mean?

DSM - 5 is a coding book for Mental Disorders. All diagnoses have a standard definition and a standard numbered code associated with that diagnosis.
So, I guess the poster means that the child has a mental health related diagnosis - DSM 5 doesn't say what it is though.

But, diagnosis gas nothing to do with getting a DAS. Some people with the very same diagnosis have very different needs and come either that diagnosis will not be disabled (i. E. They have no needs over what people without that diagnosis have).
So, as previous posters mentioned, it's important to be ready to discuss the needs related to the disability; since DAS allows waiting outside of the regular line, the important needs are those related to waiting in line.

If you haven't checked it out, there is a thread about DAS at WDW near the top of this board. The first post is DAS FAQs and should be able you answer your questions.

 

[My little Minnie]

Yes, this trip will be different from your GD's previous trips. Multiple rides in a row on a certain ride were possible using the old GAC system. The new DAS system, while not precluding multiple rides, works very differently. Your GD will be able to ride certain rides multiple times, but she will have to go through the FP lane after waiting for her appointment time if she qualifies for the DAS.
As for your worry about certain rides only being available for FP on your last day, if she qualifies for a DAS, she can ride earlier in your trip by getting a return time, and then going through the FP line.

Thank you Anonymousegirl.
As for the DSM-5; Sorry I just took it for granted that since this was a disabilities page that most everyone would know she met the autistic criteria for a DAS. She has severe Autism and severe dysfunction. She is essentially nonverbal and has issues with outbursts which will be exacerbated in crowds. I was hoping to see if others with children like this have had experiences since the GAC change and what experiences that they have had with Guest Relations. We have talked to someone at Disney about her and they requested that we write a letter (email) to Disney's Disabilities concerning her situation. They seem to think she can be accommodated. Hopefully everything will work out.

 

[aaarcher86]

Thank you Anonymousegirl. As for the DSM-5; Sorry I just took it for granted that since this was a disabilities page that most everyone would know she met the autistic criteria for a DAS. She has severe Autism and severe dysfunction. She is essentially nonverbal and has issues with outbursts which will be exacerbated in crowds. I was hoping to see if others with children like this have had experiences since the GAC change and what experiences that they have had with Guest Relations. We have talked to someone at Disney about her and they requested that we write a letter (email) to Disney's Disabilities concerning her situation. They seem to think she can be accommodated. Hopefully everything will work out.

Nothing gets set up in advance.

There are lots of reports and experiences on this board. A significant portion of reports concern autism.

 

[SirDuff]

Thank you Anonymousegirl.
As for the DSM-5; Sorry I just took it for granted that since this was a disabilities page that most everyone would know she met the autistic criteria for a DAS. She has severe Autism and severe dysfunction. She is essentially nonverbal and has issues with outbursts which will be exacerbated in crowds. I was hoping to see if others with children like this have had experiences since the GAC change and what experiences that they have had with Guest Relations. We have talked to someone at Disney about her and they requested that we write a letter (email) to Disney's Disabilities concerning her situation. They seem to think she can be accommodated. Hopefully everything will work out.

How? You don't actually mention autism anywhere in your post and there are many, many, many conditions covered in the DSM-5.

It sounds like one of the issues is the need to deal with her feeding tube etc. This can work with the DAS (we travelled with someone who also had a feeding tube that needed to be accessed at stated intervals, among other issues). We'd get a DAS return time and use the wait time to do what needed to be done - the return time was the earliest we could do the ride, so it was no problem if the medical needs took longer than the wait time.

As others have said, using FP+ and the DAS means that your granddaughter will be able to ride without having the go through the full stand-by lines (allowing her to wait somewhere cooler/less crowded and/or attend to her medical needs).

 

[SMD]

My advice is keep trying to get FP+ reservations until your trip. People may cancel or change and they could become available. If you don't have a smartphone or tablet, you might want to rent one for the trip so you can grab any that become available while you're there. You can also try to get same day FP+ for her favorite rides once you get to the park.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you Anonymousegirl.
As for the DSM-5; Sorry I just took it for granted that since this was a disabilities page that most everyone would know she met the autistic criteria for a DAS. She has severe Autism and severe dysfunction. She is essentially nonverbal and has issues with outbursts which will be exacerbated in crowds. I was hoping to see if others with children like this have had experiences since the GAC change and what experiences that they have had with Guest Relations. We have talked to someone at Disney about her and they requested that we write a letter (email) to Disney's Disabilities concerning her situation. They seem to think she can be accommodated. Hopefully everything will work out.

I think you may have been mislead about DSM -5 meaning autism.
DSM 5 is a book of different Psychiatric diagnoses and the definition of each diagnosis. Autism is one of the many things listed in the Neurodevelpmental chapter, which is one of 9 or 10 chapters in the book (can't remember for sure). So, saying DSM 5 only says it is something in that Psychiatric group of conditions.

There are many posters active on this board who have family members with autism and have used DAS.
The first post in the WDW DAS thread near the top of this board is a FAQs about DAS. That should be helpful to you.

DAS can only be requested at one of the a Theme Parks, so whoever told you to write Disney ahead if time gave you incorrect information. This is a link to Disney's website FAQs about DAS. It clearly says in more than one spot that accommodations are given only at Guest Relations at a park.
So, be prepared to discuss her needs at Guest Relations.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DSM - 5 is a coding book for Mental Disorders. All diagnoses have a standard definition and a standard numbered code associated with that diagnosis.
So, I guess the poster means that the child has a mental health related diagnosis - DSM 5 doesn't say what it is though.

.....

Thanks, I knew that, but saying someone is DSM-5 is meaningless in context of OP's post, so thought it might be some exotic condition I hadn't heard of! OP never mentioned autism in the original post.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, I knew that, but saying someone is DSM-5 is meaningless in context of OP's post, so thought it might be some exotic condition I hadn't heard of! OP never mentioned autism in the original post.

I wondered why the OP thought DSM 5 meant only autism, when I was aware of the book and that autism is only one diagnosis in there.

I got my answer when I googled DSM 5 along with autism and that's where I got the answer.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/dsm-5
Autism Speaks doesn't actually say that autism is the only diagnosis in there, but they certainly imply it pretty strongly.
So, I can see how someone can be lead to believe DSM 5 = autism, especially if the only place they ever heard anything about DSM 5 was from Autism Speaks.

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks, I knew that, but saying someone is DSM-5 is meaningless in context of OP's post, so thought it might be some exotic condition I hadn't heard of! OP never mentioned autism in the original post.

I wondered why the OP thought DSM 5 meant only autism, when I was aware of the book and that autism is only one diagnosis in there.

I got my answer when I googled DSM 5 along with autism and that's where I got the answer.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/dsm-5
Autism Speaks doesn't actually say that autism is the only diagnosis in there, but they certainly imply it pretty strongly.
So, I can see how someone can be lead to believe DSM 5 = autism, especially if the only place they ever heard anything about DSM 5 was from Autism Speaks.

I believe there has been a change-over in the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the past couple of years, and families as well as practitioners are still getting used to the changes. The DSM-5 has been tagged as being quite controversial in that change. The OP's reference is possibly indicating the child has been Dx'd under the new criteria as opposed to the old, and likely did not realize there is a whole range of other diagnoses in the DSM-5.

I honestly don't have specific details since DD does not exactly fit the criteria for an ASD diagnosis, but I have heard quite a few rumblings about it locally.

 

[SueM in MN]

I believe there has been a change-over in the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the past couple of years, and families as well as practitioners are still getting used to the changes. The DSM-5 has been tagged as being quite controversial in that change. The OP's reference is possibly indicating the child has been Dx'd under the new criteria as opposed to the old, and likely did not realize there is a whole range of other diagnoses in the DSM-5.

I honestly don't have specific details since DD does not exactly fit the criteria for an ASD diagnosis, but I have heard quite a few rumblings about it locally.

Yes, there was a recent change in the diagnostic criteria for autism, which is contained in DSM 5. There was a lot of discussion, both before and after the change.

There is always discussion about changes in diagnostic criteria (bring in healthcare, I see some of it). Because of Autism Speaks' involvement in giving information both before and after the change, I can see why someone who is only aware of autism would think saying "DSM 5" would clue people in to a child having been diagnosed with autism.

 

[2tinkerbell]

To the OP, we actually found that the DAS worked best for us as long as we coupled it with the Fast Pass system. It allowed us to wait our time either eating lunch, cool down time, or enjoying some non-ride attractions (street actors, musical groups, etc.) For us it was just nice to sit and regroup while eating a snack. I realize that won't work for your granddaughter, but, that could be a time that you take care of her medical needs. The First Aid stations are wonderful and there are many quiet places in all the parks to relax.

Aladora has many great tips on working the DAS with the FP system. One of the biggest tip she had was to always have a DAS Return Time in the making. Yes, it does take a little more planning, but, it is very doable and very nice. You might want to read her thread (I would link but I am tech illiterate)

Be sure that you are prepared to articulate the actual needs as related to your granddaughter in lines. I would imagine with her being completely non-verbal there is some frustration (on everyone's part because clearly she is having a problem with something and everyone is trying to guess). You don't need to go into the nitty gritty of things. Just a clear explanation that she gets frustrated and overstimulated in line situations and an alternative place to wait would be helpful to her to attend to her medical needs as well as her autistic characteristics. You might want to consider also getting the stroller as a wheelchair tag.

I am sure that you will find a solution that will work for your granddaughter and your family. The DAS is different - not good and not bad - just different.

Have a GREAT trip!