How DAS helped me

[lovetoscrap]

My only issue is mobility and I have my own ECV. How did DAS help me? Because for the first time since I started using the scooter ALL the CM's were on the same page as to how to accommodate it. I didn't need a "disability card" to access anything (even though I shouldn't have in the past either!) Every person we encountered knew exactly what to do and didn't even bat an eyelash. Now that things are consistent and obviously a lot more training has been done the stress was gone for me.

In the past I have been told different things regarding access on the same ride depending on who was there. I have been told I had to have the GAC in order to bring my scooter into the line. Told I had to have a GAC in order to sit in the HC section etc... I have wasted time in line to get a GAC that I knew I didn't need but didn't want to deal with the stress of "fighting about it" with a poorly trained or misinformed CM.

And the parks really seem to be set up to handle ECV/Wheelchairs. At almost every ride the CM's knew exactly where to park the ECV if I didn't want to bring it in, there were many locations clearly marked for ECV/wheelchair parking and they were pretty easy to find. Most of these were completely separate from the stroller parking where I was usually told to leave it in the past. Mixing strollers and ECVs in a tight space is not a good idea.

In the past many times when I approached with the ECV I was "stopped" by the CM and had to explain that I needed to take it in the line. They always gave the "vibe" that they did not want me to bring the ECV in. This trip there was no "stop", always a smile and "come on in". It really made a huge difference. Even when I did want to park my ECV (lines were really short and I actually needed to walk a little) they really stressed that I was more than welcome to just ride on in. On the few rides where I did have to get a return time they had the card out and available pretty much as soon as I approached. Everyone explained things clearly and gave clear instructions on where to go when I returned.

Consistency and Training-- that is how I found that the DAS is helping those with mobility issues, and it is a welcome change!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for this update.
We found the same thing when we went into attractions with DD's wheelchair when we were not using her DAS.

Do you remember which attractions you got return time cads for?

 

[peemagg]

I didn't get a return time card at Jungle Cruise, but only because I had a fast pass for the ride when I was there last week. That was the only ride that I went on that they offered it to me.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Star Tours at DHS and Peter Pan at MK

At Star Tours the Stand By line was 30 mins so we had to wait 20 mins, and the Return Card only had a 10 or 15 min return window. We just sat on the curb to wait.

Peter Pan the line was long, can't remember how long, at least 30 mins maybe 45. The return card had an hour long return window. We did a few other things and came back about 1/2 way through our return time.


Crowds were VERY low last week so most everything was a walk on. We had FP+ for most of the big stuff but only used a few of them because the stand by was only 5-10 mins if that. Usually I do Thunder Mountain but wasn't feeling well so not sure how they would have handled that.

Spaceship Earth was the same as before-- go inside and wait at the end of the ride to be escorted in. But it was a walk on so not sure if they would use a Return Card during busy times.

At Buzz Lightyear they made me transfer to a manual wheelchair which was surprising because I am pretty sure I have been through the standby line with my ECV. But mine is very small and can go pretty much anywhere a standard wheelchair can. One of the big rental ones wouldn't be able to go through so I guess they have just decided "no ECV". I could also be remembering wrong. Buzz is one of the rides I have found the most frustrating over the years because it was the most inconsistent. I think I have been told a different procedure just about every time I have ridden it, even if I rode a few times the same day.

DD was using a manual wheelchair at MK and I was surprised that they told her she could take our personal wheelchair all the way down at PotC, I thought you had to use one of theirs because they can't get it back to the end of the ride? It was early in the day and again, there was no wait so we just parked the ECV and wheelchair and walked on.


Much more difficult time at Universal parks-- this was our first time there. I didn't ride much but their information was not consistent as to if I could take scooter in or had to transfer and often didn't know where I could park the ECV (usually with the strollers). And when I did have the transfer it was sometimes hard to find a manual wheelchair.

I was just so happy that the attitude at WDW was so different. As I said, before every ride and show felt like I had to stop and explain things (and sometimes dig the GAC out of my bag) before I could do anything. It gets frustrating and tiring. This trip we just went on in without even hesitating. The CM's all seemed to have a better idea of how to ask how I need to be accommodated "Are you able to transfer? Are you able to walk 20 feet?"-- those specifics are important sometimes. They all knew about different ways to accommodate the ECV-- generally I prefer to park off to the side in show and sit with my family which in the past I have been told is not an option (even when it was) they just wanted me to park in the specified spot and stay on it. This time I was encouraged to park it and join my family either in the HC section or in the regular areas.

 

[SueM in MN]

Star Tours at DHS and Peter Pan at MK

At Star Tours the Stand By line was 30 mins so we had to wait 20 mins, and the Return Card only had a 10 or 15 min return window. We just sat on the curb to wait.

Peter Pan the line was long, can't remember how long, at least 30 mins maybe 45. The return card had an hour long return window. We did a few other things and came back about 1/2 way through our return time.


Crowds were VERY low last week so most everything was a walk on. We had FP+ for most of the big stuff but only used a few of them because the stand by was only 5-10 mins if that. Usually I do Thunder Mountain but wasn't feeling well so not sure how they would have handled that.

Spaceship Earth was the same as before-- go inside and wait at the end of the ride to be escorted in. But it was a walk on so not sure if they would use a Return Card during busy times.

At Buzz Lightyear they made me transfer to a manual wheelchair which was surprising because I am pretty sure I have been through the standby line with my ECV. But mine is very small and can go pretty much anywhere a standard wheelchair can. One of the big rental ones wouldn't be able to go through so I guess they have just decided "no ECV". I could also be remembering wrong. Buzz is one of the rides I have found the most frustrating over the years because it was the most inconsistent. I think I have been told a different procedure just about every time I have ridden it, even if I rode a few times the same day.

DD was using a manual wheelchair at MK and I was surprised that they told her she could take our personal wheelchair all the way down at PotC, I thought you had to use one of theirs because they can't get it back to the end of the ride? It was early in the day and again, there was no wait so we just parked the ECV and wheelchair and walked on.


Much more difficult time at Universal parks-- this was our first time there. I didn't ride much but their information was not consistent as to if I could take scooter in or had to transfer and often didn't know where I could park the ECV (usually with the strollers). And when I did have the transfer it was sometimes hard to find a manual wheelchair.

I was just so happy that the attitude at WDW was so different. As I said, before every ride and show felt like I had to stop and explain things (and sometimes dig the GAC out of my bag) before I could do anything. It gets frustrating and tiring. This trip we just went on in without even hesitating. The CM's all seemed to have a better idea of how to ask how I need to be accommodated "Are you able to transfer? Are you able to walk 20 feet?"-- those specifics are important sometimes. They all knew about different ways to accommodate the ECV-- generally I prefer to park off to the side in show and sit with my family which in the past I have been told is not an option (even when it was) they just wanted me to park in the specified spot and stay on it. This time I was encouraged to park it and join my family either in the HC section or in the regular areas.

Buzz has had guests transfer from an ECV to a wheelchair for at least a couple of years. The reason is the small area at the exit can get filled up with just one ECV.
Wheelchairs are smaller easier to move and some can be folded.

For Pirates, they can move wheelchairs from the boarding area to the unload area. The boarding area is actually in one building and the unload area is in a different building, one floor down.
They generally prefer guests to use one of the attraction wheelchairs because it is easier to make sure they get a wheelchair to the unload area rather than a specific wheelchair there.