How does DAS work at the end of the park day?

[ruthies12]

This is our first time using DAS and I'm curious what happens at the end of the day. Let's say the park closes at 9:00 and at 8:50 a ride has a 2 hour wait. Are you still able to get DAS return time the same way you are able to get in a regular line up until closing? I'm not sure we'd want to since no food or anything will be open while we wait but I'm curious how it works

 

[SueM in MN]

You can get a DAS as long as the line is open to entry by guests. They are not likely to leave the line open until 9pm if the wait is 2 hours though.

You can check on My Disney Experience app for a list of DAS eligible attractions. The only ones listed there would be the ones you could get a DAS Return Time for

 

[fabfemmeboy]

You can get a DAS as long as the line is open to entry by guests. They are not likely to leave the line open until 9pm if the wait is 2 hours though.

This is not always the case, unfortunately. IME they close the DAS availability for headliners quite awhile before park close. For example, I know when we were at AK one evening we tried to grab a return for FOP. The line was about half an hour longer than the amount of time before closing (like a 2.5 hour line and closing in 2 hours, something like that), and we could not reserve a DAS for it even though people could continue to get in line right up until closing time. We asked guest services, and they said it was not possible because the line was longer than the length of time the park would be open. I know you're supposed to be able to, but we didn't feel like getting into an argument that evening so we left.

 

[ruthies12]

Okay very good to know, thank you both!

 

[HopperFan]

We are more night people so we'd rather close a park than open. Each evening in our last two, week long, trips (with DAS on MDE) I would look for times in the evening. A couple hours before closing attractions would steadily disappear off of MDE as an option to book. If you think you want to ride one of the longer wait attractions I would do them sooner than later because it likely won't be an option at that point - which makes sense. Once standby waits are equal to or shortly thereafter closing time, they should just close lines to everyone.

 

[DisneyElite4]

We have always just asked the CMs at the attraction if they would let us use the FP+ lane (now LL) once DAS was no longer being distributed, and we have never been turned away. We always ask nicely, not demanding, and are always prepared that they will say no, but it’s never happened to us. We’ve done this on all 3 of trips with DAS. DAS holder is a very adorable young boy, so I don’t know if that makes a difference. (It shouldn’t.)

 

[HopperFan]

We have always just asked the CMs at the attraction if they would let us use the FP+ lane (now LL) once DAS was no longer being distributed, and we have never been turned away. We always ask nicely, not demanding, and are always prepared that they will say no, but it’s never happened to us. We’ve done this on all 3 of trips with DAS. DAS holder is a very adorable young boy, so I don’t know if that makes a difference. (It shouldn’t.)

So you are asking to enter the LL lane immediately, without waiting the DAS standby time, close to closing?

 

[DisneyElite4]

So you are asking to enter the LL lane immediately, without waiting the DAS standby time, close to closing?

We’ve never straight-up asked it that way. We usually say something along the lines of, “Can we still use DAS on this attraction?” Or “Are you still issuing DAS passes for this attraction for the day?” Then they would always just direct us to immediately enter the FP+ lane (now LL.)

 

[Matt'sMom]

Our experience has almost always been that if the stand-by wait time would push our DAS return time to beyond closing, the CMs at the attraction entrance have sent us directly into the LL entrance. Your milage may vary though, especially with college program or new CMs in training.

 

[gap2368]

We’ve never straight-up asked it that way. We usually say something along the lines of, “Can we still use DAS on this attraction?” Or “Are you still issuing DAS passes for this attraction for the day?” Then they would always just direct us to immediately enter the FP+ lane (now LL.)

I ask just about the same thing and if the line is longer then the posted closing time they have always just let me right on the ride

 

[SirDuff]

Do they at least scan the DAS? Or do you do this on multiple rides (if there a few with long posted waits at the end of day)?

 

[ruthies12]

Great info everyone thank you! If there is something we want to ride at the end of the night then we might just try asking politely and see what happens. I'll make sure we get our must-do's in earlier in the day though.

 

[CarlyMur09]

We actually came across this in our trip a few weeks ago. Had wanted to head to AK and ride Safari, but after arriving later than expected, tried to get DAS for it, and because it was closing at 5:30 that day, couldn’t get it since we had arrived at like 4:30 and the wait was 80 minutes.

 

[OurBigTrip]

We actually came across this in our trip a few weeks ago. Had wanted to head to AK and ride Safari, but after arriving later than expected, tried to get DAS for it, and because it was closing at 5:30 that day, couldn’t get it since we had arrived at like 4:30 and the wait was 80 minutes.

That’s really the way it should work, unless they’re still letting people in the standby line, of course.

 

[brockash]

That’s really the way it should work, unless they’re still letting people in the standby line, of course.

They NEVER stop letting ppl. into the standby line until the park is closed. They don't cut the line of early because they think the wait is too long. Disney has always run with the policy that you can jump in a standby line up until the min. the park closes whether the wait is 5 mins or 2 hours.

 

[JenLT]

They NEVER stop letting ppl. into the standby line until the park is closed. They don't cut the line of early because they think the wait is too long. Disney has always run with the policy that you can jump in a standby line up until the min. the park closes whether the wait is 5 mins or 2 hours.

If they are letting people into the standby line they should have a procedure for disabled guests. It doesn’t seem right that a non-disabled guest could get into a 2 hour line at closing essentially extending their park time significantly. I do know I’ve read that the standby line at closing time is usually much shorter than the posted wait time sometimes by half or less. Maybe they want to discourage people from getting in.

 

[gap2368]

If they are letting people into the standby line they should have a procedure for disabled guests. It doesn’t seem right that a non-disabled guest could get into a 2 hour line at closing essentially extending their park time significantly. I do know I’ve read that the standby line at closing time is usually much shorter than the posted wait time sometimes by half or less. Maybe they want to discourage people from getting in.

I have been told this is true and seen it on YouTube video. at the end of the night I go to the attraction to get my return time and usealy told to come back in like 10 minutes or let right on the ride

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

This is one example and I don't know if it is typical. Last year, in EP, it was about 30 minutes to park close and we asked a guest relations CM if we could DAS Test Track which had a 60 minute wait. The CM booked the DAS for us and told us to go to the LL and the CMs at TT would likely let my kids on right away. We did. The CM let my kids on immediately. I was a bit shocked. Maybe my kids were lucky?

 

[Lugan]

I came across this topic doing some research for my upcoming trip. Disney's policy has been that if a non-disabled guest can get in queue for a line, then a guest with a disability should also. There are technical limitations to the system that can sometimes prevent this.

For example: In my October 2020 trip report, I noted that with parks opening 30-45 minutes before the posted opening time, I was presented with a very long wait for Frozen Ever After. I attempted to request a DAS, and I was denied saying that the system would not allow them to schedule a DAS when a ride time is not posted. I contacted Disabilities Services that evening via their e-mail address, and was contacted via a phone call the next day which informed me of the policy, apologizing for the issue, and granting us anytime passes to use to ride the attraction at our convenience.

I suspect that they have addressed the shortcoming in the evenings, for the time being, by following this procedure. But, who knows if it will last?

I do know that my experience with Universal's system was that they would mark your card with a time, no later than park close for a ride in this scenario.

 

[DisneyOma]

This is not always the case, unfortunately. IME they close the DAS availability for headliners quite awhile before park close. For example, I know when we were at AK one evening we tried to grab a return for FOP. The line was about half an hour longer than the amount of time before closing (like a 2.5 hour line and closing in 2 hours, something like that), and we could not reserve a DAS for it even though people could continue to get in line right up until closing time. We asked guest services, and they said it was not possible because the line was longer than the length of time the park would be open. I know you're supposed to be able to, but we didn't feel like getting into an argument that evening so we left.

You need to ask at the attraction - the CMs there have scheduled a return time for us even when it doesn't show up in the app anymore. At WDW right now, and have done it twice that way.

We’ve never straight-up asked it that way. We usually say something along the lines of, “Can we still use DAS on this attraction?” Or “Are you still issuing DAS passes for this attraction for the day?” Then they would always just direct us to immediately enter the FP+ lane (now LL.)

That's what I asked too - can I get a return time?

Do they at least scan the DAS? Or do you do this on multiple rides (if there a few with long posted waits at the end of day)?

They scan the DAS for the return time (at least they did for me) and I didn't try it on more than one ride a night - didn't seem polite to do it more than once, KWIM?

That’s really the way it should work, unless they’re still letting people in the standby line, of course.

Yes, as long as standby is still running. But my guess is that standby was closed by then.

They NEVER stop letting ppl. into the standby line until the park is closed. They don't cut the line of early because they think the wait is too long. Disney has always run with the policy that you can jump in a standby line up until the min. the park closes whether the wait is 5 mins or 2 hours.

We've had standby closed before park closing before, years ago, for the big headliners at the time. Policy has changed.

We actually came across this in our trip a few weeks ago. Had wanted to head to AK and ride Safari, but after arriving later than expected, tried to get DAS for it, and because it was closing at 5:30 that day, couldn’t get it since we had arrived at like 4:30 and the wait was 80 minutes.

Since the Safari closes earlier than the park (to get all the animals in) it makes sense that they have a limited amount of guest spot at the end of the day. I'm guessing they estimate how many can get on and through by a certain time as to not mess up the animals' routines. It's the only attraction I think they should do this at, though. The animals need to come first.