How does DAS work if someone in the party is only 2

[amazonfamily]

We are going to Disneyland this summer, spending 5 days between DCA and Disneyland.

Since 2 year olds don't need to buy tickets I am wondering how to include him in our party. My oldest child (potential DAS holder) is fixated on her little brother getting to join us on rides. She thankfully copes well with safety rules. She won't get upset if he is not tall enough, concrete height rules are something she gets.

I know the DAS is tied to the tickets of the party so I don't know what to do with my youngest. Nobody in the family wants to leave him out if he is tall enough to get on a ride. There are 3 adults and 2 kids including the little guy. My daughter would have a meltdown if she realized brother can't come with her because he doesn't have a ticket. I'm not sure DAS would help us for things like Dumbo or Mr Toad anyway.

We might just work on daughter's expectations and skip the DAS altogether. With 3 adults we can handle a potential melt down without too much trouble. I would love to avoid her melting down in the first place though, I'm sure you folks understand what I mean. Something like the standby line taking more time than the posted sign would probably be a meltdown. I know it seems a bit odd but if it somehow took LESS time than the sign she would also need some help coping with the surprise as well. I would have to reassure her she won't get in trouble for getting on the ride early "BUT MOMMY IT SAYS 45 MINUTES".

 

[StirlingSilver83]

The toddler just joins you in any line...I am not sure you still need to include the toddler on the DAS account. I know we had no problem using the DAS for my older son and bringing our 20 month old on the rides. I can't remember if we included the 20 month old in the count of people on the DAS

 

[gap2368]

the 2 year old dose not need to be on the DAS card in order to be in line just like the 2 year old dose not need a FP to get in a FP line.

I should add that when you are getting the DAS you can ask the CM for a ticket ( it will do nothing to get you in the park) so that your 2 year old can use this in lines with the DAS card.

 

[wilkeliza]

Kids under 3 don't need to be on the DAS since they don't have a ticket. They will just be let in with the rest of the group just like they would have been with FP.

 

[amazonfamily]

Thanks for the help! It's nice to know how it works. The only thing I've told my daughter is Disneyland has very long lines, longer than the ones at the Wa state fair on weekends. I'm not telling her anything about DAS so she won't fixate about getting it. I did tell her she can ride with her brother and us if it's safe and he wants to go.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't seen it, there is a DAS FAQs thread specifically about Disneyland that can answer any of your other questions.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/dl...-1-update-12-7-14-das-tied-to-ticket.3179460/

The first post is up to date, but the rest of the thread was written just before and just after DAS came into use, so don't read more than the first post.

 

[amazonfamily]

Now the post makes more sense to me. When I read it I was all confused about how under 3s would work. It sounds like maybe my daughter would qualify for one but of course I wont count on it.

I don't want to act like I'm expecting special treatment. My daughter is extremely verbal and parrots others behaviors. It appears at first glance she's neurotypical. When you spend more time with her her rule rigidity and fixations become more apparent, she's so embarrassed when she realizes she has had a meltdown in public.

 

[smartlabelprint]

You qualify. Our 19 month old got the DAS earlier this year. You absolutely need it on dumbo & every other ride.

They are patient & explain well as you get the card.

Our therapist said we absolutely need it when I was saying i felt bad for getting it. She said the first day may do well. Maybe even 2nd but meltdowns will come closer together & could ruin the whole trip-never bounce back from a. A meltdown.

We spent lots of time at the room too. Love being in walking distance for lots of short breaks.

 

[amazonfamily]

Thanks I appreciate the encouragement! My daughter indeed would qualify and benefit, and would be able to bring her beloved little brother with her on the rides.

She can get plenty of brother free time when One of the adults takes him back for his nap. Maybe all of us will need nap time!

I've learned about fast pass and rider switch, that will help too. Little bro is only 37 inches.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

My older son is 9 and on the Spectrum. In 2014 and 2015 we got the DAS for our trip...it saved us from having soooo many meltdowns...I felt bad at first getting the DAS, bc my son is higher functioning on the spectrum, but when he has a meltdown it can literally last for over an hour. We had gone to Disney prior to 2014 and didn't know about the DAS/GAC at that time and we did maybe 2-3 attractions a day and that was it. The DAS has allowed my son to really enjoy going to Disney and has helped keep us from having melt downs. The CM are great as well and try to accommodate your needs as best they can. I remember last year when we went to Disney it was on our last day and my son got it stuck in his head that he wanted to ride the Speedway. I personally hate that ride and we had avoided it the whole trip, lol...anyways my hubby took him on it, there was wasn't a bad wait so they just let him go through the FP line (It was still early in the morning). When they came off the ride my son wanted to ride it again, but we had already gotten a return time on the DAS for Space Mountain and we didn't have time to wait for another return time for the speedway. At this point there was now a decent wait on the speedway. Anyways my son almost had a melt down (he has no concept of time) and the CM that was working the speedway was so nice and understanding and without me even asking he just waved my son onto the Speedway through the FP line and we didn't have to give up our Space Mountain FP. I was so relieved and my son was happy that he got to ride the speedway 1 last time. Anyways the DAS has really saved us from having meltdowns and we love it. In fact when we visit our local theme park and theres even a tiny little line my son asks why can't this place have fast passes too, LOL

 

[Gracie09]

You qualify. Our 19 month old got the DAS earlier this year. You absolutely need it on dumbo & every other ride.

They are patient & explain well as you get the card.

Our therapist said we absolutely need it when I was saying i felt bad for getting it. She said the first day may do well. Maybe even 2nd but meltdowns will come closer together & could ruin the whole trip-never bounce back from a. A meltdown.

We spent lots of time at the room too. Love being in walking distance for lots of short breaks.

No one can say with absolute certainty of someone will qualify for a das. It is up to the guest relations cast member. Even if you speak to a cm on the phone, they cannot tell you with absolute certainty.

 

[smartlabelprint]

No one can say with absolute certainty of someone will qualify for a das. It is up to the guest relations cast member. Even if you speak to a cm on the phone, they cannot tell you with absolute certainty.

If you don't I'd go again later and talk to someone else because the symptoms described seem like those that Disney is working to accommodate.

 

[amazonfamily]

I am really hoping that daughter has a good week and we can just use Fastpass and rider switch for the big rides. A touring plan might help too, and we have 5 days.

My daughter has socially inappropriate stim behaviors that start happening if she's not coping. I've had to take her aside at gymnastics for example and use our code word for "only in private please". I probably will only ask for DAS if the lines seem to be pushing her to stim.

 

[Baklava]

I am really hoping that daughter has a good week and we can just use Fastpass and rider switch for the big rides. A touring plan might help too, and we have 5 days.

My daughter has socially inappropriate stim behaviors that start happening if she's not coping. I've had to take her aside at gymnastics for example and use our code word for "only in private please". I probably will only ask for DAS if the lines seem to be pushing her to stim.

And that's the great thing about DAS or Stroller as Wheelchair. You don't *have* to use it if everything is going great! We did WDW with a DAS for my anxiety disorder and a SAW tag for my spectrum kiddo and only used them "as needed."

 

[StirlingSilver83]

And that's the great thing about DAS or Stroller as Wheelchair. You don't *have* to use it if everything is going great! We did WDW with a DAS for my anxiety disorder and a SAW tag for my spectrum kiddo and only used them "as needed."

We used the SAW tag for my youngster on our last trip and it was great! He's a bolter and just randomly decides to take off...we have been working with him on it and it was getting better but just this past weekend we took him some place new and he was on a sensory overload and started bolting again. My older son is on the spectrum and I think my youngster might be on the spectrum as well...at this new place we were at along with the bolting came several kicking and screaming meltdowns. I was hoping we wouldn't need the SAW tag on our next trip bc my youngster would rather walk than go in his stroller, but at Disney in a crowd that big I am thinking we might need it again. Anyways the SAW tag on our last trip was a total life saver, that and my older son's DAS really helped our kids out a ton.