jenniferhouston2
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2003
- Messages
- 172
First, we wanted to thank this Board and SueM for all of the information we learned.
We are a mom and dad with a 14 year old severely Autistic son, Trey, who only has a small vocabulary. He can be sensitive to noise and light, but absolutely LOVES thrill rides as you can hear him laughing and making his “happy noises” on each ride.
Our last visit to the MK was 5 years ago, where we were so proficient with obtaining F Ps (and starting at Rope Drops) that we had little reason to use the old GACs. However, with the new FP Plus, we were worried and rightly so. In our opinion, the FP Plus system is horrible (but I will reserve that to another post)
On our first day, we went to the City Hall at MK and obtained the new DAS electronically attached to our key cards. The lady was very helpful and was able to determine that we had previously obtained GACs before. She quickly gave us the basic information and we were off.
Here are the tips/tricks we learned.
1. When you are using FP plus and the DAS return times for the same rides, reserved for approximately the same times, it is very important how you return to the ride. Sometimes, you may want to use the FP plus return (as it will expire) before you want to use the DAS return time which does not expire.
For example, if you had a FP Plus time for 10:00am and you had obtained a DAS return time for 9:45AM, and if you wanted to use the FP Plus return time and NOT the DAS return time, it is very important that you touch the a non-disabled person in your group's ticket/magic band to the Mickey face first and confirm with the CM that you are using the FP plus reservation, not the DAS reservation. Or, if you wanted to use the DAS return time, then you would FIRST touch the disabled ticketholder/band to the Mickey face, wait for the face to turn blue, and then the rest of your party touch theirs.
2. DAS returns do NOT have an expiration and return deadline for the day. So if you get a return time for DAS for 9:45, you can wait to use that until the park closes. The downside, is that you can only hold ONE DAS return time at a time. So, it would be your only DAS return for the entire day, if you chose to hold it.
3. When you are asking a DAS return time from the CM, they are supposed to utilize a handheld wireless device that adds your DAS return time to your Disney Experience APP The problem is that these devices are constantly down or not functioning properly, or there is major operator error happening, Many of the CM s confided that these devices were constantly down. The DOWN SIDE is that making these DAS returns can take a few minutes. The UP SIDE is that these CM s will often write out an handwritten pass or give you a “Rider Switch” pass that will allow you to return to the attraction at a later time.
Disney Magic. Our son loves Winnie the Pooh. Each morning we would be there first thing to get in many rides with Winnie the Pooh, and would come back as FP Pluses and DAS passes would allow. One of the CMs took a special liking to Trey and would always come and greet him and walk through the line with him, took a picture with him, and even gave him a Rider Switch pass once. He just made our trip and we saw the Disney Magic as he made Trey's visit a little more special.
Overall, the DAS does remove a lot of the potential for abuse (picture of the disabled DAS holder) is displayed for the CM to verify identity, a wait is still required for the disabled, but they can do it in a better environment that standing in a crowded long line. We think it is doable, though not as convenient as the old GAC
We are a mom and dad with a 14 year old severely Autistic son, Trey, who only has a small vocabulary. He can be sensitive to noise and light, but absolutely LOVES thrill rides as you can hear him laughing and making his “happy noises” on each ride.
Our last visit to the MK was 5 years ago, where we were so proficient with obtaining F Ps (and starting at Rope Drops) that we had little reason to use the old GACs. However, with the new FP Plus, we were worried and rightly so. In our opinion, the FP Plus system is horrible (but I will reserve that to another post)
On our first day, we went to the City Hall at MK and obtained the new DAS electronically attached to our key cards. The lady was very helpful and was able to determine that we had previously obtained GACs before. She quickly gave us the basic information and we were off.
Here are the tips/tricks we learned.
1. When you are using FP plus and the DAS return times for the same rides, reserved for approximately the same times, it is very important how you return to the ride. Sometimes, you may want to use the FP plus return (as it will expire) before you want to use the DAS return time which does not expire.
For example, if you had a FP Plus time for 10:00am and you had obtained a DAS return time for 9:45AM, and if you wanted to use the FP Plus return time and NOT the DAS return time, it is very important that you touch the a non-disabled person in your group's ticket/magic band to the Mickey face first and confirm with the CM that you are using the FP plus reservation, not the DAS reservation. Or, if you wanted to use the DAS return time, then you would FIRST touch the disabled ticketholder/band to the Mickey face, wait for the face to turn blue, and then the rest of your party touch theirs.
2. DAS returns do NOT have an expiration and return deadline for the day. So if you get a return time for DAS for 9:45, you can wait to use that until the park closes. The downside, is that you can only hold ONE DAS return time at a time. So, it would be your only DAS return for the entire day, if you chose to hold it.
3. When you are asking a DAS return time from the CM, they are supposed to utilize a handheld wireless device that adds your DAS return time to your Disney Experience APP The problem is that these devices are constantly down or not functioning properly, or there is major operator error happening, Many of the CM s confided that these devices were constantly down. The DOWN SIDE is that making these DAS returns can take a few minutes. The UP SIDE is that these CM s will often write out an handwritten pass or give you a “Rider Switch” pass that will allow you to return to the attraction at a later time.
Disney Magic. Our son loves Winnie the Pooh. Each morning we would be there first thing to get in many rides with Winnie the Pooh, and would come back as FP Pluses and DAS passes would allow. One of the CMs took a special liking to Trey and would always come and greet him and walk through the line with him, took a picture with him, and even gave him a Rider Switch pass once. He just made our trip and we saw the Disney Magic as he made Trey's visit a little more special.
Overall, the DAS does remove a lot of the potential for abuse (picture of the disabled DAS holder) is displayed for the CM to verify identity, a wait is still required for the disabled, but they can do it in a better environment that standing in a crowded long line. We think it is doable, though not as convenient as the old GAC
