Last min. trip, AP renewal, DAS pass request, etc...

[DawnM]

Ok, I am being my crazy self and thinking I really need to squeeze in a Disney trip this week (leave tomorrow) before I start back to work.
We had APs that expired in March, so we will need new ones. We have been able to get FL Residency passes due to us owning a vacation home in FL and having utility bills there.
We also have been able to get the DAS pass for our son who has some special needs.
I am thinking of leaving TOMORROW and going to the parks M-F.

Should I just wait to get there and take care of purchasing tickets and the DAS pass? Or should I purchase multiple day tickets online so I can go ahead and interview with the DAS folks today or tomorrow and get reservations, etc....???

Can I purchase FL resident APs online and then collect them at the reservation booth when I get there, or do I need to purchase multiple day tickets online and then change them out when I get there? I just don't want them mailing them because we will not get them before Monday.

Thanks, I have never done it this last minute so I have some questions.

 

[jo-jo]

When was the last time you applied for DAS. Lots of changes. You can't do it at the park in person. If you try at the park, they hand you an IPad or something. And you need tickets before you try for DAS.

I'm jealous with the Fla tickets. I'd be more than happy to skip weekends and such and pay half the price of DVC AP.

 

[HopperFan]

Ok, I am being my crazy self and thinking I really need to squeeze in a Disney trip this week (leave tomorrow) before I start back to work.
We had APs that expired in March, so we will need new ones. We have been able to get FL Residency passes due to us owning a vacation home in FL and having utility bills there.
We also have been able to get the DAS pass for our son who has some special needs.
I am thinking of leaving TOMORROW and going to the parks M-F.

Should I just wait to get there and take care of purchasing tickets and the DAS pass? Or should I purchase multiple day tickets online so I can go ahead and interview with the DAS folks today or tomorrow and get reservations, etc....???

Can I purchase FL resident APs online and then collect them at the reservation booth when I get there, or do I need to purchase multiple day tickets online and then change them out when I get there? I just don't want them mailing them because we will not get them before Monday.

Thanks, I have never done it this last minute so I have some questions.

You can purchase your AP online in advance and will have to make park reservations asap.

Here is what you will need to take with you to get your AP activated. We take several of the items we might need in case. We usually go to the Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs the night before to get them activated so we don't waste any park time in the morning.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/proof-florida-address/

 

[DawnM]

When was the last time you applied for DAS. Lots of changes. You can't do it at the park in person. If you try at the park, they hand you an IPad or something. And you need tickets before you try for DAS.

I'm jealous with the Fla tickets. I'd be more than happy to skip weekends and such and pay half the price of DVC AP.

I have not done it since the changes. We will see what happens. I mean, they are asking why you need it still, right? So, without saying the actual disability, just describe how it affects him, correct?

You can purchase your AP online in advance and will have to make park reservations asap.

Here is what you will need to take with you to get your AP activated. We take several of the items we might need in case. We usually go to the Disney Ticket Center at Disney Springs the night before to get them activated so we don't waste any park time in the morning.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/tickets/proof-florida-address/

Thank you, I thought they were doing away with the park reservation system? No? Maybe it was just the hopping couldn't happen after 2pm what was changed?

 

[DawnM]

Ok, I have gone ahead and purchased the Disney gift cards from Target.com and am now just waiting for the gift cards to come though. Not sure if I can get a call into DAS tonight as they close at 8. I may have to do it in the morning.

DH has agreed to go and we leave tomorrow to get to the parks Monday. I am getting the weekday pass/Pixie Pass, that is what we had in the past. It is all we need, we don't care for the parks on the weekends anyway.

 

[jo-jo]

I have not done it since the changes. We will see what happens. I mean, they are asking why you need it still, right? So, without saying the actual disability, just describe how it affects him, correct?

Quite a number of people have been denied. Perhaps your child will be approved, but there have been stories of people who have gotten DAS for 5-10 years and were denied. Just wanted you to know. Some people have cancelled trips when they were denied.

I'm far from an expert on DAS. My DH has gotten it for a couple of years. But I doubt we'd be approved again.

 

[HopperFan]

Thank you, I thought they were doing away with the park reservation system? No? Maybe it was just the hopping couldn't happen after 2pm what was changed?

Annual Passholders still have to make reservations. BUT if you are not going to the park until after 2 pm you do not need a reservation except MK on Sat & Sun. Still need one then, but you are blocked out those days. And some days will be "good to go days" and you won't need a reservation at all, it will show on your app.

 

[DawnM]

UGH, huge issue. The Disney app ate my gift card. The money is gone but there is no ticket. I called and they said they can reimburse after they look into it further, which may take 48 hours.
So I have my husband and my son's tickets and was able to get them reserved, but I have no ticket. I will give it through today but if Mon am comes and there is no resolution, I will have to purchase another ticket and just keep the other $$ on my gift card for something else.

One more question: I have the APs but they are not physical yet, do we pay for parking and get reimbursed or do we show our purchase and park for free?

 

[DawnM]

Quite a number of people have been denied. Perhaps your child will be approved, but there have been stories of people who have gotten DAS for 5-10 years and were denied. Just wanted you to know. Some people have cancelled trips when they were denied.

I'm far from an expert on DAS. My DH has gotten it for a couple of years. But I doubt we'd be approved again.

Yeah, I have been told and have been reading. I will keep you posted. If we don't get it, we will prob just need to plan on getting Genie plus

 

[jo-jo]

Yeah, I have been told and have been reading. I will keep you posted. If we don't get it, we will prob just need to plan on getting Genie plus

Good, with last min trips, didn't want you to walk in totally unaware of changes.

Years and years ago, we were on the monorail, listening to mom/grandma telling a child , just wait until you see Mickey's toontown.

It had closed down a few months earlier. Yikes.

 

[jeneric997]

UGH, huge issue. The Disney app ate my gift card. The money is gone but there is no ticket. I called and they said they can reimburse after they look into it further, which may take 48 hours.
So I have my husband and my son's tickets and was able to get them reserved, but I have no ticket. I will give it through today but if Mon am comes and there is no resolution, I will have to purchase another ticket and just keep the other $$ on my gift card for something else.

One more question: I have the APs but they are not physical yet, do we pay for parking and get reimbursed or do we show our purchase and park for free?

Have your husband go into his account and add his AP to his wallet. You should be able to show your phone to the parking attendant to prove your AP. They don't really look at the cards anymore.

 

[keishashadow]

We have been able to get FL Residency passes due to us owning a vacation home in FL and having utility bills there.

Interesting. Thot u had to present a photo ID (as in a DL issued by Florida) to obtain resident APs at all the Orlando theme parks.

Enjoy your trip, good luck with the DAS

 

[HopperFan]

Interesting. Thot u had to present a photo ID (as in a DL issued by Florida) to obtain resident APs at all the Orlando theme parks.

Enjoy your trip, good luck with the DAS

No. Look at the link I posted. We show them our mortgage and electric bill. My DS shows his bank statement with same address.

SO many people snowbird there they would be missing a huge population if they didn't include those. And folks who have vacation homes in FL often spend money at Florida attractions so this gives them more base for constant cash.

And I believe way back in the day Disney made a deal that Florida residents and taxpayers would get discounted ticket options. We pay high real estate taxes, utility taxes etc. especially when we don't live here.

Universal and SeaWorld allow us too. Universal is more strict as in I can get but they argue about DS because he only has bank account. If he wants to get again after EPIC, I'll put his name on the electric bill.


OH and we can not activate online because we don't have DL. We have to do in person with our documents.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yeah, I have been told and have been reading. I will keep you posted. If we don't get it, we will prob just need to plan on getting Genie plus

Oh geez… so, Genie+ doesn’t exist anymore. It’s an entirely different system MultiPass Lightening Lane and Single Pass LL. SPLL is ILL with a different name. MPLL is like old FP+ where you pre-book 3 attractions subject to tiers each day you purchase it for.

Look up some blogs on the new MPLL system, it’s got quirks and you will need to understand the quirks if you’re booking last minute because your options are going to be pretty sad since people can book 3 days before a trip for length of ticket and those on site can book 7 days before a trip for length of stay.

 

[DawnM]

He qualified for the DAS pass, so we are going to stick with that.

Also after 80 minutes on the phone with another cast member, the issue was resolved and I now have a ticket! WHEW!

PS: We have arrived at Bonnet Creek after only 4.5 hours on the phone with Disney to work on several things....argh! I don't think I have ever had so many issues with planning.

 

[Genie+]

He qualified for the DAS pass, so we are going to stick with that.

Also after 80 minutes on the phone with another cast member, the issue was resolved and I now have a ticket! WHEW!

PS: We have arrived at Bonnet Creek after only 4.5 hours on the phone with Disney to work on several things....argh! I don't think I have ever had so many issues with planning.

Have a great trip! Glad everything worked out.

 

[DawnM]

Today was great. We waited between 10-30 min for everything, even those we didn't have a DAS pass for. We did half DAS and half not.

We went to HS today:

1. Mickey's Runaway RR (no DAS pass, line said 65 min. I timed it, it was 23 min. from getting in line to boarding the train.
2. Toy Story Mania (no DAS pass, line said 50 min. It was 30)
3. Slinky (DAS pass-10 min.)
4. Star Tours, (no DAS) 15 min. wait for everyone
5. Tower of Terror (DAS pass, 10 min.)
6. Toy Story Mania (DAS pass, 10 min.)
7. Slinky (DAS pass, 10 min.)
8. Alien Swirling (No DAS, 40 min. wait posted, took 23)
8. Rise of the Resistance (DAS pass, 10 min.)
9. Star Tours (said 35 min., no DAS pass, it was 22 min.)
10. Rockin' Roller Coaster (single rider, 30 min. from getting in line to boarding)-Just me, son is not tall enough

We got a little pixie dust too. DS's bubble wand needed new batteries and we were sent to 4 different stores to find some replacements, turns out everyone was out. But finally, on the 4th stop, we were able to score some, and they didn't charge us because they said they were from another wand that didn't work, so they just removed the batteries and we could have them since they were "used." I know that isn't a huge deal, but it was something.

We also found out the hard way that using my phone instead of the plastic cards wasn't the way to go for DAS returns. I had my son's and my cards on my phone but it wasn't scanning mine correctly, even though it went green I thought, but I had to go to guest services 3 times to have them reset it because I couldn't schedule another DAS until mine was cleared. Once we switched back to the cards, it was fine.

Another great thing? We are staying at Bonnet Creek, renting points from an owner, and we got a balcony where we can view the fireworks from Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and the drone show at Disney Springs. It is great! And the drone show? WOW!

One more thing before you all come at me. My son CAN stand in line sometimes without an issue. If we do things first thing in the morning, he does better and if he really, really wants to do something, he can agree to stand in line without issues. We just know that if we push it (like forcing him to do something he really doesn't want to do or he is tired) we will have bigger issues. His meltdown did happen in the afternoon and we had to take a break. He really, really wanted to stay for Fantastic but he was so tired and we left at 7 instead and he was asleep in bed by 8:20pm even though he wanted to watch the fireworks from the balcony at 9.

I start back to work next week (public education) I am so glad we came.

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you for reporting back! So glad you had an enjoyable trip!

 

[DawnM]

we are still here! Today was Magic Kingdom and it was wonderful. No ride was over 30 min. wait. We did half DAS and half not again today. Rode several things twice. Rode almost every single ride, but the ones we skipped we skipped on purpose.

Space Mountain x2
Buzz
Jungle Cruise
Pirates
Haunted Mansion x2
Barnstormer
Astro
Magic Carpet
Mine Train x2
People Mover
Carousel of Progress
Winnie the Pooh
Tea Cups

The only thing we skipped that we thought about for a little bit was Thunder Mountain. But without anything else over there to ride, I wasn't in the mood to walk over there.

The heat was brutal today! We did some indoor things just to cool off, like the Tiki Room and Hall of Presidents