My DAS Experience

[Jennafoo]

On my recent solo trip to Disneyland (October 22-25) I utilized the Disability Access Service (DAS) card, and wanted to share my experience.

I got the card at City Hall, and the CM asked: “What accommodation do you need?” I explained that - because of kidney disease - I needed frequent bathroom breaks, and because I was by myself, I had no one to hold my place, making long lines difficult. It was the last that I think qualified me for the card; if I’d had someone with me, I don’t think I would have gotten it.

My card had my picture on it, and also had a note that it was only for one person. I think it can accommodate up to five. The CM at City Hall told me that they would start me off with a ride when I received the card. I asked for Peter Pan.

You can get a ride return time at City Hall, or the information kiosks with special green umbrellas and CMs in plaid vests that are set up in each land. There was one by Jolly Holiday bakery, one near Dumbo and one across from the Haunted Mansion. There may have been one more, but those are the four I used. (I didn't really use the card in DCA, because I didn't spend much time there and used Single Rider, but I could have.)

The kiosks are centrally located, but don’t feel like they’re connected to a ride, so if you have a young child it doesn’t feel like “Hey, we’re at this ride but you don’t get to go!”

You simply walk up, hand them your DAS card and tell them what ride you want a return time for. The CM at each kiosk can give you a return time for any ride in the park. They check their iPad to see the length of the standby line, and then use that to determine your return time. So, if you ask for Peter Pan at 1pm, and it’s a 30-minute line, your return time will be 1:30.

In several cases, the CM took about 10 minutes off the return time (so, in the above example, it would be a 1:20 return), but that seemed to be pixie dust and I wouldn’t expect it. You can ride other rides, use single rider or Fastpass, or do things like eating or watching a show before your time comes up.

Once your return time is up, you go to the exit or handicap line; each ride has a slightly different set up and the CMs can tell you where to go. The ride CM then crosses out your existing return time and you’re eligible for a new one.

One important thing: While you can have only one return time at a time, you can – unlike a Fastpass - use it at any time after the time on the card. So, you can eat, watch a show or even take a break and come back and get right on the ride.

This system worked really, really well for me, with one exception. I had a return time for Nemo for 6:40, but the subs closed at 6:30. However, the next morning my return time was still “active”, so I could ride right away.

I also quickly learned that I could ride a ride, go right to the kiosk and get a return time to a ride in another land. By the time I took a bio break, got a snack and walked across the park, my time was available. Between this strategy, single rider and Fastpass, I was really able to maximize my time.

Hope this helps those who are considering a DAS.

 

[MG3G]

One question - with DAS do you then join the fast past line or enter through the exit?

 

[Jennafoo]

One question - with DAS do you then join the fast past line or enter through the exit?

Mostly you enter through the exit or disabled queue, but a couple - like Buzz Lightyear - had you merging into the FP line. Every ride is slightly different and I'm sure crowds have an impact, as well.

 

[MG3G]

Mostly you enter through the exit or disabled queue, but a couple - like Buzz Lightyear - had you merging into the FP line. Every ride is slightly different and I'm sure crowds have an impact, as well.

Thanks - so did you ever find you were waiting longer then the regular line? Like if you have to wait the stand-by time AND the FP line time too was it longer? I'm just curious, if our kiddo needs to wait somewhere else we will wait as long as it takes to keep our trip going well because the alternative is leave, but I was just wondering.

 

[Jennafoo]

Thanks - so did you ever find you were waiting longer then the regular line? Like if you have to wait the stand-by time AND the FP line time too was it longer? I'm just curious, if our kiddo needs to wait somewhere else we will wait as long as it takes to keep our trip going well because the alternative is leave, but I was just wondering.

I never waited very long after my return time; maybe five minutes max. There were a couple of exceptions. On Dumbo they could only take one DAS group on a flight, so I had to wait a few rotations for my turn because there were DAS families ahead of me. But that was definitely the exception. Most rides had no wait of any consequence.

 

[vladimir p]

but that dinner though

 

[Jennafoo]

but that dinner though

Fortunately, that was the last thing on my last night, so I had a really great trip up until then. I'm over it...can't let people like that ruin your holiday!

 

[Aladora]

On my recent solo trip to Disneyland (October 22-25) I utilized the Disability Access Service (DAS) card, and wanted to share my experience.

I got the card at City Hall, and the CM asked: “What accommodation do you need?” I explained that - because of kidney disease - I needed frequent bathroom breaks, and because I was by myself, I had no one to hold my place, making long lines difficult. It was the last that I think qualified me for the card; if I’d had someone with me, I don’t think I would have gotten it.

My card had my picture on it, and also had a note that it was only for one person. I think it can accommodate up to five. The CM at City Hall told me that they would start me off with a ride when I received the card. I asked for Peter Pan.

You can get a ride return time at City Hall, or the information kiosks with special green umbrellas and CMs in plaid vests that are set up in each land. There was one by Jolly Holiday bakery, one near Dumbo and one across from the Haunted Mansion. There may have been one more, but those are the four I used. (I didn't really use the card in DCA, because I didn't spend much time there and used Single Rider, but I could have.)

The kiosks are centrally located, but don’t feel like they’re connected to a ride, so if you have a young child it doesn’t feel like “Hey, we’re at this ride but you don’t get to go!”

You simply walk up, hand them your DAS card and tell them what ride you want a return time for. The CM at each kiosk can give you a return time for any ride in the park. They check their iPad to see the length of the standby line, and then use that to determine your return time. So, if you ask for Peter Pan at 1pm, and it’s a 30-minute line, your return time will be 1:30.

In several cases, the CM took about 10 minutes off the return time (so, in the above example, it would be a 1:20 return), but that seemed to be pixie dust and I wouldn’t expect it. You can ride other rides, use single rider or Fastpass, or do things like eating or watching a show before your time comes up.

Once your return time is up, you go to the exit or handicap line; each ride has a slightly different set up and the CMs can tell you where to go. The ride CM then crosses out your existing return time and you’re eligible for a new one.

One important thing: While you can have only one return time at a time, you can – unlike a Fastpass - use it at any time after the time on the card. So, you can eat, watch a show or even take a break and come back and get right on the ride.

This system worked really, really well for me, with one exception. I had a return time for Nemo for 6:40, but the subs closed at 6:30. However, the next morning my return time was still “active”, so I could ride right away.

I also quickly learned that I could ride a ride, go right to the kiosk and get a return time to a ride in another land. By the time I took a bio break, got a snack and walked across the park, my time was available. Between this strategy, single rider and Fastpass, I was really able to maximize my time.

Hope this helps those who are considering a DAS.

Thanks for the great write up, that should really help those who need info about the DAS! You might want to post this in the disAbilities section, there is a lot of info about WDW but not as many first hand experiences about DL.

As for the kiosk locations, there are 4 in DL park. The one near Jolly Holiday, one near Dumbo, one near Haunted Mansion and one in Tomorrowland. The TL one has been right next to the Green Army gift shop and also next to the Star Traders shop exit close to where the light sabers are sold.

The ones in DCA that I can think of off the top of my head are next to the red trolley stop, near the entrance to Carsland and across from King Triton's Carousel. At one point there was one as well near Tower of Terror but I think that was removed.

You can always get a return time at City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce.

You should also always have 10 minutes taken off of the standby time, this accounts for not only the extra time it takes to walk to the kiosks and back but also for any time you wait in the FP return line. I never worried too much about whether or not the CM subtracted this time, but I did want to clear up the fact that the 10 minutes taken off is not pixie dust, it should happen every time.

As for the number people the card can accommodate, it is always made out for the number of guests in your party. Since you were alone, it was for 1 person only. If there are more than 4 in your party, then everyone has to be physically present when you are issued the card.

One question - with DAS do you then join the fast past line or enter through the exit?

If there is a FP line, then you will enter through that. If there is no FP for that ride, then you will enter through the exit.

Mostly you enter through the exit or disabled queue, but a couple - like Buzz Lightyear - had you merging into the FP line. Every ride is slightly different and I'm sure crowds have an impact, as well.

Crowds should not impact how you enter the ride, as above if there is a FP line then you go through that line. If there is no FP then you go to the exit.

I've used the DAS with our son on two trips after using the GAC on 4 trips with him. I think that the system works well for the large majority of people, although it does take a bit more planning than the old system...although, a whole lot less planning than most people need!

 

[DisneylandPlanner]

Great information thanks for sharing