2tinkerbell
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2013
- Messages
- 902
I personally think that our experience with the DAS was a very positive one.
I had explained the new system to my DD before we left and she had read about it on the Disneyland website. She had written out a list of rides and things that she really wanted to do before we left home. I knew the Parks would be crowded because of the Holiday weekend and the Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon weekend (the reason why we were going)
We arrived at Guest Relations around 2pm on Friday, January 17th. We were directed to the line to the side of Guest Relations. This line wasn't too long and we enjoyed just the excitement of being in Disneyland. I will say this, the line was very long the next day and very long on Monday. We were directed inside and my DD explained to the Cast Member her needs. He was very understanding and only asked if we had previously used a GAC card. He then took her picture and then explained the system to her. He asked what ride she wanted to go on first. To my surprise, she chose Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. He looked up the time and wrote it down.
It seemed like we didn't wait more than 20-25 minutes for any attractions that day. There was a couple of times that we were late to an attraction because we got involved in either seeing a Character or getting a snack. Not a big deal.
The next day (Saturday)was basically the same experience. My DD was quickly crossing off her list. Things were working for us the way Disney intended it to work.
The biggest issue we experienced was with the Characters for Frozen. The line for that on Friday was over 2 hours long. I talked to the Cast Memeber and she told us that we didn't have to wait in the line, but, we had to remain there to the side and wait the 2 hours. My DD understood and decided it wasn't worth it for that day. She then talked to a Cast Member at Guest Relations as we were leaving the Park about how she could see the Frozen Characters. The Cast Member told us to get in line before opening the next day. My DD and I had breakfast scheduled for the first seating at the Plaza Inn and right afterwards we went over to the line. We took her iTouch and some playing cards to entertain ourselves. It was okay because we were in line with some others who were running that weekend. We visited with them, my DD sat at a table that was close by when she got overwhelmed. She lasted a little over an hour and then just plain could not take it anymore. We had gotten a DAS time for Peter Pan prior to standing in line. We went on Peter Pan and then went back to the kiosk to get a ride on the Haunted Mansion. The CM asked how the Meet and Greet with Frozen went and my DD explained that even though that was on her list and she really, really wanted to meet them, she simply couldn't do it. This CM was so wonderful. He gave us our time for the Haunted Mansion and then instructed us to return to see him before his shift ended. We went on Haunted Mansion, had a snack, got a time for Buzz Lightyear and then returned to the kiosk. The wonderful Cast Member handed my DD a card with a red stripe on the top and explained that this was a one time only thing. I completed a form and we went over to the Frozen characters and got right in to visit with them. My DD was thrilled! We made sure to stop at Guest Relations before we left the Park to fill out a card for him. ***
Sunday afternoon worked the same way for us in California Adventure. No problem what so ever. Well, except for Mom who wasn't moving as quickly after logging 17 miles before even hitting the Park.
Monday morning we stopped in California Adventure and picked up Fast Passes to Radiator Springs and World of Color. We then went to Disneyland and rode Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Splash Mountain . We got a DAS time for California Screaming before leaving Disneyland. By the time we were at
Paradise Pier, it was our time for California Screaming. We then got a time for Toy Story Mania. We rode Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, had pictures with Mater and Lightning McQueen, watched the neon turn on Route 66, and made our way to Radiator Springs. We then worked our way back to Toy Story Mania. We rode the Little Mermaid without a DAS time and had dinner. We worked our way back for the World of Color. The Little Mermaid had no wait, so my DD went on that again. When we came around to get off they asked if she wanted to ride again so she just stayed on.
The only time we had any problem with the DAS is one time we got a time for the Storybook Canals in New Orleans Square. We walked directly there and the Storybook Canals had closed for the Parade. However, the CM gave us a card to come back when they reopened. It just would have been nice to be told that it was closing instead of getting there and being told we couldn't go on even though it was the correct time on the DAS card. My DD is very literal and this did cause some confusion for her.
One little tip that was told to us that proved very helpful: Get a DAS time, preferrably the longest wait time, prior to the Parade or a Show. That way, your wait time is through when the Parade or Show is over.
Yes, it was more walking back and forth and more planning (and with my DD more explaining the plan). We were able to enjoy the Parks and not feel like we were jumping in front of anyone or taking away from their experience. My DD remarked that she didn't feel "disabled" because she wasn't "singled out." I discovered things that I didn't know existed - like the French perfume shop in New Orleans Square. Both my DD and I enjoyed getting Shalamar perfume, which was my mother's fragence. My DD had crossed everything off her list and I crossed off everything on mine. When we left Monday night, my DD stopped by Guest Relations and told them that it worked for her and told them she had a great time.
***Edited to add that we realize that the DAS isn't intended to work with the Charater Meet & Greets. I was just posting this as an example of Disney Magic at it's best. Also to have you understand that Disney can and will work with you, if you need.
I had explained the new system to my DD before we left and she had read about it on the Disneyland website. She had written out a list of rides and things that she really wanted to do before we left home. I knew the Parks would be crowded because of the Holiday weekend and the Tinker Bell 1/2 Marathon weekend (the reason why we were going)
We arrived at Guest Relations around 2pm on Friday, January 17th. We were directed to the line to the side of Guest Relations. This line wasn't too long and we enjoyed just the excitement of being in Disneyland. I will say this, the line was very long the next day and very long on Monday. We were directed inside and my DD explained to the Cast Member her needs. He was very understanding and only asked if we had previously used a GAC card. He then took her picture and then explained the system to her. He asked what ride she wanted to go on first. To my surprise, she chose Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. He looked up the time and wrote it down.
It seemed like we didn't wait more than 20-25 minutes for any attractions that day. There was a couple of times that we were late to an attraction because we got involved in either seeing a Character or getting a snack. Not a big deal.
The next day (Saturday)was basically the same experience. My DD was quickly crossing off her list. Things were working for us the way Disney intended it to work.
The biggest issue we experienced was with the Characters for Frozen. The line for that on Friday was over 2 hours long. I talked to the Cast Memeber and she told us that we didn't have to wait in the line, but, we had to remain there to the side and wait the 2 hours. My DD understood and decided it wasn't worth it for that day. She then talked to a Cast Member at Guest Relations as we were leaving the Park about how she could see the Frozen Characters. The Cast Member told us to get in line before opening the next day. My DD and I had breakfast scheduled for the first seating at the Plaza Inn and right afterwards we went over to the line. We took her iTouch and some playing cards to entertain ourselves. It was okay because we were in line with some others who were running that weekend. We visited with them, my DD sat at a table that was close by when she got overwhelmed. She lasted a little over an hour and then just plain could not take it anymore. We had gotten a DAS time for Peter Pan prior to standing in line. We went on Peter Pan and then went back to the kiosk to get a ride on the Haunted Mansion. The CM asked how the Meet and Greet with Frozen went and my DD explained that even though that was on her list and she really, really wanted to meet them, she simply couldn't do it. This CM was so wonderful. He gave us our time for the Haunted Mansion and then instructed us to return to see him before his shift ended. We went on Haunted Mansion, had a snack, got a time for Buzz Lightyear and then returned to the kiosk. The wonderful Cast Member handed my DD a card with a red stripe on the top and explained that this was a one time only thing. I completed a form and we went over to the Frozen characters and got right in to visit with them. My DD was thrilled! We made sure to stop at Guest Relations before we left the Park to fill out a card for him. ***
Sunday afternoon worked the same way for us in California Adventure. No problem what so ever. Well, except for Mom who wasn't moving as quickly after logging 17 miles before even hitting the Park.
Monday morning we stopped in California Adventure and picked up Fast Passes to Radiator Springs and World of Color. We then went to Disneyland and rode Indiana Jones, Matterhorn, Splash Mountain . We got a DAS time for California Screaming before leaving Disneyland. By the time we were at
Paradise Pier, it was our time for California Screaming. We then got a time for Toy Story Mania. We rode Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, had pictures with Mater and Lightning McQueen, watched the neon turn on Route 66, and made our way to Radiator Springs. We then worked our way back to Toy Story Mania. We rode the Little Mermaid without a DAS time and had dinner. We worked our way back for the World of Color. The Little Mermaid had no wait, so my DD went on that again. When we came around to get off they asked if she wanted to ride again so she just stayed on.
The only time we had any problem with the DAS is one time we got a time for the Storybook Canals in New Orleans Square. We walked directly there and the Storybook Canals had closed for the Parade. However, the CM gave us a card to come back when they reopened. It just would have been nice to be told that it was closing instead of getting there and being told we couldn't go on even though it was the correct time on the DAS card. My DD is very literal and this did cause some confusion for her.
One little tip that was told to us that proved very helpful: Get a DAS time, preferrably the longest wait time, prior to the Parade or a Show. That way, your wait time is through when the Parade or Show is over.
Yes, it was more walking back and forth and more planning (and with my DD more explaining the plan). We were able to enjoy the Parks and not feel like we were jumping in front of anyone or taking away from their experience. My DD remarked that she didn't feel "disabled" because she wasn't "singled out." I discovered things that I didn't know existed - like the French perfume shop in New Orleans Square. Both my DD and I enjoyed getting Shalamar perfume, which was my mother's fragence. My DD had crossed everything off her list and I crossed off everything on mine. When we left Monday night, my DD stopped by Guest Relations and told them that it worked for her and told them she had a great time.
***Edited to add that we realize that the DAS isn't intended to work with the Charater Meet & Greets. I was just posting this as an example of Disney Magic at it's best. Also to have you understand that Disney can and will work with you, if you need.
