? Regarding DAS Return Times

[zela02]

I have not experienced the DAS, but I have read one of the major complaints is the process of getting a return time. Considering the CMs have access to the MDE app, and the posted standby times, why can't they just go ahead and mark the time for your next ride when you go in. For instance, if you already have a time for BTMR - when you go in for that ride, couldn't they give you a return time for what ever you plan to ride next. That would cut down on walking and fill up some if the time between rides. In addition, for those that struggle with their children going to the ride and then having to leave (I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem for our daughter, but I know others have mentioned it) it would eliminate some of that stress.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I have not experienced the DAS, but I have read one of the major complaints is the process of getting a return time. Considering the CMs have access to the MDE app, and the posted standby times, why can't they just go ahead and mark the time for your next ride when you go in. For instance, if you already have a time for BTMR - when you go in for that ride, couldn't they give you a return time for what ever you plan to ride next. That would cut down on walking and fill up some if the time between rides. In addition, for those that struggle with their children going to the ride and then having to leave (I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem for our daughter, but I know others have mentioned it) it would eliminate some of that stress.

I agree. There was a thread here regarding ideas for improving the DAS, and I suggested this as well, i.e., you should be able to get a return for any ride at any ride.

 

[aaarcher86]

I'm in favor of that. The DAS will allegedly be linked to MDE, so hopefully that will be an option provided in the future. I think right now each ride has a different color pen, so doing that currently would mess up that procedure.

 

[Wendydagny]

I'm in favor of that. The DAS will allegedly be linked to MDE, so hopefully that will be an option provided in the future. I think right now each ride has a different color pen, so doing that currently would mess up that procedure.

This rumor is not true. We did see different pens, but it was not by plan. Most were blue or black. In fact, it was totally random because I know a few times the CM had to go find a pen.

 

[bedogged]

I have not experienced the DAS, but I have read one of the major complaints is the process of getting a return time. Considering the CMs have access to the MDE app, and the posted standby times, why can't they just go ahead and mark the time for your next ride when you go in. For instance, if you already have a time for BTMR - when you go in for that ride, couldn't they give you a return time for what ever you plan to ride next. That would cut down on walking and fill up some if the time between rides. In addition, for those that struggle with their children going to the ride and then having to leave (I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem for our daughter, but I know others have mentioned it) it would eliminate some of that stress.

I have not had an opportunity to try the new DAS system, but this sounds to me like it would be a lot more flexible. I'm all for flexibility.

 

[aaarcher86]

This rumor is not true. We did see different pens, but it was not by plan. Most were blue or black. In fact, it was totally random because I know a few times the CM had to go find a pen.

Well, then maybe they can implement it sooner if they aren't doing the pens for now.

 

[SueM in MN]

This rumor is not true. We did see different pens, but it was not by plan. Most were blue or black. In fact, it was totally random because I know a few times the CM had to go find a pen.

When we were at WDW from October 25 thru Nov. 9, 2013, most were black or blue.
Some were not. We had 3 Return Times during that time period for Toy Story Mania with 3 different ink colors. I know that was not random because one of the times a CM had just rotated to that position and had to get the correct color pen from the CM who just left (he had put it into his pocket).

So, our experience with that attraction was specific pen colors for specific days. I have heard they were doing that for the high demand attractions, not all.

I have not experienced the DAS, but I have read one of the major complaints is the process of getting a return time. Considering the CMs have access to the MDE app, and the posted standby times, why can't they just go ahead and mark the time for your next ride when you go in. For instance, if you already have a time for BTMR - when you go in for that ride, couldn't they give you a return time for what ever you plan to ride next. That would cut down on walking and fill up some if the time between rides. In addition, for those that struggle with their children going to the ride and then having to leave (I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem for our daughter, but I know others have mentioned it) it would eliminate some of that stress.

I don't think attraction CMs have access to that. When we got DAS Return a Times, most CMs looked up a the sign that had the Standby time posted.

From what I saw of the consoles the CMs had at Fastpass Return, they did not actually have access to MDE (My Disney Experience).
They had a kind of stripped down version that basically had these functions:
- Pass/Fail for the current band being read
- viewing active Fastpass Plus times for the Magicband of the guest they were currently assisting.
- viewing the same information for other bands that were linked to that band.
- current Fastpass and wait time status for the attraction that CM was working at (are there any Fastpasses left, current Fastpass time being given out)

There may be more I did not see, but we were waiting at Fastpass Return for a while several times while I was waiting for questions to be answered (there were a couple of attractions where MDE said they had a transfer assist ride car, so I had to wait while the CM got someone else who could answer my question).

If there is someone else in the party, they are able to go to the attraction to get the DAS Return Time without the person the DAS was issued to.
I know this doesn't work for DAS holders who are alone or if there is just one person accompanying a DAS holder who can't be alone, but it will work for many people.

I have heard the probable long range plan is to combine DAS information with AP or other passes. That would also make it possible to combine with MDE.
I don't know if that is still/really was the plan and don't know if it is feasible until Fastpass Plus is totally rolled out and totally working.

 

[Wendydagny]

Sue-- I know that as of Christmas week they made changes to how they were doing return times at tsmm, as in different cm's being in charge of crossing off the time, etc. I know this because they were flustered and commented on it to us. we used the das three times that week at tsmm and did not experience different colors at that attraction. I remember being surprised that they just used a black ball point pen almost everywhere. I think the process is still in flux.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue-- I know that as of Christmas week they made changes to how they were doing return times at tsmm, as in different cm's being in charge of crossing off the time, etc. I know this because they were flustered and commented on it to us. we used the das three times that week at tsmm and did not experience different colors at that attraction. I remember being surprised that they just used a black ball point pen almost everywhere. I think the process is still in flux.

Thanks.
I agree, things are somewhat in flux about exactly how they are doing them. I can see some of the difficulties with different color pens - as happened to us, the guy with the correct color for the day left with it in his pocket.

That was why I posted the dates we were there.

Which CM was crossing off the time?
When we went, it was the first CM as you entered the line and the second CM just looked at the DAS. I know one issue some people had was needing to leave the line after they got into line, but before they got to the second CM. If the 2nd one crossed off the time, it would help with that issue.

 

[Talking Hands]

While I was there last week the second CM was crossing off the DAS time. I found it was very smooth even with the high volume of guests on park. I used DAS for things that were not interpreted. For the interpreted show the interpreters served as the FP. For me they let the CMs know that they were expecting a guest in a wheelchair who also has a hearing loss. They were really on top of it. So far I haven't found a way for FP+ to work as I cannot pick a specific time frame at the last minute. It would be nice of that could be done at Guest Services so the interpreted schedule could be meshed with FP+

 

[Schmeck]

I have not experienced the DAS, but I have read one of the major complaints is the process of getting a return time. Considering the CMs have access to the MDE app, and the posted standby times, why can't they just go ahead and mark the time for your next ride when you go in. For instance, if you already have a time for BTMR - when you go in for that ride, couldn't they give you a return time for what ever you plan to ride next. That would cut down on walking and fill up some if the time between rides. In addition, for those that struggle with their children going to the ride and then having to leave (I'm pretty sure that won't be a problem for our daughter, but I know others have mentioned it) it would eliminate some of that stress.

Because the wait time starts when you "enter" the standby queue. I guess if they didn't subtract the extra 10-15 minutes off the wait time, then it would be appropriate.

 

[sarabguerra]

We were at WDW from Dec. 25th to 30th and pretty much every time the CM didn't cross out the time on the card. I ended up just doing it myself...

 

[tinkerpea]

We were at WDW from Dec. 25th to 30th and pretty much every time the CM didn't cross out the time on the card. I ended up just doing it myself...

We had issues with this in November too! We would then get to the next ride and they would tell us that the ride was still active! And we had not been on it yet.
We also had issues with very varying times being put down,
Now I know not many would complain about this but, .... Some of the male CMs I would go up to would just say your ride won't be long and put down a return time of 10 min when it was 45!!