Should have done Disney before Universal

[sonofanarchy]

After an awesome 6 nights at Royal Pacific, we're now at the Boardwalk. Not a fun start. We have a 2 bedroom villa. Our magic bands only work on the studio side. Called down to the front desk where I was put on hold for 10 minutes. Just hung up and figured deal with it tomorrow. We then proceeded to guest relations at Epcot to get a DAS card for my MIL who has a host of conditions, the least of which is a recovery from a recent stroke. CM outright refused to give her a card instead telling her to get a wheelchair (which she has), and sit in the air conditioning. We then waited 45 minutes for a bus to DTD. After a 45 minute drive thanks to the mess they have created at the bus stop, we missed our ADR. On our return trip to the hotel where the Boardwalk is the last of 5 stops, I stopped by the store in the lobby to get some water. There were 4 old people talking to the CM about one of the woman's pin collections and trying to find the one she was looking for. After standing there with 3 bottles of water for 10 minutes, I just put them back.

HAVING A GREAT TIME - WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

Oh yeah - None of ADR's are showing up on the MDE app.

 

[asmit4]

I thought it was not their place to tell you if you deserve a DAS? WHO would qualify for one if someone in a wheelchair doesn't qualify???

Your DTD issue has me scared. We booked an ADR at Rainforest....is there parking close by there? might have to rethink our day at DTD.

What a mess with the magic bands. This has me nervous too- guess you can't just show up with bands- you'd better have all that dang paperwork and cards with you to prove what is supposed to be IN their dang system already! ugh.

 

[DisUniversal]

After an awesome 6 nights at Royal Pacific, we're now at the Boardwalk. Not a fun start. We have a 2 bedroom villa. Our magic bands only work on the studio side. Called down to the front desk where I was put on hold for 10 minutes. Just hung up and figured deal with it tomorrow. We then proceeded to guest relations at Epcot to get a DAS card for my MIL who has a host of conditions, the least of which is a recovery from a recent stroke. CM outright refused to give her a card instead telling her to get a wheelchair (which she has), and sit in the air conditioning. We then waited 45 minutes for a bus to DTD. After a 45 minute drive thanks to the mess they have created at the bus stop, we missed our ADR. On our return trip to the hotel where the Boardwalk is the last of 5 stops, I stopped by the store in the lobby to get some water. There were 4 old people talking to the CM about one of the woman's pin collections and trying to find the one she was looking for. After standing there with 3 bottles of water for 10 minutes, I just put them back.

HAVING A GREAT TIME - WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

Oh yeah - None of ADR's are showing up on the MDE app.

Sounds like you should have done Universal instead of Disney. You also forgot the (instead of me) after the WISH YOU WERE HERE

 

[Mel2421]

I am going Aug. 5th and I am getting a little scared with all the MB complaints and Fast Passes being wiped away. I am glad I am staying on property at least I will get in early on some days. I hope it is all fixed before I get there.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Although everything I said is true, I'm only joking around. Hey, life is good. I'm just saying, Universal was so relaxing and easy, and the service we got from everyone made the time there great. You just realize very quickly how little Disney cares about their guests. But hey, we knew that going in. We're just gonna make our own fun time at the parks.

 

[vicki_c]

I thought it was not their place to tell you if you deserve a DAS? WHO would qualify for one if someone in a wheelchair doesn't qualify???

Not to detract from the original post, but the DAS card is intended for less visible conditions. For those with mobility issues, they don't give the card but recommend a wheelchair. I know the have recently revamped that program, but that's always supposed to have been the case and I don't think that part changed.

(Oh and not saying the OP's MIL didn't need the DAS for other issues, I have no clue on that. But the mobility piece is not why they give the cards.)

 

[amg35]

I have to say this, and I'm only joking around, but I'm not that surprised to read you aren't happy with the WDW part of your vacation, you haven't exactly been looking forward to it.

 

[Missyrose]

After an awesome 6 nights at Royal Pacific, we're now at the Boardwalk. Not a fun start. We have a 2 bedroom villa. Our magic bands only work on the studio side. Called down to the front desk where I was put on hold for 10 minutes. Just hung up and figured deal with it tomorrow. We then proceeded to guest relations at Epcot to get a DAS card for my MIL who has a host of conditions, the least of which is a recovery from a recent stroke. CM outright refused to give her a card instead telling her to get a wheelchair (which she has), and sit in the air conditioning. We then waited 45 minutes for a bus to DTD. After a 45 minute drive thanks to the mess they have created at the bus stop, we missed our ADR. On our return trip to the hotel where the Boardwalk is the last of 5 stops, I stopped by the store in the lobby to get some water. There were 4 old people talking to the CM about one of the woman's pin collections and trying to find the one she was looking for. After standing there with 3 bottles of water for 10 minutes, I just put them back.

HAVING A GREAT TIME - WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

Oh yeah - None of ADR's are showing up on the MDE app.

Ugh. What an awful start to the Disney portion of the trip. Couple of things that might help:

1. Don't call the front desk. You don't actually get the front desk of your resort, you get an offsite call center. Go down to the front desk to get problems solved quickly.

2. Our commandment when it comes to DTD is "Thou shalt not take the bus." We either use a rental car or take a cab. The buses take forever all the time.

3. Try another guest relations for the DAS. Make sure you are not telling the CM that your MIL has stamina or mobility issues. They seem to have been taught to automatically turn people with stamina or mobility issues down for a DAS and suggest a wheelchair or ECV as the accommodation they need. A DAS is typically issued for people who need a different place to wait for an attraction other than the queue. PM me if you have questions!

 

[sonofanarchy]

I have to say this, and I'm only joking around, but I'm not that surprised to read you aren't happy with the WDW part of your vacation, you haven't exactly been looking forward to it.

Sadly, this is true. Like I said, we'll have a blast at the parks. We've just been spoiled in recent years with our Universal stays. Disney service has fallen way below them in that area.

And we shouldn't have gone to DTD our first night. Getting there was a pain, and it's just an absolute mess right now.

 

[Disneylover99]

Ugh....it's the pin collection comment that I can relate to. It seems like everytime I line up to purchase something there is a pin collector in front of me, and they talk, and talk, and talk.......about pins. I just want to buy and go.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Ugh....it's the pin collection comment that I can relate to. It seems like everytime I line up to purchase something there is a pin collector in front of me, and they talk, and talk, and talk.......about pins. I just want to buy and go.

Yeah, not to sound mean but that really ticked me off. The woman should have just rung me up quickly. Or the 4 old people should have said "Ring this guy up...It's ok."

 

[Disneylover99]

Yeah, not to sound mean but that really ticked me off. The woman should have just rung me up quickly. Or the 4 old people should have said "Ring this guy up...It's ok."

There should be some kind of pin etiquette when people are in line to buy things. Or maybe there is.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

What are the order of the bus stops? If the swan or dolphin are earlier in the order I would get off there and walk to the Boardwalk!

 

[andyman8]

What are the order of the bus stops? If the swan or dolphin are earlier in the order I would get off there and walk to the Boardwalk!

It changes from time to time but over the Fourth of July holiday it was BW, Swan, Dolphin, YC, then BC I believe.

 

[TaylorsDad]

After an awesome 6 nights at Royal Pacific, we're now at the Boardwalk. Not a fun start. We have a 2 bedroom villa. Our magic bands only work on the studio side. Called down to the front desk where I was put on hold for 10 minutes. Just hung up and figured deal with it tomorrow. We then proceeded to guest relations at Epcot to get a DAS card for my MIL who has a host of conditions, the least of which is a recovery from a recent stroke. CM outright refused to give her a card instead telling her to get a wheelchair (which she has), and sit in the air conditioning. We then waited 45 minutes for a bus to DTD. After a 45 minute drive thanks to the mess they have created at the bus stop, we missed our ADR. On our return trip to the hotel where the Boardwalk is the last of 5 stops, I stopped by the store in the lobby to get some water. There were 4 old people talking to the CM about one of the woman's pin collections and trying to find the one she was looking for. After standing there with 3 bottles of water for 10 minutes, I just put them back.

HAVING A GREAT TIME - WISH YOU WERE HERE!!!

Oh yeah - None of ADR's are showing up on the MDE app.

I have been hearing more and more stories like yours about the DAS. My daughter has special needs issues as well and we have only been to WDW once since the DAS. That was last year and we had no problem getting one. However last week during our Universal only trip my wife talked to a lady who had just come from WDW and was complaining that during her trip to WDW with her son who has several medical issues including meltdown episodes if I remember correct was not only refused a DAS but was told she needed to take parenting classes to learn how to control her child in line instead of getting a DAS. I cannot verify or refute that this took place this is just what we were told.

 

[kandb]

OP, hope your trip improves. As far as waiting in line with the people talking about their pins, maybe I am pushy (from NJ), but I would of politely said to the CM, "Is there anyone who can ring up my purchase quickly?" There is no way I would have waited. The CM would of probably either called someone over or just rang you up quickly.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

Wow I would get upset too if I had to stand around and wait for service for no good reason. My husband and I have been playing around with the idea of doing a US\(EPCOT,MK) early December. We experienced WWOHP in 2011 and loved it so cant wait for all the new stuff .
His main reason not to go is my three year old will be broken hearted when he cannot get on the HP rides but I told him we can work around that he does not believe me, my three yr old is obsessed with the night bus,loves HP. Our trip would be Three day US\IOA Disney would only be one day ECOT two days MK to do all the holiday entertainment which we both love.
I wonder if the wait times will still be crazy early December?!

 

[yeheyprincex2]

OP, hope your trip improves. As far as waiting in line with the people talking about their pins, maybe I am pushy (from NJ), but I would of politely said to the CM, "Is there anyone who can ring up my purchase quickly?" There is no way I would have waited. The CM would of probably either called someone over or just rang you up quickly.

Sounds like me

Or give the the IM WAITING annoyed look

 

[AngiTN]

I hope the new day is better for you. We had nightmares with our KTTW cards on our last trip so I'm worried about the MB problems.

The wheelchair/DAS issue is if you just need access due to a wheelchair you no longer need a special pass as just about all the queues at WDW can now be accessed in a wheelchair. They don't see that alone as reason to issue one. The sticky wicket is HIPPA and needing more info, etc when there are other issues that prevent someone from waiting in line. It is a tough situation to be in but you can thank the abusers of the program for the changes. You can't blame the for addressing the changes but they did need to do better at laying down the groundrules for issuing them. Giving a CM full control over it is not fair to them or the guest.

 

[wilkeliza]

To give some insight into DAS the thing is you have to be able to articulate why you need an alternate area to wait. You can not simply same my mother has many medical conditions and therefore can not wait in the regular line. That won't fly. Same with ASD or other medical issues.

The way you have to ask for a DAS is say X person in our party is unable to wait in the standby line due to x, y, z reasons. Being able to wait in an alternate location and return at a given return time would help because it accommodates her through offering A, B, and C that is unavailable through just the wheelchair or ECV.

If you give them simply a medical condition CMs will say no. If it is deemed a mobility or stamina issue the DAS does not apply. Remember the CMs are not doctors. They don't need to know what is wrong they just need to know what accommodation you need and why that can't come from a regular standby line or through a wheelchair or ecv.