some accomodations with the new DAS card

[Minuet888]

Hi
I hope I am putting this in the right place and this doesn't get into a big argument or anything.
This took place at Disneyland. NOT in Florida.
I have an autistic son who uses the DAS system. When we first got it in December it didn't work I'm sorry but we tried some things were ok about it but others weren't. The lady told us when we first got the card if it didn't work to come back and tell them and they would see about other options. Well we didn't have a chance to go back and tell them because my son was having a meltdown. We actually had such a bad experience that we didn't go back until last week, as our passes our expriring soon and we won't be renewing them.
The line to get into city hall to get a new card was an hour long, I'm not kidding.
My husband walked Tyler around to try to help but it wasn't he has to be there to get the card.
After we finally get up there they couldn't find his picture or him in the system (but I had his old card for proof) so we had to do the whole system thing over again. I showed him what we did on the old card and told him it wasn't working. Look at this we had to wait an hour just for the card.
He said that now the card is good for two months instead of two weeks.
I also commented on how the return time is suppose to be from end of the line to get on the ride minus ten mintes however having already spent an hour in line for the card the lines at the kiosks to get a time is getting longer as well as the fastpass return time I am waiting 20-30 minutes with my son.
He gave us use-anywhere FastPasses as a goodwill gesture.
So if things aren't working out let them know specifically what isn't working and they may make accomodations for you. I can't promise this to everyone.
So hopefully if the DAS isn't working 100% for you there might be other options. Those three FastPasses just three gave us the inbetween time that we needed for Tyler while waiting to return for the time on the card.

 

[lanejudy]

Minuet888, I'm very sorry you had a bad experience previously with DAS. When you returned more recently I'm glad you were able to discuss those challenges with Guest Relations and they were able to offer you assistance so your family could enjoy this visit.

It is always a good idea to return to Guest Relations if one finds the current accommodations are not working for your needs. What, if anything, might be offered will vary and no one should expect the exact same goodwill gesture offered to another guest.

 

[PatMcDuck]

It is a shame you had to wait so long for a DAS. When I took my son to DL in October, we walked right up. It was early in the morning. Actually, I was only slightly annoyed that in the time it took me to push him in his chair, into City Hall, that 2 other families were able to scoot in before us, using the stairs. No matter, there were several CMs working at the desk.

Were all those folks actually receiving DAS passes? That seems like the length of the old GAC lines. We never saw the lines get long in the 6 days we were there.

Didn't they used to send a CM down the line, to explain the new DAS system to the guests, and possibly get some families off the line? (I mean people who thought they needed a DAS but they do not, for example).

 

[Aladora]

It is a shame you had to wait so long for a DAS. When I took my son to DL in October, we walked right up

I was thinking the same thing, it is a shame the op had to wait so long. We were there at the start of spring break and the longest I think we waited was 10 minutes at city hall.

I did find that the wait at the DCA Chamber of Commerce was way less than at DL City Hall.

 

[Minuet888]

the line wasn't for buttons they had a separate line outside for that so yah these were all for DAS as far as I could tell, and I did put in my post that I can't promise what happened to me worked for me will happen to everyone else
But like I said just having those three passes helped for the times we were waiting for the other times either on the card or a fastpass
The actual fastpasses are kind of getting ridiculous they are supposed to hold your place in line which is how it is described on their website but If I get a fastpass at 1pm for a 90 minute wait time but the fastpass says to come back at 8pm how is that holding my place in line?
The line was honestly ridiculous and they need to try something different maybe have more than one place to get a DAS. They had a lady walking up and down the line to try and help people but she couldn't issue DAS' so really she was helpless.

 

[Demetrius Brown]

IMO, the ADA has to get over this non-disclosure over the existence of a an individual's disability and they need to start allowing doctors to issue cards stating what severity level the individual's disability is.

For example, I would imagine that the OP's child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder with a severity level of 2 or 3 which means the child requires substantial or very substantial support. It is those who have an ASD level of this magnitude who should be issued not only the DAS but also numerous FP's to avoid the meltdowns. Those with ASD severity level 1 (high-functioning Autism and Aspergers) would not be eligible for DAS because they have a greater potential of becoming productive citizens and need to experience the challenges of the queue.

These severity level cards should be issued to those with physical disabilities as well because there are a lot of physically disabled people who have no business being in a standby queue.

 

[Gracie09]

IMO, the ADA has to get over this non-disclosure over the existence of a an individual's disability and they need to start allowing doctors to issue cards stating what severity level the individual's disability is.

For example, I would imagine that the OP's child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder with a severity level of 2 or 3 which means the child requires substantial or very substantial support. It is those who have an ASD level of this magnitude who should be issued not only the DAS but also numerous FP's to avoid the meltdowns. Those with ASD severity level 1 (high-functioning Autism and Aspergers) would not be eligible for DAS because they have a greater potential of becoming productive citizens and need to experience the challenges of the queue.

These severity level cards should be issued to those with physical disabilities as well because there are a lot of physically disabled people who have no business being in a standby queue.

The Ada provides for access not excess. If a person is able to wait in a line they have every business being there.
I could replicate just about any card with a decent printer and laminating device. Doctors notes can also be forged even easier. Who monitors the severity level? The doctor? Many doctors want to help their patients so they can say well he's really a level one but let me give you a level three card so it easier for you. Or even parents can berate doctors like they do cm to get the level cars they want.
Many people don't want to discuss their personal medical issues with non medical personnel. By allowing them to only discuss their needs as it pertains to lines it allows the person to keep their medical information private.

We don't know the line was just for das cards. There are many reasons why people visit guest relations not just das and buttons.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am closing this because it has turned into an argument about one person’s beliefs that proof should be required.

The ADA does not require proof.
DAS is providing for equal access, not more.
The US does not have a system of "registered disabled” as some countries do.
Physician letters could easily be forged, or doctors convinced to make a more severe need documented on a letter.