Surprisingly Easy DAS renewal

[AmyMac1109]

We are headed to WDW in a few weeks, with our first park day being 1/26. My 4 year old DS has previously qualified for DAS and was issued one on our trip earlier this year, however we are well outside the 60 day window and renewal was necessary. I tried to get on the video chat each of the last 4 days, but I wasn't able to get in the queue until after I got home from work (5-6PM). Since I knew my DS was needed for at least a portion fo the video chat, I was very limited in how long I could wait each night since the 10PM end time is well past his bedtime. I waited 3 hours the first night, but logged off when he fell asleep. I waited 2 hours the second and third nights, but logged off when he fell asleep. We kept him up last night and I waited 4 hours until I was disconnected at 10:08PM.

Tired of spending my evenings waiting on the computer (especially since the entire process only took me 26 minutes from logging in to choosing advance selections last time), I decided to go into work late this morning and see if I had better luck in the AM. I logged in right at 7AM and someone got to me at 8:23AM. While it would have been great to be finished in 26 minutes like last time, an hour and 23 minutes to connect wasn't terrible. After I provided my DS's name and those of our family/traveling party in the chat and confirmed that I had my DS with me, the CM sent me the link to accept the terms and then to the video chat. As soon as the CM popped into the video, she said she just needed to confirm that I was a live human, and that they already had my DS's notes and photo from last time and she would renew it and immediately send me over to do my advance selections. I was shocked. I mean, I'm grateful I didn't have to start from scratch and explain his issues. But I figured they at least needed to take a new photo. I kind of wish I hadn't logged off the first 3 nights when he fell asleep (and that I hadn't kept him up until 10PM last night). But I'm sure if I had actually gotten connected any of those times, they would have required him to sit for a photo. That is the type of luck I have.

Anyway, my takeaway from this, first thing in the morning is always the best time to login and you might not need your kid there to renew, so try anyway.

 

[gap2368]

glade it worked out for you in the end.

 

[SueM in MN]

I’m surprised they didn’t ask more.
I’ve done the video chat 3 times for my daughter. Each time, they have asked what concerns we had with waiting in the regular line. Then the CM took her picture. That included one time when her DAS was not actually expired yet, but would be a few days after our visit began

 

[AmyMac1109]

I’m surprised they didn’t ask more.
I’ve done the video chat 3 times for my daughter. Each time, they have asked what concerns we had with waiting in the regular line. Then the CM took her picture. That included one time when her DAS was not actually expired yet, but would be a few days after our visit began

I was absolutely shocked. He was originally approved back in early March. We renewed in mid- August for a September trip that never happened. Both of those video chats required a discussion and having his picture taken. I have no clue why they skipped it this time. It's been 4 1/2 months since he was last approved, so we're well outside the 60 day window.

 

[gap2368]

I’m surprised they didn’t ask more.
I’ve done the video chat 3 times for my daughter. Each time, they have asked what concerns we had with waiting in the regular line. Then the CM took her picture. That included one time when her DAS was not actually expired yet, but would be a few days after our visit began

I too am surprised they did not ask some kind of question the two time I have done the video chat the cast member said I see you have had a DAS in the past but I need to ask then they ask why I need a DAS

 

[tetera]

.

 

[AmyMac1109]

I too am surprised they did not ask some kind of question the two time I have done the video chat the cast member said I see you have had a DAS in the past but I need to ask then they ask why I need a DAS

I am also surprised by this - we just "renewed" the other day - my son's current DAS pass has not yet expired but we will be going next month (and it will have expired by then). The CM was nice but we had to wait and answer the questions, take a new photo, etc. It all actually took longer than the previous time we got it done in the fall.

No one is more surprsied than I was. I was prepared to answer any questions and had my DS right next to me if needed, but the CM said it wasn't necessary.

I do wish there was a little more consistency in how CMs handled this process. We'll be renewing again in early June and I'll have my DS with again, just in case.

 

[gap2368]

I do wish there was a little more consistency

for the das part of things I could not agree more. I have a friend that has had a DAS for years goes a few times a year has never been asked why he needs a DAS until last trip he gave the CM a blank stare for a few minutes then I had to answer why he needed it. after he was like they have never asked me anything. any ways I know I am. going of on a tangent but I too wish they were more consistent in at lest asking every time when asking for a DAS

 

[dizneedoll]

I have had the video renewal go the way yours did and even easier because the CM didn't even open the video feature. Just renewed no questions asked then Ive had others who are rude, ask questions they aren't allowed to ask and are militant about the whole thing. Tomorrow is my 30 day and we will see which way it goes! Im glad yours was easy and I hope mine is too! I really hate the stress of it.

 

[AmyMac1109]

I have had the video renewal go the way yours did and even easier because the CM didn't even open the video feature. Just renewed no questions asked then Ive had others who are rude, ask questions they aren't allowed to ask and are militant about the whole thing. Tomorrow is my 30 day and we will see which way it goes! Im glad yours was easy and I hope mine is too! I really hate the stress of it.

Good luck!

 

[dizneedoll]

Good luck!

Thanks! It took about 15 min total and went really easy this morning.

 

[jo-jo]

for the das part of things I could not agree more. I have a friend that has had a DAS for years goes a few times a year has never been asked why he needs a DAS until last trip he gave the CM a blank stare for a few minutes then I had to answer why he needed it. after he was like they have never asked me anything. any ways I know I am. going of on a tangent but I too wish they were more consistent in at lest asking every time when asking for a DAS

There was someone on these boards that did the video twice I believe and turned down. Went to the park and got it. That makes no sense.

 

[lanejudy]

kind of wish I hadn't logged off the first 3 nights when he fell asleep (and that I hadn't kept him up until 10PM last night).

For future reference -- folks have reported doing the video chat after their child fell asleep and a picture was taken of the child in bed. You can have it re-taken at the park.

That makes no sense.

That’s actually hard to judge because we don’t know how the first 2 conversations went. If the person only named a diagnosis on the video chats, it’s correct the request be denied. Then in-person they might have been better prepared to discuss their needs instead of diagnosis.

 

[SueM in MN]

For future reference -- folks have reported doing the video chat after their child fell asleep and a picture was taken of the child in bed. You can have it re-taken at the park.

That’s actually hard to judge because we don’t know how the first 2 conversations went. If the person only named a diagnosis on the video chats, it’s correct the request be denied. Then in-person they might have been better prepared to discuss their needs instead of diagnosis.

while I was waiting during one of our DAS registration calls, my DD had a hard seizure and was asleep during the video portion of the call. The CM said it was no problem and took her picture fast asleep.
When we went to use her DAS at the parks, CMs looked at her picture with a really strange look and kind of did a double take. After a couple reactions like that, I took her to Guest Relations to get her picture retaken. The CM said a sleeping child was not an issue for the DAS photo, but she could retake it if we wanted. She was trying not to laugh when she actually saw the picture - DD was sleeping with her arms crossed over her chest (like Dracula) and looked like one of the living dead!
Needless to say, we got a better picture taken.

I agree with lanejudy about the registration conversation. I’ve seen multiple reports here and in other places where people posted things like ‘I told the CM I have xxxx and was turned down’ OR ‘I told the CM I can’t stand in line and was turned down’ AND ‘The CM wanted to know what concerns I had with waiting in line, but I told him/her it was because I have xxxx. They just kept asking the same questions and I kept telling them I have xxxx.’

Those reasons for DAS don’t meet the guidelines; many people try again after being better prepared to discuss their needs. Most of the posters here try very hard to let posters know that there are no ‘guaranteed DAS diagnoses’ and that they need to be ready to discuss their needs/concerns. That is not the case in many other places on the internet - I see erroneous comments all the time like - ‘that’s one of the diagnoses that are Supported for DAS, you won’t have any problem.’ Often, the people posting that info have no experience with DAS and haven’t even read the info on the Disney website

 

[AmyMac1109]

For future reference -- folks have reported doing the video chat after their child fell asleep and a picture was taken of the child in bed. You can have it re-taken at the park.

while I was waiting during one of our DAS registration calls, my DD had a hard seizure and was asleep during the video portion of the call. The CM said it was no problem and took her picture fast asleep.
When we went to use her DAS at the parks, CMs looked at her picture with a really strange look and kind of did a double take. After a couple reactions like that, I took her to Guest Relations to get her picture retaken. The CM said a sleeping child was not an issue for the DAS photo, but she could retake it if we wanted. She was trying not to laugh when she actually saw the picture - DD was sleeping with her arms crossed over her chest (like Dracula) and looked like one of the living dead!
Needless to say, we got a better picture taken.

Good to know! Thank you both! Next time, I'll just stay in the queue regardless of whether he's still awake. Though, I'm not even going to bother trying after work in the future. It's so much quicker to get through at 7AM.

 

[sweetmama17]

I agree with the consistency. FYI if you need to renew before it's expired you have to do it via video chat and not at the parks. I asked 2 different people at animal kingdom and they would not do it. So like the OP i spent many nights waiting and having it time out at 10pm since i work all day (getting it for my kiddo) finally getting it weeks later on a weekend morning (still waited over an hour).