Trip planning advice: at what WDW attractions might DAS help me the most?

[Becca43]

Hi all! Don't have an upcoming WDW trip as of yet, but I've recently been doing some "some-day planning," which got me curious about DAS and whether some of you who know the WDW parks much better than I do (I've only been twice, and both occasions were 15+ years ago now) could potentially help me with some advice...

Since last visiting WDW or DLR, I have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition that makes both standing for any significant period of time (more than a few minutes) and being out in the direct sunlight difficult for me (either will cause a flare of symptoms). I can very easily address the challenge I experience with standing by using a rollator or wheelchair, but I'm interested to get input on if there are specific attractions I might still benefit from using DAS. If the queues are indoors (or even well-shaded), I wouldn't have a problem waiting in a standard queue with a mobility device, but queues of any length that are primarily in the sun or long queues that are outdoors (with only some shade) would both still be a struggle for me.

So my question for you: what DAS eligible attractions you would recommend I seek out DAS for (if any) based on the information above? Are there any attractions/shopping/restaurants/etc. outside of DAS that you might foresee being a problem? Lastly, are there any areas of the parks you would recommend resting while waiting for DAS that are cooler/have AC/are well-shaded/etc.?

Thanks so much in advance for your help! Looking into and trying to determine a plan for excursions or potential trips to places I haven't been before (or in a really long time!) is always challenging. It can be hard to know what is/is not doable for me until I'm there, so any tips you can share would be super appreciated

 

[lanejudy]

DAS is not given for specific attractions; if granted it would be available for you to use on any attractions you feel it's needed. There's no requirement to use it on all attractions so you can do the standby as you wish. DAS does not help with shopping, restaurants, transportation, etc. only attractions.

That said... I'd think you are more likely to have trouble finding shaded or indoor places to wait out a DAS Return Time. Possibly more time there than in a queue that moves fairly constantly (albeit slow at times). There is another recent thread about avoiding sun and you'd be well-served to look into some SPF clothing, hats, umbrellas, etc. and planning park time early morning and/or at night when the sun is not a big concern.

 

[lanejudy]

The first post of THIS THREAD has information about DAS and how it works. Don't worry about the rest of the thread, it's just discussion.

And THIS THREAD is the one I mentioned with suggestions about avoiding sun exposure.

 

[Becca43]

Thanks for your help! Yes, I realize DAS is not given just for specific attractions, but even if it was available to me at all attractions, I would only need to use it on some. I was more hoping for some insight that would help me plan out what attractions I might benefit from using DAS vs. being able to skip it and do standby or the regular queue - I find creating a game plan for myself ahead of time typically helps me better manage my chronic illness. But if you're saying there aren't really shaded areas or indoor places with air conditioning to wait for DAS return time, it's quite possible the answer to my question may be none haha. Is the lack of shade/indoor spaces true of all four WDW parks, or would some be better than others in that way? Or maybe the better question would be what attractions (or even parks? ) would I be best to skip if doing DAS to get out of the sun isn't really an option?

Appreciate the thread you shared about avoiding sun exposure! I tried to do a search before posting my question but had no idea what key words to use to find something potentially helpful like this Thanks again!

 

[SteveMouse]

From an absolute time perspective, there are probably ways of staying out 9f the sun longer at EPCOT as opposed to the other parks, though there is very little shade when walking between buildings at Epcot.

Assuming no tropical storm, Animal Kingdom has more semi-shaded areas than the Other parks.

Of note, many of the stores on Main Street are interconnected- you at least used to be able to go quite a ways before stepping outside.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I have never thought of the DAS being better for one attraction versus another attraction. My DD needs DAS and we just use it for any attraction without ever consideration for the benefits of one thing over another thing.

 

[10CJ]

I don't think you will need to avoid any park. There are places to get inside or out of the sun at every park.

Some queues are entirely outside like Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, but portions of the line are under a cover. Toy Story Mania has a portion of the queue outside if the line is long enough, but a good deal of the line is inside.

At EPCOT you can spend a decent amount of time indoors (The Land Pavilion, The Seas Pavilion). The line for Remy and Frozen are often outside but have indoor portions. Not sure there is any ride entirely outside at EPCOT.

At AK, you could always wait for a Navi or FOP DAS at Nomad Lounge.

At MK, DAS definitely helps with Mine Train, you are outside much less in the LL line than the regular line. There is not much indoors near Big Thunder, so you may want to wait elsewhere if you determine just finding shade is not enough.

You may need to be prepared to make day of decisions. Walk by a ride a see what the line looks like. Is a portion of the line outside?

I would think about what you think you want to do and look at a park map for possible indoor/shady places nearby.

 

[Becca43]

I don't think you will need to avoid any park. There are places to get inside or out of the sun at every park.

Some queues are entirely outside like Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, but portions of the line are under a cover. Toy Story Mania has a portion of the queue outside if the line is long enough, but a good deal of the line is inside.

At EPCOT you can spend a decent amount of time indoors (The Land Pavilion, The Seas Pavilion). The line for Remy and Frozen are often outside but have indoor portions. Not sure there is any ride entirely outside at EPCOT.

At AK, you could always wait for a Navi or FOP DAS at Nomad Lounge.

At MK, DAS definitely helps with Mine Train, you are outside much less in the LL line than the regular line. There is not much indoors near Big Thunder, so you may want to wait elsewhere if you determine just finding shade is not enough.

You may need to be prepared to make day of decisions. Walk by a ride a see what the line looks like. Is a portion of the line outside?

I would think about what you think you want to do and look at a park map for possible indoor/shady places nearby.

Thank you for the insight! This is very helpful. I will definitely take a look through the park maps to see where I might find some shady and/or indoor places nearby the attractions I'm most interested in. The hardest part is knowing which queues are mostly or entirely outside (not always obvious on a park map) vs. which have indoor portions or are more likely to be shaded, so thanks for sharing some specifics like about the Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, as well as context about using LL for Mine Train vs. regular queue without DAS All very helpful to someone who hasn't been to the WDW parks in quite a long time!

 

[Becca43]

I have never thought of the DAS being better for one attraction versus another attraction. My DD needs DAS and we just use it for any attraction without ever consideration for the benefits of one thing over another thing.

I feel like it probably really depends on the reasons why someone requires DAS. For some, I imagine DAS would be needed for all attractions, but for me, I feel like I would be able to do some regular queues depending on the circumstances (such as those with lines under a certain amount of time, those with lines primarily in the shade or indoors, etc.) with just the help of a mobility aid such as a rollator. Whereas even with such an aid, I know there will be other queues that, whether due to the environment (ex. being out in the heat and direct sunlight for an extended period of time) or the length of time (because the longer I am upright and stationary, the more likely my symptoms will get aggravated), will push me past the "point of no return" very quickly. But I do imagine it likely varies greatly from person to person and, for some people, even from day to day depending on how they are feeling!

 

[Genie+]

Do you have some flexibility in the time of year you visit? Late Fall and all of Winter are good for avoiding blazing sun and heat. Yeah sometimes a heatwave can come thru. Still gives the best chance your trip will mostly be under 80f. We were there March 18-21 and it was downright cold one night!

This is a great site to see weather for travel:
https://weatherspark.com/y/17721/Average-Weather-in-Orlando-Florida-United-States-Year-Round