Trying to convince my mum to take a DAS pass

[kathy884]

How is your mom at sitting on the ground? I don't like to stand in one place for all that long and when waiting for shows or even when the line is not moving I sit on the ground (hard pavement). This is what keeps me from missing any attractions or shows. I walk daily (seven days a week) and play tennis twice a week, but with varicose veins and not the greatest circulation I am more comfortable sitting than standing. A bench would be great, but the ground beats standing for me. This does involve a lot of sitting on the hard ground, and getting back up ( a lot of up and down, but if she is in good shape maybe that's not an issue). It works for me. Interestingly enough too in many lines I am the first person to do this and then after I do it I end up seeing six or seven people after seeing me do it, do it themselves too. They all wanted to do it (I'm guessing), but didn't want to be the first one. It also requires me not being embarrassed about being the first one to sit on the ground and being OK with sitting on the ground while almost everyone else is standing. I have been doing this for the last 10 years when visiting the Orlando parks and am comfortable with it.

Like other posters have said, most of the lines move along pretty well and this wasn't necessary. I mostly on our last trip remember sitting on the ground for 15/20 minutes in the place we wanted to be for night time shows and sitting on the ground in a fairly long queue that didn't move that fast for Soar'in at Epcot. (Benches for sure are way harder to find than they used to be I have found.)

My 85 year old dad does not use a wheelchair or SUV at home, but gladly rents one for Disney parks. He won't do a rental for the whole trip, but will do it at the parks we are going to do on an upcoming trip in March. For lines that don't let an SUV go all the way, there is a transfer from an SUV to wheelchair available.

 

[Hippomom]

Whether she gets or qualifies for a DAS, I really recommend renting some sort of mobility device. My primary issue is standing.I can walk pretty far. DAS often would not help me because I’d need to sit somewhere and often seats are few and far between. Even with DAS you might have to stand quite a bit. At home I don’t use a mobility device for work or most stores that have carts - society has gotten rid of many places to sit not wanting people to loiter etc.
But at places like Disney it’s so much more enjoyable not to worry about not having somewhere to sit.

 

[SueM in MN]

Be aware that even if she is physically able to sit on the ground and get back up again, she may not be allowed.
I have personally been in multiple attractions where a CM either came directly over to people or announced over the loudspeaker that everyone needed to get up and stand.

 

[KPeveler]

Also, be aware that most quick service restaurants only allow you to sit there if you have ordered something. with mobile order, everyone waits outside.

This means that those seats are not available even if you have the DAS.

It also means that the entire party must wait outside all quick service places when you eat. It is not uncommon to be waiting 15 minutes or more, depending on when your window is.

You also have to walk long distances to buses, and wait for them. Especially at rope drop or park close, we have been waiting up to an hour for a bus. there is no DAS for the bus.

For stage shows, there may be DAS access, but you generally need to get there about 30 minutes prior to showtime, and they do not necessarily open the doors soon after that.

There is also no DAS access for fireworks (even if they let you into the wheelchair viewing area, there is no where to sit), cavalcades, nighttime shows, and stores.

I use a DAS for a non-physical disability, but I could not deal with the parks without my wheelchair too. I've been using it for 15 years there, even before I needed one in my daily life.

What all this means is that I strongly suggest renting an ECV from an outside vendor. She will have a MUCH better time. She will not be slowing anyone down, nor sitting by herself. Most queues are ECV accessible, so it will be easy for her to stay with you and not make a fuss. By and large, you will just go about your day.

 

[JenLT]

If she is allowed to get one, she does not have to use it at all, but she should try to get one just in case she needs it. If she doesn’t, no harm done. It’s just there if she has to have it.