Used DAS for first time...

[Peachkins]

I don't usually frequent this board as I don't have a disability and had never traveled with anyone who had one. That changed recently when I had the pleasure of visiting WDW with my cousin and his family. He is autistic and has used DAS in the past. I just wanted to make a quick post about our experience since things seem to be constantly changing with it.

I cannot comment on the actual process of obtaining the DAS- my aunt took my cousin into guest relations at AK (our first park of the trip) to set things up. They did call our entire party in to scan our bands and we were good to go. We had a group of 10. We were told everyone in our group could ride together, and we did not have any issues during the trip. It worked great- you just go up to an attendant at the start of the line, get a time, and come back any time after the return time you were given. We could do other things while we waited, including using Fastpasses we had set up previously. Once you used your return time, you could go get another one. Everything was done electronically via the Magic Bands, there were no paper return tickets. When we got a return time, it was even listed on the MDE app where our FPs would show up.

I can't say enough good things about the service. It worked very well for us, and I was impressed with how everything now works with the Magic Bands. It took only a few minutes at the beginning of our first day to get things set up. It's good to see that Disney has made some definite upgrades to the system since it was introduced.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't usually frequent this board as I don't have a disability and had never traveled with anyone who had one. That changed recently when I had the pleasure of visiting WDW with my cousin and his family. He is autistic and has used DAS in the past. I just wanted to make a quick post about our experience since things seem to be constantly changing with it.

I cannot comment on the actual process of obtaining the DAS- my aunt took my cousin into guest relations at AK (our first park of the trip) to set things up. They did call our entire party in to scan our bands and we were good to go. We had a group of 10. We were told everyone in our group could ride together, and we did not have any issues during the trip. It worked great- you just go up to an attendant at the start of the line, get a time, and come back any time after the return time you were given. We could do other things while we waited, including using Fastpasses we had set up previously. Once you used your return time, you could go get another one. Everything was done electronically via the Magic Bands, there were no paper return tickets. When we got a return time, it was even listed on the MDE app where our FPs would show up.

I can't say enough good things about the service. It worked very well for us, and I was impressed with how everything now works with the Magic Bands. It took only a few minutes at the beginning of our first day to get things set up. It's good to see that Disney has made some definite upgrades to the system since it was introduced.

Thanks for sharing your experience.
I wanted to comment thought that very little has actually changed with DAS since it started. Other than being electronically linked to Magicbands/park tickets and times being given electronically, it still works pretty much the same as it did when it was rolled out in Fall 2013.

There are times when the electronic system is not working, so paper return tickets are being used. And, sometimes a system is not working and the DAS Return Time is in the system, but not showing up in MDE. Other than those glitches it works as you wrote and I'm glad to hear it worked well for your group.

 

[Peachkins]

Thanks for sharing your experience.
I wanted to comment thought that very little has actually changed with DAS since it started. Other than being electronically linked to Magicbands/park tickets and times being given electronically, it still works pretty much the same as it did when it was rolled out in Fall 2013.

There are times when the electronic system is not working, so paper return tickets are being used. And, sometimes a system is not working and the DAS Return Time is in the system, but not showing up in MDE. Other than those glitches it works as you wrote and I'm glad to hear it worked well for your group.

Thanks for the clarification, and I do agree that the process itself seemingly hasn't changed much. I was referring more to the technology being utilized now. I hope they keep improving to a point where it works flawlessly and, perhaps in the future, will allow folks to get a return time without even having to go to the ride. Thankfully we didn't run into the issues you mentioned, but it's good that people know they may occur.

 

[DisneyOma]

They let your group of 10 into the FP+ line on DAS every time? I find that bordering on abuse, as 10 people don't even fit in the same ride vehicle for most attractions. Is DAS already going the way of GAC?

 

[gap2368]

They let your group of 10 into the FP+ line on DAS every time? I find that bordering on abuse, as 10 people don't even fit in the same ride vehicle for most attractions. Is DAS already going the way of GAC?

Yes the DAS is going the way of the GAC( I should add this is my option ) I have been in GR when someone came in using a wheel chair they said I have a wheel chair I need a disability pass and was given one no other questions

 

[ez]

I just used it. What I had a problem with, with just me and my disabled son, me pushing his wheelchair in weather that was feeling like 106 degrees, that to have to physically go places to get a return time was challenging for both of us. Being you can only do one at a time seems like theres little chance of abuse. I just wish we could have reserved the next thing we were doing from where we were already at.

 

[OurBigTrip]

They let your group of 10 into the FP+ line on DAS every time? I find that bordering on abuse, as 10 people don't even fit in the same ride vehicle for most attractions. Is DAS already going the way of GAC?

I've seen a few things here and on other sites that lead me to believe it won't be long until it's as bad as the GAC. Giving a DAS to people with only mobility issues, to people in wheelchairs with no other issues, just letting people in without a return time, sending people through the FP+ line when the wait is less than 10 minutes instead of through the standby line, etc.

 

[Peachkins]

They let your group of 10 into the FP+ line on DAS every time? I find that bordering on abuse, as 10 people don't even fit in the same ride vehicle for most attractions. Is DAS already going the way of GAC?

Yes, our family was allowed to go on the rides together- it was set up that way from the beginning. While you do use the FP line when you return to the ride, we still had to wait the same amount of time to ride it as those in stand-by, we just didn't have to wait in the actual queue. There were rides not all of us went on, but those who wanted to go went to the ride together. It was an accommodation that was needed and appreciated for a member of my family, and yes, we did want to be able to get on a ride at the same time. It's not a matter of all being able to sit together- obviously that's not going to happen with most rides. It keeps us from having to constantly split up and meet up later throughout the day and actually spend time together as a family.

 

[Peachkins]

I just used it. What I had a problem with, with just me and my disabled son, me pushing his wheelchair in weather that was feeling like 106 degrees, that to have to physically go places to get a return time was challenging for both of us. Being you can only do one at a time seems like theres little chance of abuse. I just wish we could have reserved the next thing we were doing from where we were already at.

Ugh, I feel you with the heat. It was horrible when we were there, and I can't imagine having to push a wheelchair on top of it. As I said in an earlier post, I do hope they keep going with the technological upgrades and allow you to schedule a time for a ride from the MDE app. You can do it now for FP+, so hopefully it's not too far off for DAS.

 

[gap2368]

Ugh, I feel you with the heat. It was horrible when we were there, and I can't imagine having to push a wheelchair on top of it. As I said in an earlier post, I do hope they keep going with the technological upgrades and allow you to schedule a time for a ride from the MDE app. You can do it now for FP+, so hopefully it's not too far off for DAS.

I hope they do something there are so many times I can not even get a return time due to so many people around the area and I go a lone a lot so it is not like some can get a return time for me.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Just to clarify for myself, I have no issue whatsoever with larger than six groups going together via the DAS - you're absolutely right, the entire is group is waiting and it keeps families/groups together for the day.

My concerns aren't so much with the size of the groups getting them, but rather with them continuing to be a valuable accommodation while not becoming so attractive for those who don't really need them that they become subject to the same overuse that plagued the GAC. Not making people wait the required time, allowing people through the FP+ line rather than sending them to the standby line for waits less than 10 minutes, giving them to people whose only issues are mobility related, etc.