WDW -Disability Access Service (DAS) - ARCHIVED THREAD; no longer vslid

[NMK62303]

Thanks Sue for your continued hard work on this thread. Looking forward to reading more about the experiences of others as they use this new system. We'll be there in less than 2 weeks. Our son has autism and Disney is his favorite place. He does get anxious with change so for now we're not even bringing up the subject for discussion with him, we did get our daughters on board with the changes so they are aware. Through using fp+ with the DAS we hope to navigate well through our days.

 

[Talking Hands]

Does wdw not have a set schedule for interpreted shows? At Disneyland the schedule is set as day the third show every Saturday. The alternative that they offer is if you give advance notice, they will interpret the show times of you choice. Not sure how it work at WDW though, but perhaps the shows of your choice could work for you, by scheduling them around the FP+. just a thought that might help.

Yes it is a set schedule but it can change weekly as circumstances change. It is not set until the week before so that is when the guest will receive it. Fastpass Plus does not allow you to pick specific times for your picks. You pick 3 and the computer decides the times and order. Only choice you have is am, afternoon or evening. Since I use a powered wheelchair it does me no good for the interpreter schedule to have me in Tomorrowland and the Fastpass Plus have me over in Adventureland for a ride. It doesn't take into consideration the interpreter schedule.
Yes you can ask that they interpret at a certain park off schedule but Disney still sets up the schedule not the guest.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes it is a set schedule but it can change weekly as circumstances change. It is not set until the week before so that is when the guest will receive it. Fastpass Plus does not allow you to pick specific times for your picks. You pick 3 and the computer decides the times and order. Only choice you have is am, afternoon or evening. Since I use a powered wheelchair it does me no good for the interpreter schedule to have me in Tomorrowland and the Fastpass Plus have me over in Adventureland for a ride. It doesn't take into consideration the interpreter schedule.
Yes you can ask that they interpret at a certain park off schedule but Disney still sets up the schedule not the guest.

We have not done Fastpass Plus yet, but people have posted that they were able to pick one of the offered times and then modify it to a different time.

It seems like there should be something they would be able to do for a guest who needs to make a specific show for those reasons.

 

[LilyWDW]

Yes it is a set schedule but it can change weekly as circumstances change. It is not set until the week before so that is when the guest will receive it. Fastpass Plus does not allow you to pick specific times for your picks. You pick 3 and the computer decides the times and order. Only choice you have is am, afternoon or evening. Since I use a powered wheelchair it does me no good for the interpreter schedule to have me in Tomorrowland and the Fastpass Plus have me over in Adventureland for a ride. It doesn't take into consideration the interpreter schedule.
Yes you can ask that they interpret at a certain park off schedule but Disney still sets up the schedule not the guest.

After you choose your FP+ rides, you can go back and modify them. People have been able to choose specific times then. Have you tried to go that route?

 

[disney david]

It easy once you pick the times go back to where it says change pick the one you want to change. Click the guest you want to change and then click change times. On the best screen it show more times available. You have to do that with all three choices if you want to hanger the times for all three.

 

[TreeSapp]

Haven't had a chance to catch up on the full thread yet, but here's my story:


Came to the Orlando area to visit a friend this weekend, but she got held up at work. Figured I'd use the time to go "play 20 questions" with the folks at guest services about the new DAS card. I'll be visiting in two weeks with my immuno-comprimised FIL and figured it'd be helpful to know what to expect firsthand. Figured I'd try Epcot, since people on these boards had been having issues with that location.

Here's my experience:

Got to Epcot just before 8:00 last night 2hours prior to closing - *just* as the last ticket window closed...
Ended up in a very long line at guest services since all guests were being directed there.
45 min (& a chat with a very friendly couple from CA) later it was my turn.
Although I did not have my in-need party member with me, the CM was very friendly and helpful in answering my questions.
She showed me a blank DAS & explained how the slots on the back work, how a photo would be taken and reminded me that even when I bring FIL back they don't guarantee the card - but decide on a case-by-case basis after speaking with him about his needs.
She was also helpful in telling me that a note from his doctor was unnecessary unless it helped him articulate his needs, not his diagnosis. She said sometimes people have trouble (or can be embarrassed) when asking for help.

In the end I spent about 5-7minutes with her and walked away comfortable with what I'll need to have prepared when we return

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I think WDW's new Guidebook for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities has a lot of good information that would be helpful for guests with any kinds of disabilities or special needs.
One of the things is a list of suggestions for good places to rest for Magic Kingdom:

Table service and quick service restaurant seating areas (during non-peak periods)

Main Street, U.S.A
First Aid
Side Street by Crystal Arts

Adventureland
Swiss Family Treehouse
Corridor to the left of Pirates of the Caribbean

Liberty Square
Behind Ye Olde Christmas Shop

Frontierland
Tom Sawyer Island (NOTE: you must take a raft ride to/from the island and some waiting may be required)
Splash Mountain garden area

Fantasyland
Pathway leading from Cinderellas Castle to Fairytale Garden
Petes Silly Sideshow area
Pathway behind The Barnstormer

Tomorrowland
Near Walt Disneys Carousel of Progress

What are your favorite places and what about them make them good resting places?
Are there some on Disney's list that don't fit your needs? What makes them not work for your needs?

Sue, do you know if this guidebook is available in advance, or is it something that has to be picked up at guest services. This is our first trip so I am trying to get as much info up front that will help us as possible! Thanks!

 

[Talking Hands]

After you choose your FP+ rides, you can go back and modify them. People have been able to choose specific times then. Have you tried to go that route?

Yes but was only able to switch around the order of the fastpasses and not the times. This was at the end of August so things may well have changed since then

 

[Vidia2]

.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

This has already been linked to somewhere on this thread but here's a link to the pdf version again:

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/media/wdpro-assets/help/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide.pdf

Thanks! Don't know how I missed that. Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks! Don't know how I missed that. Thanks!

There is also a thread just about this guidebook.
I'm hoping people will start to post other things that might be helpful when taking a guest with cognitive disabilities to Disney parks on that thread.

Here's a link to that thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3179398

 

[SueM in MN]

Moved from DL thread since this is about WDW

Let me preface this by saying that I understand this DAS system is barely a week old. However, our experience today at Epcot was nothing like was reported on disney forums or in youtube videos.

For most of his 19 years my son who is on the autism spectrum has used the GAC to help him manage the queues at attractions. I know that the GAC no longer exists but I was told it was replaced by a new type of card, the DAS, in which a return time for an attraction would be
written on the back.

Today at Epcot Guest Relations we were told that since we "can walk" we don't get the "green card" as she called it. She then told us something even more ridiculous - she said to go to an attraction and ask for a "special fast pass"at the wheelchair entrance? We tried that out, despite feeling like idiots and the CM at Test Track said since Test Track is ADA accessible, no one gets any special treatment. Recall that no one in our party is in a wheel chair.

I am deeply disappointed in the way this new "system" is being rolled out.

Instead of punishing those people who abused the old GAC system,
Disney is punishing those who need it.

I found it impossible to explain to my son why he could not ride
ANY of his favorite attractions at Epcot today.

I e-mailed disability services at disney parks to see if someone can PLEASE explain to me how the new DAS system
is supposed to work? Is it really just a way to get people
to use the fastpass plus system? My husband spoke on the phone to the
person who TRAINS Guest Relations CMs and basically we were
told there are no accommodations any more for people with
invisible disabilities such as autism.

This was my experience today and I am angry and disgusted.

 

[SueM in MN]

Moved from DL thread since post it is replying to was moved

I wouldn't have left Epcot without speaking to as many managers as I needed to so I could get the accommodations I needed.

I don't know who your husband talked to, but the DAS is definitely for invisible disabilities. I would be writing Disney and telling them ASAP about the experiences you had in Epcot and on the phone. I don't think the person on the phone was of any authority about the DAS.

It seems that Epcot Guest Services Cast Members have had little or no accurate training on the DAS from what I have been reading. I could be way off base but most of the negative experiences are coming from there .

 

[SueM in MN]

We were advised to try a different park tomorrow and see if we are treated differently. Could someone please move this to the WDW DAS thread? I thought I was posting there, sorry!

Yes
I was on my way to move it.
The Disney website and guidebook for guests with cognitive disabilities both mention DAS for guests with autism.

Here is a link to the DAS FAQs from the Disney WDW page:
https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...ervices/disability_access_service_card_01.pdf

And here is a link to the Disney WDW web page that link is from:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/

The Guidebook for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities (specifically including Autism) also has pages about the DAS program and how it works. Link to the guidebook.
https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...disabilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide.pdf

Hope this help you prepare and that you have a better day tomorrow.

 

[Objectivity]

This has already been linked to somewhere on this thread but here's a link to the pdf version again: https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/media/wdpro-assets/help/guest-services/cognitive-disabilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide.pdf

The guide book talks about using Fastpass and Fastpass+. I thought Disney's official position was against double dipping. Is the policy different for the disabled?

Also, is there anything written about what's available for non-visible disabilities. I understand those are typically decisions made at the attraction, but something written and official would help if a CM doesn't know the rules.

 

[SueM in MN]

The guide book talks about using Fastpass and Fastpass+. I thought Disney's official position was against double dipping. Is the policy different for the disabled?

Also, is there anything written about what's available for non-visible disabilities. I understand those are typically decisions made at the attraction, but something written and official would help if a CM doesn't know the rules.

No, not different.
I think they did that because Fastpass + is still in testing, so it's not available to guests unless they are part of the test. Fastpass is still available, so to leave it out would confuse people.

Once Fastpass + is fully rolled out, Fastpass will be going away, so it won't matter what the book says - only FP + will f around.

There is nothing official in writing about guests with non-visible disabilities who might not be using a DAS other than to say there are "attraction based procedures and accommodation".

 

[Sunnywho]

Yes but was only able to switch around the order of the fastpasses and not the times. This was at the end of August so things may well have changed since then

I did my fastpass + reservations in the last couple weeks. First you take option a b c or d, then you modify each attraction choice individually. It always let me choose the times (12-1pm, 1-2pm, 3-4pm, etc) and sometimes if a time I wanted didn't come up, I just had to keep changing things around and then the time would come up.

 

[BroganMc]

Yes
I was on my way to move it.
What you were told is incorrect. There were a few reports the first day that CMs at Epcot had told guests with other disabilities that the DAS card was only for guests with autism.
It's possible when they tried to correct that, it swung way the wrong way to the other side for some CMs.

Yup. That's what I was told. Got elevated to a manager when I questioned that answer (who then subsequently issued me a DAS card).

FWIW when I spoke to CM's at DHS the next day (Thursday), I learned they received many similar complaints about EPCOT GS. I don't know what they were training those CMs to do, but it doesn't seem in line with the other parks. I was told they were having meetings to correct these issues and make the experience consistent throughout the parks.

I urge guests to talk to CMs in Guest Relations to give your feedback. Be calm and polite about it. Right now and for the next few months they are collecting a lot of data from CMs at the rides, GS and from guests themselves to fine-tune the new system.

My guess is because EPCOT has so few attractions that are not shows or shops and pretty much all the walkways are ADA-compliant they ere on the side of assuming they don't need to offer any DAS program to guests.

 

[Lsdolphin]

There is also a thread just about this guidebook.
I'm hoping people will start to post other things that might be helpful when taking a guest with cognitive disabilities to Disney parks on that thread.

Here's a link to that thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3179398

Is there a thread relating to the use of communication devices/strategies (PODDS, PECS, Proloquo2Go, My Talk) for Disney Parks? Visual communication systems are very helpful in navigating the parks and assisting with wait times, ect.

 

[FLSarah]

This has already been linked to somewhere on this thread but here's a link to the pdf version again:

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...disabilities-services/wdw_cognitive_guide.pdf

Thank you for posting this! The ride descriptions were very helpful. My son is NT and we don't use a GAC/DAS but he is scared of the dark and loud noises. He handles it way better when I can tell him what to expect. I try watching videos on YouTube of the rides but they're not always the best. This is great!