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

[Objectivity]

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.

I thought I read some CMs we're commenting to people who we're using both. Just don't want to have problems doing what they tell you to do.

 

[SueM in MN]

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.

There are a few past ones (I copied these links from the disABILITIES FAQs thread):

Communication Devices, PECS
Thread about making Communication Boards
Thread with links in post one to find pictures of communication pages for each park
Link to Scrapbookers thread with many pictures of rides, signs, and assorted WDW pictures. Useful for communication, social stories or schedules.
Link to report of park experience of Dynavox user
Thread about PECs
mousescrapper's special guidebook for her son
Marie S's Going on an Airplane PEC book
Marie S's WDW Visual Schedule and Choice PEC book
DisMomAmy's Visual Help Cards
Thread about new picture book about MK by Kevin Yee.
HINT: If you plan to travel by air, you may also want to look at post #15 of this thread, which includes links to Orlando airport and TSA websites with pictures that would be useful for social stories.

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!

There is a kind of new person called BigFatPanda posting WDW ride vides on YouTube.
He does a nice job in the ones I have seen. He includes the entrance, a bit of the queue, loading, the attraction (usually the whole attraction) and then getting off.

Some of the other videos I've seen are not the best - a lot of the dark rides don't show anything.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

There are a few past ones (I copied these links from the disABILITIES FAQs thread):

Communication Devices, PECS
Thread about making Communication Boards
Thread with links in post one to find pictures of communication pages for each park
Link to Scrapbookers thread with many pictures of rides, signs, and assorted WDW pictures. Useful for communication, social stories or schedules.
Link to report of park experience of Dynavox user
Thread about PECs
mousescrapper's special guidebook for her son
Marie S's Going on an Airplane PEC book
Marie S's WDW Visual Schedule and Choice PEC book
DisMomAmy's Visual Help Cards
Thread about new picture book about MK by Kevin Yee.
HINT: If you plan to travel by air, you may also want to look at post #15 of this thread, which includes links to Orlando airport and TSA websites with pictures that would be useful for social stories.

There is a kind of new person called BigFatPanda posting WDW ride vides on YouTube.
He does a nice job in the ones I have seen. He includes the entrance, a bit of the queue, loading, the attraction (usually the whole attraction) and then getting off.

Some of the other videos I've seen are not the best - a lot of the dark rides don't show anything.

Thanks for this!

 

[Sheilby]

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.

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

Even at the end of August you were able to pick your times (I did it for friends), it is all a matter of how you do the modifying. Once you book your 3 rides/shows you go in and modify one at a time. Click on the day in question and then choose the 2nd option that says "change", not the first one that says "select or replace". On the next page choose the ride/show that you want to change the time for. Once you select that and choose next a new page opens and at the top you can choose to modify the experience or the time. Modifying the experience lets you choose a new ride/show at the same time you had, you want to choose modify time. Once you pick that you will be able to choose any time you want that is still available for that ride. Currently all times from open to close that didn't conflict with a set ADR or another FP+ showed up for my November trip.

 

[delmar411]

I thought I read some CMs we're commenting to people who we're using both. Just don't want to have problems doing what they tell you to do.

We went and got my YDD the new DAS card last night and the CM there told me to use both systems. I was asking whether this was compatible with FP+ and she went out of her to tell me to bring our hard tickets to also pull paper FPs.

In regards to the invisible disabilities not getting the DAS, that is not true. Even though I had YDD's expired GAC that I was ready to turn in as usual, I did have to explain her needs and why she needed to wait away from the standard lines. The CM was very accommodating and very sweet to my YDD even though she was not behaving very well.

We haven't used the DAS yet as we didn't make it to the park today and we aren't going tomorrow. I guess we'll see next weekend.

 

[mmbl]

Anyone know if they'll honor our FP+ after the time on the pass? Sometimes I simply can't move fast enough to get to the attraction on time. Thanks.

 

[FLSarah]

There is a kind of new person called BigFatPanda posting WDW ride vides on YouTube.
He does a nice job in the ones I have seen. He includes the entrance, a bit of the queue, loading, the attraction (usually the whole attraction) and then getting off.

Some of the other videos I've seen are not the best - a lot of the dark rides don't show anything.

Thank you for suggesting him. Some other videos are hard to tell if it's complete darkness or not in the dark spots.

 

[Ashton7]

Hi, all. I'm still just really confused. We're locals but haven't been able to afford to go to the parks for a couple of years. We're going to the Halloween party on the 22nd. Both my SO and I use our own ECVs in the parks. We've never had a GAC and can't think of why we'd need a DAS ... but I'm confused about procedures for using our ECVs. Has it basically all just stayed the same for us, then? Or do we go to the accessible entrance (for those places that aren't mainstreamed) and have to get a return time (even though we wouldn't have a DAS card)?

 

[Sheilby]

Hi, all. I'm still just really confused. We're locals but haven't been able to afford to go to the parks for a couple of years. We're going to the Halloween party on the 22nd. Both my SO and I use our own ECVs in the parks. We've never had a GAC and can't think of why we'd need a DAS ... but I'm confused about procedures for using our ECVs. Has it basically all just stayed the same for us, then? Or do we go to the accessible entrance (for those places that aren't mainstreamed) and have to get a return time (even though we wouldn't have a DAS card)?

Yup, mainstreamed lines work the same, the few that aren't mainstreamed will give you a return time, you don't need a DAS card for that since you are in an EVC. At least that is what I got out of this thread. I'm trying to figure things out for my mom and so far that is what i have understood.

 

[disney david]

Anyone know if they'll honor our FP+ after the time on the pass? Sometimes I simply can't move fast enough to get to the attraction on time. Thanks.

No fast pass plus you have the hour to get their just like old fast pass but you know the time ahead of time so it might be better to plan your day the. Not knowing to you put your ticket in the machine. It computerized so the cm won't really have any wiggle room because they have to scan your ticket or band to be able to let you through.

 

[MJ6987]

Hi,
I have read on another DIS forum that when you get your DAS card from Guest Services they give you some "instant fast passes" to avoid you having to wait too long for a first attraction.

Firstly, is this true?

If so, how many do you get?

Also, how does this work for subsequent days in the Park with the same DAS card? Do you need to go to Guest Services at the start of each day to get your initial fast passes?

Thanks, and apologies if I have been informed wrongly

 

[Wishes Count]

Anyone know if they'll honor our FP+ after the time on the pass? Sometimes I simply can't move fast enough to get to the attraction on time. Thanks.

FP+ works just like the paper FP. If you are past your return time you cannot get in (Unless you happen upon a CM in a good mood)

If you are referring to the return time on the DAS card, which is not the same as FP+ then yes, you can enter anytime after your return time. But keep in mind that you can only hold one return time at a time and will not be able to get the next one until you either use the first or have it voided

 

[WantToGoNow]

Hi,
I have read on another DIS forum that when you get your DAS card from Guest Services they give you some "instant fast passes" to avoid you having to wait too long for a first attraction.

Firstly, is this true?

If so, how many do you get?

Also, how does this work for subsequent days in the Park with the same DAS card? Do you need to go to Guest Services at the start of each day to get your initial fast passes?

Thanks, and apologies if I have been informed wrongly

I have not seen this nor did we receive any instant fp.

 

[Wishes Count]

Hi,
I have read on another DIS forum that when you get your DAS card from Guest Services they give you some "instant fast passes" to avoid you having to wait too long for a first attraction.

Firstly, is this true?

If so, how many do you get?

Also, how does this work for subsequent days in the Park with the same DAS card? Do you need to go to Guest Services at the start of each day to get your initial fast passes?

Thanks, and apologies if I have been informed wrongly

This is not true, and may have been given to some guests as a form of recovery for waitng in an extended line to get their new DAS card. These passes need to be issued by a manager and need to be documented. Additionally they are a type of service recovery item and given as an exception so because you were given them one day does not mean that you will be given them the next day or any other day after.

 

[lovethattink]

Hi,
I have read on another DIS forum that when you get your DAS card from Guest Services they give you some "instant fast passes" to avoid you having to wait too long for a first attraction.

Firstly, is this true?

If so, how many do you get?

Also, how does this work for subsequent days in the Park with the same DAS card? Do you need to go to Guest Services at the start of each day to get your initial fast passes?

Thanks, and apologies if I have been informed wrongly

Is this true? Not necessarily. We did not have this offered to us as an accommodation, however, I do know someone who did. The parent had to fill out additional paper work with the parent's information and agree to terms. Depends if the person meets the criteria to get it.

How many do you get? Depends how many are in your party.

It's for one attraction. Each day you'd have to stand in the Guest Services line to receive it and each day have to fill out paper work.

I have not seen this nor did we receive any instant fp.

We didn't receive it either, though it would have been very helpful.

This is not true, and may have been given to some guests as a form of recovery for waitng in an extended line to get their new DAS card. These passes need to be issued by a manager and need to be documented. Additionally they are a type of service recovery item and given as an exception so because you were given them one day does not mean that you will be given them the next day or any other day after.

There is a video that has been posted on the other thread by someone who had approval by Disney to video tape their experience for their blog. This family was given one FP without times to ride an attraction of their choice. It shows the additional form that had to be filled out.

 

[ShhhQ]

Hi, all. I'm still just really confused. We're locals but haven't been able to afford to go to the parks for a couple of years. We're going to the Halloween party on the 22nd. Both my SO and I use our own ECVs in the parks. We've never had a GAC and can't think of why we'd need a DAS ... but I'm confused about procedures for using our ECVs. Has it basically all just stayed the same for us, then? Or do we go to the accessible entrance (for those places that aren't mainstreamed) and have to get a return time (even though we wouldn't have a DAS card)?

This is my concern too... I have to use an ECV simply because I don't have the endurance for all the walking (I would be in agony for the entire trip if I went 1 day without it... believe me I tried it once), but am able to get in lines that aren't mainstreamed if necessary... but I CAN'T climb the stairs. So rides like splash mountain, star tours and dinosaur I have to request the elevator. I am just worried what the new policies mean for someone in my place.

 

[MJ6987]

Is this true? Not necessarily. We did not have this offered to us as an accommodation, however, I do know someone who did. The parent had to fill out additional paper work with the parent's information and agree to terms. Depends if the person meets the criteria to get it.

How many do you get? Depends how many are in your party.

It's for one attraction. Each day you'd have to stand in the Guest Services line to receive it and each day have to fill out paper work.



We didn't receive it either, though it would have been very helpful.




There is a video that has been posted on the other thread by someone who had approval by Disney to video tape their experience for their blog. This family was given one FP without times to ride an attraction of their choice. It shows the additional form that had to be filled out.

Thanks - we'll just have to see what happens then

 

[disneyhoppers]

Just finished 3 days at WDW and used the new DAS card. DD us on the autism spectrum. We had a group of 6. It worried fantastic for us. We picked up a length if stay DAS from Epcot gs and didn't have any problems. I specifically has to tell then we needed alternative waiting arrangements and we also used a rented stroller as a wheelchair for her "safe" place. Got the red tag for the stroller even. CMs were very observant if the stroller tag and offered the alternative entrance card with a return time.We didn't hit any snags and found the CM to be very accepting and gracious about it. This was our first Disney trip since she was diagnosed.

 

[sammatt]

Good morning, folks!

Do we have a confirmed list of which rides give out the alternative entrance cards for wheelchairs/ECVs? I'm trying to figure out which rides to schedule FP+ for, and which ones to rely on the return cards for. I know it may vary a bit, based on crowd levels. We're going the week between Christmas and New Year, so it will be busy.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is my concern too... I have to use an ECV simply because I don't have the endurance for all the walking (I would be in agony for the entire trip if I went 1 day without it... believe me I tried it once), but am able to get in lines that aren't mainstreamed if necessary... but I CAN'T climb the stairs. So rides like splash mountain, star tours and dinosaur I have to request the elevator. I am just worried what the new policies mean for someone in my place.

You have an ECV, so the CMs can see that you need to used the accessible entry/loading area. You will not need a DAS to do that.

For attractions where the line is wheelchair accessible but not ECV accessible, you will be able to request an attraction wheelchair to use in line. Let them know before parking ECV.

I have heard they are giving out return time tickets for Splash Mountain, but am not sure if that is correct or not.
They probably would not for attractions like Dinosaur, where the stairs are very close to boarding.

Good morning, folks!

Do we have a confirmed list of which rides give out the alternative entrance cards for wheelchairs/ECVs? I'm trying to figure out which rides to schedule FP+ for, and which ones to rely on the return cards for. I know it may vary a bit, based on crowd levels. We're going the week between Christmas and New Year, so it will be busy.

there is not a confirmed list, but this copied from the disABILITIES FAQs thread should help. For those that list a different entry, you would need to talk to the CM greeter or person doing DAS Return Times at that attraction. My best guess is that those would be attractions that would be giving out Return time tickets for guests with mobility needs who don't have DAS.
Keep in mind though, that some of the ones listed are shows and the reason for listing a specific door to go in is more to keep guests with mobilty needs in the area they need to be for access.

Mobility Access: Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible thru the regular line (called Mainstream Lines).

The information in italics is the information about Mainstream Lines from the WDW page about Mobility Disabilities:
Walt Disney World Resort strives to provide mainstream access whenever possible; that is, all Guests utilize the main entrance to the attraction. However, accessibility varies from attraction to attraction within Disney Parks. The Guide for Guests with Disabilities and Park Guidemaps use symbols to indicate boarding procedures for each attraction. In addition, Guests should contact a Disney Cast Member at each attraction before entering. Mainstream queues can be found at these attractions at Walt Disney World Theme Parks. (it then goes on to list the Mainstream attractions).

Most attractions for all parks are listed as "Enter through standard queue" for attractions without Fastpass or "Obtain a FASTPASS OR use Standby Queue" on the Guide for Guest with Disabilities maps for each park. There is also a large red box on the maps which says "Guests with any mobility or queue related assistance needs are encouraged to use the Disney's FASTPASS option where ever possible." There is the same explanation about how to use Fastpass as on the regular park maps.
These are the attractions in each park with a different method of access other than the regular line, as listed on the map:
MK

WDW Railroad:Enter using ramp on the RIGHT on Main Street

WDW Railroad:Enter using wheelchair ramp on RIGHT at Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Obtain Fastpass or see Host for options. If FASTPASS is not available, enter thru access on RIGHT

Country Bear Jamboree:Enter thru door on LEFT

Hall of Presidents:Enter through door on RIGHT

Liberty Square Riverboat:Enter through exit on RIGHT or LEFT

it's a small world:Follow directional signs to designated load area

Peter Pan's Flight:Obtain FASTPASS or see host for options. If Fastpass is not available, see a host for options.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel:Enter through exit on RIGHT

Dumbo:Enter using ramp on RIGHT

Tea Party:Enter through exit on RIGHT

Space Mountain:Obtain a FASTPASS or see a host for options. If FASTPASS not available, enter through queue on RIGHT

Epcot

Spaceship Earth:Enter through the exit on the RIGHT or LEFT

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the 3 Caballeros:Enter through the Standard Queue. Follow directional signs to designated load area.

American Adventure:See a host or hostess for access to second floor

Impressions de France:Enter through LEFT side of entrance hallway

Studio

Great Movie Ride:Enter through the Standard queue. A host will provide directions in the pre-show area

Studio Backlot Tour:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT

Fantasmic:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT

Animal Kingdom

Wildlife Express Trainroceed through standard queue. A host will direct boarding

The Boneyard:Enter through the designated access gate

Everything other than these attractions I have listed say to enter through the mainstream or standby queue.
The maps are very easy to read (although the type is small) and I recommend if they go, that they get one for each park. The access information is listed right on the map with all the other information. There are icons that show which attractions you can stay right in the wheelchair or ECV for the whole attraction and which you need to transfer to a ride car.