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

[SueM in MN]

I am probably going to hit a nerve with a lot of folks but I feel a certain aspect of this conversation is missing namely the law or ADA Title III. As part of my job with the government I have to deal ADA and ABA. I also have a DD that is in a wheelchair, has had her Make-a-Wish trip and her doctors have stated they are surprised she has made it this long so I do have an understanding of what disability means.

One of the main reasons the ADA did not come up on this thread was that in posts 1 and 2, I asked people not to discuss why Disney was changing GAC to DAS or whether Disney was right or wrong. I did not want it to deteriorate into that discussion, but instead be helpful information.
So, no more discussion after this post.

It sounds like this might surprise you, but the majority of regular posters on this board (and even most posters on this thread) do understand the ADA quite well

In my case, my daughter who is disabled is in her 20s, so we lived thru things not being accessible, things being made accessible and now, when there are people with disabilities who take it all for granted.

In the early days of the GAC (Guest Assistance Card), it was very needs based; based on needs for accommodation a person had related to their disability.

Can't walk up stairs? there was a specific GAC stamp for that.
Can't wait in the sun or heat? There was a specific GAC stamp for that.
Need front row seating because of vision related disabilities? There was a specific stamp for that.

There was also a stamp for alternate entry, which at one point was a quieter waiting spot. But, as Fastpass rolled out, that stamp started to be used for entry into the Fastpass line without a Fastpass.
It became the only stamp people wanted and instead of bring rare, just given out for need, it became an expectation for some people.

Most of us understand that what the GAC became was not what it was intended to be and is more than is required for accommodation according to the ADA.

It has been part of the )soon to be retired) GAC FAQs in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs third.

 

[Mom2six]

...
II. Overview of Requirements

Public accommodations must --

Provide goods and services in an integrated setting, unless separate or different measures are necessary to ensure equal opportunity.

...
Make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures that deny equal access to individuals with disabilities, unless a fundamental alteration would result in the nature of the goods and services provided.


III. "Individuals with Disabilities"

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides comprehensive civil rights protections for "individuals with disabilities".

An individual with a disability is a person who --

Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or

"Major life activities" include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

I'm not really sure what your point is. My son, who has autism, would be considered disabled by this criteria. His disability impacts his ability to care for himself, his ability to speak, his ability to learn, etc. He has feeding issues. He also has emotional difficulties. So, providing a means for him to be able to enjoy Disney's services (the attractions etc) seems to fit perfectly the legal requirements you posted.

 

[Mom2six]

One of the main reasons the ADA did not come up on this thread was that in posts 1 and 2, I asked people not to discuss why Disney was changing GAC to DAS or whether Disney was right or wrong. I did not want it to deteriorate into that discussion, but instead be helpful information.
So, no more discussion after this post.

Sorry, I respond to posts as I read them and didn't get to this post until the end.

 

[KPeveler]

I'm not really sure what your point is. My son, who has autism, would be considered disabled by this criteria. His disability impacts his ability to care for himself, his ability to speak, his ability to learn, etc. He has feeding issues. He also has emotional difficulties. So, providing a means for him to be able to enjoy Disney's services (the attractions etc) seems to fit perfectly the legal requirements you posted.

No one is saying that he would not be eligible for accommodations. I think we ended up at the ADA because there was discussion about what Disney "has" to do, what people are "entitled" to, what is "fair" or "equal."

The point is this - Disney is providing a means of accommodation. If the DAS would not provide the service you require, there are other options. For example, if a person has vision problems and requires sitting in the front row of a show to see, the person approaches the CM and tells her/him. If a person needs assistive listening (basically ride audio through headphones) or captioning for the rides, a device is available.

We need to stay clear of discussions about "how disabled" a person needs to be in order to "qualify." The ADA states that only a person (or their caregiver/parent if necessary) can decide their own needs. That is why proof cannot be required for equal access.

The GAC worked when it started, but by the end, there were too many people needing it and too many stamps. The system was too big to try to change, so instead Disney took stock of the current situation in the world - more people with disabilities and more elderly people going out and enjoying the parks - and created a system for that.

Is anyone here from Boston? I literally spent my entire childhood with "The Big Dig." The city of Boston was changing all of the major highways through the heart of the city. The old system, created 40 years before, was not working anymore because there were too many cars (let's face it - Boston roads, even highways, are based on a 400 year old city). So they created a new system, and the construction project was titled "The Big Dig" because it took literally 15 years to complete. And now, 10 years later, they are already starting to see more cars than they had planned for. So city planners are already looking at how to make things better.

The ADA was a ground-breaking document, but was not the first law like it. There were smaller laws before, about things like education. And even the ADA, the cornerstone of the American disability experience, needed to be updated 20 years later.

So this is just the Disney version of catching up with the times. And yes, just like there was traffic when the "Big Dig" was actually happening, there is "traffic" now while the new system is being put in place. Not everything is perfect. Some things may need to be adjusted as Disney learns. But change is inevitable, the old system was not working, and this system is aiming to do what the ADA envisioned - create equality, not more, not less.

So let's give it a chance (and be glad it does not take 15 years to build) and see what happens after the first couple weeks.

 

[samnbilly]

Everyone take a deep breath and relax a minute. In this whole thread, there have been a handful of people who have written about issues at Epcot. Most of the reports have not been new reports, but have just been repeating having read about a report on this thread. So, not a lot of new reports; a lot of people talking about the same few reports. And, there were a couple of reports where people said they were told DAS was just for children with autism and one parent of a child with autism who understood it was NOT for children with autism. At least one Epcot CM posted on this thread that they were not saying either that DAS was only for children with autism or was not for children with autism. So it all points to miscommunication and confusion being the root of the reports. The CM may be answering the question they understood the guest to ask, not the question the guest thought they asked. This is stressful for both guests and CMs and stress makes communication more difficult and miscommunication more likely. There may be some who are having a harder time at the new system than others, but they are not out to make things difficult for guests. If you are at a park and get an answer you think is not correct, it is a good idea to repeat it back - "I understood you to say xxxxxxxx. Is that what you meant?" Ask for clarification and if you are still not clear, ask to speak to a manager. If you still have issues, email Disney at disability.services@disneyparks.com Yes. There have been adults getting DAS cards. Yes. There have been people who do not have a child with autism getting DAS cards. Some people who previously got a GAC may not get a DAS card. For example, Disney has said that people whose needs are met by having a wheelchair, ECV, stroller as wheelchair or other mobility device and an accessible line/boarding will not need a DAS card. Disney has also said that some needs that previously were covered with a GAC stamp, like front row seating or avoiding stairs, will be handled at attractions, without the DAS. Some of the people with those needs may have gotten a GAC before. I also think that is where some of the "WDW is not giving DAS out to adults" may be coming from. They could be misunderstanding of the explanation of why a DAS card was not given out when that person previously got a GAC. SEE BELOW. if you have not read the first post in this thread, you will want to read it so that you can explain the needs to the CM at Guest Relations. If it seems that the need is mobility related, you need to be able to explain what needs you have besides mobility and/or why a mobility device alone can't meet your needs.

I'm not sure if you were referring to my post in saying that WDW is not giving DAS to adults.

My issue is that I've heard quite a few times that ppl were lumped in the mobility issue, therefore not issued a DAS. I did already read your post, but felt there was conflicting information from those that went.

I was afraid that my issue would possibly appear as a mobility issue. I never even rec'd the old GAC because I wasn't in the situation I am now.

I find the new system confusing & I am just trying to understand it to fit my needs.

My other issue is moving threads that anyone starts & putting them over to this sticky regarding the new system.

It must be extremely difficult to maintain this disabilities site.

I wish we could have the ability to voice our concerns & be able to read the responses to our questions and comments as long as they aren't rude or disrespectful & start an argument.


It seems like our responses get "lost in the shuffle" or put in a example that wasn't meant that way (the O.P.) I know you'd like to keep it all together, but other people may start voicing their concerns & they may not have done that before.

The problem with having one thread, is that you feel buried under 60 pages of info & some of he responses don't make sense because they've been moved from their original thread.

I'm not suggesting we start a free for all here, but it's good to hear about change, if we start a respectful dialogue.

Even under the Resorts pages & Dining, the same questions start to pop up. For the most part, that's ok, because different questions bring up different responses.

I mean absolutely no disrespect & I'm sure I have no idea how difficult this has been, but maybe we can give it a chance (within reason)?

 

[rebcat]

We have a trip to WDW planned for early December and I am struggling to determine what our time will look like with these changes. I'm actually mostly (at this point) uncertain as to what to ask for for my daughter. She has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair in settings like Disney. At home, she crawls most of the time and needs a lot of assistance to do most activities. My concerns are the fact that she is not used to sitting and not moving in her wheelchair for any length of time - she needs to be moved in and out of it fairly often. She has a hard time in crowded situations with people encroaching on her space and tends to need quiet time when she gets overwhelmed. It's not the same as a child with Autism; she knows when she needs to separate and has put herself in "time out" from a very young age when she needed to be alone. She does become frustrated when she can't do "normal" things and this is beginning to become more of a factor than it's ever needed to be for us. We can carry her for short periods of time and she is able to be transferred onto rides as long as an adult can ride with her and make sure she remains safe. She does not do well with people in her "personal space" and will put her hand up to sort of push them away when they are encroaching on her space. She also has significant visual impairments, but I realize that those are addressed at individual attractions.

All of these concerns lead me to dread standing in regular lines for every ride, but I'm not sure what the appropriate option is for her or what we should ask for. I just imagine all of her memories of our trip being of staring at a stranger's bum in one line after another. We chose Disney based on a great experience two years ago in which we stood in a lot of decent-length lines, but nothing totally outrageous. I guess I don't want to game the system, but it seems like merely being able to remain in her chair doesn't fully address all of her issues. It's not a peak travel time (in fact, it should be relatively low attendance), so that should help us, but I guess I want to make sure her needs are met as fully as possible.

Any thoughts on what it seems appropriate for me to ask for? I can't figure out if a DAS card would be the right solution or what it will look like to not have anything in the way of "accommodation".

Hope that makes sense!

 

[KPeveler]

My other issue is moving threads that anyone starts & putting them over to this sticky regarding the new system.

It must be extremely difficult to maintain this disabilities site.

I wish we could have the ability to voice our concerns & be able to read the responses to our questions and comments as long as they aren't rude or disrespectful & start an argument.


It seems like our responses get "lost in the shuffle" or put in a example that wasn't meant that way (the O.P.) I know you'd like to keep it all together, but other people may start voicing their concerns & they may not have done that before.

The problem with having one thread, is that you feel buried under 60 pages of info & some of he responses don't make sense because they've been moved from their original thread.

I'm not suggesting we start a free for all here, but it's good to hear about change, if we start a respectful dialogue.

Even under the Resorts pages & Dining, the same questions start to pop up. For the most part, that's ok, because different questions bring up different responses.

I mean absolutely no disrespect & I'm sure I have no idea how difficult this has been, but maybe we can give it a chance (within reason)?

There are several reasons we have been condensing threads - one is that during the daytime hours, there is a new post on SOME DAS related disabilities thread every 5 minutes. I am really not exaggerating. Since the news broke about the change, I have had to have my computer next to me, ready to check things at all times, because the questions have been constant.

By keeping it all in one place, it also makes it easy for people to see the guidelines posted at the beginning of the thread. We have no problem with people voicing concerns - I just voiced my own over in the DL thread. What we wanted to avoid were rants and complaints from people who had not tried the system yet. We are, however, very interested in experiences. Many people, including myself, posted before we tried the system our concerns for how this new system would be affecting us.

If every person who had a question posted in a new thread, not only would we be answering the same question over and over, but questions on other matters would be lost.

These are just a few of the reasons I come up with off the top of my head - there are only two mods - Sue and I - and we are volunteers who have full (in Sue's case, very very full) lives in addition to the DIS.

We are doing the best we can, but this is a huge change and there are literally thousands of posts on the matter.

I am sure that as time goes on, and people become more used to the DAS system, we will consider having individual threads, but at this point, there is so much to deal with, I think the mods, and other posters with non-DAS questions would be overwhelmed.

I hope this answers your questions. Sue and I carefully considered over many days how to open and start these threads, and how to keep the conversation productive and helpful.

 

[lovethattink]

Hi..... we have been to Disney many times since 2002. I have two kiddos with autism. They are on completely different ends of the spectrum. We have never asked for special accommodations for my daughter... she completely understands waiting in line and the FP system. We are careful with her because she does have seizures and suffers from POTS (which causes fainting) and cm's have been very helpful with her. She struggles with crowds and sensory overload but has the cognitive ability to work with the tools provided her and she understands her limits.

My son is a different breed of cat. He is 6'5" and weights 350 lbs and has very aggressive tendencies. He is disabled.... under any ones definition, policy or rule. He is non-verbal, still in diapers and cannot care for himself. The major problem with the new DAS is cognitive. He has been using the GAC since 2002 and he just does not understand the new system. I walked down the stairs to get his DAS signed for the Jungle Cruise yesterday. He stayed on the main walkway in Adventureland and we made our way to POTC. He started to get upset... gesturing back to JC. We got in line for POTC and he started to get aggressive. When he got so bad that we had to remove him from the queue. the ride broke down and we were trapped. We was hitting, pinching and head butting and we couldn't get out. This was because we walked away from the ride he wanted to go on but couldn't.

This wouldn't be so bad if that was what he was used to.... but his routine has been completely broken by the DAS system because he learned to do DW with a GAC. Most cm's really want to help and the kind ness we have been shown has been magical. Others, however, are completely unbending. I am bruised and bleeding trying to help my family enjoy the magic that we have looked forward to for the last 12 years.

The new system, as I have explained to many, will work beautifully for 98% of those that are eligible for it. We, unfortunately are in the 2% and luckily there have been many many cm's that recognize this and have been willing to help... and they have helped with smiles and hugs. Thank you to them! and hopefully WDW will work out the bugs in the new system, work consistently and the DAS will eliminate abuse while helping those who truly need help.

I'm so sorry things did not go well yesterday. I'm glad the cm were supportive and tried to help you.

The only time DAS worked like a charm for us was when ds did NOT know I was getting a time on his card.

DAS definitely takes more work on behalf of the caregiver. There is no question about that. I was giving that warning up front, so I was expecting that aspect.

 

[samnbilly]

Everyone take a deep breath and relax a minute. In this whole thread, there have been a handful of people who have written about issues at Epcot. Most of the reports have not been new reports, but have just been repeating having read about a report on this thread. So, not a lot of new reports; a lot of people talking about the same few reports. And, there were a couple of reports where people said they were told DAS was just for children with autism and one parent of a child with autism who understood it was NOT for children with autism. At least one Epcot CM posted on this thread that they were not saying either that DAS was only for children with autism or was not for children with autism. So it all points to miscommunication and confusion being the root of the reports. The CM may be answering the question they understood the guest to ask, not the question the guest thought they asked. This is stressful for both guests and CMs and stress makes communication more difficult and miscommunication more likely. There may be some who are having a harder time at the new system than others, but they are not out to make things difficult for guests. If you are at a park and get an answer you think is not correct, it is a good idea to repeat it back - "I understood you to say xxxxxxxx. Is that what you meant?" Ask for clarification and if you are still not clear, ask to speak to a manager. If you still have issues, email Disney at disability.services@disneyparks.com Yes. There have been adults getting DAS cards. Yes. There have been people who do not have a child with autism getting DAS cards. Some people who previously got a GAC may not get a DAS card. For example, Disney has said that people whose needs are met by having a wheelchair, ECV, stroller as wheelchair or other mobility device and an accessible line/boarding will not need a DAS card. Disney has also said that some needs that previously were covered with a GAC stamp, like front row seating or avoiding stairs, will be handled at attractions, without the DAS. Some of the people with those needs may have gotten a GAC before. I also think that is where some of the "WDW is not giving DAS out to adults" may be coming from. They could be misunderstanding of the explanation of why a DAS card was not given out when that person previously got a GAC. SEE BELOW. if you have not read the first post in this thread, you will want to read it so that you can explain the needs to the CM at Guest Relations. If it seems that the need is mobility related, you need to be able to explain what needs you have besides mobility and/or why a mobility device alone can't meet your needs.

I am thankful for your reply. I'm terrible at trying to quote, especially on my phone. If you look at page 42, this post from SueM, I wanted to know why she copied my post and this part about "I also think that this is where some of the "WDW is not giving DAS out to adults" may be coming from. SueM continued to talk about the misunderstanding of the explanation of why a person who previously rec'd a GAC didn't get a DAS card. Then my post was copied about me asking for help to clear up some of the confusion & I went on to explain my chronic pain disorder, which is why I'm up messaging @ 3 & before 6am, because this severe pain doesn't allow me to sleep more than 2hrs at a time. Referring me to read the first post (again...& again, as I have read it) doesn't clear up some of the many reports as to ppl stating that they were refused a DAS & all I wanted was some info to help explain my situation to the CM's & to let them understand about this issue. No one even knows (not a lay person) what a pain pump is or how it's used or why I still have excruciating (& yes, it's excruciating) pain. Or why I can't walk long distances (because I'm in the Advanced stages of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) It's not like I have something to explain that's familiar to many ppl. I just wanted to be able to find the language I needed to voice my needs. A previous poster gave me a very good suggestion. I'm not saying that the two of you aren't working tirelessly on this site, but I find it hard to find the time to go back so many pages to find the info I need. I like to read ppl's opinions, but they seem to be in this very long thread as well. Is there a way to separate these stickies by having ppl with concerns & questions over the new system & a separate one for ppl who have experience using the new system? I find it difficult to go thru the many, many posts which has such a varied amt of questions.

 

[bookwormde]

"Major life activities" include functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

It is important to have the full list under ADA Title III

2) Major Life Activities
(A) In general
For purposes of paragraph (1), major life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.
(B) Major bodily functions
For purposes of paragraph (1), a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.

Bookwormde

 

[lovethattink]

We stayed at Disney Sunday to Tuesday. In that time, only got one return time for DS and that was yesterday for the character spot.

We can make the DAS work out at the MK as long as ds does not know about a time being added to his card.

Epcot went fairly well on Sunday. The only attraction we went on was Spaceship Earth as we were leaving the park. Here we did not need the DAS. We went in the w/c entrance. I had never seen so many w/c and ECV parked inside. The whole park was very crowded. We sat on the bench. They took two families at a time onto the attraction. We waited about 10 minutes on the bench in the air conditioning, so all was well.

Yesterday we returned to Epcot to ride some attractions. First stop was the Character Stop. By the time I pulled out the DAS, the time had changed to 15 minutes. I gave his DAS and a return time of 14 minutes was placed on the card. He wanted to go to "Figment". So we headed over there. I made the first mistake of saying how odd it was that the time written on the card was for a 14 minute return instead of 5 minutes.

The queue for "Figment" was very short. It said 10 minutes but I don't think we even waited 5 minutes.

It was time to go back to the Character Stop but ds wanted to ride Nemo. I told him he can't use the DAS for that because he already has a return time on it. The standby time was 15 minutes. He insisted he was up to it. We figured the queue is pretty good at constantly moving so got in line.

With the GAC, we'd be directed through the gift shop to board. We hadn't used the standby queue in a long time. And I forgot how the first room echoes, is fairly dark, and close quarters as the queue winds around.

These were the longest 20 minutes. We entered and it was lined up almost to the door. I thought I remembered it goes quickly. BUT not anymore. There is now a FP+ queue. So the standby line would be stopped to let the other line go. DS started stimming. The louder the people in line got, the louder he stimmed. He was trying hard to self-regulate.

Dh and I stood as a block so the people behind him couldn't get to close. We kept the w/c at a good distance away from the people in front of us. We thought about how we could make a quick getaway. But it was wall to wall people in this first room and the w/c wouldn't have made it past the the ECVs or other w/cs in queue.

The 2nd room went much better. Not all of the queue was used so there were less people and a little less noise. And things got much, much better once we got pulled out of queue and put into the w/c queue outside of the main line.

He continued to stim on the attraction, and it was just a humming. The three of us were packed like a bunch of sardines into the car and he mentioned how good that deep pressure of us smooshed together felt. After the ride he even stopped a cm to ask how they tag their fish.

We got out of the building and headed to the Character Spot and he begged to go home. He said he couldn't take anymore he was exhausted. So we spent about an hour at Epcot before calling it quits. Yesterday afternoon and evening were a total waste and spent doing relaxation exercises and other calming activities. He could not focus on anything and said he didn't feel "right".

Lessons learned for us from these 3 days at Disney. DS will not be in the know when one of us gets a return time on his card for him. We will not let him in the know if we get Fast Passes. (That was from last Wednesday's experience.) Stand-by lines definitely don't work out well for him. There's plenty to do besides attractions and we'll need to focus on those things instead of the attractions.

 

[Jonell]

I have a question about the return times. Are you escorted onto the attraction at your return time or sent into the FP line to wait there? Thanks

 

[lovethattink]

I have a question about the return times. Are you escorted onto the attraction at your return time or sent into the FP line to wait there? Thanks

FP+ line

 

[Sunnywho]

It was time to go back to the Character Stop but ds wanted to ride Nemo. I told him he can't use the DAS for that because he already has a return time on it. The standby time was 15 minutes. He insisted he was up to it. We figured the queue is pretty good at constantly moving so got in line.

In retrospect, if you had gotten the first DAS wait-time crossed out and gotten a new wait time at Nemo, would that have worked ok?

 

[disney david]

I know this is a little it but for those who did nemo why a das did you find the new fast pass plus entrance to be better then the stand by. Since you cut most of the que or if you couldn't ride it before due to the dark que but now can because it brings you to the shooter part.

Sorry to go off topic but since they built it I was wondering if guest found it to be easier or had less of a problem.

 

[Mom2six]

I know this is a little it but for those who did nemo why a das did you find the new fast pass plus entrance to be better then the stand by. Since you cut most of the que or if you couldn't ride it before due to the dark que but now can because it brings you to the shooter part.

Sorry to go off topic but since they built it I was wondering if guest found it to be easier or had less of a problem.

I wondered the same thing. My son is terrified of the Nemo queue but the Nemo ride is one of his favorites and he loves the movie so much. He watches the ride all the time on youtube. He used to get on the ride from the exit since he can't do the queue. How will it work now if you are afraid of the dark cave-like queues?

 

[disney david]

I wondered the same thing. My son is terrified of the Nemo queue but the Nemo ride is one of his favorites and he loves the movie so much. He watches the ride all the time on youtube. He used to get on the ride from the exit since he can't do the queue. How will it work now if you are afraid of the dark cave-like queues?

The new part brings you to almost the front still a little dark but not as bad as the rest of the que. it brings you to where turtle talk exits so your only be in the que for a very little. So I am hoping that helps your son and other guest.

 

[Mom2six]

So this is just the Disney version of catching up with the times. And yes, just like there was traffic when the "Big Dig" was actually happening, there is "traffic" now while the new system is being put in place. Not everything is perfect. Some things may need to be adjusted as Disney learns. But change is inevitable, the old system was not working, and this system is aiming to do what the ADA envisioned - create equality, not more, not less.

So let's give it a chance (and be glad it does not take 15 years to build) and see what happens after the first couple weeks.

Yes indeed change is inevitable. I only wish the inevitable change that continuously makes life harder and harder would have waited until my son was older and Disney wasn't so important to him.

I know that this makes it equal - it's just sad that equal means he won't be able to visit the parks anymore. I still shake my head when I say that equal means unaccessible for him because of his mental and emotional disabilities. But I am glad it makes it better for everyone else.

 

[FrugalFashionista]

We got ours no problem at HS on 10/9. We were actually the first DAS issued at the outside GS. Barely any questions asked. They asked what my son needed. I said I wasn't sure how to explain without trying the DAS first and perhaps coming back later if just getting return times didn't help. They took my sons picture and we were done in less than 10 minutes

That's great news! This is our first time going anywhere that is outside my sons comfort zone so I have never ha to ask for something like the DAS. We usually just go places where making sure we are near the exit is enough.

 

[Wishes Count]

I just got my DAS at Epcot. I am a GR CM at DAK. I could have easily gotten one there as they understand my disability and I have work restrictions. I wanted to sort of test Epcot out since some said they have issues but I am also doing a staycation and visiting the parks the next few days.

I have Crohn's Disease. Mine is severe and not well controlled. I had the GAC previously. It is difficult for me to be confined to the line queue because if I have an attack I have less than a minute to get to the bathroom. Having 200 people behind you in a snaking line queue makes exiting difficult.

I explained my needs and was told that the DAS would not help me because I would still need to enter the line queue at some point. I explained why I thought it was beneficial to me and that waiting the majority of the wait outside the line and then entering for a short period of time would work. I know myself and if I'm feeling funny I wouldn't enter the line at that time. (On a side note I haven't been on Ellen in several years cause its 40 minutes and NO EXIT) I also mentioned that I had used similar systems at USO and Seaworld.

I was issued a DAS card. Having both sides of the experience I feel it is important that you clearly state your needs. If you are offered other options or suggestions that you do not feel will work politely explain why.

I hope this helps. The CM I dealt with seemed really knowledgeable.

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