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

[Jonell]

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.

I agree and am glad that my son is older now and been to wdw many many times. This change may be for the better and will work for most. Unfortunately, it will not work as well for my family and others. I am afraid that our park trips will be few and far between from this point on. On a good note we will be branching out and using our DVC for other destinations.

 

[KPeveler]

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.

Trust me, I understand how the new system is making the parks less accessible, at least for now. And Disney is hugely important to me. For me, in Disneyland, is it more about how they are handling wheelchairs, in addition to the DAS. I cannot push my wheelchair all over the place collecting attraction return times, and then circle back. I am pushing myself in a manual wheelchair - my options are limited.

And the DAS is supposed to give me priority over others in the wheelchair queue (after they have returned with their ticket) because sometimes that wheelchair queue can be quite long. It is less the time and more the place for me - more and more people think I fit somewhere on the spectrum (including my psychologist), and I know I have sensory problems. Sometimes being sent into a long, crowded, or loud wheelchair queue after already waiting my "turn" is annoying and unfair.

At this point, all I can do is tell Disney about it, give it two weeks, and hope for the best.

While I do not share your exact circumstances, I do understand that the new system is taxing emotionally and physically. And I hope Disney makes whatever alterations needed so that all can enjoy the parks again.

 

[lovethattink]

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?

Not at that time, it wouldn't. He really wanted to see the characters. However, to ride the Living Seas again, it will be using a return time.

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'm interested to know that too. And how the FP+ queue went. DS hates exiting Turtle Talk, so that will be interesting since someone here said it goes along side Turtle Talk.

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?

I hope it works out for you. My son had the exact same experience at a preview of Ariel's Grotto. The echo and noise was intolerable for him and we had to leave. A cm asked him what was wrong and he said it was too loud. That cm took him in through the exit. I'm so glad that was done for him. But we know to avoid there too.

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.

I saw where the two queues meet. We'll try that sometime in the future. DS went to Occupational Therapy today and they increased him to add another day of the week for therapy. They are going to work on finding ways to tolerate it, they've added it as a new goal to his list. So hopefully he'll be able to try it once he learns better coping techniques. Also it was very busy yesterday at the park. Maybe on a slower park day would be better too.

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.

The day after we first tried DAS, I asked my son what he thought about it. He said it wasn't fair. But it's how things are right now if he wants to go to Disney and he wants to go to Disney. My family has always done things differently at Disney, I guess we have to do it more differently.

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.

At the F&W Festival's Authentic Taste Seminar, the cm allowed just one of us to pick up the tickets and once we had them to sit at a table and wait instead of in the line. We entered last and she put us in the back where we could make a quick exit if necessary. That was very helpful and big extra sprinkling of pixie dust.

We've asked the same at the 3D shows the first time he saw them. And it usually wasn't a problem. They also let him stay in the w/c instead of transferring to a seat, so he was seated where he felt cocooned and familiar.

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.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Can you please report back which FP+ lines would be easy to make a quick exit and which ones wouldn't in a w/c?

I hope your staycation is lots of fun and that you feel great the whole time!

 

[ttintagel]

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.

Hmm, that may mean I can't ride that at all anymore. It isn't safe for me to walk any distance at all in the darkness of the Nemo queue. Not a big loss, as it's not one of my favorite rides anyway, but still, check one off the accessible list.

 

[KPeveler]

Hmm, that may mean I can't ride that at all anymore. It isn't safe for me to walk any distance at all in the darkness of the Nemo queue. Not a big loss, as it's not one of my favorite rides anyway, but still, check one off the accessible list.

If I remember correctly you have vision difficulties/impairments, correct? If the queue is unsafe for you, go to the CM at the line entrance, explain you have a vision impairment and the Nemo queue is not safe due to the sloping surfaces and darkness.

CMs are supposed to be making on-the-spot adjustments for people with vision difficulties, so if you tell them you cannot go in the queue, they should redirect you. I say "should," but definitely ask- asking cannot hurt!

 

[disney david]

Not at that time, it wouldn't. He really wanted to see the characters. However, to ride the Living Seas again, it will be using a return time.

I'm interested to know that too. And how the FP+ queue went. DS hates exiting Turtle Talk, so that will be interesting since someone here said it goes along side Turtle Talk.

I hope it works out for you. My son had the exact same experience at a preview of Ariel's Grotto. The echo and noise was intolerable for him and we had to leave. A cm asked him what was wrong and he said it was too loud. That cm took him in through the exit. I'm so glad that was done for him. But we know to avoid there too.

I saw where the two queues meet. We'll try that sometime in the future. DS went to Occupational Therapy today and they increased him to add another day of the week for therapy. They are going to work on finding ways to tolerate it, they've added it as a new goal to his list. So hopefully he'll be able to try it once he learns better coping techniques. Also it was very busy yesterday at the park. Maybe on a slower park day would be better too.

The day after we first tried DAS, I asked my son what he thought about it. He said it wasn't fair. But it's how things are right now if he wants to go to Disney and he wants to go to Disney. My family has always done things differently at Disney, I guess we have to do it more differently.

At the F&W Festival's Authentic Taste Seminar, the cm allowed just one of us to pick up the tickets and once we had them to sit at a table and wait instead of in the line. We entered last and she put us in the back where we could make a quick exit if necessary. That was very helpful and big extra sprinkling of pixie dust.

We've asked the same at the 3D shows the first time he saw them. And it usually wasn't a problem. They also let him stay in the w/c instead of transferring to a seat, so he was seated where he felt cocooned and familiar.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Can you please report back which FP+ lines would be easy to make a quick exit and which ones wouldn't in a w/c?

I hope your staycation is lots of fun and that you feel great the whole time!

Well they always meet this just cut the rest of te que you wouldn't know it Turtle talk exit. All you see is a green wall the metal bars separate the the two ques and that it. You just me next to it for a very little once the fp + meets the que you go through the last set of switch back and board the vehicles.

 

[disney david]

Hmm, that may mean I can't ride that at all anymore. It isn't safe for me to walk any distance at all in the darkness of the Nemo queue. Not a big loss, as it's not one of my favorite rides anyway, but still, check one off the accessible list.

This brings you to at he front where it be a little lighter then the main que. as kpeveler say if you try it and it unsafe talk to the cm. if I remember correctly that part is brighter then the rest.

 

[Mom2six]

Trust me, I understand how the new system is making the parks less accessible, at least for now. And Disney is hugely important to me. For me, in Disneyland, is it more about how they are handling wheelchairs, in addition to the DAS. I cannot push my wheelchair all over the place collecting attraction return times, and then circle back. I am pushing myself in a manual wheelchair - my options are limited. And the DAS is supposed to give me priority over others in the wheelchair queue (after they have returned with their ticket) because sometimes that wheelchair queue can be quite long. It is less the time and more the place for me - more and more people think I fit somewhere on the spectrum (including my psychologist), and I know I have sensory problems. Sometimes being sent into a long, crowded, or loud wheelchair queue after already waiting my "turn" is annoying and unfair. At this point, all I can do is tell Disney about it, give it two weeks, and hope for the best. While I do not share your exact circumstances, I do understand that the new system is taxing emotionally and physically. And I hope Disney makes whatever alterations needed so that all can enjoy the parks again.

You are right and I will hope for the best and read about other people's experiences.

 

[WDW-BWV]

Well like everyone we fears and questions about how this will change our visits.

In our case DS loves small world. We would normally use the WC access lane and wait for the WC boat. Has all of that changed with this process ?

While we care for FP+ planning, do we understand correctly that you have to have your tickets before you can make a FP + reservation ?

Finally ... And please don't assault me for asking -- but what keeps people from making up their own " more convenient" DAS back of card return time? I don't get how it would keep those with no ethics from scamming the system .

 

[mrzrich]

Well like everyone we fears and questions about how this will change our visits. In our case DS loves small world. We would normally use the WC access lane and wait for the WC boat. Has all of that changed with this process ? While we care for FP+ planning, do we understand correctly that you have to have your tickets before you can make a FP + reservation ? Finally ... And please don't assault me for asking -- but what keeps people from making up their own " more convenient" DAS back of card return time? I don't get how it would keep those with no ethics from scamming the system .

Each ride has a " code word" for the day. Like Peter Pan might be "hook" on Monday and "Wendy" on Tuesday.

 

[tinkerpea]

Each ride has a " code word" for the day. Like Peter Pan might be "hook" on Monday and "Wendy" on Tuesday.

But surely that does not stop somebody who just rode say "Peter pan" going away and then writing a time in again for that ride with a shorter ride time then it would have been? Or even just going away getting a ride time for SM going on it and straight after writing a time for PP as they would know the code of the day since it would be written already on the DAS from earlier?

 

[KPeveler]

There was some off-topic discussion about the Make A Wish organization that was becoming negative. The off-topic posts have been removed, but here is some basic information and a couple ground rules.

Make A Wish is a completely separate organization from the Disney corporation. It is up to Make A Wish to decide who gets the Wish Trips. And not everyone who applies gets a wish trip. There are a very limited number of trips, so just writing to the charity does NOT guarantee a Wish Trip.

• The rules for Make A Wish are NOT open for debate.
• Who qualifies or does not qualify for Make A Wish is not open for debate.
• Please be respectful of the Make a Wish kids, families, and the organization. Any negative comments about this will be removed.

The number of and reasons for the Wish Trips the charity grants has nothing to do with the DAS system, which is the topic of this thread.

 

[babyberger]

Just a quick thank you to the mods who have so quickly removed the negative posts and have continued to keep this an informational thread!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[BroganMc]

If I remember correctly you have vision difficulties/impairments, correct? If the queue is unsafe for you, go to the CM at the line entrance, explain you have a vision impairment and the Nemo queue is not safe due to the sloping surfaces and darkness.

CMs are supposed to be making on-the-spot adjustments for people with vision difficulties, so if you tell them you cannot go in the queue, they should redirect you. I say "should," but definitely ask- asking cannot hurt!

Just a thought. I'm wondering if this "on the spot decision making" is proving burdensome for some ride CMs. They used to just leave that up to GR to decide.

 

[PlainJane]

Just a thought. I'm wondering if this "on the spot decision making" is proving burdensome for some ride CMs. They used to just leave that up to GR to decide.

I've wondered if some of the reports of somewhat grouchy/unhelpful responses of CMs at rides since the change might be due to CMs being frustrated with how the change affects them. The change came with new responsibilities and some new protocols that can lack clarity. I know, I get annoyed when I have to carryout a task without clear instructions.

 

[lovethattink]

Well they always meet this just cut the rest of te que you wouldn't know it Turtle talk exit. All you see is a green wall the metal bars separate the the two ques and that it. You just me next to it for a very little once the fp + meets the que you go through the last set of switch back and board the vehicles.

Thanks. Maybe we'll try it on a low crowd level day.

 

[disney david]

Thanks. Maybe we'll try it on a low crowd level day.

Yeah sorry it hard to really explain where it is but if you try when not busy it might be better just in case it dose not work out.

 

[SueM in MN]

But surely that does not stop somebody who just rode say "Peter pan" going away and then writing a time in again for that ride with a shorter ride time then it would have been? Or even just going away getting a ride time for SM going on it and straight after writing a time for PP as they would know the code of the day since it would be written already on the DAS from earlier?

There were other things mentioned in CM information that has been leaked.
It seems that all of them might not have been instituted. They were things like a code word per attraction - not one for the whole park - and different colored pens.

There may be other things they will be doing also once Fastpass Plus is fully rolled out that are not possible now.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Well like everyone we fears and questions about how this will change our visits.

In our case DS loves small world. We would normally use the WC access lane and wait for the WC boat. Has all of that changed with this process ?

While we care for FP+ planning, do we understand correctly that you have to have your tickets before you can make a FP + reservation ?

Finally ... And please don't assault me for asking -- but what keeps people from making up their own " more convenient" DAS back of card return time? I don't get how it would keep those with no ethics from scamming the system .

we were sent to wheelchair access at sw as usual

 

[OneMoreTry]

Some people posting here seem to be thinking that the new system will prevent them from visiting wdw. I would recommend trying it..It is not as easy as the old system ... requires a little more planning but it worked well for us. My only concern is the reports from Epcot that some were denied DAS card that really needed it.