WDW Summary of NEW DAS changes and Disney Genie - Post ONE is an updated summary

[lanejudy]

How does DAS work with genie +? Can we use das doe frozen and we find a genie + time for frozen ride again? Learning both and trying to decide if genie + is worth it?

Yes, that's correct. You can schedule a DAS Return Time based on the current standby and also book G+ which will give you the next available time. It may be a little harder to coordinate close times if someone likes to loop.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

Yes, that's correct. You can schedule a DAS Return Time based on the current standby and also book G+ which will give you the next available time. It may be a little harder to coordinate close times if someone likes to loop.

Thank you!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you!

Also, keep in mind that the DAS Return Time stays active until it’s used, cancelled or the park/attraction closes for the day.
So, if you already have a DAS Return Time that’s coming up, you may be able yo loop by taking the ’next available time‘ offered by Genie+ then use the DAS after.

Before Genie+, if someone had both a DAS Return Time and a Fastpass, SOMETIMES the system used the DAS Return Time first, and the Fastpass expired. If you have both Genie+ and DAS, tell the CM at the entrance which you want to use.

 

[nadira36]

Hi there,

I've got an upcoming trip planned and think we'll try to use DAS. We've never used it in the past, but we're travelling with a different family this time and 1 of their kiddos has diverse needs and we have a young kiddo with ASD who tends to 'feed off' other people. So if it normally takes a lot of effort to manage him so he can stay calm, it's virtually impossible to manage him if someone else is melting down.

Am I correct that DAS is only for ride line-ups? Luckily our meltdowns rarely happen in lines - but they almost always happen as a result of lines.

In the past it wasn't as big of an issue, the lines were rarely long enough to worry about, but it looks like the new system makes standby consistently longer than they used to be. This means that it'd be likely that we'd get to a ride and realize the line was longer than anticipated - and unplanned changes don't go over well.

Basically I'm just really nervous that the upcoming trip could end up ruined by a kiddo unable to manage his emotions. Or disappointed siblings/friends who don't get to do what they'd like b/c kiddo 1 can't cope.

 

[lanejudy]

Am I correct that DAS is only for ride line-ups? Luckily our meltdowns rarely happen in lines - but they almost always happen as a result of lines.

DAS is used for attraction queues; it is not valid for dining, transportation, or other. To obtain a DAS for your son you will need to explain why he is unable to wait in a standard queue environment - so based on your statement above, it seems you'll need to think about what is it about the queue that causes him challenge. Keep in mind that you can check the app for the posted standby wait times, so there shouldn't be a big surprise when arriving at an attraction.

Will the other child also be using a DAS? I ask because DAS is typically only good for the DAS-holder plus 5 guests, so it rarely covers 2 full families. If you plan to tour together, most likely both children will need to have a DAS or plan to split.

 

[nadira36]

DAS is used for attraction queues; it is not valid for dining, transportation, or other. To obtain a DAS for your son you will need to explain why he is unable to wait in a standard queue environment - so based on your statement above, it seems you'll need to think about what is it about the queue that causes him challenge. Keep in mind that you can check the app for the posted standby wait times, so there shouldn't be a big surprise when arriving at an attraction.

Will the other child also be using a DAS? I ask because DAS is typically only good for the DAS-holder plus 5 guests, so it rarely covers 2 full families. If you plan to tour together, most likely both children will need to have a DAS or plan to split.

Thanks - it's great to say 'check the wait time before you go to the ride' but that's not really realistic for a kiddo who /expects/ to ride a certain ride, then can't. Whether the line is too long in the app or in person, doesn't matter. For me, that'd be fine. I can make those choices and manage my own expectations as well as regulate my own emotions, but that doesn't really work for him.

If he 'expects' to ride, for instance, Kilimanjaro safari today, then saying 'the line's too long' won't cut it. However, waiting in a 1.5hr line also won't cut it. It's fine to manage expectations, but there are often expectations that aren't communicated b/c he's selectively mute. And once emotions start to rise then he's really non-verbal.

Being able to tell him there are 2 rides he can ride today and (barring the ride being down) those are the limit of expectations, then other things are bonuses which decreases risk of melt downs - and allows us to redirect him to shorter lines after his 2 promised rides have happened.

Yes, the other family will get a DAS. I'm hoping when we talk to a CM they can help us navigate that. We'd hope/plan to have the chosen rides overlap if possible.

 

[lanejudy]

it's great to say 'check the wait time before you go to the ride' but that's not really realistic for a kiddo who /expects/ to ride a certain ride, then can't. Whether the line is too long in the app or in person, doesn't matter.

OK, I only commented about checking the wait time in the app because your first post made it sound like you weren't aware you could know the wait time before arriving at the queue. Honestly, I'd be checking the wait time without telling my child if it's really an issue, and only tell him "let's head over to X now" once I felt it was do-able. Pretty much the same idea as when we used to send a "runner" to get a DAS Return Time, so the child didn't see the ride and expect to go right then; now you can check the wait time and schedule DAS within the app and only tell the child when it's the right time.

 

[Liquidice]

Has anyone been able to book a DAS Advance selection for a ride that was previously Individual Lightning Lane like Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, Expedition Everest or Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway but is now (until at least August) part of Genie+ ?

They don't show up on the list of rides available for DAS Advance, but I heard an unconfirmed rumor that you can select these rides now for DAS Advance.

 

[Fitzwoman27]

Has anyone been able to book a DAS Advance selection for a ride that was previously Individual Lightning Lane like Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, Expedition Everest or Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway but is now (until at least August) part of Genie+ ?

They don't show up on the list of rides available for DAS Advance, but I heard an unconfirmed rumor that you can select these rides now for DAS Advance.

Did DAS advance for week of june12 , told frozen ever after not available for DAS

 

[Rivergirl2005]

Also, keep in mind that the DAS Return Time stays active until it’s used, cancelled or the park/attraction closes for the day.
So, if you already have a DAS Return Time that’s coming up, you may be able yo loop by taking the ’next available time‘ offered by Genie+ then use the DAS after.

Before Genie+, if someone had both a DAS Return Time and a Fastpass, SOMETIMES the system used the DAS Return Time first, and the Fastpass expired. If you have both Genie+ and DAS, tell the CM at the entrance which you want to use.

This is a great idea! Thank you! With the new system can we make the das selection on the app when in the park or do we need to go to each ride and set it up with them?

 

[lanejudy]

Has anyone been able to book a DAS Advance selection for a ride that was previously Individual Lightning Lane like Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, Expedition Everest or Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway but is now (until at least August) part of Genie+ ?

No, those were not added to the DAS Advanced Selections but they are available for day-of DAS Return Times

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a great idea! Thank you! With the new system can we make the das selection on the app when in the park or do we need to go to each ride and set it up with them?

Any guest linked to the DAS can make a DAS Return Time in the park in any of these 3 ways:
1) by requesting a DAS Return Time from a CM at the attraction you want

2) by requesting a DAS Return Time from a CM at one of the blue Guest Experience umbrellas or Guest Relations

3) using the My Disney Experience app. On the main page, tap the 3 lines in the bottom menu, then scroll to the DAS tile and tap it to get the list of ‘DAS Eligible Attractions’. The DAS tile won’t show up until after the person registered for DAS has entered a park for the first time.

You can‘t make a DAS Return Time for the person registered for DAS or anyone linked to DAS until they have entered the park you have reservations for

 

[Rivergirl2005]

Thank you for clarifying! I really appreciate it

 

[snoopy352]

3) using the My Disney Experience app. On the main page, tap the 3 lines in the bottom menu, then scroll to the DAS tile and tap it to get the list of ‘DAS Eligible Attractions’. The DAS tile won’t show up until after the person registered for DAS has entered a park for the first time.

Can we have a park reservation at AK, use DAS, then before we leave AK set up a DAS return time for Epcot just before our dinner reservation in Epcot? Or do we need to be in Epcot before we can get the DAS return time?

 

[lanejudy]

Can we have a park reservation at AK, use DAS, then before we leave AK set up a DAS return time for Epcot just before our dinner reservation in Epcot? Or do we need to be in Epcot before we can get the DAS return time?

You cannot do it yourself on the app, but you can stop at a blue umbrella to have a DAS Return Time set-up in another park.

 

[snoopy352]

Thanks for all the great help in this thread. I do have another question that I can't find a definitive answer for. Assuming we are in the park, during Early Theme Park Entry, are we able to get our first DAS return time? Or does the window open for that at official park time?

 

[lanejudy]

Assuming we are in the park, during Early Theme Park Entry, are we able to get our first DAS return time? Or does the window open for that at official park time?

It depends. Some attractions won't be open for Early Entry, so you cannot get a DAS Return Time until there is a posted standby wait.

 

[camnhan]

OK so I was a able to do the virtual registration with Z today However we realized that my DD wasn't connected to us so we couldn't do our advanced selections. We are now a family of 7 with my parents coming along as well (which makes 9). My question is can we use the DAS to ride the same ride multiple times if he wants? I am thinking there are going to be things like Small World that he will want to ride with everyone or Buzz to compete against them and such. I don't have an issue of splitting up our group and waiting for a second return time if that is possible. I know we have done that in the past when he just wanted to do Buzz for a second or third or 4th time in a day but wasn't sure if there was a difference with the updates now. Sorry I forgot to ask the CM when we were online earlier.

 

[leiaorgana]

Any UK people recently done this? I need to do it this weekend and I’m wondering if there’s going to be issues using VPN based on what the first page says.

 

[SueM in MN]

OK so I was a able to do the virtual registration with Z today However we realized that my DD wasn't connected to us so we couldn't do our advanced selections. We are now a family of 7 with my parents coming along as well (which makes 9). My question is can we use the DAS to ride the same ride multiple times if he wants? I am thinking there are going to be things like Small World that he will want to ride with everyone or Buzz to compete against them and such. I don't have an issue of splitting up our group and waiting for a second return time if that is possible. I know we have done that in the past when he just wanted to do Buzz for a second or third or 4th time in a day but wasn't sure if there was a difference with the updates now. Sorry I forgot to ask the CM when we were online earlier.

You can get DAS Return Times for the same attractions as many times as you want.
You still will wait for the Standby Wait time is at the time, so it’s no different than someone waiting in line multiple times.