We’re here - with toddlers! DAS/Maxpass/FP

[theluckyrabbit]

Whatg is DAS?..

DAS=Disability Access Service, a very helpful service for non-mobility related issues that can make ride lines difficult to handle. Disney is great at working with all guests to help make the in-park experience go as smoothly as possible.

 

[mom2rtk]

*character sightings are chaotic. When we come to an area looking for them based on the app I’d prefer a line. People have formed one because it’s logical and the handler shouts no line.

I agree that the other character issues are likely due to rain. But this one isn't. They seem to be trying very hard to break out of the traditional model of characters having lines and I agree it's just too chaotic. I think you would be justified in complaining. It's a terrible system. The line system WAS the improvement on chaos and makes so much more sense.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

*character sightings are chaotic. When we come to an area looking for them based on the app I’d prefer a line. People have formed one because it’s logical and the handler shouts no line.

This is being more and more frequently reported. Please do say something. I agree that characters listed on the app should have actual meet-and-greets. Roaming characters like Gaston shouldn’t be on the app at all. Lately they’ve blurred the line between roaming and meet and greet characters, and it’s so confusing.

 

[smartlabelprint]

This is being more and more frequently reported. Please do say something. I agree that characters listed on the app should have actual meet-and-greets. Roaming characters like Gaston shouldn’t be on the app at all. Lately they’ve blurred the line between roaming and meet and greet characters, and it’s so confusing.

Yes, that’s probably what’s happening when we go to an area to look for a character and it was just a pass through.

 

[smartlabelprint]

This morning my sis joined us. We’ve been getting to the parks around the same time each day. Were happy to stick to the wake schedule the kids have set.

We got a DAS for toy story. 2 maxpasses for gotg. Rode little mermaid first.

Then midway mania. Kiddo got a new toy set. His dream come true in that store! He asked to go to the hotel. Not sure if it was overstimulation or the toy!!

Then gotg for 2 Of us and a potty stop. I love this ride! The theming is wayyy better on tot. But this ride was better.

Lunch at Boardwalk pizza & pasta. Got a pizza for kids. Crust probably had some corn. But at least it wasn’t corn pasta. I think it’s one of their sensitivities.

During lunch we got 2 mp for soarin. I don’t like This ride at all. The buildings all seemed curved. You aren’t really a part of the ride like it felt on the original. I wont be back on this one. My sis took 3 yo.

I took baby on mermaid twice. Dad got a spider man straw light up. Then back to hotel. Now I’m making mp reservations on both our tickets for my sis. Lol

We will all go back to ride das pirates after dinner. Then back to hotel early so mom and sis can go to dessert party!!

 

[94bruin]

I saw that the wait time for SM & ST was down to 15 mins about an hour ago. DD1 is having a great time. I don't even think they are doing FPs... (her friends don't want to bother.)

 

[smartlabelprint]

I saw that the wait time for SM & ST was down to 15 mins about an hour ago. DD1 is having a great time. I don't even think they are doing FPs... (her friends don't want to bother.)

It is so nice! We really enjoyed the quiet. But we were only at DCA. Should have taken advantage of a quiet dl Park!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

It was so dead today with the rain! I was surprised because I thought Spring Break tourists would be there no matter what, but it was deserted. We just kept grabbing FPs for Space Mountain, Star Tours, and GOTG over and over. Unfortunately, RSR shut down right as we were about to head over to use those FPs. We also saw the Frozen show, went on several smaller rides, saw a few characters hanging out inside waiting for people to show up, found a few of the Easter Eggs at each park, and danced around in the rain (good thing I brought my daughter a second outfit). Not bad for 6 hours!

Glad your trip seems to be going well so far! Hope you have an enjoyable evening!

 

[lovewdwfun]

Thanks for sharing! I would love to hear any more tips you have! I am heading to DL in August and also have kids (4) including one with special needs who will have a DAS. I am also a vegetarian and will be staying at Homewood Suites!

 

[midnight star]

How did your kids handle the rain? It’s rained so much the past two days!

 

[smartlabelprint]

How did your kids handle the rain? It’s rained so much the past two days!

Hahaha! I’d say it rained a lot yesterday morning. We went to the hotel at 2. LO asked to go back to the hotel. But that could have been just as much the 2 rides we did and being in a crowd (special needs that cause sensory and anxiety issues). We pushed through til 2 and he did great. But for us the light sprinkle in the evening Thursday and Wednesday’s sprinkle were no big deal. We put on our ponchos when it started Thursday evening thinking it may storm again but we didn’t really need them. Helped block me from wind which was better since I had short sleeves still.

Today is a day off so DH can go to wondercon.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We took Friday and Saturday off. Wonder con. (Eyeroll!)

Kids had a hard time in dtd for lunch.

We’ve eaten off site at garden walk a few times. Pf Chang’s did lunch. Surprised how quiet it was

Take out from Cheesecake Factory.

House of blues. Not impressed. Bad service.

Today we got a DAS time for rsr, rode silly symphony swings. His fave!!!!! Baby and dad went on Mermaid and got a bubble wand since ours ran out of batteries and it’s too much work to get maintenance to come at hotel to borrow their screw driver. Forgot ours.

Then we rode jumpin jellyfish. nOt worth it.

Then toddler and I went to rsr. Dad got food at flos. When we were done I got a veg chili cone again.

Then we rode mater. It’s exactly the motion our lo needs from OT. He screamed when getting off. Couldn’t handle it stopping. So sad. They offered him to ride again. But I shouldn’t have bothered. Same reaction after.

Kids and I did Minnie on main st and waited for dad to use his GOTG maxpass.

Baby fell asleep on the way home.

We’ll get a date night tonight! I’m starting to collect fast passes.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We had an awesome date night. 3 hours .Maxpass for star tours, mp space mtn, dinner @pizza port (dry pasta), no big thunder, during fireworks! Then we finished fireworks near the exit. Bought pins for our kids. (Trip tradition) matterhorn mp, pic in front of castle, bought a sweatshirt on main street. Oh we rode mr toad too.

But kiddo wasn't asleep when we got home. No surprise.The midnight bedtime was too much and today was a total loss.

It's quite possible we won't be back with the kids. Maybe no family vacations. we have separate trips lined up the very end of this year. The other parent will stay with the kids with help from sitters and maybe my sis!

I May Have Updates To The Thread. Let me know if you have questions!

 

[AnneK]

I love this report, thank you. My husband and I don't have kids, but we do use DAS due to my chronic stomach illness and related anxiety+crowd anxiety. This will be our first trip to Disneyland (we are WDW vets), so I'm pretty nervous.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... This will be our first trip to Disneyland (we are WDW vets), so I'm pretty nervous.

Have you read this thread (A DLR Guide for WDW Vets)? Lots of helpful information there to calm any nerves and bring up any questions you forgot to ask. Are you planning to get MP? Or at least to try it for one day of your trip? We've found that the combination of DAS and MP works very well to make our park days as low stress as possible. Some days, MP works well enough alone so that we don't even use DAS. Just having the options and flexibility can take a burden off your shoulders. If you aren't sure about MP, you might want to try it the first or second day of your trip. Then, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it again. But if you find it helpful, you can get it again for the rest of your visit.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Yes! The combine is what did it. It’s his least favorite part in the movie too!

....ah...the talking trees in the wizard of OZ....those natural items becoming unnatural....did my son in for dark rides....the trees his least favorite part of the movie....he loved the flying monkies....but hated those trees!!!!

 

[AnneK]

Have you read this thread (A DLR Guide for WDW Vets)? Lots of helpful information there to calm any nerves and bring up any questions you forgot to ask. Are you planning to get MP? Or at least to try it for one day of your trip? We've found that the combination of DAS and MP works very well to make our park days as low stress as possible. Some days, MP works well enough alone so that we don't even use DAS. Just having the options and flexibility can take a burden off your shoulders. If you aren't sure about MP, you might want to try it the first or second day of your trip. Then, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it again. But if you find it helpful, you can get it again for the rest of your visit.

We are spending 4 days there with Max Pass so we can take our time and not get too overwhelmed. We are actually only going because my husband is getting sent to Costa Mesa for a week for work training, and I'm a freelancer who can work from anywhere so I get to tag along. So this trip is very last minute! Very thankful that Disneyland has Max Pass though, that will be a big help. I only expect to use DAS for rides that do not utilize fast passes.

 

[azdisneylover]

We had an awesome date night. 3 hours .Maxpass for star tours, mp space mtn, dinner @pizza port (dry pasta), no big thunder, during fireworks! Then we finished fireworks near the exit. Bought pins for our kids. (Trip tradition) matterhorn mp, pic in front of castle, bought a sweatshirt on main street. Oh we rode me road too.

But kiddo wasn't asleep when we got home. No surprise.The midnight bedtime was too much and today was a total loss.

It's quite possible we won't be back with the kids. Maybe no family vacations. we have separate trips lined up the very end of this year. The other parent will stay with the kids with help from sitters and maybe my sis!

I May Have Updates To The Thread. Let me know if you have questions!

It might be a good idea to put off taking the kids to Disneyland again until they are at the very least 7. This will make a huge positive difference in your stress level and fun as well.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...We are actually only going because my husband is getting sent to Costa Mesa for a week for work training...

Costa Mesa is a fun place! South Coast Plaza is a very nice mall -- quite upscale! There are lots of nice restaurants, arthouse movies, theatre, etc. Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts has a sculpture garden and a new outdoor plaza. You're going to have a great time!

 

[smartlabelprint]

It might be a good idea to put off taking the kids to Disneyland again until they are at the very least 7. This will make a huge positive difference in your stress level and fun as well.

Thanks .I think it will be several years until we travel with the kids. The 2 yo had a harder time on the flights, home especially. DL ruined her. Was screaming bloody murder on the plane because of the bumps.

We had a hunch it would be hard after our Hawaii vacation in dec. This trip they had recently slept in a hotel so that aspect helped.

We're content with breaks akone. We really need the respite with special needs kids. We've decided to do spring break and Xmas vacations at home all Together. Now that they're in preschool it will be easier on me too! They sleep better at home. We can go out and do fun activities throughout the week. This way there is also no transition home. Transitions are much harder with their disability.