Why is trying to register for DAS so frustrating? NOTE FROM MOD: this is about OPTIONAL VIDEO DAS Registration

[StarCruzer]

This will be my first time going with a possible DAS (T1DM and new epilepsy/trying to find my triggers is not a fun combo). Waiting for a chat right now. I'm surprised Disney doesn't send links every 30 minutes while waiting on chat to subscribe to Disney+ to "quickly pass the time".

Edit time: Okay, not even 30 minutes in line and already got logged out by the website. Going to try replying in the chat every 15 minutes to see if that keeps my session active.

I tried replying every few minutes and I still got timed out. I kept one tab open with the DAS page and one open with the general disneyworld page. When it logged me out I'd login on the general page, then refresh the DAS page. Super annoying.

 

[shairpdrh]

I tried replying every few minutes and I still got timed out. I kept one tab open with the DAS page and one open with the general disneyworld page. When it logged me out I'd login on the general page, then refresh the DAS page. Super annoying.

That was one of my two successful methods, too. The other was to log out of the page, enter the link for the page where you request the chat, request the chat, and then login.

I got through today after 6 hours (It took me 5 minutes to get connected at 6AM for silly reasons on my end). Glad to have it done, but it was a process. I somehow skipped the intake step and ended up at the video chat. I was renewing, but based on her reaction it was more of a fluke than anything to do with the fact that I currently have an active DAS that will expire before our trip.

The cast member was amazing and she indicated they are also hoping for some changes in the future (but she didn't claim any knowledge of anything coming).

 

[Lesley Wake]

Tried it twice without any luck last week. Once it didn’t ever get to me (login at 12 pst, so about 7 hrs with no luck); the other eventually got thru when I was driving home so I didn’t get to the chat in time before it kicked me out.

Finally on Friday I set my alarm and woke up at 4am to join the queue. Closed my eyes but set my alarm for every 10 min so I would check before it kicked me out again. Thankfully got thru at 4:15. Video call was short, only a couple minutes. I hope my DAS photo ID with sleepy eyes, un-brushed hair and PJs is amusing to CMs! Video call immediately approved me.

Selections were made via chat which I was transferred to. All requested rides were available but had to adjust times and some days I just grabbed 1 because I knew the time wouldn’t work; I may have to rejoin the chat once I figure out other things (or check when I get to WDW for my later days).

So it was a pain, but got it done!

 

[MegMoves]

Wow, interesting additions to this thread. I'm presently on my trip. So I wanted to pop on and offer this tip... if you don't NEED to pre-plan 2 rides per day, save your time and your headache and just do it at the park. You can see how frustrated I am at the start of this thread.

My adult son registered in person at AK and it took 5 minutes. He was in and out before my other son was out of the bathroom.

The advance reservations did take the pressure off to do rope-drop. I'll give it that. But if you don't mind one at a time DAS requests, just do it at the park. SOOOOO much better.

I'm like some of the posters before me, I was planning on using FP to self-manage my "but you don't look sick" special needs. DAS doesn't get someone more rides, like Genie+ might. But it really helps cut down on the executive function strain of going through a crowded queue.

Like a story I'm sure you've neeever heard before - I over did it on the first 2 days, so physical symptoms happened. So I'm now experiencing the parks similar to my wheelchair-bound friends. I actually popped in to look up some wheelchair fireworks viewing at MK... From the side with no speaker just didn't cut it for me. (The two "Mom must do" things on a trip I paid for are sushi and fireworks at MK and I've only got 2 days left!)

My opinion on their claim of staffing shortages... very literally the video call is something that can be done from home by the guest AND a staff member. It's not that they don't have the capacity to hire more - they have shareholders to show a profit for. Staff is very literally discussed as one of their biggest costs.

 

[StarCruzer]

I found one of the days I tried (and failed) to get through that a CM actually did message me...at 10:20 pm, after the chat automatically closes.

 

[Disneyslostprincess]

Any tips for getting through on the chat? I’ve been trying for 4 days now for my trip in December

 

[StarCruzer]

Any tips for getting through on the chat? I’ve been trying for 4 days now for my trip in December

I would say you need to open a chat at least by 9 am. I started one around 8:30 am this morning and was finally connected around 2pm. I'll also take a guess that weekdays are slightly less demand than weekends.

 

[Disneyslostprincess]

Thank you!! Wow it’s nice to see someone who actually got through. I’ve been trying for days. I get disconnected constantly. I’ll try to log in early tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

[StarCruzer]

Thank you!! Wow it’s nice to see someone who actually got through. I’ve been trying for days. I get disconnected constantly. I’ll try to log in early tomorrow and see how it goes.

I tried on phone/iPad the first few times and found I got logged out more frequently. Less hassle doing it from a PC.

 

[Disneyslostprincess]

I was getting logged out almost every hour and I don’t know when I log back in if that means I am starting all over. Really hope they come up with a better plan for the future

 

[Disneyslostprincess]

Logged on at 7, had my video call a little after 8 it was a very short call, maybe 2 mins tops. Then was taken over to pick attractions and now I’m all set. After days of trying I finally got through

 

[MinnieMSue]

Wow, interesting additions to this thread. I'm presently on my trip. So I wanted to pop on and offer this tip... if you don't NEED to pre-plan 2 rides per day, save your time and your headache and just do it at the park. You can see how frustrated I am at the start of this thread.

My adult son registered in person at AK and it took 5 minutes. He was in and out before my other son was out of the bathroom.

The advance reservations did take the pressure off to do rope-drop. I'll give it that. But if you don't mind one at a time DAS requests, just do it at the park. SOOOOO much better.

I'm like some of the posters before me, I was planning on using FP to self-manage my "but you don't look sick" special needs. DAS doesn't get someone more rides, like Genie+ might. But it really helps cut down on the executive function strain of going through a crowded queue.

Like a story I'm sure you've neeever heard before - I over did it on the first 2 days, so physical symptoms happened. So I'm now experiencing the parks similar to my wheelchair-bound friends. I actually popped in to look up some wheelchair fireworks viewing at MK... From the side with no speaker just didn't cut it for me. (The two "Mom must do" things on a trip I paid for are sushi and fireworks at MK and I've only got 2 days left!)

My opinion on their claim of staffing shortages... very literally the video call is something that can be done from home by the guest AND a staff member. It's not that they don't have the capacity to hire more - they have shareholders to show a profit for. Staff is very literally discussed as one of their biggest costs.

When you did it at the park did your son need to take everyone’s magic bands in with him? I think that will be the easiest for us because the odds of us even getting to the prescheduled reservations are slim to none anyway. I don’t want to take everyone in with me to get the pass. In the past I just took the other party’s bands with me. I have not needed one for a couple of years because social distancing and quick moving lines made things much better for me but prob will register this time just in case we need to use it. (We also will have genie plus )

 

[SueM in MN]

When you did it at the park did your son need to take everyone’s magic bands in with him? I think that will be the easiest for us because the odds of us even getting to the prescheduled reservations are slim to none anyway. I don’t want to take everyone in with me to get the pass. In the past I just took the other party’s bands with me. I have not needed one for a couple of years because social distancing and quick moving lines made things much better for me but prob will register this time just in case we need to use it. (We also will have genie plus )

We were at WDW from October 24 thru November 13 and applied for DAS for our daughter at EPCOT.
The CM read her Magicband without removing it, then she looked up the other people to add from our Friends and Family list in My Disney Experience. My DD’s Magicband was the only one read.

 

[MegMoves]

Thank you!! Wow it’s nice to see someone who actually got through. I’ve been trying for days. I get disconnected constantly. I’ll try to log in early tomorrow and see how it goes.

It took me several tries and giving up, and trying again. It was finally within days of my drive down that I took the day and dedicated it to staying with my computer open... 5 hours to get through to the video call, and I had started at 6 am my time. Once through the video call, it goes fast.

I still think I may give up the pre-planning and just register at the parks next time.

 

[MegMoves]

When you did it at the park did your son need to take everyone’s magic bands in with him? I think that will be the easiest for us because the odds of us even getting to the prescheduled reservations are slim to none anyway. I don’t want to take everyone in with me to get the pass. In the past I just took the other party’s bands with me. I have not needed one for a couple of years because social distancing and quick moving lines made things much better for me but prob will register this time just in case we need to use it. (We also will have genie plus )

If you're planning on Genie+, you're better off just doing that, unless you need a different accommodation.

 

[MegMoves]

Overall, my sincere hope is they implement a system where you can request a video call time. So instead of waiting online, getting logged out, etc, over and over, just be able to request a video call appointment, like a zoom meeting.

The people using this already have challenges that make this more difficult. How hard is it to implement a call-back, or scheduling system so it's not a part-time job just to get verified? Even utility companies will call you back rather than making you wait on hold.

 

[StarCruzer]

Overall, my sincere hope is they implement a system where you can request a video call time. So instead of waiting online, getting logged out, etc, over and over, just be able to request a video call appointment, like a zoom meeting.

The people using this already have challenges that make this more difficult. How hard is it to implement a call-back, or scheduling system so it's not a part-time job just to get verified? Even utility companies will call you back rather than making you wait on hold.

Unfortunately, doing that will wind up with the same problem as ADRs--everything will get booked up in advance very quickly. The only real solution is bringing on more staff to meet the demand.

 

[ilgirl51]

I went on at 7 a.m. CT on my phone, and I kept typing in the chat every 10 minutes or so to make sure it didn't get timed out. At 2:30, it made me log in again, and then it showed that someone had texted me at 11:30. I couldn't figure that one out at all, since that had never shown up on my screen that I stayed glued to all day. Very frustrating. I'm not sure if I'll just try to get one at the parks or try again on a laptop.

 

[ilgirl51]

Wow, interesting additions to this thread. I'm presently on my trip. So I wanted to pop on and offer this tip... if you don't NEED to pre-plan 2 rides per day, save your time and your headache and just do it at the park. You can see how frustrated I am at the start of this thread.

My adult son registered in person at AK and it took 5 minutes. He was in and out before my other son was out of the bathroom.

The advance reservations did take the pressure off to do rope-drop. I'll give it that. But if you don't mind one at a time DAS requests, just do it at the park. SOOOOO much better.

What time did the guest services place open? Can we get into it before the park opens for the day?

 

[ilgirl51]

I tried replying every few minutes and I still got timed out. I kept one tab open with the DAS page and one open with the general disneyworld page. When it logged me out I'd login on the general page, then refresh the DAS page. Super annoying.

I tried replying every 10 minutes, but it still timed me out without telling me.