DAS is getting an Upgrade!

[tinkerbelllacey]

Except it says that it is per day.


It’s an extra two to start and those are for free. There is no way for people without a DAS to get any for free.

And can be booked in advance instead of having to wait until 7am of the day of the visit (though DAS users can also get the Genie+ and get another booking at 7am the day of).

I just wanted to say that I am so glad Disney is doing this as it will help my family and the last time we went we were in the line for an hour trying to get the DAS so that took away from park time and rides!!! ( I have a 9 year old son eith severe brain injury caused from Shaking Baby Syndrome that happened when he was 3 months while in the care of his birth family and he also has autism and I have a 23 year old daughter with CHARGE Syndrome, DeafBlind, non verbal, j tube fed, medically fragile so many medicines and experiences pain and discomfort and the list goes on!!!) So we get 2 extra rides , attractions free !!! Maybe you would like to trade and live my children’s lives . Some people are just so selfish and it is all about me me me!! And maybe you would like to push 2 wheelchairs in the heat and up hills all day!! It is exhausting but I do it so my children can have fun!! I don’t usually post but I just had to say something. We are DVC and usually go twice a year.

 

[DavysMama]

So my dilemma is this. I've never used DAS before and we aren't frequent visitors, sadly.
But I've broken my leg which necessitates the use of an ECV. I also have a medical condition that may require me to leave a line quickly multiple times a day. If I'm stuck in a regular queue, it would be near impossible for me to bail a line. I don't know what to do. And I wish we knew when this was going to take place.

 

[Sandisw]

So my dilemma is this. I've never used DAS before and we aren't frequent visitors, sadly.
But I've broken my leg which necessitates the use of an ECV. I also have a medical condition that may require me to leave a line quickly multiple times a day. If I'm stuck in a regular queue, it would be near impossible for me to bail a line. I don't know what to do. And I wish we knew when this was going to take place.

Your best bet is to do the video chat…if up and running before you go…and discuss your concerns. They are really good at helping you know the best way to navigate the park given your current situation.

 

[SueM in MN]

Interesting. We’ve been able to add people to both - but they could only have one waiting time at a time. And people with a DAS couldn’t be added to someone else’s DAS.

That is what most people have reported, EXCEPT for in the very early days of DAS being digital.
The CM giving a DAS Return Time can see the guests linked to that DAS and, my understanding is that the system will not allow them to add a guest to a DAS Return Time if that guest is already listed on another DAS Return Time.

I had not seen the wording about two per day. I was simply pointing out why they will allow people who need DAS to get a head start because waiting until a park opens to register can, in itself, put people behind those who don’t need DAS and didn’t need to do that step every trip. I have waited over 20 minutes at GR to get it going while all those other park goers got togo straight to a ride and get in line.

Personally, I will do the video chat to set up my pass with my guests but won’t do advanced because we wont know what we’d want until that day to see which ones can be done without using it and which ones I’d need it for

I could swear that the “per day” wording was not there when I first read it. I DO know that other people have found some things that were edited since the information was posted on the Disney website. Right now, it says this:

“Pre-Arrival Registration and Planning via Live Video Chat
This fall, we’re introducing a new option to register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat as early as 30 days in advance of a park visit.

During your chat with a Cast Member, you’ll also have the opportunity to select up to 2 experiences per day (subject to availability) using our new DAS Advance planning option. Please keep in mind that DAS Advance selections must be booked at least 2 days prior to the day you plan to redeem them, and you will not be able to make selections on the day of your visit.”

 

[SirDuff]

I had not seen the wording about two per day. I was simply pointing out why they will allow people who need DAS to get a head start because waiting until a park opens to register can, in itself, put people behind those who don’t need DAS and didn’t need to do that step every trip. I have waited over 20 minutes at GR to get it going while all those other park goers got togo straight to a ride and get in line.

Personally, I will do the video chat to set up my pass with my guests but won’t do advanced because we wont know what we’d want until that day to see which ones can be done without using it and which ones I’d need it for

I also think that some people won’t be able to plan in advance and may also need to stick to the « normal » ones. I think a that ability to get the DAS in advance (even without getting the two extra passes, helps with the issue you point out (the needing to take time out to get the DAS on the first day).

I just wanted to say that I am so glad Disney is doing this as it will help my family and the last time we went we were in the line for an hour trying to get the DAS so that took away from park time and rides!!! ( I have a 9 year old son eith severe brain injury caused from Shaking Baby Syndrome that happened when he was 3 months while in the care of his birth family and he also has autism and I have a 23 year old daughter with CHARGE Syndrome, DeafBlind, non verbal, j tube fed, medically fragile so many medicines and experiences pain and discomfort and the list goes on!!!) So we get 2 extra rides , attractions free !!! Maybe you would like to trade and live my children’s lives . Some people are just so selfish and it is all about me me me!! And maybe you would like to push 2 wheelchairs in the heat and up hills all day!! It is exhausting but I do it so my children can have fun!! I don’t usually post but I just had to say something. We are DVC and usually go twice a year.

You might want to make sure that you actually know what needs a poster/pioster’s family does/doesn’t have, before you call them selfish and ask if they’d like to push two wheelchairs.

Nowhere did I suggest that the changes are bad/unfair. I was pointing out what they were (since the post that I quoted wasn’t giving an accurate representation) and why I thought that it likely would be enough for people to be willing to lie to get them.

I could swear that the “per day” wording was not there when I first read it. I DO know that other people have found some things that were edited since the information was posted on the Disney website. Right now, it says this:

“Pre-Arrival Registration and Planning via Live Video Chat
This fall, we’re introducing a new option to register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat as early as 30 days in advance of a park visit.

During your chat with a Cast Member, you’ll also have the opportunity to select up to 2 experiences per day (subject to availability) using our new DAS Advance planning option. Please keep in mind that DAS Advance selections must be booked at least 2 days prior to the day you plan to redeem them, and you will not be able to make selections on the day of your visit.”

Things have definitely changed (though the « per day » wording was there as of the 4th post in this thread. But, who knows, it may change/change back to « per stay » before things actually go live.

 

[ttintagel]

I’ve been hearing a lot of reports over the last few years from people receiving DAS for reasons that are not supposed to qualify, i.e. mobility/stamina issues that could be solved by the use of an assistive device such as a wheelchair or rollator.

I had assumed that the reason these were now being handed out so freely is that CMs in Guest Relations were simply too overworked and understaffed to take the time to argue and/or explain the rules to the people requesting them. When you’ve got lines a mile long, the temptation to just give people whatever they ask for in order to keep the line moving is completely understandable.

So, I’m cautiously optimistic that the advance video chats have the potential to cut down on this issue. Maybe CMs will have more time to explain what the program is and isn’t designed to do. Maybe a smaller number of CMs will be needed to deal with the same number of guests, so that CMs who don’t have enough of the proper training and experience won’t be pressed into service just to deal with the morning rush.

 

[SarahC97]

I'm going next week with a group of friends and I want to use the DAS I got earlier in the month and have them added to it. I worry that there is now increased scrutiny with the coming changes for DAS -- you don't think it'll send up a red flag to have my friends added to my DAS, do you? I've been a DAS user for about four years.

 

[gap2368]

I'm going next week with a group of friends and I want to use the DAS I got earlier in the month and have them added to it. I worry that there is now increased scrutiny with the coming changes for DAS -- you don't think it'll send up a red flag to have my friends added to my DAS, do you? I've been a DAS user for about four years.

No I add people all the time you should be fine

 

[DisneyOma]

I see what you’re saying, but another perspective is that unless someone has a disability per the ADA, Disney isn’t obligated to provide accommodations. I just don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that someone who is requesting a legally required accommodation know what the legal definition of disability is.

I can manage my anxiety and panic attacks (for the most part - today's MRI got me to a full blown "get me out of here" moment) if I have a place to go lie down and do my breathing and PT exercises. But it doesn't require any modifications at work, so by ADA I don't have a disability, do I? But the trip before last to WDW ended up with me getting on 2 new rides - the shuttle to Urgent Care and a day later, an ambulance to the ER in Celebration. So when I felt the same symptoms start to appear after a guest verbally assaulted me in a queue, I went to Guest Relations and asked for a DAS, explaining exactly what happened, as I stated here. I got one, used it for the longer queues, stuck it out in the shorter ones, and used First Aid to lie down and do my exercises when I felt issues returning. DO you consider me a cheater?

It is unreasonable to expect people from around the world to be that specific in knowledge about our disability laws.

I really hope Disney gets to a place where they heavily monitor people using DAS passes. If someone claims they can’t wait in line, and data shows they did, BAM that’s your pass gone and you are banned. It wouldn’t affect people who genuinely need and use DAS but it would take away at least some incentive to misuse it. Because I predict this will be heavily abused, particularly as it is the only way to pre-book attractions now. This will be a “hack” in no time.

Without DAS = Genie+ gets you ~4 lightening lane rides, maybe you pay for 2 headliners. That’s ~6 rides in a day.

With DAS = pre-book 2 rides, hold 1 DAS reservation at a time for ~3 rides a day, Genie+ for ~4 rides, pay for two headliners. That’s ~12 rides in a day.

I’m sorry, you will never convince me this won’t be rampantly abused once people work out how to game the system.

So what would you have the group using DAS do for a 3 hour return time for SDMT? Are they not allowed in a 1 hour queue, or a 15 minute queue? Can't go get food because that would be using a queue as well.

Also, your "rides per day" are off - sure, you get FP queue access to the rides you listed, but then you can also go on other rides, right? And you zip through the headliners, so the waits are going to be pretty short for the standby queue of the other attractions.

 

[Gordo Gato]

Maybe you would like to trade and live my children’s lives . Some people are just so selfish and it is all about me me me!! And maybe you would like to push 2 wheelchairs in the heat and up hills all day!! It is exhausting but I do it so my children can have fun!! I don’t usually post but I just had to say something. We are DVC and usually go twice a year.

I have been following this thread and topic because it applies to my family. Please do not assume that all people and families who use DAS require pushing two wheelchairs in the heat as you say and reasons for using DAS are not necessarily visible. It’s sentiments like this that make my family not want to use DAS and make us feel as if we are cheating the system since we are without a wheelchair.

 

[Dispro1]

I don't have much experience with DAS like many of you on here do because my illness is somewhat new, but I wanted to say that I am very happy with the changes Disney has made particularly by adding the video chat. Being able to know whether or not you will be able to qualify for DAS ahead of time is priceless for some people (including myself) because without it, some people might decide they just need to cancel the trip. I assumed I would qualify due to several health issues, and I did thankfully, but it caused me a great deal of anxiety beforehand not knowing for sure. The extra two "fast pass" selections will be something nice to have, but as others have said, due to the hour time limit, those may or may not be helpful depending on how a person feels at that time. Definitely still nice to have if things work out to be able to use them. I will be going back to Disney for a long weekend flying in this Thursday night (wow, it's getting close) and it is time to renew my DAS which I have never done. I wish the video chat option were already available because I'm concerned about what the line to GR might look like at park open at HS Friday morning. I was booked on an earlier flight on Thursday so I could take care of it ahead of time, but sadly it got cancelled so my new flight is too late to do that. Does anyone know how bad it will be if I go to the one inside the park right at park open (or earlier if it is open since I've read that they are letting people in before 9am)? I know the outside line will be bad due to ticket issues, but I wouldn't risk waiting in line there since they might send me inside anyway. Can I have my DH stand in line if it is long and then join him when he gets close or will people yell at me?

 

[Lilsia]

So many are hung up on the concept of those with DAS getting the 2 "extra". But not everyone is going to do this. We still have not heard if you are supposed to video conference if you just have to renew your DAS. Plus those that go more often, like locals, are not going to have to renew every trip. From what I understand, this 2 extra is not going to be used by every DAS user, every trip.

 

[Disneylvr]

I have been following this thread and topic because it applies to my family. Please do not assume that all people and families who use DAS require pushing two wheelchairs in the heat as you say and reasons for using DAS are not necessarily visible. It’s sentiments like this that make my family not want to use DAS and make us feel as if we are cheating the system since we are without a wheelchair.

Maybe I am wrong but I don't think he/she was saying all DAS users are or should be wheelchair users..... I interpreted the post as frustration (and using their own personal situation as an example) towards posters that view the new DAS features, especially the 2 advance ride selections, as unfair.

 

[Evita_W]

I can manage my anxiety and panic attacks (for the most part - today's MRI got me to a full blown "get me out of here" moment) if I have a place to go lie down and do my breathing and PT exercises. But it doesn't require any modifications at work, so by ADA I don't have a disability, do I? But the trip before last to WDW ended up with me getting on 2 new rides - the shuttle to Urgent Care and a day later, an ambulance to the ER in Celebration. So when I felt the same symptoms start to appear after a guest verbally assaulted me in a queue, I went to Guest Relations and asked for a DAS, explaining exactly what happened, as I stated here. I got one, used it for the longer queues, stuck it out in the shorter ones, and used First Aid to lie down and do my exercises when I felt issues returning. DO you consider me a cheater?

It is unreasonable to expect people from around the world to be that specific in knowledge about our disability laws.



So what would you have the group using DAS do for a 3 hour return time for SDMT? Are they not allowed in a 1 hour queue, or a 15 minute queue? Can't go get food because that would be using a queue as well.

Also, your "rides per day" are off - sure, you get FP queue access to the rides you listed, but then you can also go on other rides, right? And you zip through the headliners, so the waits are going to be pretty short for the standby queue of the other attractions.

Rides per day are definitely off, a friend of ours just did 15+ at DL last Sunday, without a DAS or FP.

 

[mshanson3121]

Thanks for all the great info on this thread! I’m still trying to wrap my head around what all this means for my son, because he relied so heavily on FP+. Very grateful that Disney will allow him to pre-register for DAS and schedule two attractions a day In advance. His stamina is limited, so getting to the park early or staying too long is not realistic for him most days. I think that between pre-scheduling two rides for late morning/early afternoon, and using Genie+ or DAS for a couple more, he can make this work without getting too worn out. He loves Disney so much!

This is us. We relied on a combination of rope drop, DAS and FP+ to make Disney doable for us. We require an extended break every day and we can't afford to be buying Genie+ and Lightning Passes etc... So, I'm very happy about being able to book 2 DAS passes in advance. That almost replaces FP+ (we only ever used the 3). But... that still leaves Tier 1 rides and rope drop up in the air as potential issues, since we were going to be off-site. So I've been wracking my brains - do we drop a day from the tickets and use the money to stay on-site so we can make use of Early Morning Entry... or do we stay off site as planned and just drop a day from our tickets so that we can pay for Lightning Lane? I really think one of the biggest questions I have about DAS at the moment is will the Tier 1 rides be included?

 

[tinkerbelllacey]

I have been following this thread and topic because it applies to my family. Please do not assume that all people and families who use DAS require pushing two wheelchairs in the heat as you say and reasons for using DAS are not necessarily visible. It’s sentiments like this that make my family not want to use DAS and make us feel as if we are cheating the system since we are without a wheelchair.

I was replying to someone about the 2 extra passes who was implying that it was unfair to other guests who don’t get the das and not about cheating the system. You didn’t add my whole reply. My son actually walks- he has CP, brain injury caused by shaking baby syndrome ( my children are adopted) autism, behavior challenges so the wheelchair stroller helps him and walking all day in the park would be too much for him. I was trying to explain that 2 extra passes isn’t much when you consider what they have to deal with all day in their lives . Lots of medical issues!! My daughter at age 23 has had 40 surgeries. A little pixie dust wouldn’t hurt! Besides, a lot of the time we end up waiting longer because we have to wait for the wheelchair accessible vehicle for my daughter we usually have to wait for the bathroom too! Lol . We get many stares all day because she uses a wheelchair and because she makes loud noises She is nonverbal and DeafBlind

 

[Gordo Gato]

I was replying to someone about the 2 extra passes who was implying that it was unfair to other guests who don’t get the das and not about cheating the system. You didn’t add my whole reply. My son actually walks- he has CP, brain injury caused by shaking baby syndrome ( my children are adopted) autism, behavior challenges so the wheelchair stroller helps him and walking all day in the park would be too much for him. I was trying to explain that 2 extra passes isn’t much when you consider what they have to deal with all day in their lives . Lots of medical issues!! My daughter at age 23 has had 40 surgeries. A little pixie dust wouldn’t hurt! Besides, a lot of the time we end up waiting longer because we have to wait for the wheelchair accessible vehicle for my daughter we usually have to wait for the bathroom too! Lol . We get many stares all day because she uses a wheelchair and because she makes loud noises She is nonverbal and DeafBlind

I debated about whether to respond or not.
Edited: I shouldn’t have responded. I’m sorry for sharing my feeling and my response.

 

[mshanson3121]

I debated about whether to respond or not. Maybe this is all about me and my sensitivities regarding my family, maybe a DAS is not appropriate anymore for my family, and maybe these message board are wrong for me. I am choosing to respond because my feelings are hurt. My goal is to not further what feels like who deserves a "little pixie dust" more or less but I want to point out that not all DAS holders have the history you describe above. That said, my child does not deserve more or less pixie dust because she has not been through what your children have had. All I ask with a DAS is that we be accommodated if her medical issues forces us to leave the line and so after we deal with it we can return to a line but in a more efficient manner.

It is really hurtful to me as a parent to be on a message board that discusses accommodations and how to best help my family navigate a trip when it feels like the discussion is tipping to only certain conditions or hard ships count enough.

Maybe having a condition which necessitates having to leave a line a significant amount of the time to deal with said condition does not qualify for a DAS even though not attending to the condition is potentially life threatening. Maybe we should just suck it up and not use the DAS and just return to the standby line if we have to leave or if we think we may have to leave the line. Maybe she is not deserving enough of the extra pixie dust or accommodations.

I really don't think this is what the poster was saying, AT ALL. They were replying to what they felt was someone complaining that DAS users will now get to book 2 rides in advance (and many have complained about it). They shared their story as a way to illustrate that granting 2 advance bookings really isn't a huge advantage, that basically, it still just keeps them on a level playing field. They never once in any of their replies implied anything along the lines of what you're saying (that only certain people deserve it).

 

[lanejudy]

Hi Folks! Let's keep this thread on topic -- discussion about the changes coming to DAS. Since DAS is need-based, and 2 individuals with the same diagnosis may have different needs, Guest Relations staff will determine eligibility - nobody here has that ability.

Please remember that sometimes it's hard to discern tone in the written word. An exclamation point may mean happy-excited! or frustrated-annoyed-angry! It can sometimes be hard to tell. Personally, I try to give the benefit of the doubt when reading and find that if I expect the poster is coming in with good intentions, that is often the way it will sound. The vast majority of posters here on the disABILITIES Forum have disabilities themselves or their family members and want to help others.

 

[tinkerbelllacey]

Maybe I am wrong but I don't think he/she was saying all DAS users are or should be wheelchair users..... I interpreted the post as frustration (and using their own personal situation as an example) towards posters that view the new DAS features, especially the 2 advance ride selections, as unfair.

Yes that’s what I was trying to say thank you. I was posting out of frustration towards posters that view the new DAS features especially the 2 advance ride selection and I was using my personal situation with my children. I didn’t say that DAS should be used for wheelchair uses only. I would never say that. My sister for example as 2 children with invisible disabilities who get DAS and are not in wheelchairs. Most that get DAS don’t use wheelchairs. My daughter happens to use a wheelchair but qualifies for a DAS because of other conditions. I feel bad that the poster read my response the wrong way and I feel bad about that.