Help! New to this thread! DAS question

wrmiller13

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
We will be arriving in "The World" on Saturday morning. We are foster parents and bringing our 4.5 yr old Foster daughter with us ( actually bringing ALL 7 kids, lol, but my question is regarding her specifically. She has been with us a year and has diagnosies of PTSD, anxiety and ADHD with emphasis on impulsivity and hyperactivity. We do manage these behaviors with medication and behavioral techniques. When I was speaking with her therapist this morning and talking about her PTSD and anxiety levels and our strategies for our upcoming trip, I mentioned the DAS "time". She believed thus would be extremely helpful to help our FD manage her anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I wanted to ask on here first, respectfully, and see if her comditions were something that people could fairly seek a DAS time for. I know a lot of people think people "cheat" the system, which we are not trying to do, but were honestly wondering if it was a reasonable request to ask guest services for a DAS for her? Thanks for hanging in and reading such a long post!
 
I wanted to ask on here first, respectfully, and see if her comditions were something that people could fairly seek a DAS time for.

The DAS is need-based and not diagnosis-based. A short answer to your question is: yes, people with similar diagnoses have obtained DAS. The longer answer: Not everyone with the same diagnosis has the same needs. You should be prepared to explain your daughter's needs as related to waiting in a standard queue environment. If you haven't seen it yet, please check out the WDW - Disability Access Service (DAS) thread pinned near the top of this forum; only the first thread is relevant, the rest was discussion around the time the program launched.

Enjoy your vacation!
 
The DAS is need-based and not diagnosis-based. A short answer to your question is: yes, people with similar diagnoses have obtained DAS. The longer answer: Not everyone with the same diagnosis has the same needs. You should be prepared to explain your daughter's needs as related to waiting in a standard queue environment. If you haven't seen it yet, please check out the WDW - Disability Access Service (DAS) thread pinned near the top of this forum; only the first thread is relevant, the rest was discussion around the time the program launched.

Enjoy your vacation!
Thank you for this!! I will just explain her situation and we will see! Thanks for ALL the kindness and help on this forum!
 


While the DAS return time is usually only for the DAS holder and 5 others, they may let you put the whole family on it for a return time (you can all be listed as being eligible to go with the DAS holder). But be prepared to split up if you have even more people in your party.
 
We will be arriving in "The World" on Saturday morning. We are foster parents and bringing our 4.5 yr old Foster daughter with us ( actually bringing ALL 7 kids, lol, but my question is regarding her specifically. She has been with us a year and has diagnosies of PTSD, anxiety and ADHD with emphasis on impulsivity and hyperactivity. We do manage these behaviors with medication and behavioral techniques. When I was speaking with her therapist this morning and talking about her PTSD and anxiety levels and our strategies for our upcoming trip, I mentioned the DAS "time". She believed thus would be extremely helpful to help our FD manage her anxiety and PTSD symptoms. I wanted to ask on here first, respectfully, and see if her comditions were something that people could fairly seek a DAS time for. I know a lot of people think people "cheat" the system, which we are not trying to do, but were honestly wondering if it was a reasonable request to ask guest services for a DAS for her? Thanks for hanging in and reading such a long post!

Hi - Did this work well for you’re family?

My kiddo has come from foster Carey as well and has similar issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD). I want her to be able to stand in lines and behave but last time as she got anxious being surrounded by people in the lines she would start banging repetitively into the barriers and making loud, annoying repetitive noises and drive everyone around us nuts. Some people actually left the line around us :-(

I worry about asking for help because particularly if we go to the guest services right when we get there, she will probably act charming & perfect. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage. I also worry about suggesting to my kiddo that because her behavior in lines is horrible, she could potentially not wait in the line.

I’m struggling in general with alleviating stressors vs teaching coping etc...
 
Hi - Did this work well for you’re family?

My kiddo has come from foster Carey as well and has similar issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD). I want her to be able to stand in lines and behave but last time as she got anxious being surrounded by people in the lines she would start banging repetitively into the barriers and making loud, annoying repetitive noises and drive everyone around us nuts. Some people actually left the line around us :-(

I worry about asking for help because particularly if we go to the guest services right when we get there, she will probably act charming & perfect. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage. I also worry about suggesting to my kiddo that because her behavior in lines is horrible, she could potentially not wait in the line.

I’m struggling in general with alleviating stressors vs teaching coping etc...

Describe her issues waiting in line. Her behavior at the time won't influence the CMs. I've had everything from my son being perfectly angelic and charming while asking to the CM practically processing the DAS before we got to her due to his behavior.

You can find a balance. She may not need it initially, but we've found his behavior issues get more intense the more tired he gets. We usually use it for the longest lines, but push him to wait in the shorter ones. Depending on the day "short" can be anything under 20 minutes to anything under 40 minutes. You just need to remember it's a tool and YOU can choose how to use it. We went one trip where we only used it for 3 rides on the last day - he handled everything amazingly well to that point.

Also, you will still wait in lines. There will still be a 5-20 minute wait in the fastpass line once you are in. The DAS won't give front of line access.

Having a good touring plan with a lot of breaks can help tremendously too. Some of the biggest crowds are outside the lines and can be stressful.

Have a wonderful trip!
 
Hi - Did this work well for you’re family?

My kiddo has come from foster Carey as well and has similar issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD). I want her to be able to stand in lines and behave but last time as she got anxious being surrounded by people in the lines she would start banging repetitively into the barriers and making loud, annoying repetitive noises and drive everyone around us nuts. Some people actually left the line around us :-(

I worry about asking for help because particularly if we go to the guest services right when we get there, she will probably act charming & perfect. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage. I also worry about suggesting to my kiddo that because her behavior in lines is horrible, she could potentially not wait in the line.

I’m struggling in general with alleviating stressors vs teaching coping etc...

Like the PP said go to Gr and talk to them let them know what about the line she has a hard time with and go from there I am a DAS user and go alone a lot so I have to go in to GR and ask for a DAS my self since it is my first stop I can go in and have no problems asking for a DAS ( I could more than likely do one 30 minute line but that would be it and I would be on the virge of a melt down) but the CM at GR know that with some people it is the over stimilation over time that they might be able to handle one or two lines, but the constant stimilation at Dsieny is another story ( I hope I made since). also, I do not know how old or big she is but a stroller as a wheelchair might help her some by giving her a little bubble/ space.

I really would not worry about how she acts while at GR.
 
Hi - Did this work well for you’re family?

My kiddo has come from foster Carey as well and has similar issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD). I want her to be able to stand in lines and behave but last time as she got anxious being surrounded by people in the lines she would start banging repetitively into the barriers and making loud, annoying repetitive noises and drive everyone around us nuts. Some people actually left the line around us :-(

I worry about asking for help because particularly if we go to the guest services right when we get there, she will probably act charming & perfect. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage. I also worry about suggesting to my kiddo that because her behavior in lines is horrible, she could potentially not wait in the line.

I’m struggling in general with alleviating stressors vs teaching coping etc...

We may have adopted the exact same child. And are struggling with the same issues. We are also looking at the personalized touring plans on the TP website. Allows to make minimal wait/walk or balance the two. Also allow to set the pace of walking. We are planning on doing this as well as super organized booking/past passes etc. Will ask about the DAS but I don't want to hinge the trip on it by any stretch and I don't want my kids to think it's a reward or an excuse for not being on (their) best behavior.

Wasn't at Disney, but I have been working with them at local theme parks. They do OKish until we hit the 10-15 minute mark in line. At one park last summer we were given something akin to the old GAC right in the line by a park employee without asking.

Alleviating stressors (for you included) is key. My experience is that in an unfamiliar place the kids are going to read off me and reflect behavior accordingly. Teaching coping takes A LONG time. Vacation isn't usually the right place to try and teach new skills but working with ones that your kids have utilized successfully elsewhere will help.

If your child requires the DAS and her behavior in the moment in the morning doesn't warrant it there is zero harm in asking Guest Services for help again in the afternoon. Especially (if like our family) behavior in the morning is not an accurate representation of how 80% of the rest of the day will go.
 
If your child requires the DAS and her behavior in the moment in the morning doesn't warrant it there is zero harm in asking Guest Services for help again in the afternoon. Especially (if like our family) behavior in the morning is not an accurate representation of how 80% of the rest of the day will go.

I would not wait until your child is in meltdown mode ( or your child is showing behaver problems ) to ask for a DAS the CM at GR know that yes sometimes a child or an adult can wait in lines and be fine. but if you wait to get a DAS until your child is melting down and then make then go across the park ( because you know you will be as fair from GR as you can be) to ask for a DAS then you have set your self up for a bigger problem. Just because you have a DAS does not mean you have to use it. I know people that tell their kids if it is under 30 or however many minutes they do not use it or they can use it for X amount of rides and after this, they do not use it anymore.

This is just my $0.02 on do not think your child has to act a certain way in the guest relations line for you to get a DAS as it really does not matter how they act it is what they need in line.
 
Hi - Did this work well for you’re family?

My kiddo has come from foster Carey as well and has similar issues (anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD). I want her to be able to stand in lines and behave but last time as she got anxious being surrounded by people in the lines she would start banging repetitively into the barriers and making loud, annoying repetitive noises and drive everyone around us nuts. Some people actually left the line around us :-(

I worry about asking for help because particularly if we go to the guest services right when we get there, she will probably act charming & perfect. I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage. I also worry about suggesting to my kiddo that because her behavior in lines is horrible, she could potentially not wait in the line.

I’m struggling in general with alleviating stressors vs teaching coping etc...
I'm,sorry for taking so long! I,just saw my alert. I was reluctant to get the card, but after our first day at the park, decided, well, what the heck. I am soooo glad I did! I went to AK guest relations, by myself, left the rest of the fam on bench close by and just honestly explained my worries. I didn't want to tell her story in front of her, and the cast member was outstanding. He walked outside with me, and his I pad, and tried to take a picture of her...he was great, she just couldn't handle it. He took my picture and we were set. That was it. No inquiry, no grilling. Nothing by complete understanding. The DAS times were lifesavers, we were able to,wait, just not in confined places without a clear exit, which are a trigger for her. I repeatedly thanked CMs and anyone that would listen to me for having this tool available. Our trip was awesome, Disney is awesome. The DAS was easy to use and made our lives ( and our trip) so much happier!!
 
Thanks everyone & thanks wrmiller13 for coming back & updating - this is really helpful!

Wonderlandisreality - thank you for reminding me that I don’t need to spend 24/7 during our vacation trying to teach new coping skills!
 

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