At WDW and having trouble with DAS

[Mleach]

. How is your kiddo with getting up early? If it's possible, adjusting your schedule to be at the park for rope drop would likely really cut down on the lines you are waiting in.

Trying this today! Usually we wait for the overnight meds to wear off a bit but this morning we tossed her in a tutu and on our way, meds can wear off in transport! Last day, I'm going to take many suggestions from here and will update with a success story later, fingers crossed!

 

[nikkislaght]

It’s hard because we have dreams of taking our kids to Disneyland and having the experience that is sold to us on the TV. Autism strips that from us , from even the mundane of going to the super market all the way through to DL / WDW. These will be no hard answers to your situation, and I do hope your kiddo can get on some rides . Maybe she just isn’t up for them yet ? Our first trip I think we did 3 rides a day of that ? Can you use rider swap so that at least you and your hubby can get a ride or two ??

 

[marcyleecorgan]

There is just no way that Disney can make the lines shorter than 15 minutes just for you, sorry. I would stick with Character meals for meet and greets if she cant wait standing in a line.
How do you.manage waiting for anything and everything else in your life? Certainly the wait can be longer than 15 minutes! Being in a Car for example. Did you fly: there is lots of waiting in that. How did you.manage the line at disney Security? Probably the transportation to the Parks took 15 minutes or longer....
Hopefully you can get some things accomplished but there is no DAS accommodation to impatience (autism-based or not).

 

[DrunkJam]

There is just no way that Disney can make the lines shorter than 15 minutes just for you, sorry. I would stick with Character meals for meet and greets if she cant wait standing in a line.
How do you.manage waiting for anything and everything else in your life? Certainly the wait can be longer than 15 minutes! Being in a Car for example. Did you fly: there is lots of waiting in that. How did you.manage the line at disney Security? Probably the transportation to the Parks took 15 minutes or longer....
Hopefully you can get some things accomplished but there is no DAS accommodation to impatience (autism-based or not).

While learning to be able to wait is a necessary skill, it wasn't impatience that impeded (or impedes) my son's waiting, in fact, if he knows what he waiting for and values it, he is very patient. It's more the sensory overload of close people, different smells, being accidentally touched etc. He seems to have a higher tolerance than the OP's daughter, but then, he is a bit older and has had time to process what is and isn't usual, and to learn skills to cope knowing how long it lasts etc. So, waiting in a WDW queue is VERY different from waiting in an airport, or in the relative known quantity that is a usual car etc. Because the sensory triggers are different, less predictable and less controllable

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks everyone. To clarify, the issue for me is that my kiddo just can't wait in a line that is 30 minutes long. We don't mind waiting outside the line, and aren't trying to get some super quick front of line treatment. The disney website specially says that DAS may not work for guests who have limited time in the parks, and to discuss the need for alternate accommodation with guest services, but it sounds from what you've all said that there simple aren't any other arrangements. Touring Plans estimated this week as 1-3 crowds, which is why we planned this week (from 2000 miles away). I think Disney is handing out a ton of fastpasses at MK in particular, resulting in longer and longer lines, which dilutes the accommodation that was set up several years ago for everyone who may need a DAS.
(For anyone coming in late, the kiddo has autism, can't walk or help transfer, severe epilepsy, a feeding tube, is incontinent and cognitively disabled, we are not trying to get a free ride, but just make the vacation possible.)
Thank you all for your good wishes and excellent suggestions.

dumb question for you has there been rides down more than usual? if so that could explain longer FP lines as everyone with anytime passes will make other FP lines longer than normal

 

[marcyleecorgan]

While learning to be able to wait is a necessary skill, it wasn't impatience that impeded (or impedes) my son's waiting, in fact, if he knows what he waiting for and values it, he is very patient. It's more the sensory overload of close people, different smells, being accidentally touched etc. He seems to have a higher tolerance than the OP's daughter, but then, he is a bit older and has had time to process what is and isn't usual, and to learn skills to cope knowing how long it lasts etc. So, waiting in a WDW queue is VERY different from waiting in an airport, or in the relative known quantity that is a usual car etc. Because the sensory triggers are different, less predictable and less controllable

And repeated exposure in order to acclimate the person, is the only solution if you aren't going to lock them in their house forever!

 

[DrunkJam]

And repeated exposure in order to acclimate the person, is the only solution if you aren't going to lock them in their house forever!

Not the *only* solution - there is NOTHING like a WDW queue where I live. So, many other coping strategies came into play (INCLUDING the DAS which allows him to wait the same length of time, but not SO much of it smushed up in the sensory hell)
it's also important to remember that what you are asking the autistic person to do by standing in that line with people crushed up, food and perfume smells, unfamiliar sounds, false endings etc, in no way equates to what a neurotypical person has to do to achieve the same thing.
Training a person to cope with something horrible is not the same as making it not BE horrible.

 

[redberyl]

The "additional accomodations" that can (rarely) be offered are to give out a couple extra, never-expiring fastpasses. But you would still have to go through the fast pass line. Even the make a wish kids with the genie pass don't go to the front of the line, they go directly into the fast pass line. people pay big money for the VIP tours, but even those still have to go through the fastpass line. There simply is no way to get around having to go through the fastpass line no matter what accommodations they offer. I feel horrible that your trip is going so badly, but I just don't see that the CMs are going to be able to offer a solution

 

[Weedy]

Unfortunately more and more people are qualifying for the DAS. Just read through this thread and you can see why people feel they should qualify.
Disney is dammed if they do dammed if they don’t give a DAS. Imagine the bad press if someone writes a review about their disability not being a DAS. As the parks get more and more crowded more people are requesting the DAS and this makes the lines longer

 

[BarlowFamily]

We are currently on my daughter's birthday trip to WDW. She is turning 7. In the past (2 or 3 times a year for a few years now) we have been fine with the DAS. The kiddo has a wheelchair, but also autism, and pretty severe epilepsy and cognitive disability. She is on a lot of meds and isn't always alert. We only go to the park for a few hours at a time then we have to go. The fastpass lines are crazy long. Like, 30 minutes or more. So we get a return time for the wait minus 10, then the fastpass line is another 30. Then the wheelchair is often further delayed. Long story short, she hasn't made it through a single line at MK during regular hours (the party was better). We have to abandon the line after 10 or 15 minutes as the noise and crowd becomes too much, and get another return time. We went to guest relations and they said, so sorry, come at a slower time of the year. The website says they are willing to make accommodations in special cases but no one we have found will do so. I asked if I could wait in line and bring her in at the end, they said no. Does anyone have any ideas? We did not do a single ride or character today. Thanks in advance.

Mleach, I applaud you for taking your daughter to WDW. I know this trip, is not a "vacation" from work and responsibility when you are a mom, and even more so with your daughters special needs. What a wonderful birthday present! It sounds like you are doing your best and I would also be frustrated in your shoes. You have received lots of great feedback above that I'd like to add to. Character meals are a great (but expensive) way to meet characters without the wait. We've found some rush through and that's disappointing, but other characters take their time and make it worth it. They aren't Cinderella or Princess-y, but Garden Grove at the Swan has a character breakfast with Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale. We got to see them all twice and they took their time. Chip and Dale also meet at their Campfire sing along at Fort Wilderness, one of our sons favorite moments is playing cornhole with Chip and Dale! Those might be ideas for your next trip.

I only make this next suggestion because you mention visiting WDW 2 or 3 times a year. Has your family gone on a Disney Cruise? We have found the lines shorter for characters (plus an adult can hold the family's spot in the open line) AND character interaction superb. They take their time and are so relaxed. Passing in the hallways, Thor stopped to chat with my son multiple times. After a cruise, character lines at WDW, even with fastpass seemed crazy! I know cruises aren't cheap, and would take some extra effort, but it sounds like it might be a great vacation for your family.

Lastly, a friend of mine in college had a great job to be Cinderella for birthday parties etc. There might be a company by you that has princess for higher. For less than a trip to WDW your daughter could have fantastic afternoon with her very own Cinderella.

I hope your last day is great!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Training a person to cope with something horrible is not the same as making it not BE horrible.

Oh I know. But unless you *are* Bubble Boy, it is a disservice to expect that everyone cater to your special needs so that you can remain in your "bubble".

And what do you mean, there is nothing like WDW-level stress elsewhere? driving on a crowded freeway with merges, lane changes, people not signaling/cutting others off, etc., doesn't count as similar to a WDW queue? Haha if only I could get in the FP+ lane on the highway!!!

 

[DrunkJam]

Oh I know. But unless you *are* Bubble Boy, it is a disservice to expect that everyone cater to your special needs so that you can remain in your "bubble".

And what do you mean, there is nothing like WDW-level stress elsewhere? driving on a crowded freeway with merges, lane changes, people not signaling/cutting others off, etc., doesn't count as similar to a WDW queue? Haha if only I could get in the FP+ lane on the highway!!!

It is definitely stressful, but it is not the same as a WDW queue. In sensory terms.
This is what I have learnt. Stress is not all equivalent. Usually, the crowded motorway is much easier to cope with FOR HIM, because all the sensory elements EXCEPT the unpredictable wait are controllable. When NONE of the sensory elements are controllable AND the wait is unpredictable, that's a bigger problem. And there is no where I can take him that has the combination of issues that a WDW queue has to practise.
I have managed to teach him how to cope with a supermarket for long enough to do a shop that I can't get delivered, because that's more or less predictable. I can teach him to queue in the post office , but, it's usually short, with generally predictable sensory input and a visible end point. We can miss a train and learn to wait, but again, it doesn't cover the sensory issues on queuing in a different climate, with no visible exit or end point, with unfamiliar smells and foodstuffs etc.

 

[sharadoc]

By no means do I want to start a "discussion" over what's fair. Sharing our experience. A kid with autism can be experiencing a level of anxiety that amounts to a panic attack most of the time. Nothing feels right, that's why routines, and warnings of what's going to happen can help. It's not a learned behavior or something that comes from spoiling them or "impatience". My son has what the UofP head of neurology said was the most brain activity he's ever seen - 24 hours a day.

Disney World has always been a wonderful place for him. The old GAC could accommodate his pace. He can't stand still, can't be quiet, needs to keep moving all the time. The old way allowed us to go from one FP line to another and kept him entertained, the world was keeping pace with him. In turn, it allowed our family to stay calm and enjoy each other and not have to worry that he was going to have a major anxiety issue. Instead he was happy which in turn kept us happy. As he's gotten older, we've adjusted to the DAS and FP. It's fine, we're not complaining.

The rest of the family are kind of forgotten in all of these discussions sometimes. I also have a DD younger than DS. I have tried to make her life as "normal" as possible while dealing with autism. She's in college now, but when she was in high school, we had to go when school was closed which was around holidays. So in essence, going at a slower time of year meant that we wouldn't go at all. So in that situation she wouldn't have the chance to go because she had a disabled brother.

Emotionally that is hard to deal with. As disabled families, sometimes we want to forget that we have someone disabled in the family and enjoy a vacation like everybody else. The rest of the time, it's okay, but that time at Disney can be really magical if it works.

I guess I'm not sure why I felt compelled to write this, but I sometimes get frustrated if conversations turn into "well what do you expect them to do" as if we want to be treated special. That's not the case, what we're asking for is some way that we can feel a little normal and that probably means treating our disabled kid different. Every day is a challenge, and if WDW can feel like less of a challenge, we all benefit not just the disabled kid.

 

[DrunkJam]

Unfortunately more and more people are qualifying for the DAS. Just read through this thread and you can see why people feel they should qualify.
Disney is dammed if they do dammed if they don’t give a DAS. Imagine the bad press if someone writes a review about their disability not being a DAS. As the parks get more and more crowded more people are requesting the DAS and this makes the lines longer

We also qualified for the DLP version of the DAS, for which you do have to provide government provided proof of entitlement, which is not legal in USA. It also works differently. I wonder whether having different accommodations based on need would serve WDW better. NOT the need to provide proof, but the need to specify type of accommodation required, so that assistance could better fit the need.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

We also qualified for the DLP version of the DAS, for which you do have to provide government provided proof of entitlement, which is not legal in USA. It also works differently. I wonder whether having different accommodations based on need would serve WDW better. NOT the need to provide proof, but the need to specify type of accommodation required, so that assistance could better fit the need.

No. The ADA requires that access be provided, NOT the client's preferred method of access.

 

[DrunkJam]

No. The ADA requires that access be provided, NOT the client's preferred method of access.

Where in that did you get the clients preference from? In DLP, the disability accommodation is given based on disability (what you explain, corroborated by the proof you have to provide) they issue a card with a code and colour designating which type of assistance you are entitled to. This card, by the way, also tells you which attractions your disability will render impossible, and which you will be turned away from. There is no preferring involved. Although I will say, that, what this client would prefer (and I assume what MANY others would *prefer*) is that their child can access and enjoy holidays, without the extreme compromises and additional pain they have to deal with. NO DAS is providing that, so the idea of client preference is laughable.

 

[DisneyOma]

We also qualified for the DLP version of the DAS, for which you do have to provide government provided proof of entitlement, which is not legal in USA. It also works differently. I wonder whether having different accommodations based on need would serve WDW better. NOT the need to provide proof, but the need to specify type of accommodation required, so that assistance could better fit the need.

Oh, people would find out about this online in a hot second and go say the "right words" at guest relations. Then we'd have the GAC hot mess all over again.

There are really only two ways to do it - either make people have official (government and doctor certified) proof of a disability as a lot of Europe does, which would allow a smaller population to have more immediate access, or keep it the way it is and not have to prove anything and have some accommodations available for more people. Not sure either way is better, but there are really only two ways to look at it, IMO.

 

[lanejudy]

In DLP, the disability accommodation is given based on disability (what you explain, corroborated by the proof you have to provide) they issue a card with a code and colour designating which type of assistance you are entitled to.

The ADA is U.S. legislation and does not apply to Disneyland Paris. Accommodations may be handled very differently in other countries, in ways that can't be done in the U.S.

The former GAC did have different stamps providing for different accommodations. It wasn't working well at the U.S. parks for various reasons. The DAS has streamlined the process and removed a large group of people from the Guest Relations queue to get a card for the accommodations. The "other" accommodations are still available simply for the asking, no card required. Could the current system be modified? Yes. But I'm not so sure that's necessary.

I hope the OP has found lighter crowds, tweaking plans, a different park, or something specific to request for accommodations and is having a better experience today.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

I've discovered that the FP lines will backup at certain times of the day like immediately after a parade or fireworks since people were not using their FPs during the parade and there are both people at the beginning and end of their FP time slot rushing into the FP line. Either I plan to rush to a certain attraction close by where I am sitting or I go to a show or something else with low to minimal wait. Watching the parade near the start allows for faster access to attractions post-parade.

FP wait times can also greatly increase after an attraction has been down that day. Once it is back up, the FP line is long because of the added FPs from when the attraction was down plus the current FPs. Other attractions will back up too from people choosing to use their now multi-experience FP for another attraction rather than wait for the original attraction to open back up. One way to avoid this issue is to schedule FPs for these rides early in the day before they are likely to break down. Space Mountain and Test Track are two of these rides. Anything that goes down for rain will have a FP backup later.

Extra Magic hours in the morning are wonderful too, especially for attractions with normally less wait times that won't be as crowded (since many are rushing to E-ticket attractions).

 

[Lilsia]

I guess I'm not sure why I felt compelled to write this, but I sometimes get frustrated if conversations turn into "well what do you expect them to do" as if we want to be treated special. That's not the case, what we're asking for is some way that we can feel a little normal and that probably means treating our disabled kid different. Every day is a challenge, and if WDW can feel like less of a challenge, we all benefit not just the disabled kid.

That is completely understandable to want to feel "normal". It is a harder route when you have someone in your family with a disability. My niece is autistic so we know first hand. I guess the question is, what is normal? The "normal" families are waiting in line. But that obviously does not work in your case. It is hard for them to be able to say to a family like yours that you can just skip all lines entirely because then it will come down to every one wanting that access. It would turn into a "my kids is more disabled then yours" type of thing. This is a very emotional subject, of course. But emotion has to come out of it and it has to be looked at rationally. It is easy to think and feel, "my life is hard every day so why not make it easier for me here". While perfectly understandable, it is not practical with the amount of people that go to WDW every day. Everyone can pin point their life down to it being hard every day.