so what would they be explaining to the CM in order to get a DAS? They DAS won't get him into lines faster, it just allows him to go to a place other than the queue to wait. From what you are describing he is unable to wait anywhere except lying on his back in a special bed. If the bed is portable maybe they could go and find a place where he can use the bed while they wait for their return time. That would be what they have to explain.
I'm not sure but as soon as you tell the CM he needs to get into and out of the attractions as quickly as possible, they are going to let you know that a DAS probably won't help with that.
my understanding of the DAS is you go to an attraction and they give you a return time which is equal to the standby time.
When you come back at the return time you get into the fastpass line.
So that's exactly the point. You don't have to stand in line but can do something else while you wait.
It probably doesn't sound like much, but it makes a difference.
He can only be in the park for a limited time - his back can't take it.
And i understand that you can't possibly comprehend what i mean by the kind of pain he has.
He broke his back. broke it. His spine was rebuilt with metal and pins. (as was his skull)
It is a miracle he is alive and even more of a miracle that he can walk.
(he was in surgery for over 20 hours, then was in the hospital for over a year in a full body cast, followed by a rehabilitation hospital where he underwent intensive rehabilitation).
But though he is a miracle, his pain is chronic and can be excruciating.
By allowing him to do something else and then come back enables them to accomplish a bit more in the shortened time that he can be in the parks.
if you're asking whether the CMs will believe them?
They do have the letter from the surgeon that the CMs aren't permitted to read.
But he's quite visibly injured. I assume this was why they gave us the GAC the first time we brought him to WDW with us 4 years ago and the 2 times since.
There really isn't much question when you look at him that there must be a serious problem.
Boatwrights is incredibly popular.
When free dining is in play, walk ups are nearly impossible at most restaurants, or subject to an hours long wait. I'll give you an example - we had a reservation at 'Ohana last year during free dining, for 5:05pm. We got to the Poly early and my DH got in line to check in around 4:45 along with many other guests. There were two lines at the podium - one probably had 30 or so people in it, including my husband. The other wrapped around the upstairs of the poly. The shorter line was people who had ADRs checking in, the other was walk ups asking for a table. Because they walked by me I heard one of the parties who were in the wall up line discussing that they were told that 'Ohana might be able to seat them at the end of service, at 9:30, but that it was not guaranteed.
Outside of free dining, you can walk up to some of the less popular places and wait it out but with free dining, most people make TS reservations which really eats up that availability. The less popular restaurants at some resorts (shutters at Caribbean beach, maya grill at Coronado are the only two I can think of that I remember seeing have availability during fd while we stayed at those resorts) might have some availability. I think in-room pizza delivery also course as a table service but I'm not sure about that. But that could also be an option.
Ohana's is a very popular restaurant, i'm not sure if that's the best example. But whatever happens happens.
DD said she cannot be under pressure regarding cancellation fees due to missed ADRs.
She said she has no idea of when her husband will have to leave the park.
And when he has to leave he has to leave this instant. It can't be after lunch.
She just doesn't want to deal with the pressure of cancellation fees on her vacation.
She's willing to take the risk. It will certainly be more difficult at some parks than others. She's hoping Epcot and DTD will be a bit easier.
And she's hoping for the little 2 person tables at the back of sci fi (that they don't put ADR people at anyway - hopefully they're still there).
But she'll make do with whatever there is.
It won't be the end of the world.
And maybe they'll end up really liking a place that they never would have tried if not for this.
Again, in the parks, I have seen people being turned away without ADRs. I ate in the hotel restaurant last night, got a last minute ADR, but probably could have walked up.
we've been there during free dining before and i've seen people turned away, and then a minute later, another walk up group accepted.
In fact, it's happened to me on more than one occasion (at Boma, teppan edo, Tokyo Dining, rose & crown, to name the ones that come to mind)
For example, we tried to get into boma and they said absolutely not. No chance unless we were willing to wait until almost 3 hours later. So we said, no thanks.
We were about to leave AKL and then we said, oh lets go ask again. It was about 10 minutes later. I asked again and they said sure. And they took us right in. So you never know.
Anyway, it's her decision. One she's more comfortable with.
in any case, there are no ADRs to be had anymore. By the time we made the resort reservations (at about 75 days), all the ADRs she might have wanted, were gone. So really the issue is moot.
