Should I skip trying to use FP+ with a DAS - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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PS - use was the biggest issue in changing, not abuse.
When you consider that sources say one in every 68 children has autism, just that one condition is a heck of a lot of people in a park going thru the Fastpass line without waiting.
When all the other conditions people used GACs for, it could be one out of every 40-50 people. They were sometimes bringing the lines to a halt.
It may sound confusing on paper, but is actually very easy to use.
Yeah, that's my problem. The more I think about it, the more confused I get but when I take things, read them several times to make sure I understand it before I move on to something else, I then think "it doesn't seem that bad at all." Of course too, as I understand more, I'm also thankful that I have a child that understands as much as she does. She's still Autistic and she still has problems with crowds but she understands that we now have to wait differently than before. Of course the thing that helps Abby too is since we like some "unpopular" attractions (CoP, Tiki Room, CBJ) that have short lines pretty much all the time, we can do those rides while waiting for our DAS time.
I'm a little late into the thread but I was wondering if any of you that have experienced the DAS been to Busch Gardens. It sounds like the new DAS system is pretty much the same thing as how Busch Gardens handles wheelchair return times. Just curious if it's similar as I use a wheelchair full time and haven't experienced the DAS yet after using the GAC many times at WDW(I waited in most lines but sometimes depending on crowd levels and certain attractions/cast members they would send me through the fastpass line). Just curious because I'll be going to DL this summer (which as I understand the DAS is slightly different at DL compared to WDW) for the second time and just wondering what to expect.
I'm a little late into the thread but I was wondering if any of you that have experienced the DAS been to Busch Gardens. It sounds like the new DAS system is pretty much the same thing as how Busch Gardens handles wheelchair return times. Just curious if it's similar as I use a wheelchair full time and haven't experienced the DAS yet after using the GAC many times at WDW(I waited in most lines but sometimes depending on crowd levels and certain attractions/cast members they would send me through the fastpass line). Just curious because I'll be going to DL this summer (which as I understand the DAS is slightly different at DL compared to WDW) for the second time and just wondering what to expect.
If you use a wheelchair, and that is all you need, then you will not qualify for a DAS. What you MAY receive at various attractions is a "wheelchair return time" -- which is simply Disney's way of recognizing that not all lines are accessible and that wheelchairs tend to get backed-up at times. These seem to be much more common at DLR than WDW, and whether or not a specific attraction is using the w/c return cards will depend on various factors such as crowd levels and the dynamics of w/c at that location.
Last year when I went to WDW they told me I needed a GAC because I have a service animal. Sounds like a lot has change will I have to get another one this year. I can stand in line it is not an issue I think they did it more to keep my dog safe and not me
Last year when I went to WDW they told me I needed a GAC because I have a service animal. Sounds like a lot has change will I have to get another one this year. I can stand in line it is not an issue I think they did it more to keep my dog safe and not me
Even though thru told you that you needed a GAC last year because of the Service Animal, that was not actually correct.
The Service Animal was a visible need to use the handicapped boarding area when it was different than the usual line.
And, yes, the whole program has changed on October 9, 2013
I'm a little late into the thread but I was wondering if any of you that have experienced the DAS been to Busch Gardens. It sounds like the new DAS system is pretty much the same thing as how Busch Gardens handles wheelchair return times. Just curious if it's similar as I use a wheelchair full time and haven't experienced the DAS yet after using the GAC many times at WDW(I waited in most lines but sometimes depending on crowd levels and certain attractions/cast members they would send me through the fastpass line). Just curious because I'll be going to DL this summer (which as I understand the DAS is slightly different at DL compared to WDW) for the second time and just wondering what to expect.
I was recently at DLR and from the sound of it It is the same as WDW. Except DLR is a lot older and has less accessible entrance so they use the Exit a lot. There you had to go to a booth that has a "!" symbol and have the attraction that you want to go on written down, the time will be written down and sign by that Cast Member. There was a couple of rides where I didn't need to do this since they saw my powerchair and I was able to stay in it. This happen more over at California Adventure (new park) than it did at Disneyland it self (old park). So it depends how the attraction are set up as well. Just ask at the guest relation on how things are.
I'm late to the conversation on this one, but I absolutely think you should book FP+ in conjunction with plans to use the DAS. We went in March and I planned the DAS around the FP+ times.
For example: We had a FP+ for Test Track between 10-11am, on the way we would pick up a DAS return time for Mission Space and then go to Test Track and ride. By the time we were done on Test Track our return time was ready for Mission Space.
We did this a lot and really found it to work well and we actually used the FP+ more often than we used the DAS. We actually found the new system to work very well for us and both of the kids adjusted well to the new system.
Just wanted to update that I just got back from DL. I was told by a cast member on my first day when I entered DL to go to Guest Services to make sure I didn't need a DAS (I didn't ask about it at all, the cast member brought it up). I went and they said I did not need it. Several attractions gave me a return time and others I just went in the regular queue. The second day I went to DCA and I was told by a cast member again to go to guest services to speak to them about the DAS. They told me I did qualify for one based on the fact I take longer loading and unloading on rides (sometimes I need someone with me to help with my legs/feet when I'm getting on and off rides). I wasn't trying to get a DAS as I didn't feel I really needed one but the cast member told me it would help with the flow of the rides etc since I require extra time. I have to say though after 6 days of using it in DL/DCA it worked out very well. Depending on what ride I would either go to one of the kiosks (which were very easy to find and there were several so you always had one fairly close to where you were at any given moment) and they would give me a return time and I would go ride another ride or get a fastpass for another ride until my return time was ready. The lines were fairly short every day so sometimes my return time was in 5 minutes. Some rides required the scanning of your ticket and they would give you a return time rather than going to a kiosk. I think the longest line we ever stood in was maybe 20 minutes because the lines were so short. I did find that some kiosks we went to, the cast members would sometimes give us shorter return times than the current standby time for that ride. Overall after actually using the DAS I think it is a pretty streamlined system. I look at it as a pretty uncomplicated way of using fastpasses. I didn't find any headaches at all and pretty much did everything at both parks several times over the 6 days I was there with my park hopper! The lines on 4th of July were actually not bad either!! I guess I'm used to the lines at WDW because the longest line I saw at DL that day was maybe an hour and the line even for Radiator Springs Racers was maybe an hour in DCA!!
Glad to hear you had a good time and that the DAS helped you out. The more I hear about, the more I hope that everything will work seamlessly and Abby won't have any kind of meltdowns. Until we get there and actually put everything into use, I won't know for sure but I have some plans which I'm happy with
1) For some of the popular/must do rides, I've already gotten FP for them
2) Abby will have a DAS to use
3) For some of the rides (Small World. BTM) Lenny can get a wheelchair time
4) Depending upon where we are, we like some less popular attractions (Tiki Room, Country Bears, CoP) that we can visit while waiting for return times
5) For those time that we do get in regular lines (depending upon the posted wait time) I'll have that "Lots to Do in Line" book for us to use and Abby will have her iPad as well.
On paper and in my head, it sounds pretty solid and workable. I'm hoping it translates as well in reality but whatever happens, I'll do a TR and everyone will know it our trip is a success or not.
I think it will work out great for Abby. If you visit other attractions you like while waiting for your return time and use Lenny's wheelchair return time (some rides at DL used those instead of the DAS) you will find you're not really waiting around in many lines as long as you take into account which attractions are less popular/have short or no wait times.
I am so sad that things have changed so much because of people cheating.
Who suffers? The disabled people..
This new system sounds so confusing & frustrating to me..
We won't be able to go to WDW till late next year & I am all ready stressed about it.
Don't stress too much. It sounds more complicated than it actually is. I've already done 2 trips using both the DAS and Fastpass+, one of which was over New Year's, and it was actually quite easy. I like the think of the DAS as more of an old style Fastpass in that you are given a return time relative to the current wait time, the only difference being you can return any time after the stated time, instead of within a given time frame. I use the DAS in conjunction with my Fastpass+ selections. I will get a DAS return time, head off to my fastpass+ attraction then return for my DAS ride time.
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