DAS Pass users ~ question About This Page:

[lanejudy]

I suggest you plan your FP+ and then also time your DAS so you can do almost immediate repeat rides for anything that's an absolute favorite ride.

As for parades -- I also haven't seen them remove the ropes until the parade ended or was near ending, but I also wanted to say that it CAN get very crowded in the reserved wheelchair section. It may be less crowded, but more often than not we've seen it elbow-to-elbow in that section. So I'd suggest you plan to scope out your own spot and spread yourselves out enough that he has the space he needs.

One thing to keep in mind... if he backs out of a ride at the boarding, they may refuse the rest of the party boarding. It likely will depend on the circumstances and the CM, but the DAS rules require the DAS-holder to actually ride. Just be prepared, and if others in the family have an absolute favorite ride make sure they get FP+ for it even if your son doesn't ride.

Would he use a special needs stroller or a wheelchair, now that he's older? Some kids with autism use that as their safe-haven. And here is a link to the Guide for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities -- it includes some good tips and lists some "quieter" places to get away if needed. https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/med..._guide_rev.pdf

Enjoy your vacation!

[Lilyian]

I don't know if you have already taken your trip or not, but I can give you some firshand experience information because I need a DAS whenever we go to Disney. Pretty much, it is not as good as the GAC was, but it's still helpful. My own medical problem is an invisible and unfortunately life threatening one. If I attempted to be a "normal person" and try to do rides the regular way, I would quickly end up in the ER. When I get the DAS I explain my medical problem and what I need to avoid. They give me the DAS and something else that no one has mentioned here - it's a pass for one ride only that essentially allows you and your family to join any fast pass line at any time without doing the normal DAS system (for a 1 time use). Sometimes they give me a few of them, and sometimes not. It just depends upon the guest services person that you are talking to. I always advise getting your DAS pass at Magic Kingdom because the guest services people seem more sincere there in wanting to help you with your medical needs.

I hate going to get the DAS in the first place, because I hate talking about my disease and having people feel sorry for me and I hate feeling as if I have to convince someone of my honesty. I happen to show them a doctor's note that I carry for ER doctors, but they don't require or ask for it.

So, in addition to the DAS, you can ask if they can give you anything additional to supplement that in case you don't make it through the whole day a Disney. Then make sure to book your regular fast passes in advance (choose times that occur right after you arrive so that you can rebook those after using them). It takes a lot of planning, but with the normal fast pass, the DAS, and maybe an extra pass, you will be able to do plenty of rides. It's not as stress free, but it will help.

The best thing is to just change your expectation. The GAC is gone, and it's not coming back, so no reason to dwell on what once was. The DAS will help, and just remember to not stress and to take a look around at the beautiful atmosphere around you. Just enjoy being at Disney World even if you don't get on as many rides as quickly as you used to.

[CinderAbby]

Pretty much, it is not as good as the GAC

We actually think it's better than the GAC truthfully - and we just returned home from a second trip using the DAS. We've never heard of this "special" pass you get but with the DAS, the three FP we book at home and the additional ones we can book once there, we were able to do plenty of things without needing anything extra. I am sorry to hear you have a tough time though

[notjustamom]

We actually think it's better than the GAC truthfully

. Its all relative to what works for individual situations. We have done 3 trips since the change and still miss the GAC. The first was disastrous with the other 2 being better but the GAC worked better for our individual needs. DS has a handful of rides he likes and the GAC allowed him to repetitively ride those few. The DAS has limitations as does the FP in allowing multiple rides on one attraction. That's been our experience.

[CinderAbby]

Its all relative to what works for individual situations.

I guess. In our situation, it's helped Abby learn she doesn't get everything she wants when she wants it - just the way it is for everyone else in life. She has to wait just like everyone else and she can and does now wait up to an hour in lines with no meltdowns. If a line is longer than she's comfortable waiting, then we just go onto something else.

DS has a handful of rides he likes and the GAC allowed him to repetitively ride those few.

Unless they're the super popular rides, getting FP for it would work too. I can't tell you how many times I would get a FP for a ride, we'd scan our FP's and as soon as I was in line, I'd use my iPad for another FP and most times, there were time slots starting like 5 minutes from when I was on the iPad.

[feonag]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

I guess. In our situation, it's helped Abby learn she doesn't get everything she wants when she wants it - just the way it is for everyone else in life. She has to wait just like everyone else and she can and does now wait up to an hour in lines with no meltdowns. If a line is longer than she's comfortable waiting, then we just go onto something else.




Unless they're the super popular rides, getting FP for it would work too. I can't tell you how many times I would get a FP for a ride, we'd scan our FP's and as soon as I was in line, I'd use my iPad for another FP and most times, there were time slots starting like 5 minutes from when I was on the iPad.

I think this is a great point about teaching autistic kids to wait. My sister does the same thing with her daughter. She treats her as if she was a typical child and makes her wait and teaches her right from wrong. She has gone from being non verbal, not making eye contact(when she was very young) to being almost typical. She is in a normal class room at school with no extra help and does what all the other kids do. Plus she will come up to a person and make eye contact and have a conversation. She will also greets us and gives hugs, etc. It is a complete turn around from where she was. It has definitely made a huge difference to not give into her demands and making all of those exceptions for her. It is much easier just to say, "oh she is autistic" and make the world accommodate her. But that is not doing any favors to the child. I think DAS is a great compromise. It gives a person easier access but also makes them wait a bit and learn some patience.

[Sue M.]

I never had a GAC but for a few visits used a DAC because of a very bad knee, then got a knee replacement and needed it post op. I thought 4 or 5 months post op I'd be fine. Turns out I could barely stay in parks past noon and was done for rest of day, in room with bag of ice. I couldn't stay on leg long, but couldn't use scooter either, I couldn't keep leg bent either for long.

I didn't find DAS very helpful in my case because it required me to walk to attraction to get a return time, then walk back to ride. That was a lot of extra walking for me which was painful. Once I think I rode people mover 4 times waiting for Buzz return time.
I hope now you can get DAS return time using MDE instead of physically having to walk to each attraction to get time.

Lucky for me my knee is now healed and don't need it anymore.

Darlene it was fun running into you!