Cancelling trip due to DAS concerns? :sad:

[JeRmS]

The PP gave a simple example of things you could do in AK while you wait. There are about a million other things you can do while waiting, but based on your description of how you need your vacation to be for you to enjoy it, it definitely sounds like Disney World is not the place to go. Did you not have your son with you on all of your other trips? The new system isn't too far off from the old system. The old system was not a front of the line pass, either. Good luck with Universal, but I believe they use the same type of return system, so you will have to pay for their priority pass if you don't want to wait for rides.

regarding the bold part ....

The new system is Different from the old, by a big margin!

The old GAC allowed someone like OP to be able to hit the FP line on every ride with no questions asked ... technically not front of the line access but very very close.

I've held a GAC card for my DD who is on the spectrum and we could use the GAC as an all day FP. With the new DAS card, we are limited to having one Ride listed at a time and will still need to wait the "stand by" amount of time to ride that ride.


Now the OP mentioned looking into Universal .. in my opinion this MIGHT be a good idea because if you stay on property, Universal offers resort guests an all day Express Pass for all members of the party staying in the hotel.

 

[Kristibo42]

I can't believe cast members are going to act any different. I think people are just blowing this thing up too much. They are just trying to cause problems. I think Disney is trying to take care of all of the so called "fakers".

 

[Micker]

The "front of the line" issue is important for those with developmental disabilties because they don't know how to wait well and for other disabilities that have associated time limits in which to act. For those of us with disabled children we spend a lot more of our time waiting than others can possibly imagine. We wait in lines for years, literally, to get our children into programs to meet their needs and we wait to speak to endless numbers of people about qualifying for each one. We spend endless hours filling in applications for services, medical and other supports. We spend endless hours at schools working on specialized education plans and ensuring that the adults in charge understand our children. We put up with stares and yes, even comments from the ignorant and insensitive. We wait for disability parking placards and we wait for people who don't have them to back out of a parking place that they are standing in to pick up someone who is not disabled because it is convenient for them. There ought to be some place where we are treated special and that has been one of the things that makes the magic kingdom magic. ok, I'll brush that chip off my shoulder as long as others get off of that track to no where about "offering everyone the same experience" - no one can do that!

 

[Micker]

Yes, there may be some over reaction - you are talking to a bunch of people who understand too painfully how bad this can be and we may be borrowing trouble. I hope you are right and there is nothing to worry about! The problem is that it may be our one time a year to escape the demands of what we deal with daily and it's very difficult to imagine that it may not go as expected and we may not have fun anymore. FUD is a powerful thing and the parents of the disabled have already had more than our share of FUD!

 

[smitch425]

regarding the bold part ....

The new system is Different from the old, by a big margin!

The old GAC allowed someone like OP to be able to hit the FP line on every ride with no questions asked ... technically not front of the line access but very very close.

I've held a GAC card for my DD who is on the spectrum and we could use the GAC as an all day FP. With the new DAS card, we are limited to having one Ride listed at a time and will still need to wait the "stand by" amount of time to ride that ride.


Now the OP mentioned looking into Universal .. in my opinion this MIGHT be a good idea because if you stay on property, Universal offers resort guests an all day Express Pass for all members of the party staying in the hotel.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. What I meant by "not too far off" is that the time waiting in the actual ride line would be similar to the old system.

 

[Micker]

That's good to know about Universal - I still have some questions out to them and we would stay on property so that may be easier and we can try Disney for just one day to see how the new system works.

 

[Disfanx4]

I was on another site that had a picture of the line at guest relations, but that was in California. It may have been during a school Fall break when they were really busy. Glad to hear it is only 10 minutes though!

That line you saw was for DL this passed weekend and it was 1.5-2 hrs long just to get the DAS

 

[Disfanx4]

Why doesn't Disney just give the option of paying for a front of the line pass?? I have 2 daughters on the spectrum and would be willing to pay

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

The "front of the line" issue is important for those with developmental disabilties because they don't know how to wait well and for other disabilities that have associated time limits in which to act. For those of us with disabled children we spend a lot more of our time waiting than others can possibly imagine. We wait in lines for years, literally, to get our children into programs to meet their needs and we wait to speak to endless numbers of people about qualifying for each one. We spend endless hours filling in applications for services, medical and other supports. We spend endless hours at schools working on specialized education plans and ensuring that the adults in charge understand our children. We put up with stares and yes, even comments from the ignorant and insensitive. We wait for disability parking placards and we wait for people who don't have them to back out of a parking place that they are standing in to pick up someone who is not disabled because it is convenient for them. There ought to be some place where we are treated special and that has been one of the things that makes the magic kingdom magic. ok, I'll brush that chip off my shoulder as long as others get off of that track to no where about "offering everyone the same experience" - no one can do that!

Actually, I have an adult brother who is autistic--very similar to the one portrayed in "Rain Man". I'm now his legal guardian and take care of all the things you're talking about here--paperwork, doctors, SSA, etc., etc. I understand exactly what's involved in all those things. You never know what could set him off and he's very sensitive about certain things. Gosh, I've been in a car accident with him--while I was pregnant!--and had to try to stop him from losing control and running into the middle of a busy road. So you're kind of preaching to the choir here!

But I would not expect that he'd be able to jump ahead of everyone else in line on every single ride every single time. I know he would get very antsy standing in a line for an hour, and we wouldn't have to do that. We'd jump over to another ride that was practically a walk on and do that while we're waiting. (You did say you go at slow times, so that should be possible.) We'd get a snack. We'd sit and watch people walk by. We'd take a walk.

I wouldn't expect that he gets to ride the rides more than everyone else. I wouldn't expect that he gets to do what he wants exactly when he wants every time. I wouldn't expect everyone else to move out of the way and let us through each time. I wouldn't expect that he gets to do in 8 hours what it takes everyone else 12 hours to do. If you've got 8 hours, you do 8 hours worth of stuff.

This isn't meant to be insulting or argumentative. I understand what you go through. But it's not fair to everyone else who also paid huge amounts of money for their vacation and want everything just so, if people do get "special" treatment. Having to wait with everyone else isn't a punishment--it's just fair.

 

[Aladora]

The "front of the line" issue is important for those with developmental disabilties because they don't know how to wait well and for other disabilities that have associated time limits in which to act. For those of us with disabled children we spend a lot more of our time waiting than others can possibly imagine. We wait in lines for years, literally, to get our children into programs to meet their needs and we wait to speak to endless numbers of people about qualifying for each one. We spend endless hours filling in applications for services, medical and other supports. We spend endless hours at schools working on specialized education plans and ensuring that the adults in charge understand our children. We put up with stares and yes, even comments from the ignorant and insensitive. We wait for disability parking placards and we wait for people who don't have them to back out of a parking place that they are standing in to pick up someone who is not disabled because it is convenient for them. There ought to be some place where we are treated special and that has been one of the things that makes the magic kingdom magic. ok, I'll brush that chip off my shoulder as long as others get off of that track to no where about "offering everyone the same experience" - no one can do that!

I know all too well how difficult it is to have a child with disabilities and I know all too well the wait that many of us go through to get help for our children. We do put up with stares and comments and people judging us for how they perceive we are raising our children.

But, that does not mean that we should expect special treatment. In fact, we are actually getting special treatment from Disney, just not as special as some would hope and not as special as it once was.

It is hard to adjust our expectations of how we enjoy Disney, especially since many of us are used to the old GAC system which was really an unlimited anytime fastpass. However, that old system is gone and it really is not going to come back.

So, what are we to do? Well, we can do one of three things.

1. We can learn a new way to tour the parks using the new system. We can be disappointed that things have changed for what we perceive as worse but we learn to work within the system.

2. We can refuse to use the new system the way it is being implemented and yell and scream and complain and berate the CM until they either give us what we demand or get security to escort us out.

3. We can simply spend our vacation dollars elsewhere.

For us, we are going to try #1 and if that does not work for our family, we will move on to #3. I refuse to even dip my big toe into option #2 because that is not who I am. Disney does not owe me anything just because my son is autistic and Disney does not have to change for me or our son. Disney is doing what is should do, give us the opportunity for equal access, which is not to say that it is "fair" access, just equal.

Life is not fair and that sucks but I have to teach my son to work within the world because the world is not going to change just because he has special needs.

 

[Aladora]

This isn't meant to be insulting or argumentative. I understand what you go through. But it's not fair to everyone else who also paid huge amounts of money for their vacation and want everything just so, if people do get "special" treatment. Having to wait with everyone else isn't a punishment--it's just fair.

 

[Micker]

If you paid for "front of the line" then everyone would probably do it and it wouldn't help those who need it. I don't think it would be affordable to many who need it especially when you consider how much it costs already to raise a disabled child - I think the Autism Speaks site quotes a study that it costs about 3x as much to raise an autistic child as it does a non-autistic child or child without special needs. I know this is true because I have 2 other children without special needs and in our case it has been more than 3x due to our son's ataxia and poor fine motor skills.

 

[Kristibo42]

Actually, I have an adult brother who is autistic--very similar to the one portrayed in "Rain Man". I'm now his legal guardian and take care of all the things you're talking about here--paperwork, doctors, SSA, etc., etc. I understand exactly what's involved in all those things. You never know what could set him off and he's very sensitive about certain things. Gosh, I've been in a car accident with him--while I was pregnant!--and had to try to stop him from losing control and running into the middle of a busy road. So you're kind of preaching to the choir here!

But I would not expect that he'd be able to jump ahead of everyone else in line on every single ride every single time. I know he would get very antsy standing in a line for an hour, and we wouldn't have to do that. We'd jump over to another ride that was practically a walk on and do that while we're waiting. (You did say you go at slow times, so that should be possible.) We'd get a snack. We'd sit and watch people walk by. We'd take a walk.

I wouldn't expect that he gets to ride the rides more than everyone else. I wouldn't expect that he gets to do what he wants exactly when he wants every time. I wouldn't expect everyone else to move out of the way and let us through each time. I wouldn't expect that he gets to do in 8 hours what it takes everyone else 12 hours to do. If you've got 8 hours, you do 8 hours worth of stuff.

This isn't meant to be insulting or argumentative. I understand what you go through. But it's not fair to everyone else who also paid huge amounts of money for their vacation and want everything just so, if people do get "special" treatment. Having to wait with everyone else isn't a punishment--it's just fair.

My niece is autistic. When she goes down we always make sure it is the slow time. We never used the GAC card unless the line is longer then 20 minutes. She just can't stand still that long. The pass was for 6 people put my sister only used it for 4. Someone to help her and my niece got to take a cousin with her. We were very caution about using it. There were times we were in line for characters and cast members noticing her in line has pulled her out to go to the font of the line.

 

[Vidia2]

I was going to suggest what the above poster said she does which is to go during a slow season. Not sure what December is like. We usually go during November but will most likely start going in September as it looks, on paper anyway, to be the slowest time. Trip reports seem to show Jan - Feb as being slow but often colder.

I wish you well and hope it works out for you.

 

[Kristibo42]

I was going to suggest what the above poster said she does which is to go during a slow season. Not sure what December is like. We usually go during November but will most likely start going I'm September as it look, on paper anyway, to be the slowest time. Trip reports seem to show Jan - Feb as being slow but often colder.

I wish you well and hope it works out for you.

We like to go the first full week of December the crowds are the least and you get to see all the decorations.

 

[Disfanx4]

If you paid for "front of the line" then everyone would probably do it and it wouldn't help those who need it. I don't think it would be affordable to many who need it especially when you consider how much it costs already to raise a disabled child - I think the Autism Speaks site quotes a study that it costs about 3x as much to raise an autistic child as it does a non-autistic child or child without special needs. I know this is true because I have 2 other children without special needs and in our case it has been more than 3x due to our son's ataxia and poor fine motor skills.

Seems to work at universal, and yes I do know how much it costs times 2

 

[JeRmS]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. What I meant by "not too far off" is that the time waiting in the actual ride line would be similar to the old system.

Unfortunately not, the old GAC was an unlimited FP. I know there is people out there that deny it, but it's true ... the old GAC would allow me and my family to ride whatever ride we wanted by using the FP lines (in some cases we had to use the handicap entrance) and there was no waiting other than the time it took to get through the FP lines.

With the new DAS, we will now have to get a return stamp and wait the amount of stand by time minus 10 minutes or whatever.

So for instance let's say the stand by time of BTMRR is 90 minutes ... these guests will have to wait 80 minutes to ride the ride that prior to this change may have taken them 15-20 minutes at most.

Don't get me wrong, I believe Disney HAD to make this change to stop the abuse, but in doing so they also hurt a lot of people that actually counted on that access.

which leads to ....

Why doesn't Disney just give the option of paying for a front of the line pass?? I have 2 daughters on the spectrum and would be willing to pay

I agree 100% .... if Disney offered an "Express Pass" similar to Universal/IOA I would DEFINITELY jump at a chance to purchase it.

 

[Micker]

I have to respectfully disagree- it is not the same to have a brother or other sibling or cousin who is disabled as it is to be the parent - you aren't there for all the FUD. You didn't go through years of broken expectations. You didn't listen to a doctor tell you that the future is uncertain for your delightful little 2 year old who has just been labeled with "significant, unspecified" disabilities and that he needs extensive therapies. You've taken over after the hard work is done and I understand that you may not see it that way but unless you have sat in a courtroom with your child, as a grown man (18) who starts to convulse in tears when the judge agrees that he will never be able to live independently, you haven't walked in my shoes. How do you tell a 16 year old boy that he can't drive a car? How do you tell a 12 year old that the other boys don't want to play baseball with him? Have you ever sat next to the hospital bed of someone for three weeks who at 21 was not expected to live due to reactions from his medication ? Have you watched a 15 year old cry while thoughtless teens made fun of the "short bus"? Have you watched 10 year olds stand up and leave a lunch table when your child sits down? Have you had to attempt to explain to a young adult who is very cognitively aware and quite intelligent that he will probably never have a girlfriend, never marry and never have his own home? I'm sorry for those of you who don't feel like you want something special for your special child - I can't agree with you and am thankful for the CM's with heart enough to agree with me. That's not why I'm here on this board though - I'm here for tips on how to make my son's vacation special because he lives in a world of disappointment and I believe he needs something special in his life; not because he wants or needs any compassion from those of you who are clearly not capable of it. Please let's keep this to helpful tips on how to deal with the changes.

 

[Rowanonfire]

I have to respectfully disagree- it is not the same to have a brother or other sibling or cousin who is disabled as it is to be the parent - you aren't there for all the FUD. You didn't go through years of broken expectations. You didn't listen to a doctor tell you that the future is uncertain for your delightful little 2 year old who has just been labeled with "significant, unspecified" disabilities and that he needs extensive therapies. You've taken over after the hard work is done and I understand that you may not see it that way but unless you have sat in a courtroom with your child, as a grown man (18) who starts to convulse in tears when the judge agrees that he will never be able to live independently, you haven't walked in my shoes. How do you tell a 16 year old boy that he can't drive a car? How do you tell a 12 year old that the other boys don't want to play baseball with him? Have you ever sat next to the hospital bed of someone for three weeks who at 21 was not expected to live due to reactions from his medication ? Have you watched a 15 year old cry while thoughtless teens made fun of the "short bus"? Have you watched 10 year olds stand up and leave a lunch table when your child sits down? Have you had to attempt to explain to a young adult who is very cognitively aware and quite intelligent that he will probably never have a girlfriend, never marry and never have his own home? I'm sorry for those of you who don't feel like you want something special for your special child - I can't agree with you and am thankful for the CM's with heart enough to agree with me. That's not why I'm here on this board though - I'm here for tips on how to make my son's vacation special because he lives in a world of disappointment and I believe he needs something special in his life; not because he wants or needs any compassion from those of you who are clearly not capable of it. Please let's keep this to helpful tips on how to deal with the changes.

I think it's fair to say, yes, a lot of people on the disabilities forum HAVE experienced those things. And are still not expecting any more access then is being offered to them. With good planning, and using the DAS in conjunction with FP, I am sure you can have a great trip. BUT it will require more planning, and you have to go in with an open-mind. Being so insistent that the system won't work for you won't help you or your son have a good time.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I have to respectfully disagree- it is not the same to have a brother or other sibling or cousin who is disabled as it is to be the parent - you aren't there for all the FUD. You didn't go through years of broken expectations. You didn't listen to a doctor tell you that the future is uncertain for your delightful little 2 year old who has just been labeled with "significant, unspecified" disabilities and that he needs extensive therapies. You've taken over after the hard work is done and I understand that you may not see it that way but unless you have sat in a courtroom with your child, as a grown man (18) who starts to convulse in tears when the judge agrees that he will never be able to live independently, you haven't walked in my shoes. How do you tell a 16 year old boy that he can't drive a car? How do you tell a 12 year old that the other boys don't want to play baseball with him? Have you ever sat next to the hospital bed of someone for three weeks who at 21 was not expected to live due to reactions from his medication ? Have you watched a 15 year old cry while thoughtless teens made fun of the "short bus"? Have you watched 10 year olds stand up and leave a lunch table when your child sits down? Have you had to attempt to explain to a young adult who is very cognitively aware and quite intelligent that he will probably never have a girlfriend, never marry and never have his own home? I'm sorry for those of you who don't feel like you want something special for your special child - I can't agree with you and am thankful for the CM's with heart enough to agree with me. That's not why I'm here on this board though - I'm here for tips on how to make my son's vacation special because he lives in a world of disappointment and I believe he needs something special in his life; not because he wants or needs any compassion from those of you who are clearly not capable of it. Please let's keep this to helpful tips on how to deal with the changes.

I have done, or will do, most or all of these things as parent of two children with significant special needs similar to how you describe your son's. Yes, it can be heartwrenching. I still do not expect that on this earth people on vacation at a theme park should be asked to move out of the way for us. I just do not get the philosopy (nor do I teach it to my kids, special needs or not) that "normal" families owe us something as payment for the hardships in our lives.

I do hope you have a wonderful trip.