Navigating Disney Parks Disability Access System (DAS) Quick Overview and How/When to Ask for It

Navigating Disney Parks Disability Access System (DAS)

Quick Overview and How/When to Ask for It

The DAS (Disability Access System) at the Disney Parks is to assist those with disabilities have access to the attractions.

In simple terms the DAS system is to help those with Disabilities have the access they need. With the fact that Walt Disney World Parks and Disney California Adventure Park were built after the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) went into effect it means they comply with ADA laws. That means the lines for the attractions and show areas are designed with disabled access in mind. The lines are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters and if the loading area is not accessible they have a secondary loading area. Disneyland on the other hand was made before ADA laws and lines do not always accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. Many of these lines can’t be changed due to space limitations. Disneyland has separate lines set up for wheelchairs/scooters where applicable. What does this all this ADA information mean? It means that just because you have a mobility issue you will not automatically be given a DAS Pass. You can sit on your scooter/chair in the regular lines.

So if the DAS is not for “physical disabilities” that require mobility devices what is it for? It is for those with issues that make being in long lines hard or impossible. Mostly it is for those with cognitive disabilities. Autism, extreme ADHD, Panic Attacks and PTSD are several things that fall into the list. But that is not the only thing. If you have a physical disability that makes sitting or standing in one place impossible/dangerous then you can get the DAS Pass.

So how do you get a DAS Pass? Go to Guest Relations in any park. Be ready to explain your disability. Tell them in simple terms why you need help and what your limitations are. BE HONEST!! Do not lie and ask for the DAS when you don’t truly need it. Be persistent if you truly need it. If you tell them you can’t stand for a long time they may well tell you to go rent a wheelchair or scooter so you can sit. Don’t be intimated by their questions nor the fact they may say no at first. They are not there to outright deny you the pass or judge you. They are there to weed out those that are faking and taking advantage to “cut lines”. They are there to find the best possible option for you. As long as you honestly need it and you are willing to explain why you need it they will at least try. If your disability makes you nervous talking in a loud room ask to be taken to a back stage quiet room to discuss your needs.

For further information on how DAS works check out an earlier blog post:

Yes it does repeat some of the same information I just gave but it is important information and people have told me they can’t get DAS when I know they should.

http://pixiepranks-panstinkerbell.blogspot.com/2014/11/changes-to-das-disability-access-system.html

Guest Assistance Card Changes

Guest Assistance Card Changes

Due to a few people being caught abusing the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) the system is being reworked. First let me explain what the abuse was. People with a valid GAC were advertising themselves as tour guides to the park where they would “cut lines” for the people that paid them. Some were charging $50 per hour while others were charging $200 a day at DLR and the price was even higher at WDW.

The GAC is designed to help those with special needs (and those that accompany them to the park) enjoy Disney Parks. For those with limited mobility it gives access to rides with alternative entrances that bypass stairs or lines that cannot accommodate an ECV or wheelchairs. (Disneyland was built before the ADA Laws so it has more lines that require the GAC.) For those with problems staying in the sun it gives places where they can wait in the shade for their turn to ride. Families with children that have ADHD or Autism this is a life saver allowing the group (of up to 6 people including the person that requires the GAC) to go up the Fastpass lines without a Fastpass. There are also alternative waiting areas that are quiet and calm for the comfort of the person needing the GAC and their group.

In the recent past those having Annual Passes and needing GAC could get passes that were valid for 2 months. Because of the abuse they now have to be renewed every two weeks. More changes are coming. Rumors run from the GAC being eliminate all together to it being limited to just those with mobility issues.

Logic says, “Bring a doctor’s note to verify your need for a GAC. Let the Doctor describe what is needed.” The problem with that are the laws protecting patient confidentiality. Disney is not allowed to look at any doctor’s note you bring. Plus how could they verify it is truly a note from your doctor or in truth really from a doctor at all.

I know the system has to work on an “honor system” and those that truly need a GAC must keep asking. For those with “invisible” special needs such as ADHD, Autism, Panic Attacks, and PTSD it is hard to prove your need. Some people with these disabilities “look” perfectly normal and capable to stand in a regular line, but they can’t. They get agitated and can lose self-control. I know that putting a person with any of these invisible disabilities in a long line can lead to a meltdown of epic proportions.

I know some people think that those with special needs should not go to the parks. “It is not for them if they need pampering.” “It is not fair they get special treatment.” “Life is not fair so what if they can’t go.” If you are one of “those people” I say shame on you! You do not realize how much they can learn and grow by going to the parks and how much a visit can change their life! A little girl with traumatic brain damage I know increased her vocabulary 30% during a week stay at Disneyland Resort! Some one that could not stand in line at the grocery store for 10 minutes can now stand in line calmly for 30 minutes due to practice at the parks! 30 minutes is the limit, much more than that they will lose it. A child with Autism that was uncommunicative came out of their shell and learned to interact with others better. These are LIFE LONG changes that came about because of visits to a Disney Park! Would you deny that to someone?

As changes are made to the GAC policy I will post updated information. For now, if you are going to a Disney Park in the next few months and have special needs I suggest you call ahead and ask questions. Explain your needs/concerns and ask what the current policy is and if there will be changes to the policy when your visit is scheduled. For now staying informed is the best thing you can do. I also recommend if you find that your disability is not being treated fairly you need to speak up, advocate for yourself and your child as needed. I know I will!

To Get a GAP Card or to Not Get a GAP Card, That is the Question!

To Get a GAP Card or to Not Get a GAP Card,

That is the Question!

          First off let me explain what a GAP Card (Guest Assistance Pass) is. A GAP Card allows guests with limitations (I call them Handi-capable guests) to be accommodated throughout the park. They can enter rides by an alternate route to avoid stairs, limit line wait and avoid crowds. What type of accommodations given is decided by the needs of the Handi-capable guest.

          The GAP is given to the handi-capable guest and is marked with the number of guests in their party. The limit is 6 people total in the group with a possible allowance for groups of 8 per card.

For people with disabilities there is always the question if they need a GAP (Guest Assistance Pass) to help them out at Disney Parks. This is not a simple question as many of the cues for the rides can now accommodate wheelchairs. Those rides that cannot accommodate wheelchairs have an alternate entrance that does not require guests in wheelchairs enter. So if you have a wheelchair you do not need a GAP as your wheelchair allows you the access you need.

So when should you get a GAP Card?

If you have problems with long lines I highly suggest getting it! If you or your child has ADHD or Autism I recommend it. If you can’t be in the sun for long periods of time again the GAP is a good idea. Some people have problems in confined or crowded spaces. The GAP can make a big difference. The GAP we get allows us to use all the Fastpass lines as well as Handicap entrances.

How do you get a GAP?

Go into Guest Relations at any Disney Park and ask them for a GAP. They will ask you to explain the limitations. If this is for your child have them with you. The person needing the GAP must go into Guest Relations to get the pass. You do not need paperwork from your doctor and even if you have it the Guest Relations CMs are not allowed to look at it.

How long is a GAP good for?

A GAP can be given for the length of your stay. If you are an Annual Passholder you can your GAP for 2 months at a time.

How do I use my GAP?

If your GAP allows for special access to the rides show your card to the first CM you see at the ride. They will tell you where to enter the ride.

Tips:

1.    If you have had a GAP Card in the past and still have it bring it with you and show it at Guest Relations when you get your new one. It helps them move the line quicker by showing them what you need.

2.    Be ready to clearly state your needs. Be clear as to what you need. Do you have trouble with stairs? Then make sure they know this so you can avoid them. Are confined spaces an issue? Don’t be ashamed to speak out!

3.    If the ride you are trying to get on has a slightly different GAP policy than the other rides don’t complain just follow the rules for that ride.

4.    Follow the rules!

a.    GAP does not necessarily guarantee quicker entry. Be patient.

b.    GAP does not allow you to keep riding the same ride over and over. Wait at least ½ hour after getting off a ride before going back to ride it again.

c.    Do not abuse it. Don’t get it for your teenager just because they don’t want to wait in line. (This makes it harder for those with true needs to get them.)

d.    Don’t try to take more people on a ride with you than your card allows. The maximum number is 6 with a possible exception of 8.

e.    The Handi-capable member of your group must be going on the ride to use the GAP.

As a wife of a wonderful man with ADHD and minor brain damage that leaves him nervous and the mother of a daughter with ADHD I’ve learned that the GAP makes a HUGE difference in the enjoyment of the park. This makes a difference not only for us but and any friends/family with us it also makes a difference for the guests around us.

When we are at the park and stuck in a long line my husband and daughter start getting fidgety. If this goes on too long I quietly reminding them to relax and stop swinging the ropes etc. . . If it continues the guests around us start to get nervous because of the constant motion and fussiness. I’ve learned the limits and have stretched them as far as is reasonable. If the line is over 30 minutes in general we use the GAP. If it is under 30 minutes we go the regular line. For some rides a 1 hour wait is tolerable with extra distractions from me. In general 1 hour does not work well.