Hello all, I'm new to the forum, planning our first and only trip to Florida and going to Disney for one day with older children (13-22) and my brain injured husband, who is mobile but partially sighted and partially deaf with cognitive and behavioural impairments. I only want to buy a day's ticket and can't do this in advance from the UK. So any advice about getting help to get a fast pass whilst there (eg booking in advance from USA, phoning to buy tickets in advance or anything else) would be very helpful thank you! Also I've phoned guest services who say go to see them when we arrive to see if my husband could get a Disabled Assistance card, but any other advice or tips would be appreciated. Finally, which park do you think we should head for? I'd love to see the castle but it looks like MK is the busiest of all the parks, would the other parks still feel 'Disney' for us - what do you think (big question and very personal I know!)? Thank you in advance!
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One day visit with adult with disabilities - fast pass or any other advice?
- Thread starter littlemum
- Start date
The Magic Kingdom would be my first choice. Depending on when you go crowds can differ. Which park to visit is completely opinion and would be easier if it was known what you were looking for in a park. The Magic Kingdom is the most iconic but each park holds a different type of awesomeness. I feel when it comes to disabilities, Disney does a better job at accommodating than most, hopefully this won't be an issue.
For me, doing any one park in a day is extremely difficult, especially depending on the time of year and even which day of the week you visit. You will probably have to give up some things. That may or may not be a problem for you. Currently the easiest park to do in one day is Hollywood Studios.
Also to consider, some say teens like the experience that Universal holds to be more thrilling and with Harry Potter being there, more interesting to them. I don't like to assume this, I have talked to many teens that prefer WDW. But once again that is individual taste. I will state that the Harry Potter land is amazing.
For me, doing any one park in a day is extremely difficult, especially depending on the time of year and even which day of the week you visit. You will probably have to give up some things. That may or may not be a problem for you. Currently the easiest park to do in one day is Hollywood Studios.
Also to consider, some say teens like the experience that Universal holds to be more thrilling and with Harry Potter being there, more interesting to them. I don't like to assume this, I have talked to many teens that prefer WDW. But once again that is individual taste. I will state that the Harry Potter land is amazing.
Sorry, I forgot about tickets and fast pass, I live in the USA and I am not sure about getting tickets in the UK, you may want to try an authorized reseller. We have used Under Cover Tourist, but there are others, just make sure they are authorized. Ones that come to mind are Park Savers and Get away Today.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your advice, it's much appreciated. I'll look at Universal and also the undercover tourist / authorised sites. The only ones I've come across so far only off the 7 days pass which we wouldn't use. Thanks again!
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
Definitely Magic Kingdom
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
As others have said, the Magic Kingdom is certainly the premier park of the four, but Animal Kingdom is now a close second, and possibly more pleasant on most days due to overcrowding at Magic Kingdom. If you do choose to do the Magic Kingdom,do keep in mind that it will be unlikely that your family will be able to manage seeing the entire park in one day, especially without experience in traversing the park and considering that with a disabled family member you probably won't be able to be there from open to close like a lot of park veterans on this board would recommend.
Used a DAS card for my family trip last month and it was a real godsend. That said, you still need a bit of knowledge of the parks in order to maximize its utility on a busy day. The key is knowing what your disabled family member can/will want to ride, and to send a runner from your party ahead to that next attraction as soon as you can in order to start that reservation clock ticking again.
The more important consideration is knowing what attractions your entire family can enjoy, because the DAS card is only viable when the disabled person is going with you.
You said your husband is mobile, but do you know the extent to which he can or would want to do various rides and attractions? Roller-coaster type rides, for instance? Or attractions that require boarding from moving platforms and/or that use lap bar restraints?
Used a DAS card for my family trip last month and it was a real godsend. That said, you still need a bit of knowledge of the parks in order to maximize its utility on a busy day. The key is knowing what your disabled family member can/will want to ride, and to send a runner from your party ahead to that next attraction as soon as you can in order to start that reservation clock ticking again.
The more important consideration is knowing what attractions your entire family can enjoy, because the DAS card is only viable when the disabled person is going with you.
You said your husband is mobile, but do you know the extent to which he can or would want to do various rides and attractions? Roller-coaster type rides, for instance? Or attractions that require boarding from moving platforms and/or that use lap bar restraints?
nicb88
Well-Known Member
If you wanted to buy tickets in advance, while using a computer (not a phone) you can change the website setting to ‘United States (English)’. There’s a small link at the top of the page to do this.
1-day tickets are then shown under the tickets link but you’ll be paying in dollars. You’ll be given a voucher to print and exchange at the park entrance so there’s not too much benefit to doing this.
Also, while it seems a long way round it is perfectly acceptable to do it; I think disney just want to sell their dedicated UK tickets as for those on longer visits they are better value.
I hope you have a wonderful day at whichever park you choose!
1-day tickets are then shown under the tickets link but you’ll be paying in dollars. You’ll be given a voucher to print and exchange at the park entrance so there’s not too much benefit to doing this.
Also, while it seems a long way round it is perfectly acceptable to do it; I think disney just want to sell their dedicated UK tickets as for those on longer visits they are better value.
I hope you have a wonderful day at whichever park you choose!
I am Timmy
Well-Known Member
We use Das every trip, as I have a special needs son (he's 25 now).
When you go to guest services, you just tell them you would like to get the Das service for your husband. The CM will ask what his issues are, you simply explain to them his difficulties, then they let you know if he can participate ( he should be fine). Then, they will bring out an ipad and take a picture of him, and ask how many members there are in his party. Then they will let you know how it works, and if you have any questions it's best to ask while you're there. Then you're done!
Will you be using magic bands or tickets? Either way, once you decide which ride you want a fastpass for first, go up to one of the CM's at the beginning of the attraction, and ask for a "return time". That's code for "we're using Das".
They'll pull out their ipad, scan one of the parties' magic bands, (or ticket, and anyone in the party can run and get the fastpass return time) ask who in the party will be riding (we usually say all) then they tell what time to return (they look at the current wait time and usually tell you to return in that much time - if it' 9:10 and the wait time is an hour, they'll give you a return time of 10:10.). If the ipad isn't working, they will give you paper fastpasses with the time written on them. When you return, make sure your husband is riding with you, he needs to scan his ticket first when everyone enters the fastpass line.
With a normal fastpass you have a one hour window to use it. With a Das fastpass, any time after your scheduled time is fine - however you cannot make another Das fastpass until the first one is either used or cancelled (you can go cancel it if you change your mind.) Then, you can send someone to make another one. It's pretty efficient and CM's are great if you have questions.
Let me know if you need any more info. - it looks complicated and can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it it's easy.
When you go to guest services, you just tell them you would like to get the Das service for your husband. The CM will ask what his issues are, you simply explain to them his difficulties, then they let you know if he can participate ( he should be fine). Then, they will bring out an ipad and take a picture of him, and ask how many members there are in his party. Then they will let you know how it works, and if you have any questions it's best to ask while you're there. Then you're done!
Will you be using magic bands or tickets? Either way, once you decide which ride you want a fastpass for first, go up to one of the CM's at the beginning of the attraction, and ask for a "return time". That's code for "we're using Das".
They'll pull out their ipad, scan one of the parties' magic bands, (or ticket, and anyone in the party can run and get the fastpass return time) ask who in the party will be riding (we usually say all) then they tell what time to return (they look at the current wait time and usually tell you to return in that much time - if it' 9:10 and the wait time is an hour, they'll give you a return time of 10:10.). If the ipad isn't working, they will give you paper fastpasses with the time written on them. When you return, make sure your husband is riding with you, he needs to scan his ticket first when everyone enters the fastpass line.
With a normal fastpass you have a one hour window to use it. With a Das fastpass, any time after your scheduled time is fine - however you cannot make another Das fastpass until the first one is either used or cancelled (you can go cancel it if you change your mind.) Then, you can send someone to make another one. It's pretty efficient and CM's are great if you have questions.
Let me know if you need any more info. - it looks complicated and can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it it's easy.
Thanks, all so very useful. Can I find that sort of info (about how to board etc - yes boarding from moving would be difficult) on the website?
Wow, it does sound confusing but this is so, so very helpful. Thank you! I'll print it all out and take it with me and try to get a plan organised before we go. One of my worries is that normal fastpasses won't be available if we buy at the gate (as we can't buy in advance from disney uk) but hopefully it will be a slightly quieter time of year (end of May).
Thanks so much! If we did it this way, can we book fastpass ahead of going, I'm guessing not as it's not a ticket.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
Possibly, but the information on their official page is kind of limited because it's focused on categorizing attractions in terms of mobility transfers: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/
There's a brief general guide here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...gdom-guide-guest-disability-november-2012.pdf
Just by using Google I found a decent overview of the Magic Kingdom's attractions here: http://autismattheparks.com/mk-rides-and-attractions-guide.html
That site is focused specifically on autism and corresponding concerns, but this is still a pretty good guide about what is required to get on most of the attractions; moving platforms, for instance, are noted.
If you have any questions about a specific attraction and what boarding/disembarking is like, I'm sure anyone on this forum would be happy to answer in exhaustive detail. Most of us have all this stuff memorized.
nicb88
Well-Known Member
I believe you can, yes! It should register it as a ticket in My Disney Experience allowing access to the Fastpass+ system, but you just need to collect the physical ticket at the park!
I forgot that this is the main benefit of purchasing ahead of your visit!