Hey Howdy Hey Christine and welcome to planDisney!
I am sure all of us parents have been there at some point, waiting in line somewhere in public and either us or our children just hit a breaking point and the meltdowns begin. This is especially true in Walt Disney World as the stimulation levels and excitement can be challenging adjustments, especially for children. Thank you so much for your question about your son and Disney's
Disability Access Service (DAS). I will be happy to give you some insights and hopefully some other options that may help your situation.
The one thing that I can tell you about your specific question regarding the qualification of your son for DAS I, unfortunately, cannot answer. Full information on DAS is online for you to review and considering you live in the U.S.A., you can request a video interview with a Cast Member that will inform you of the specifics and let you know if your son does qualify for DAS. If you access the site for
registering for DAS, there is a link there to request a video interview which you can request between 2 and 30 days from your date of arrival.
One of the best things you can do while you count down the days to your trip is to come up with a plan if DAS does not work out as you would like. I wanted to give you a few tips on navigating the parks to reduce wait times as well as have multiple things with you to keep your son occupied in lines.
The first tip involves
Genie+. With the purchase of Genie+, you are summoning your Genie to grant you access to Lightning Lanes which are reserved time windows for you to experience attractions throughout the parks. This also allows for shorter wait times and is something I would highly advise because no one wants to spend a big chunk of time waiting in lines!
Regardless of what you do, there will be some wait times involved be it for attractions, food or transportation, so finding things to do while you wait is key. I would look into the
Play Disney app as well. This app you can download on any smart device and while you can access things at home, this app comes to life while in the parks. Different games, challenges and trivia are some things my three girls and I really do enjoy while passing the time. There are other apps as well such as Heads Up that have different capabilities when in the parks as well to help pass the time.
The other tip I have for you involves a little more preparation. If you can, try and bring down things such as the small containers of Play Dough, pop-its or bubbles these can be lifesavers in lines. My wife usually picks up things like this at a local dollar store and keeps them strategically placed so when the girls get squirrely in lines, they have a "new" toy to keep them occupied for a while!
I hope this information was helpful in planning for your decision on DAS as well as other options for navigating the parks. Best wishes on your continued planning and if you have any further questions please feel free to let us know, we would be happy to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Nick