Disney’s New Disability Access Service Card

Anyone that travels with someone with special needs and also happens to be a Disney fan is talking about the changes Disney has made to the old Guest Assistance Pass. It is now called the Disability Access Service Card or the DAS card. There is a lot of negative press, rumors and buzz about this new program.  As a mother of a child with special needs and someone that travels to Walt Disney World twice a year, I was anxious about all the change as well. I wanted to write this blog about my first hand experience and maybe ease some reader’s minds.

As mentioned, before my last trip I was super nervous about how the changes would play out.    As a Disney travel agent, I wanted to be able to answer all my clients questions and help them know what to expect upon arrival to the parks.  I also run a group for families with children that have Down Syndrome and a lot of my members were asking a ton of questions as well. Most of my worries were eased once I talked to a Disney representative before I left.  She explained how it would work and assured me that I would still have the same magical experience.  I was informed that the Cast Members were being trained about disability sensitivity and encouraged to be open minded about the changes.  I agreed to wait until my vacation to form an opinion of all the changes.

When I arrived at EPCOT the first day of my trip, I went straight to Guest Relations.   You can obtain the DAS Card at any park’s Guest Relations.  You can find Guest Relations at any park entrance.   I told the Cast Member that I needed to get the pass for my daughter.  She kindly and politely asked about her needs and then asked if she could take a photo of her.  I agreed, but if a parent wishes to do so, the photo can be of the parent themselves. She then printed out a pass which I signed and had my daughter’s picture on it. She explained that I should take the card to the Cast Member at the ride entrance and they will write a return time on the pass that is based on the current wait time.  She also reminded me that I can use the pass in conjunction with Fast Pass Plus.  I was done! It was a very pleasant experience and the Cast Member was polite, friendly, cooperative and helpful.

The vacation went very well and honestly, we did not notice much of a difference with the new system compared to previous trips.  It worked very similarly to a traditional fast pass.  My daughter was comfortable and accommodated and our family truly had a magical time!

I can help you plan your trip with extra sensitivity to special needs  or if you have any additional questions please click contact me and I’d be happy to help!  All my services are 100% FREE!

Jennifer Robertson
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
MickeyTravels, LLC
(888) 400-1845
jrobertson@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravles.com
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Tipping on the Disney Cruise Line

The service you receive on the Disney Cruise Line is quite amazing! I have to say I didn’t think Disney World service could be topped, but I have found the Disney Cruise is even more magical in terms of guest service.

I have traveled on multiple cruises and I think my favorite cast member was our Dining Room Server from Taiwan. He was so friendly and every night would ask us, “what can I do to make your day more magical?” My friend joked, “let us have 2 desserts”. Well, needless to say my friend and I got extra desserts each night after that! He also gave us crayon puzzles to solve each night. We were a group of all adults but he stumped us each time!

As far as the Stateroom Host/Hostess, I am always amazed by how spotless the staterooms are. They are immaculate even after tracking in sand after a relaxing day enjoying Castaway Cay. Even with all this great service, I have to admit when the tip envelopes arrive on the last night, it sure feels daunting to shell out an average of $48 per person on a 4 night cruise. I want to take a moment to explain this and how you can give generously and not let it be a bump in your day. This is honestly the only thing I have ever had to pay for on the ship besides a few souvenirs. So if you are worried about any hidden fees, it won’t happen on the Disney ships.

Who you tip and how much:

• Dining Room Server – This is your main waiter that you have each night. He/she not only explains the menu, takes your order, and delivers it but also asks about your day, gives advice, and is ready to make extra magic for your party. On my cruises this person often played games with us and was really interactive. I tend to tip this person more than the suggested amount. On a 4 night cruise it is suggested that you tip $16 per guest for the server.
• Dining Room Assistant Server – This person takes your drink orders and additional requests. On the cruises I have been on this person was great. He/She would remember our drink orders and was very friendly. On a 4 night cruise it is suggested that you tip $12 per guest for the assistant server.
• Dining Room Head Server – This person is in charge of taking special requests and seeing to the entire dining room section. Honestly on the cruises I have been on this person just stops by and says hello. I can imagine that if you are dealing with food allergies, celebrations, etc this person is more involved. On a 4 night cruise it is suggested that you tip this person $4 per guest.

When you start crunching numbers, you might think wow, $32 per person just for dinner service!? This was my husband’s response and this is how I explained it to him. When you think about the meals you receive on the cruise, it is safe to say that each meal would be at least $45 of food per person (drink, appetizer/soup/salad, entrée & dessert). If you tipped the standard 18% that would be around $8 per night so about $32 for the 4 nights. Your one tip would include all of these people.

• Stateroom Host/Hostess – This person takes care of your stateroom and any housekeeping needs. Something to mention here is that you actually see this person and interact with them unlike at most hotels. They clean your room multiple times per day, put a chocolate on your pillow, and decorate your room with towel animals. It is suggested that on a 4 night cruise you tip your Host/Hostess $16 per guest.

How to Pay for Tips-

 

• Online prior to sailing
• At guest services on the ship
• Cash

Although I feel that paying in advance is great because it is taken care of, I do like adjusting my amount for exceptional guest service. I almost think on my next cruise I will prepay and maybe add a little extra cash to the envelope that you give the crew members.

Tipping in this way is all part of the “cruise culture” that you will learn about on your first cruise. The first time I cruised, I was a little sticker shocked when the tipping guide arrived in my stateroom, since we are not accustomed to tipping for multiple meals and services all at once. On subsequent cruises, I really enjoyed presenting my favorite crew members with their tip envelopes the last night on-board.

Are you interested in learning more about a Disney Cruise?

My services are 100% FREE!

Make it a magical day!

Julie Hauck *o*
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
MickeyTravels, LLC
1-513-313-9531 (cell)
julie@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
Read my Disney Blog!
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Making Magic One Vacation at a Time

After booking over $200,000 in Disney vacations, I have helped a lot of people! I have booked multiple trips for the same families and family and friends of those clients. I have personally traveled to Disney destinations as a child, as a teen, as a young an adult, as a newlywed, and as a mom. I have taken trips with family, friends, and kids. Beyond that I have seen the inner-workings of Disney World as a Cast Member and a Disney College Program Alumni. Honestly, I have seen Disney from all angles and have a lot of insight that is valuable to so many types of travelers. I wanted to categorize some of my clients and/or their trips and explain how I can help various types of travelers.

The First Disney vacationers – Sometimes there is a young couple on their honeymoon and sometimes older couples who have not yet experienced the magic of Disney. However, most of the time this is families with young children. These trips usually require the most assistance but are honestly my favorite ones to book. That first trip is overwhelming for most to plan but I love assuring my clients that everything will be taken care of. I get to know these clients so I can plan a trip from the resort to the fast passes that will fit their needs and at the same time exceed their expectations. I can address any and all concerns during the planning process and remove the guesswork. I can explain all the resort, ticket, and dining options from personal experience and the experiences of my many clients. These trips are usually planned far in advance and I always recommend that if you are planning a Disney vacation, especially for the first time, you plan more than 180 days out to make sure we can get all the dining choices nailed down at the 180 day mark. Hearing about the magic of that first Disney trip is one of the reasons I do what I do!

Grandparents treating their kids and grand-kids to magic – I have booked many trips for multiple generations. I really love planning these trips! Disney is such a great place to reconnect with not only your immediate family but your extended family. These trips require a lot of organization to make sure that all the reservations are linked up properly and can be overwhelming with the help of a professional. No need to round of your family to get all their travel information, I can do that for you! I love the challenge of exploring all the different resort options that can accommodate larger groups. I have booked groups in everything from multiple rooms at a value resort up to multiple 2-3 bedroom villas at a deluxe resort. Something else I love about booking these trips are that I can book multiple experiences for smaller groups within the group. Maybe the guys want to golf while the girls visit the spa and everyone meets up for dinner with the kids later that night. These trips are precious especially as the grandparents age and the children grow.

The Experienced Disney Traveler – Many repeat Disney guests book with me even though they don’t think they really need the extra help. However, they find that my discount monitoring saves them money, me doing their dining reservations saves them time, and they love the magical extras I send them in their send off packages! There is always something new at Disney so even the more experienced Disney travelers can benefit from booking with a seasoned agent. I go at least once a year so I am up to date with everything! And since my prices are exactly the same as booking directly with Disney and my planning services are 100% FREE, there really is no reason to book without the help of a professional.

The Childless Travelers – These trips are made up of young couples without kids, people who have kids but need an adults only getaway, people without children, and parents whose children are all grown up. I love booking these trips as I have first hand enjoyed Disney with friends and my husband before we had any kids. Disney is so much fun without kids, and this is something that more and more people are discovering. These trips are fun to book because they usually focus on the finer things that Disney offers. Disney has so many amazing restaurants, spas and other experiences that are perfect for an adults only trip. The Food and Wine Festival and the Flower and Garden Show are just some of the many events and experiences that are perfect for trips without children!

I hope this has provided you with some insight on the many trips I book and clients I assist.

Are you interested in learning more about a Disney vacation? My services are 100% FREE!

Make it a magical day!

Julie Hauck *o*
Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
MickeyTravels, LLC
1-513-313-9531 (cell)
julie@mickeytravels.com
www.mickeytravels.com
Read my Disney Blog!
“Like” my fan page on Facebook!