The Return Time you are given is based on the current wait time in the Stamdby Line for that attraction. If the Standby Time is 10 minutes or less, they will allow you to enter right away. If it is 15 minutes, they may allow you in right away or may give you a return time.
If it is more than 10 minutes, you will be issued a Return Time for 10 minutes less than the current wait.
So, for example, if the Standby wait time is currently 30 minutes, the CM will write down the current time, the current wait time and a Return Time for 20 minutes after the current time.
Current Time: 12:38
Current Wait: 30 minutes
Return Time: 12:58
DAS Return Times can be used any time after the Return Time, but you can't get another Return Time until you either use that time by going on the attraction or cancel the time by crossing it off. (An unused Return Time is considered 'active' and a guest can only have one active Return Time at a time).
I was responding to you mentioning that at Sea World and Universal, they never had to wait.
There was information that they would use a special Genie lanyard for guests on Wish trips.
I have not seen one yet, so don't know if they changed their plan or the lanyards were not ready/not distributed yet.
We saw one family last week with colored MAW buttons. They had the Give Kids the World logo, the family's name and the dates of the trip. They were sitting next to us at the Indiana Jones Stunt show.
With all the buttons people have at WDW for celebrating things, those MAW buttons might blend in and not be noticed as much.