DAS for MNSSHP character meet and greets

[mamacass]

I tried posting this on the theme parks board for the MNSSHP but didn’t get a response so I’ll try it here. Is DAS available for any of the meet and greets? Specifically trying to meet Jack and Sally. If not, could our group take turns waiting in line and bring in others as we get closer? I know sometimes people will get upset about that, but it will be hard for my son to wait for almost 2 hours, and also two others in our group under the age of 5. Thanks!

 

[gap2368]

If there is a LL ( FP) line then yes

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Unless something has changed since last year, exclusive MNSSHP meet and greets don't have LL, and you can't use the DAS for them. Your best bet would be to line up early and have someone wait in line while another adult takes the kids to wait elsewhere. I'd recommend having your entire party in the line to start and explain to the people around you that your son will have difficulty with the line due to his disability. Then you can have your son leave the line and return later. I think it helps smooth things over if people see the kids there to start and not just show up at the last minute. You should also find the CM manning the line and explain the situation to them. While there isn't an option for the DAS, the CM can help facilitate the kids rejoining the line waiter if they know the situation.

In 2017, my DD really wanted to meet Moana and the MNSSHP was the only time she was meeting. It was only my DD and I on the trip so we didn't have an option for one line waiter, but my DD was 14 and high functioning enough to be able to go off for short periods on her own. Her sensory issues are what make the lines difficult (noise, closeness of people around her). We started in line together and began chatting with the people around us. Then when things got to be too much in line for DD, she'd leave and walk around a bit before rejoining. We waited about 2 hours this way before the party and the meet and greet both started. Because DD was in line for portions of the waiting time, no one objected when she rejoined in time to meet Moana.

 

[HopperFan]

I tried posting this on the theme parks board for the MNSSHP but didn’t get a response so I’ll try it here. Is DAS available for any of the meet and greets? Specifically trying to meet Jack and Sally. If not, could our group take turns waiting in line and bring in others as we get closer? I know sometimes people will get upset about that, but it will be hard for my son to wait for almost 2 hours, and also two others in our group under the age of 5. Thanks!

I hear what you are saying but from the other point of view, there are likely hundreds of young kids that have a hard time waiting and if they were all waiting outside the line it would cause guests wait time to be much longer than what they anticipated when they got in line, especially since Jack & Sally converse with each group, everyone wants photos and many young kids want autographs.

We wanted to meet Jack & Sally their first year in parks, after 4-6 hour waits they had at Disney Springs earlier. I knew we needed a plan for DS. What we did was arrive at park early with our party ticket. We did potty break and then went to get snacks. I brought a couple OLD towels to sit on for the wait and for the wait for parade (tossed them after). DS and I got in the line about 2 hours ahead. We sat on the blanket, had our snacks, he had his music and then the minute they arrived we were only standing a short time and quickly joined the party shortly after it started.

In this situation it is best that you ask the CM in charge of the line. We were told multiple times that the entire party had to be in line and they could not make exceptions. If they say yes then you have no explaining to do to people around you when they inevitably get upset. I've seen people upset enough to call over an CM and complain. Be prepared for that.

Only once were we allowed. Sandy Claws. He was meeting in the sitting area of Storybook Land. It was the end of the night but the line was still filling the tent. We asked the CM in charge and he said no. No FP lane, no DAS. We begged. We said he brother and sister would wait in line, a line we could totally see from outside. We would stay with him outside and let just him join them as they got to the front (he could enter the exit at that point). The CM finally said "As long as you sit right here where I can see you, then I'll let him join. The line is about to get closed anyway. Don't leave."

NOTE: I have seen CMs tell people who place held to go to the back of the line, that you can't hold places. One guest became "hostile" and management came. They verified, whole parties in line. Don't enter the line without your whole party. No place holding. Of course every situation might be handled different depending on CM but we know what the expectation and possible outcome is.

And yes, there have been some special characters my DS has not been able to meet because of the long line. We just move on and go meet some others.

 

[Belle1962]

I would honestly be concerned about others in line, not just those directly around you. With so many fights and verbal altercations at the parks lately I wouldn’t want to chance it. that would be a huge bummer for the night. if a CM said it was ok I’d make sure the CM escorted me back to the line.

 

[lanejudy]

Above makes a very good point. Unless the queue is designed as 1 long outdoor line that the child could rejoin easily right at your spot, I would not subject him to pushing through a queue past a hundred other families, even if a CM ok’d it earlier.

The younger children should remain in the queue unless they have DAS. Lots of families have young kids and need to make the decision to keep them occupied in a queue or skip that character.

 

[mamacass]

Yes that’s true about trying to join in a line that’s already inside. I guess my thought is if there are three people waiting in line, if we swap out those three why should that matter. It is still just three people getting photos. But again that would only be if the line was outside or easily accessible. Does anyone know when you can line up for Jack and Sally? I know they start seeing people at 4:30.

 

[Belle1962]

From another website: Here’s a list of some rare characters that we met on the first night of the party. If they are inside the theatre it might be harder to rejoin a line.

• Stitch dressed as Elvis (in Tomorrowland)
• Madam Renatta (in front of the Haunted Mansion)
• Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (in Fantasyland)
• Alice and the Mad Hatter (in Fantasyland)
• Jafar, Abu, and Genie (in Adventureland)
• the Country Bears (in Frontierland)
• Jack and Sally (at the Main Street Theater)
• George Sanderson (from Monsters, Inc.)