Are they getting overly strict on DAS

[OurBigTrip]

As with the old GAC problems arise with sheer numbers of people who use DAS as much as it is fakers.
When GAC was removed a Disney owned media company published the rich parents hiring wheelchair users story. It is as much the number of GAC holders who clogged the ride capacity. Bean counters were dispatched and discovered that at E tickets rides (Radiator Springs specifically) groups of the same riders were able to loop repeatedly while patrons in the standby line were kept at a near standstill.

The New York Post is not a “Disney owned media company “, the story about renting disable “tour guides” for Disney trips came out four months before the GAC was removed, and Disney never denied that overuse of GAC was the problem.

 

[lpereira]

The New York Post is not a “Disney owned media company “, the story about renting disable “tour guides” for Disney trips came out four months before the GAC was removed, and Disney never denied that overuse of GAC was the problem.

ABC News ran the story first. It was a cover story. Not that it never happened. It did buy. Ot nearly enough to impact things. Upper west side moms used VIP tour guides.

 

[notatallmagic]

Our DAS diagnosis is fairly recent (about 3 years); I have to wonder if the rampant abuse we're hearing about pre-dated the paid LL/Genie. I am assuming, based on lots of research, that it's worsened since then; but what has also worsened is the pressure being placed on the group of folks who truly NEED the DAS; and that should not be.

We dropped our Annual Passes after our poor experiences, and despite loving Disney, have only two future 2 day trips planned, simply to use pre-purchased tickets. If DAS is not granted, we simply cannot come. And it's a lot of pressure/stress to buy airline tickets and pay for resort deposits and have to worry/wonder that a crappy, ignorant Cast Member might try to deny the DAS with that 30 day window. We can't risk flying in and having a denial at the park, so we'd lose our money, and that's simply unacceptable.

I've stated other places that our experience with Universal has been excellent; they keep our "number", and have re-issued our pass very pleasantly each trip (3x since December; we are now Passholders there); total time investment is less than 2 minutes each time. I get that they aren't Disney; but for us, Disney's system simply is too high a risk and too much stress. It makes me sad; especially for my kiddo who LOVES Disney.

 

[OurBigTrip]

ABC News ran the story first. It was a cover story. Not that it never happened. It did buy. Ot nearly enough to impact things. Upper west side moms used VIP tour guides.

Then I guess the reporter from the NY Post is lying when they say that the person told them how the 1% do Disney.

https://nypost.com/2013/05/14/rich-...es-so-kids-can-cut-lines-at-disney-world/amp/

And CNN too
https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/us/disney-skipping-lines/index.html

CNN —
Disney World is looking into reports that some wealthy visitors are hiring disabled people to pretend to be family members so that they can skip lines.

“It is unacceptable to abuse accommodations that were designed for guests with disabilities,” spokesman Bryan Malenius told CNN Wednesday. “We are thoroughly reviewing the situation and will take appropriate steps to deter this type of activity.”

Reports of the alleged practice sparked fury on social media, with some people calling the actions “crazy,” “awful,” and “despicable.”

But others defended the idea, arguing it’s a way to help some disabled people make good money.

The debate began with an article in the New York Post.

 

[DisSurfer878]

I've seen this suggested before...

Keep in mind that simple documentation of a medical diagnosis does not realistically indicate if an individual would need DAS, since people with the exact same condition/diagnosis can and do typically have very different symptoms and needs.

Also, one of the biggest issues with requiring medical documentation each time one applies for DAS is that the DAS must be re-applied for every 60 days. For those of us who are local APs (or anyone who visits the park frequently) this would require paying for an otherwise unnecessary medical examination every two months merely to obtain the documentation to apply for DAS renewal. That would be incredibly expensive and potentially prohibitive (esp. for those of us on a tight budget). It would essentially put guests with specific disability-related needs in the position of having to choose between 1) paying for Genie + (with its one use per attraction limitation), 2) paying for DAS (due to the cost of obtaining medical documentation each time you apply), or 3) opting out of most of the popular attractions (because you are unable to wait in the stand-by queue).

As has been previously stated, I would very gladly exchange any perceived advantage you believe I receive by using DAS in order to be able bodied and not need it.

Not to mention the fact that disabled individuals/parents of disabled children statistically have less disposable income.

 

[jo-jo]

Our DAS diagnosis is fairly recent (about 3 years); I have to wonder if the rampant abuse we're hearing about pre-dated the paid LL/Genie. I am assuming, based on lots of research, that it's worsened since then; but what has also worsened is the pressure being placed on the group of folks who truly NEED the DAS; and that should not be.

We dropped our Annual Passes after our poor experiences, and despite loving Disney, have only two future 2 day trips planned, simply to use pre-purchased tickets. If DAS is not granted, we simply cannot come. And it's a lot of pressure/stress to buy airline tickets and pay for resort deposits and have to worry/wonder that a crappy, ignorant Cast Member might try to deny the DAS with that 30 day window. We can't risk flying in and having a denial at the park, so we'd lose our money, and that's simply unacceptable.

I've stated other places that our experience with Universal has been excellent; they keep our "number", and have re-issued our pass very pleasantly each trip (3x since December; we are now Passholders there); total time investment is less than 2 minutes each time. I get that they aren't Disney; but for us, Disney's system simply is too high a risk and too much stress. It makes me sad; especially for my kiddo who LOVES Disney.

Agree. I mentioned before somewhere, I really wouldn't care if disney dropped the pretrip rides. Just knowing we have it , gives peace of mind. Knowing we can look forward to the 15 ish rides DH can still handle (aside from DAS needs), makes such a difference.

 

[serenitynow]

Then I guess the reporter from the NY Post is lying when they say that the person told them how the 1% do Disney.

https://nypost.com/2013/05/14/rich-...es-so-kids-can-cut-lines-at-disney-world/amp/

And CNN too
https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/us/disney-skipping-lines/index.html

Both of the articles you reference are from 2013.

 

[notatallmagic]

Agree. I mentioned before somewhere, I really wouldn't care if disney dropped the pretrip rides. Just knowing we have it , gives peace of mind. Knowing we can look forward to the 15 ish rides DH can still handle (aside from DAS needs), makes such a difference.

Agreed. The uncertainly is a deal killer. I think we've used DAS at Disney maybe 8 times since diagnosis? One was a disaster, and left my tough just turned 18 in tears. Two or three were frustrating, but minimally acceptable. And four or five-ish were fine. The Cast Member quality was the difference. And that's a Disney failure.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Both of the articles you reference are from 2013.

Yes, they are. That’s when GAC ended and DAS started, which is what the poster I was responding to was talking about.

 

[BroganMc]

Yes, they are. That’s when GAC ended and DAS started, which is what the poster I was responding to was talking about.

Sorry but what point are you arguing here?

I remember 2013 well since I was in Disney during the change of GAC to DAS a and had several CM friends at the time. Yes there stories from Disney Land of GAC abuse were a big topic of conversation for months before the changed program. I'm actually impressed it only took them 4 months to come up with a new program.

Like every accommodation made for the disabled, eventually it is usurped and abused by the non-disabled :: handicapped parking::.

I remember that week I encountered 2 examples of abuse. 1) An able-bodied man with a broken arm p proudly waved his GAC at me and private how wonderful it was for himself and his kids to walk right onto any ride they wanted. 2) A disabled woman using a power wheelchair used her GAC as a revolving door on TSMM tying up the only wheelchair car all day long.

And here silly me using it once per ride per day and then only if wait times exceeded 30 mins. I h had so few entries on my handwritten card over 2 weeks that CMs wanted me to be the model user.

Now that DAS has been around long enough and Disney keeps jacking up the price of Genie+, I'm not surprised people are motivated to abuse it.

 

[piccolopat]

While some abusers may consider the wait outside a line to be desirable, my guess is more abusers are scamming the system to get those 2 free preselected fast passes for their party. That's definitely an advantage and especially helpful if used along with Genie+ and ILL. Disney might need to consider eliminating the free fast passes with DAS.

 

[RoseGold]

Then I guess the reporter from the NY Post is lying when they say that the person told them how the 1% do Disney.

Hiring someone disabled to be your "friend" seems like a completely different issue than defining who is "disabled." Hiring someone could happen no matter what the DAS guidelines are. Someone is always going to qualify, and someone is going to be willing to pay.

This is the kind of issue I'm sure Disney has down with the data. This one they could shut down in a second if they want to. I'm guessing Disney chooses their battles on this one and probably does shut down time to time.

 

[gottalovepluto]

That’s why I was asking if anyone has any recent experience with DAS for extremely disabled toddlers…are they ‘toughening’ up on DAS for all or just adults?

I think this thread is OP specific. They are trying to get a DAS for an issue that at first sounds like what CMs are literally trained they should not issue a DAS for.

I would try to Pre-register in your case at your 60 day mark. The guardian/parent can explain the issues and the child needs to be present but if approved that will be something off your minds.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I have heard they are getting extremely strict at WDW (not so much DLR though that is a different entity all together).

Odd. I’d head DLR is more strict than WDW, which mirrors our experience last spring. DLR was far more aggressive in questioning our applier than WDW a few months before. So much so he was a bit shook after

Wonder if it’s more like WDW is catching up to DLR and DLR is backing down a bit…

 

[OurBigTrip]

Sorry but what point are you arguing here?

I remember 2013 well since I was in Disney during the change of GAC to DAS a and had several CM friends at the time. Yes there stories from Disney Land of GAC abuse were a big topic of conversation for months before the changed program. I'm actually impressed it only took them 4 months to come up with a new program.

Like every accommodation made for the disabled, eventually it is usurped and abused by the non-disabled :: handicapped parking::.

I remember that week I encountered 2 examples of abuse. 1) An able-bodied man with a broken arm p proudly waved his GAC at me and private how wonderful it was for himself and his kids to walk right onto any ride they wanted. 2) A disabled woman using a power wheelchair used her GAC as a revolving door on TSMM tying up the only wheelchair car all day long.

And here silly me using it once per ride per day and then only if wait times exceeded 30 mins. I h had so few entries on my handwritten card over 2 weeks that CMs wanted me to be the model user.

Now that DAS has been around long enough and Disney keeps jacking up the price of Genie+, I'm not surprised people are motivated to abuse it.

If you read the posts I was responding to, my point is obvious.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Odd. I’d head DLR is more strict than WDW, which mirrors our experience last spring. DLR was far more aggressive in questioning our applier than WDW a few months before. So much so he was a bit shook after

Wonder if it’s more like WDW is catching up to DLR and DLR is backing down a bit…

we went in the summer last year to DLR and we didnt even apply pre trip after my mom rented the scooter the cms helped us.


But yes its very frustrating. Maybe dlr is getting more relaxed

 

[notatallmagic]

I heard the news over the weekend about the re-release of Annual Passes, and the part of me that is super sentimental about Disney was putting the April 20 date on my calendar. But the DAS issue is killer - we simply cannot do Disney anymore without it, and I worry about the risk of paying for Annual Passes, having to call/reapply every time and the potential of a crappy CM declining the request. Then the Annual Pass is useless. Anyone else having these thoughts?

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I heard the news over the weekend about the re-release of Annual Passes, and the part of me that is super sentimental about Disney was putting the April 20 date on my calendar. But the DAS issue is killer - we simply cannot do Disney anymore without it, and I worry about the risk of paying for Annual Passes, having to call/reapply every time and the potential of a crappy CM declining the request. Then the Annual Pass is useless. Anyone else having these thoughts?

even if not getting prearrival try a ride or 2 and go to Guest Services in the park and explain why waiting in line is not working for you. reapplying is nothing new unless you are local and go every week or so. DAS was never for the whole pass time had to renew

 

[notatallmagic]

even if not getting prearrival try a ride or 2 and go to Guest Services in the park and explain why waiting in line is not working for you. reapplying is nothing new unless you are local and go every week or so. DAS was never for the whole pass time had to renew

Yes, we are aware of that; but with the uncertainly and the stories I'm hearing, it seems to be much more of a risk now; and we simply cannot do the parks without the DAS. It would be a shame to spend almost $5000 (family of 3 out of state); and not be able to use the Annual Passes.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Yes, we are aware of that; but with the uncertainly and the stories I'm hearing, it seems to be much more of a risk now; and we simply cannot do the parks without the DAS. It would be a shame to spend almost $5000 (family of 3 out of state); and not be able to use the Annual Passes.

it seems to be harder to get some with the video chat than at parks especially if they have tried some lines and it did not work