Article: Is Disney Dissing the Disabled?

[OneLittleSpark1]

So the "discussion" goes on for page after page. And the (good) people at Disney just sit back and smile.

For those that need help, I'm sure Disney will find a way. They are, perhaps, one of the most compassionate companies ever.

For those of you so loudly complaining about a superior experience and no child should be given special treatment; you are correct and Disney will find a way to make these people have the same miserable experience that you do. (Except that they know how to find the good parts of life).

Keep calm and get in line. Disney will take care of us all.

I took the liberty to change just a little piece of what you wrote (mine in bold) to prove my point....


"So the "discussion" goes on for page after page. And the (good) people at Disney just sit back and smile.

For those that need help, and loudly complaining your child can't wait in line and need a special place to wait, I'm sure Disney will find a way. They are, perhaps, one of the most compassionate companies ever.

For those of you so loudly complaining about a superior experience and no child should be given special treatment; you are correct and Disney will find a way to make these people have the same miserable experience that you do. (Except that they know how to find the good parts of life).

Keep calm and get in line. Disney will take care of us all."

This can be applied to either side of the situation.

 

[OneLittleSpark1]

ii) Participation in unequal benefit It shall be discriminatory to afford an individual or class of individuals, on the basis of a disability or disabilities of such individual or class, directly, or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with the opportunity to participate in or benefit from a good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation that is not equal to that afforded to other individuals.

Unlimited access is not equal as it is not offered to other individuals.

Thank you for sharing this. I saw something about this on another forum as well.

 

[Vidia2]

We have kids in school, so we can't go during the off-seasons.

Of course, the same could be said for you - go during off season and use a good touring plan, then you won't need a DAS.

My kid's in school too but we go during off season. Your kids' education more important than my kid's perhaps? We also use a touring plan and previously a GAC. Now we'll be using a DAS as well as FP+ and the new ADRs that will open up because of the new penalties for cancellations.

I like the new system. You seem to be unhappy with it and you don't even need it or use it?

 

[npcougar]

I already have my plan in place as I'm local and go to the park every sat or sun for a couple hours with YDD, I'll be over there on Wednesday to discuss with GR how this all works and get a tutorial of sorts so I can work to prep her for Sat. I have FP+, I have a stack of expired room keys that pull paper FP and if she is determined to go to HS (a park where she does loop TOT and RNRC) then I think I have a touring plan that will allow for her to ride multiple times w/o using the DAS if the return times are not compatible.

If it is true that they could accommodate her need to loop those 2 rides then we should hopefully be golden until they pull out the paper FP machines. It will require a TON of work and time on my end but as long as this is the system then this is what we have to work with.

Nice way to abuse the system with old room keys. People always find a way to job the system.

 

[OurBigTrip]

My kid's in school too but we go during off season. Your kids' education more important than my kid's perhaps? We also use a touring plan and previously a GAC. Now we'll be using a DAS as well as FP+ and the new ADRs that will open up because of the new penalties for cancellations.

I like the new system. You seem to be unhappy with it and you don't even need it or use it?

Who said anything about my children's education being more important than your child's? We just don't take them out of school for vacations - school is a higher priority for us than vacation.

I was very happy with the new system as it was first described, because it would finally put a stop to the FOTL and multiple ride abusers. But now that it seems that Disney is going to cave in, it will be no better than the GAC, and will be abused just as much by the disabled and non-disabled alike.

 

[delmar411]

So you have no problem with her riding multiple times with no wait while other kids have to wait? Even if it takes using expired room keys to make it work?

Nice.

I have absolutely no issue with her looping those rides. She loops 3 rides out of all 4 parks. She gets to go to the parks for only a couple hours and normally gets on 3 rides before we leave and outside her obsessed ones, they are the rides we have FP+ for.

I won't even bother explaining to you how the obsessive behavior works. You don't get it and that doesn't bother me but I'm won't waste my time either.

 

[Robbi]

So you have no problem with her riding multiple times with no wait while other kids have to wait? Even if it takes using expired room keys to make it work?

Nice.

Nice way to abuse the system with old room keys. People always find a way to job the system.

Have you not been to the DIS theme park board? It's has been posted here on the DIS for at least 2 months plus other sites and lots of people have used it.
Disney hasn't stopped it so I don't see the big deal. We can't participate but I don't begrudge others using it.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I have absolutely no issue with her looping those rides. She loops 3 rides out of all 4 parks. She gets to go to the parks for only a couple hours and normally gets on 3 rides before we leave and outside her obsessed ones, they are the rides we have FP+ for.

I won't even bother explaining to you how the obsessive behavior works. You don't get it and that doesn't bother me but I'm won't waste my time either.

So screw the other kids that are waiting to ride, right? I mean, they don't deserve to ride as much as your DD does, right?

Yeah, nice.

 

[OneLittleSpark1]

If he has a meltdown, we leave whether it's WDW, a restaurant, the grocery store, church, etc. because believe it or not, we are not horrible, terrible people and do show consideration to others.

Maybe read up some on Autism and learn some of the issues such as resistance to being touched, gettingupset by change in their routine or environment, or repetitive body movements like hand flapping, rocking, spinning and basically moving constantly.

You said if he has a meltdown at WDW you leave. Yet you still want to say that you should get a FOTL pass so he doesn't meltdown. Makes no sense. Again, I am not saying that it won't happen. All kids NT or not have meltdowns, but it's about finding a way to deal with it, as you do at home, even if you are at WDW.

As far as reading up on Autism and learning the issues...I have. If you hadn't heard me say the 50 times I think I have, I have a special needs DD myself...no, she is not autistic, but I am in constant contact with parents of classmates/friends of hers who are. I realize everything you say, and I know that is how it is. But with the exception of getting upset with change in routine or environment, all fall under the alternate entrance category, not FOTL issue. As far as change in routine or environment...that is something a parent with an autistic child chooses to do when they go to WDW. We can all try to keep the schedule as close to the same as possible, but 100% is not possible, and shouldn't be expected at WDW any more than anywhere else in life.

If it's strictly environment, there is no way around that. If your child has an issue with being anywhere but home...you are choosing to make your child miserable for your own enjoyment. Now, I am not talking little things that all kids have issues with when not at home. None of us acts the same in an unfamiliar environment that isn't our own. I am talking serious issues. A GAC or a DAS even isn't going to help that situation at all.

 

[delmar411]

So screw the other kids that are waiting to ride, right? I mean, they don't deserve to ride as much as your DD does, right?

Yeah, nice.

Sure, you can go with that. That's how you think so go with it.

 

[OneLittleSpark1]

you are absolutely right. Not one person seems to be able to explain why at WDW their child absolutely can NOT wait for anything whatsoever. If this is the truth then all I can picture is a life exactly like the movie Helen Keller....but then again, even SHE was capable of learning. I just can't make heads or tails of it. I would have more respect for people if they would just admit, "Dang, busted! I'm really going to miss the front of the line pass because I didn't have to think twice about anything more than me and mine." and be done with it because this would be the truth. Heck, I'd be more than a little put out too if I got to tour Disney like a VIP and they snatched that rug out from under me.

Agreed!

Really!? I mean does that GAC/DAS cover the bathroom and the food places be it TS or CS too.

I bolded the particular part that I am referencing.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Sure, you can go with that. That's how you think so go with it.

It's not how I think, because I would never allow my child to do that. But since you do allow your child to do it, it's obviously how you think.

A perfect example of a superior experience for your child at the expense of every other child in the line, waiting to ride.

 

[npcougar]

It's not how I think, because I would never allow my child to do that. But since you do allow your child to do it, it's obviously how you think.

A perfect example of a superior experience for your child at the expense of every other child in the line, waiting to ride.

That is because their snowflake is much more important. It's a me me me world.

 

[karice2]

I finally can respond to you! Yay!

All I want to say is....

Can you be my new bff? Thank you for your words.

I don't know. I don't give out FOTL passes and you don't get more than one ride if there is a wait.

Wow that sounds incredibly inappropriate. It sounded better in my head.

 

[Objectivity]

ii) Participation in unequal benefit It shall be discriminatory to afford an individual or class of individuals, on the basis of a disability or disabilities of such individual or class, directly, or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements with the opportunity to participate in or benefit from a good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation that is not equal to that afforded to other individuals.

Unlimited access is not equal as it is not offered to other individuals.

It lost your highlighting...

Regardless, the part you highlighted does not apply in the way you think it does. The piece quoted above says (simplified) its discrimination to provide a good, service, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation that is not equal to other individuals....

If Disney offers something "greater than equal" to someone with a disability then it is in compliance with the ADA.

If it's that bothersome, you don't have to go to the parks. If that's an appropriate suggestion to someone with a disability, then it should be appropriate the other way as well.

 

[delmar411]

It's not how I think, because I would never allow my child to do that. But since you do allow your child to do it, it's obviously how you think.

A perfect example of a superior experience for your child at the expense of every other child in the line, waiting to ride.

Disney is for everyone, not just children. So I let her cut in front of paying adults too. Don't forget that part. And yep, Disney allows her to do that so complain to the man in charge. I don't think they are going to care how mad it makes you.

 

[karice2]

That is because their snowflake is much more important. It's a me me me world.

I think you mean Unicorn Snowflake.

 

[OurBigTrip]

That is because their snowflake is much more important. It's a me me me world.

I guess so.

I mean, my kids are the center of my universe, but I'm smart enough to know that they aren't the center of the universe.

 

[Robbi]

You said if he has a meltdown at WDW you leave. Yet you still want to say that you should get a FOTL pass so he doesn't meltdown. Makes no sense. Again, I am not saying that it won't happen. All kids NT or not have meltdowns, but it's about finding a way to deal with it, as you do at home, even if you are at WDW.

As far as reading up on Autism and learning the issues...I have. If you hadn't heard me say the 50 times I think I have, I have a special needs DD myself...no, she is not autistic, but I am in constant contact with parents of classmates/friends of hers who are. I realize everything you say, and I know that is how it is. But with the exception of getting upset with change in routine or environment, all fall under the alternate entrance category, not FOTL issue. As far as change in routine or environment...that is something a parent with an autistic child chooses to do when they go to WDW. We can all try to keep the schedule as close to the same as possible, but 100% is not possible, and shouldn't be expected at WDW any more than anywhere else in life.

If it's strictly environment, there is no way around that. If your child has an issue with being anywhere but home...you are choosing to make your child miserable for your own enjoyment. Now, I am not talking little things that all kids have issues with when not at home. None of us acts the same in an unfamiliar environment that isn't our own. I am talking serious issues. A GAC or a DAS even isn't going to help that situation at all.

No, I posted early on that when we had to leave the parks, it was nice to have the GAC because when we returned we could go to the FP line which, by the way, is not instant access.
FOTL is at Universal and yes, we stay onsite there to get that perk.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Disney is for everyone, not just children. So I let her cut in front of paying adults too. Don't forget that part. And yep, Disney allows her to do that so complain to the man in charge. I don't think they are going to care how mad it makes you.

I just did complain, and I will continue to do so.

Your kid may be special needs, but she isn't special.