I was denied yesterday for having only a neurological and physical disability after being accommodated for roughly 38 years of continued visits
I too have a neurological disability that is manifested physically and have been accommodated at Walt Disney World since 1986 for my disability. I no longer qualify for the
DAS program even though I am disabled and was previously approved roughly 30 days before today. What is disturbing to me is that Disney has decided it's up to them to discriminate who gets it and who doesn't based on a set of pre-determined questions designed to segregate disabilities into physical, psychological, and neurological so that they can weed out all the disabilities that aren't neurodivergent.
My view is that if you're going to have the DAS program make it available to those that are truly disabled and require an IBCCES. This reduces lines in the LL by getting rid of those that lie to use it. They clearly had this option just like Universal and Six Flags but decided against it. I came across an interview quote where Disney stated that they had considering partnering with an independent organization but decided against it because it would require guests to plan in advance.
Here's the article, read towards the bottom for the required visitors to plan in advance and provide records or documentation quote :
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/202...ability-access-policies-at-theme-parks/30825/
Let's flesh that out a bit, ask yourself if that makes sense. The act of going to Disney parks requires nothing but planning in advance. If you're disabled, you're well aware and accustomed to planning in advance for where you choose to visit. So if that's the case, why say that? My view is that Disney feels you won't book your vacation if you know you can't cheat the system so they say you can book, then you may get an accommodation or you may not. That way some will book and take the chance vs. Not booking at all because they know they won't qualify.
If you look at it that way it seems that there's potential profit at stake. My view is that this most recent DAS change is profit motivated. The sales of LL are not what was expected because of the abuse of the DAS system by those that do not have a disability. This means that the LL wasn't lightning fast and many complained and refused to pay for the service when all they had to do was lie and get it for free. Disney has solved this by saying we'll now discriminate against anything that is not neurodivergent, and on top of that they'll decide if your divergence is divergent enough. This has to be breaking someone's civil rights somewhere. Disney will see more profit by doing this. How you ask, the lightning lanes sales will go up because those that truly need it for a disability will pay. Those that are just tired of the whole system and have enough income will pay for more guided tours because they need to accommodate a disability. Lastly, those that do not have a disability will now pay for a service that they can no longer cheat the system. That's three revenue streams that increased due to a change in the DAS program.
If you disagree, here's my timeline:
1986 - no lightning lane or fast pass. I went to the ride queue with a wheelchair. The cast member would notice and route us through the exit so we could get on the line without navigating the wheelchair through the line. This continued until the early nineties
1996 - no lightning lane or fast pass. I was determined to overcome my physical limitations so I lived in the gym 5 days a week. I was out of the wheelchair and not using crutches so I declined any assistance be cause I didn't need it or want it although I was still physically and neurologically disabled.
2003 - There is now fast pass included with the purchase of a vacation package. This was the fist time you can now skip the wait if you pay for something. I used this system because it was a nice value and accommodated my specific needs at the time
2010 - I'm now using the GAC. Due to years of working hard to overcome my physical disability I damaged my joints, spine, and muscles. I now use an
ECV or wheelchair so Disney accommodated me by allowing me to obtain a GAC. This allowed me to go to an attraction and obtain a return time or Fast Pass plus ticket to ride at a different time so I could wait on a bench, a rest area, a restaurant, or other area until my time has come to ride the ride. This system worked great until someone in high society published an article in a blog that explained how to obtain a GAC and not be handicapped. The article point blank said in order to skip the lines, you "hire" a handicapped individual to go on vacation with you. The handicapped individual then obtains the GAC that includes the whole party and everyone gets to skip the line.
2013 - Disney cancels the GAC and implements the DAS. At first if your disability was evident they continued to accommodate. Disney then made as many rides as possible that they could ADA compliant. Those that they could not would remain and you would approach the exit for the appropriate accommodation. However, you could still obtain a DAS pass if you could demonstrate that your needs were still not met.
2020 - My disability has now progressed to a point that it is hard to control pelvic floor muscles. I was able to still qualify for a DAS because there was a risk of defecating or urinating on myself in line because I cannot move fast enough or efficiently enough to exit the line safely to relieve myself.
2024 -
Genie+ and LL are now paid services. I now live in Florida and had been approved for DAS every 60 days at this point after discussing urine and feces with cast members in public while in my ECV for a few years now. At this point it was realized that the LL sales are not what they would like. Guest complaints are up on the service due to the abuse of the system. Disney decides to now disqualify those that they see fit from the DAS service. By doing this they will reduce complaints against the now paid services and increase the sales of said services as well. My view is that the process of disqualification is violating the civil rights of ALL disabled people for the purpose of profit. It's not right. They can choose to accept IBCCES certification. This verifies the disability and prevents abuse because those that can qualify will and those that cannot or lie about a disability won't even bother. It solves the problem but it will not guarantee an increase in profit at the level they can if they make the decision themselves.
Here is the link to file a complaint with the Department of Justice for a civil right violation
https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/
Here's a link to file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations
https://fchr.myflorida.com/public-accommodations
....teenagers. I applied for neurodivergent condition. CM was very nice.
