DAS Approval/Denial with New DAS Guidelines START 5/20 WDW & 6/18 DL

[OurBigTrip]

I wish all of the cm’s had the same information, my daughter with autism and cognitive impairment was denied. I explained the behaviors that occur when she is in a group of people and can not move around- she suggested I wait in line and have dd join when got close to entering. My dd has to be under adult supervision, who is going to wait with her? I have another dd who also needs 1 to 1 supervision. My oldest dd could not maneuver through the line independently, nor do I want to be separated from my family all day. My youngest dd did qualify for das, but we will have to get LL for older dd as younger dd does not like “big rides”. We are headed to DL next Saturday for our first visit.

Will your older DD be able to navigate the LL and ride independently is she needs 1 to 1 supervision?

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Will your older DD be able to navigate the LL and ride independently is she needs 1 to 1 supervision?

Or do you have 2 neurotypical adults in your party and just don’t want to separate? It feels like something is missing here.

 

[lanejudy]

Or do you have 2 neurotypical adults in your party and just don’t want to separate? It feels like something is missing here.

PP posted upthread (or maybe on the other thread). There are 2 adults in the party, 1 for each of 2 disabled daughters (one DD is a child the other DD an adult).

 

[stenickar]

Will your older DD be able to navigate the LL and ride independently is she needs 1 to 1 supervision?

No, I have another adult with me. One for each dd.

 

[stenickar]

Or do you have 2 neurotypical adults in your party and just don’t want to separate? It feels like something is missing here.

Younger dd will be with one adult and one adult with older dd. Younger dd has many sensory issues and does not do well with “scary, as she perceives, places”. There are some ride entrances that increase her severe anxiety, so we avoid those areas. Older dd loves all of the rides at WDW, so I believe she will want to experience them all at DL.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

So from Disney’s perspective party 1 gets in line and party 2 waits outside/joins through the LL. I think that makes sense in the new regime - ie not all DD require DAS accommodations.

 

[stenickar]

So from Disney’s perspective party 1 gets in line and party 2 waits outside/joins through the LL. I think that makes sense in the new regime - ie not all DD require DAS accommodations.

Except that my youngest dd doesn’t do well with some entrances, so we avoid some attractions. Oldest dd is not able to comprehend directions in a new setting, she needs a lot of repetition to understand directions. I totally understand the process Disney has in place, it just doesn’t work with my children. We will be able to enjoy DL using younger dd’s das and LL for older dd’s big rides

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Just applied.
Only waited a couple of minutes.
I was denied.
Neil specifically told me that DAS "is only for those who cannot comprehend the reason for waiting in line".
I expressed that many people with a developmental disability like Autism or similar can LOGICALLY understand the reason for a line but that does not mean it is any less difficult to wait in said line.
I then emailed Disney about it.

Sorry edited to add...
This was for WDW and I had previously been approved both in person and online.
And leaving the queue and talking to a CM about re-entering through the LL was suggested.
Oh also its 2 adults. Myself and my support person.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Just applied.
Only waited a couple of minutes.
I was denied.
Neil specifically told me that DAS "is only for those who cannot comprehend the reason for waiting in line".
I expressed that many people with a developmental disability like Autism or similar can LOGICALLY understand the reason for a line but that does not mean it is any less difficult to wait in said line.
I then emailed Disney about it.

WDW or DLR?

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

WDW or DLR?

Sorry WDW and I had previously been approved both in person and online and leaving the queue was suggested.
I'll edit my other post to add those details.

 

[jjpet]

Just got off the call for DLR, my 15 year old son with developmental disability was approved +3 other members of our party (we are 6 in total). I signed on around 3:30pm mountain time and was chatting with someone around 4 hours later. I used a VPN and the connection was TERRIBLE, but the cast member reassured me in the chat that she would hang up and re-initiate a call as many times as it took and I wouldn't lose my place in the queue.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Just wanted to update that I received a very generic email back this morning that said... sorry for your disappointment. Our program is only intended for those with autism or similar.
They did not even address the fact that I asked if it is correct that it is only for those who cannot comprehend what a line is.
So I replied and asked for clarification that its only for those who cannot comprehend what a line is.
You're not brushing me off that easily.

 

[Lostboysmama]

Im new here, but ive been reading for awhile now. I did my das call about a week or so ago for WDW. I was approved and the 3 members of my immediate family.(3 adults 1 16yr old) My condition is not developmental. My issue is medical. Cast member was kind but more matter of fact then they have been in the past. She mentioned that only a small number of people would be getting approved now.She didn't say that it was only for developmental disability. I did get the feeling from her questions that they are really trying to decipher between having a disease and being disabled from it. I won't say what my condition is but I will say that Ive had it for 15 years but only have used/qualified for DAS for about the last 2. I was connected almost immediately and the call took about 15 minutes. She did ask for my husband to come on the call to help describe my condition and what my issue was with the lines, he spoke for about a minute and then I was approved for 120 days. Overall not too different than before. My only advice: be kind, be honest. You'll get more flies with honey rather than vinegar. Hope this will calm some fears for those who are still waiting for their call.

 

[Bearval]

My son does the same exact thing. He loves to deny and mask due to embarrassment. We have our 'interview' next month....

Unfortunately we had a horrible experience with our daughter when we had to take her to the emergency room at the hospital and the doctor had us leave the room and asked her questions about her condition with out us present( found out this was illegal later due to her age). We had to hire a lawyer to get a hearing to have the doctors decision overturned ( he had her involuntarily committed to a facility he had a financial interest in). Now anytime anyone asks our daughter a question about her condition she tells them what she thinks they want to hear.

 

[jods]

Unfortunately we had a horrible experience with our daughter when we had to take her to the emergency room at the hospital and the doctor had us leave the room and asked her questions about her condition with out us present( found out this was illegal later due to her age). We had to hire a lawyer to get a hearing to have the doctors decision overturned ( he had her involuntarily committed to a facility he had a financial interest in). Now anytime anyone asks our daughter a question about her condition she tells them what she thinks they want to hear.

I'm so sorry your daughter (and you) had to go through that.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Im new here, but ive been reading for awhile now. I did my das call about a week or so ago for WDW. I was approved and the 3 members of my immediate family.(3 adults 1 16yr old) My condition is not developmental. My issue is medical. Cast member was kind but more matter of fact then they have been in the past. She mentioned that only a small number of people would be getting approved now.She didn't say that it was only for developmental disability. I did get the feeling from her questions that they are really trying to decipher between having a disease and being disabled from it. I won't say what my condition is but I will say that Ive had it for 15 years but only have used/qualified for DAS for about the last 2. I was connected almost immediately and the call took about 15 minutes. She did ask for my husband to come on the call to help describe my condition and what my issue was with the lines, he spoke for about a minute and then I was approved for 120 days. Overall not too different than before. My only advice: be kind, be honest. You'll get more flies with honey rather than vinegar. Hope this will calm some fears for those who are still waiting for their call.

I am pretty sure the majority of us were nice when we talked to the cast members and many of us were still denied. I am sad you think we were denied because we weren’t nice or you were approved because you were nicer than people who were denied. I am glad you had a good result and hope you have a nice trip.

Edit - sorry I just realized this is not the discussion thread

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I decided to actually write out my needs/concerns and do the video chat again.
This time the woman was very understanding although she said she saw I had already chatted and was denied and she could see the transcript so I do think that made her have some bias towards denying me.
But at least I was more able to explain my situation. She brought in a medical professional. I'm sure she had been able to review the notes that the CM sent so again I'd say she came into the conversation with somewhat of a bias to decline me.
She too listened to my concerns and then said the CM would explain my alternate options... AKA DAS was in fact still denied.

I will say though that the options were much better explained to me and the reason for denial was not "its only for people that don't understand what a line is" which of course we all know that was some BS by the other CM that just didn't want to explain anything to me.
Instead she told me that she understood entering the line and waiting for a while and leaving the line and requesting re-entry was not a good solution.
She also said joining my support person also was not a good solution.
Nor was rider switch.
So what she did tell me was that requesting a return time from the CMs at each attraction that I felt was too difficult to wait in the traditional line would be the best option for me.
She said I would not have to go into explanation. Simply state that due to health and safety reasons the traditional line would be difficult for me to wait in and navigate.
I understand that anyone can walk up and ask that and the CM can deny it but hey its a better option than the others for me that would either separate me from my support person or be a hassle to try to get out of the line.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

So what she did tell me was that requesting a return time from the CMs at each attraction that I felt was too difficult to wait in the traditional line would be the best option for me.
She said I would not have to go into explanation. Simply state that due to health and safety reasons the traditional line would be difficult for me to wait in and navigate.
I understand that anyone can walk up and ask that and the CM can deny it but hey its a better option than the others for me that would either separate me from my support person or be a hassle to try to get out of the line.

Such a slippery slope. For a few people, not a big deal. But if this becomes widely known, then either a) it will go back to blanket denials or b) it will be backdoor DAS lite and then slowly but surely the problems that created the need to change DAS 1.0 will return.

Unfortunately there are no easy answers, though for your sake I’m glad that you have a path forward that will hopefully work better than what was originally presented.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I decided to actually write out my needs/concerns and do the video chat again.
This time the woman was very understanding although she said she saw I had already chatted and was denied and she could see the transcript so I do think that made her have some bias towards denying me.
But at least I was more able to explain my situation. She brought in a medical professional. I'm sure she had been able to review the notes that the CM sent so again I'd say she came into the conversation with somewhat of a bias to decline me.
She too listened to my concerns and then said the CM would explain my alternate options... AKA DAS was in fact still denied.

I will say though that the options were much better explained to me and the reason for denial was not "its only for people that don't understand what a line is" which of course we all know that was some BS by the other CM that just didn't want to explain anything to me.
Instead she told me that she understood entering the line and waiting for a while and leaving the line and requesting re-entry was not a good solution.
She also said joining my support person also was not a good solution.
Nor was rider switch.
So what she did tell me was that requesting a return time from the CMs at each attraction that I felt was too difficult to wait in the traditional line would be the best option for me.
She said I would not have to go into explanation. Simply state that due to health and safety reasons the traditional line would be difficult for me to wait in and navigate.
I understand that anyone can walk up and ask that and the CM can deny it but hey its a better option than the others for me that would either separate me from my support person or be a hassle to try to get out of the line.

I'm glad the call was a better experience.

From what I've read here and elsewhere, those approaching CMs at attractions and asking for return times have been consistently met with either confusion (cm doesn't know what they're talking about), or a "no" and redisrected to the waiting in the queue until you have to leave it option.

I would suggest being prepared to hear a lot of no when requesting a return time.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Such a slippery slope. For a few people, not a big deal. But if this becomes widely known, then either a) it will go back to blanket denials or b) it will be backdoor DAS lite and then slowly but surely the problems that created the need to change DAS 1.0 will return.

Unfortunately there are no easy answers, though for your sake I’m glad that you have a path forward that will hopefully work better than what was originally presented.

By giving to the frontline CMs, they can make decisions based on each ride. Like, I doubt for the new hot rides, they'll give out return to line passes...but if you want Small World, and the line has somehow gotten to an hour, they would probably give one.

Ride specificity, newness of each ride, normal lines for each ride, reliability of the ride that day, actual ride queue environment, etc, can all play a role. Thus, why a frontline CM is asked and can make the call based on the ride that day.