DAS changes coming WDW May 20/ DL June 18, 2024

[CmdrThor]

The bigger issue with it (and the Disney World version of these changes) is you have to do it in advance, while those of us on here know enough to research and plan ahead, there are MANY, including those with disabilities that don't and will just show up.

You can still register day of, but you'll be going through the same video chat process. I assume the reason is they don't want to train CMs for every park for the new process. Disneyland will still have in person registration, but only at one location in the esplanade.

 

[OurBigTrip]

DAS was probably affecting Disney's bottom line. And we know that trumps absolutely everything known to man.

Disney is a business - their job is to make money, so they have to care about all of their guests, not just a subset.

 

[honeymo78]

This is where I am feeling stuck. I have bathroom issues plus anxiety. And the one can definitely impact the other. But I travel to Disneyland with my Mom in a wheelchair. If I have to leave the line, she will not be able to propel herself forward --- could maybe walk it a little ---- but not far or for very long. So if I have to leave the line, I guess the whole line stops or I have to fight to get us both out or have a cast member push her in line?!?! This is definitely not thought out for those with mobility issues. Oh and my Mom has some of the same bathroom issues - I got that from her.

This is basically me. Although my mom isn’t in a wheelchair, I’m not comfortable leaving her alone in line for an indeterminate amount of time in case she ends up needing assistance. Also I often need assistance when I’m in the restroom. I would get DAS for IBS type issues and not anxiety because that usually is the bigger issue for me and anything that would have set off my anxiety (Peter Pan queue I’m looking at you) is generally avoided already.

 

[PrincessNelly]

I just emailed them to ask for clarification and express how unhappy I am about these changes. My son has Crohns disease and I cannot image anyone with Crohns fighting their way backwards through a line to find a cast member to get a pass and then to get to the bathroom. I encourage everyone to email them as well. That's the only way we will see change: disability.services@disneyparks.com

This my concern.
I don't mind if its easy & quick. But realistically, those of us with bowel issues don't have lots of time to chase down cast members, get a return pass, then go wait in line for a restroom.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

So from the way this timeline works, if you apply 30 days in advance before your trip date and that day you apply falls prior to May 20th, is that conversation under the old criteria? That seems to be what I'm understanding here.

 

[Tatebeck]

While this would be the ideal, the reality is that a lot of people simply can't afford to go to a doctor, then a specialist, and then pay the amount required for testing. Saying if it's bad enough a person will go to a doctor is untrue - it's overlooking the reality of how much medical expenses are.

While I've been diagnosed with anxiety for a while, my ADHD which everyone and their mother thinks I have has been unable to be diagnosed because where I am, it costs 500 for testing alone - and no insurance can be used. And that's just one scenario.

If there's one thing most of us should be able to agree on is that if you can afford a whole Disney World vacation, you can afford at least one doctor's visit lol, even without insurance. I'm not recommending calling an ambulance to take you to the emergency room for a diagnosis after all. Some Dr's offices are even starting to not use insurance at all and only having cash patients because insurances suck so much, but that is a different conversation.

 

[StarLime]

This is disappointing. I don’t go to Disney that often, but my last trip my primary care physician was actually the one that told me about DAS when I asked her if I was okay to do rides (I have several heart conditions and have had open heart surgery). She even wrote me a note- but it seems like notes are useless now? Regardless, it’s a shame that people abusing the system made it get to this. I was thinking how beneficial it was for me last time.

 

[Gentry2004]

They would probably move your family to the side and wait for you to return via the ride exit (if there was not a way to get them also to the ride exit side easily). I can easily see how the return to line pass works for most rides. The person leaving would likely miss all preshows unseen, though.

Nevermind how unfair that is to your familly, what about the DAS user who doesn't have someone in line for them? How would they easily get back to their place in line? How would they even know where it was?

Also, what is to stop someone from getting in line for ROTR, leaving for "the bathroom", going to have lunch at Docking Bay 7, and returning an hour later, that much closer to the front of the line?

 

[nursejackie]

Good, it's been abused by many for years.

 

[voxparse]

I'll just say if the changes cut down on the abuse, I'm all for it. Even if I lose DAS but folks with more severe/different issues are able to get a better result out of the product, I'll be satisfied. We were just there last week and while I'm glad I have DAS and it does make my disability more manageable in the park, the LL queues were ridiculous and bordering on pointless. I ended up using the open ended return time more than I would have ever done in the past because the LL was nearing the same length as standby.

No company, Disney or otherwise, can accommodate any and all disabilities with a specific accommodation preferred by each individual. It sucks but it just isn't possible. I'm fairly certain Disney could eliminate DAS completely and still be in compliance with the ADA so we shouldn't even worry about that argument. DAS is above and beyond what the law requires.

The key to any change like this is find the new normal, figure out the rules, then make your way through the world. Stuff like this always changes (sometimes good, sometimes bad) but you can't rely on other people or other companies, only yourself.

Adapt and destroy!

 

[Tatebeck]

The return to line thing is still not clicking for me. Let's assume for a second you could figure out how to exit the line (big assumption) - I'm not understanding how they are going to keep track of where you were in the line? And even if they knew you were in front of "lady in striped shirt" - how would you get back to where she is? Or alternatively, what happens if you leave members of your party in the line, and they reach the front of the line before you return?

Nevermind how unfair that is to your familly, what about the DAS user who doesn't have someone in line for them? How would they easily get back to their place in line? How would they even know where it was?

Also, what is to stop someone from getting in line for ROTR, leaving for "the bathroom", going to have lunch at Docking Bay 7, and returning an hour later, that much closer to the front of the line?

I think checkpoints is the answer. You get back in line wherever you left. It doesn't continue the clock for your wait while you take a break or use the restroom, it pauses it. So when you get back in line you would end up waiting the same amount of time "in line." Otherwise everyone would take advantage of it and basically get what is basically the current DAS for free.

I would think that either the entire party that wants to ride together would leave the line with a pass and then return when they are ready, or they will wait for their last member to go through the last part of the line close to the ride loading zone like a child swap are or something

 

[kylenne]

If there's one thing most of us should be able to agree on is that if you can afford a whole Disney World vacation, you can afford at least one doctor's visit lol, even without insurance. I'm not recommending calling an ambulance to take you to the emergency room for a diagnosis after all. Some Dr's offices are even starting to not use insurance at all and only having cash patients because insurances suck so much, but that is a different conversation.

Topolino's breakfast is easier to get than a doctor's appt in my area for anything, and I live in NYC. I have switched PCPs 3 times in the last 2 years bc of this issue, and if you need referrals to specialists (which you do, to start the diagnostic process), good luck. Cake Bake Shop will open before you can get one.

It's not just an issue of the expense, it's how absolutely onerous it is and the number of hoops you have to jump through, which is why a lot of people are turning to the same online places that folk decry as evidence of a vast conspiracy of people faking ADHD. The entire system is broken. I don't think people who haven't had to deal with it quite understand that. I mean I still am because what choice do I have.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Picking one subset of disabilities to accommodate and deciding to ignore all others is the worst and most disgusting choice they could have possibly made. There is very little that could have made me turn against Disney, but I think I’m about done. That’s just so ugly.

You should probably apply for DAS and see if they actually reject you before getting so upset with them? They intentionally have left it quite vague. I'd bet anything that most/all of the people in this thread who have described some pretty legitimate challenges to waiting in a standard queue will get the new DAS accommodation. People are getting angry and upset without a good reason at this point. All you have is really vague verbiage on a website.

 

[HavendishSquare]

If you go to the doctor with a problem, they will give you a diagnosis (or a likely diagnosis/referral to a specialist if it's complicated) If the problem someone has was never bad enough to go to a Dr for, then it may not be bad enough to qualify for a program meant for disabilities...

This opinion is often pretty controversial, but I agree. A lot of people like to argue that not everyone can afford a diagnosis or that it costs money to get paperwork signed by their doctor. These would all be valid reasons if not for the fact that you are about to spend hundreds to thousands on a Disney World vacation…

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

While I understand why everyone is upset, I just want to remind you that nothing is permanent. If this causes more issues for Disney than it fixes, it will change again. Just like the GAC, and DAS 1.0 have changed. The more people who vote with their dollar and give respectful feedback as to why their dollar is going elsewhere. The more likely the next change will be positive. Shareholders can’t get dividends if a company doesn’t have enough sales to turn a profit, and Disney’s other income streams aren’t exactly lighting the world on fire right now.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You should probably apply for DAS and see if they actually reject you before getting so upset with them? They intentionally have left it quite vague. I'd bet anything that most/all of the people in this thread who have described some pretty legitimate challenges to waiting in a standard queue will get the new DAS accommodation. People are getting angry and upset without a good reason at this point. All you have is really vague verbiage on a website.

Not to mention that there is no evidence that Disney is ignoring any disability.

The idea the being refused a preferred accommodation is discrimination is part of the problem that has led to DAS misuse.

 

[Angel Ariel]

So how is that family friendly? My child half the time would want to ride a ride with their grandparents to experience it with them. Or sometimes want to ride it with mom and dad. The grandparents come on these trips to make memories with their grandchildren, and I have children who need the DAS pass, and we have used it on 3 previous trips

I don’t think I am abusing the system but when I have children who want to ride with grandma and who qualify for this pass, now I have to explain why they cannot ride with grandma and go through a whole exercise of calm down procedures because this is sure to be a trigger.

I'm not defending it, just sharing. I suggest emailing your thoughts to Disney's disability services email.

 

[Unity]

If there's one thing most of us should be able to agree on is that if you can afford a whole Disney World vacation, you can afford at least one doctor's visit lol, even without insurance. I'm not recommending calling an ambulance to take you to the emergency room for a diagnosis after all. Some Dr's offices are even starting to not use insurance at all and only having cash patients because insurances suck so much, but that is a different conversation.

Considering costs can range from 500 at a considered low range like my own experience - to informal autism screenings can cost anywhere from $0 to $500, while formal diagnostic tests can cost up to $5,000... not exactly? There's also the reality of having to work instead of going to appointments, appointments being booked months out in advance. So even if I went to a doctor -> specialist -> testing -> etc., it could take over a year...

Again, it should be true that it is easy. And in my case, my mother has her physical diagnosis done as well as me being diagnosed with anxiety. And I'm looking into options with ADHD right now as well, but it's really easy for a bystander to say it's so easy, when it's not.

 

[Gentry2004]

I think checkpoints is the answer. You get back in line wherever you left. It doesn't continue the clock for your wait while you take a break or use the restroom, it pauses it. So when you get back in line you would end up waiting the same amount of time "in line." Otherwise everyone would take advantage of it and basically get what is basically the current DAS for free.

I would think that either the entire party that wants to ride together would leave the line with a pass and then return when they are ready, or they will wait for their last member to go through the last part of the line close to the ride loading zone like a child swap are or something

We will certainly see what happens, but I don't think any of what you describe is how the "return to line" will work. Not if they are moving all non-developmental disabilities to this system. They are still disabilities and still protected under the ADA.

 

[OurBigTrip]

We will certainly see what happens, but I don't think any of what you describe is how the "return to line" will work. Not if they are moving all non-developmental disabilities to this system. They are still disabilities and still protected under the ADA.

Yep, and being able to leave and rejoin the line is an accommodation, just not the preferred accommodation of many.