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

[OurBigTrip]

Ah - still disagree ultimately, but I can see where you said that now.

Fair enough on the disagreement. I’m looking at it from the perspective of a non-DAS guest can’t wait in two standby lines at a time, so why should a DAS guest be able to?

Aside from the inequality of access issue, it’s a perk that makes it attractive to abusers.

 

[DisneyElite4]

Ahhh sorry, I misread your comment/question. You're correct. And now I'm even more worried

Exactly! We still qualify under the new rules, but we have 3 minor children, making us 5. I’m hoping they just removed that to cut down on people asking for an exception, and that they will grant them in situations like ours. Have to wait and see how it all shakes out, and that’s hard!

 

[Gentry2004]

Exactly! We still qualify under the new rules, but we have 3 minor children, making us 5. I’m hoping they just removed that to cut down on people asking for an exception, and that they will grant them in situations like ours. Have to wait and see how it all shakes out, and that’s hard!

It seems likely they will grant it for families with more than 2 minor children. But given that the default limit is 4, I highly doubt Disney is envisioning this will include grandparents unless the parents are not present.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Denied for IBS?

Our last visit to WDW our son had to use the restroom multiple times in ride lines. The solution was quick—we met a cast member who took us on an expedited route to the nearest bathroom. We were then able to return to the line. Disney deals with this all the time.

I’m curious as to how IBS would ever qualify for DAS given restroom emergencies, or the potential for them, is quickly remedied by cast members as a routine event that occurs multiple times an hour in many queues.

Based on what Ive seen posted online, IBS is a frequent reason folks request DAS- look it up on TikTok, you'll see tons of videos. And recently it appears that many folks were getting denied for that reason from what I saw on here. So thats why I think that leave the line pass they're referring to might be to address that concern specifically.

 

[Rpo0921]

Fair enough on the disagreement. I’m looking at it from the perspective of a non-DAS guest can’t wait in two standby lines at a time, so why should a DAS guest be able to?

Aside from the inequality of access issue, it’s a perk that makes it attractive to abusers.

A non-DAS guest can’t do lots of things someone with DAS can. Should DAS guest not be allowed to go back to their hotels to get away since non-DAS guest can’t wait in a line and return to their hotel?

 

[DisneyElite4]

It seems likely they will grant it for families with more than 2 minor children. But given that the default limit is 4, I highly doubt Disney is envisioning this will include grandparents unless the parents are not present.

Hope so! It’s certainly interesting that the language to make exceptions was there at first, and has since been removed.

 

[poohs_hunny]

I think the problem with these revisions can be summed up pretty simply: not everyone with a developmental disability needs DAS, and not everyone who needs DAS has a developmental disability.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The practical problem is that you don’t tap in/scan for standby queues, so it’s hard to track. The ethical problem is where a standby queue becomes disqualifying— 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45 minutes? Frankly, you need to be able to wait 40+ minutes to handle some of the LL returns (looking at you Test Track!).

Apparently it needs to be said here too. No one who has DAS and enters another line is abusing DAS. This is from the DAS FAQ page for WDW, screenshot a few minutes ago.

People may be able to wait in a 15-20 mins line, but not a 45 min+ one. They may be able to wait in outdoor queues (where sound dissipates more easily) longer than they can wait in indoor queues). Regardless of reason, Disney explicitly allows - if not encourages, given this is their FAQ - using DAS in this manner.

 

[OurBigTrip]

A non-DAS guest can’t do lots of things someone with DAS can. Should DAS guest not be allowed to go back to their hotels to get away since non-DAS guest can’t wait in a line and return to their hotel?

Not even the same, but you do you.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Right, but anyone can use Genie +.

My point is that if you’re standing in line for Space Mountain, and I have a DAS return time for Space Mountain, you can’t ride another ride while you wait in line, whereas I can.

Has nothing to do with Genie+

I agree. This huge perk is probably the biggest incentive for abusing the DAS. As a DAS holder you may be waiting the same amount of time as stand-by but outside of the line but can now use that time to ride one or more extra rides. Easy to get double or triple amount of rides in the same time frame as a non DAS holder. The legitimately disabled may not do this but the abuser certainly will.

 

[10CJ]

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 is simply not true. Medical gaslighting is real. Patients are not always believed. Insurance often will not cover tests. It can often take years to get an accurate medical diagnosis. You can't just pop in and say I am experiencing x,y,z, please diagnose me today.

I do not think requiring a doctor's note is the way to go with any of this.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Apparently it needs to be said here too. No one who has DAS and enters another line is abusing DAS. This is from the DAS FAQ page for WDW, screenshot a few minutes ago.
View attachment 850044
People may be able to wait in a 15-20 mins line, but not a 45 min+ one. They may be able to wait in outdoor queues (where sound dissipates more easily) longer than they can wait in indoor queues). Regardless of reason, Disney explicitly allows - if not encourages, given this is their FAQ - using DAS in this manner.

I haven’t seen anyone say it’s abuse. I think it’s an incentive for people who don’t need DAS and I think it provides superior access, but as it stands now, it certainly isn’t abuse of the DAS.

 

[notatallmagic]

For the sections or queues without them they will likely have a roaming cast member or cast member checkpoints so you just wave them down. Then they let you out the nearest exit or unclip some ropes. Doesn't seem that complicated to me.

Ponder the idea of DAS holder needing to leave the line for a medical reason which may or may not turn serious. Party of 2; or party of 3 with a minor child. As the parent, who leaves the line? All 3? Or do I send someone who may be having a life threatening medical issue out of the line alone and just hope they make it back and don't lose consciousness alone in the bathroom? This is NOT a solution

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Exactly! We still qualify under the new rules, but we have 3 minor children, making us 5. I’m hoping they just removed that to cut down on people asking for an exception, and that they will grant them in situations like ours. Have to wait and see how it all shakes out, and that’s hard!

I think you are exactly the “immediate family” situation Disney will accommodate (not grandparents, adult siblings, etc.)— I believe they aren’t going to force parents with more than two minor children to split up the group and any other parties of 4 or more will be limited to DAS guest plus 3 others.

The DAS system is frequently overextended and if 5-15% of guests legitimately qualify under one condition or another and they are each bringing 4+ additional guests you could have 1/3 or even half the park guests qualify for DAS access, which is going to negatively impact everyone’s experience. There is only so much ride capacity and there are a lot of Americans with legitimate disabilities— so Disney can either crack down on fraud, dramatically tighten qualifications, and/or reduce DAS party size. It looks like they are planning to focus on 2 and 3.

Option 3 also has the bonus of disincentivizing marginal users (also called misusers) who can stand in line but don’t strictly need to.

 

[Gentry2004]

I think the problem with these revisions can be summed up pretty simply: not everyone with a developmental disability needs DAS, and not everyone who needs DAS has a developmental disability.

And they have done not one single thing to address the lying. Its not like the liar cares WHAT the lie is as long as it works.

 

[Jellybean9]

I agree. This huge perk is probably the biggest incentive for abusing the DAS. As a DAS holder you may be waiting the same amount of time as stand-by but outside of the line but can now use that time to ride one or more extra rides. Easy to get double or triple amount of rides in the same time frame as a non DAS holder. The legitimately disabled may not do this but the abuser certainly will.

They don’t actually wait the same amount of time. It’s the standby wait minus 15 minutes.

 

[Gentry2004]

They don’t actually wait the same amount of time. It’s the standby wait minus 15 minutes.

Because you then must wait in the LL line which is typically 15 minutes or more. So the total wait is the same or more.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Apparently it needs to be said here too. No one who has DAS and enters another line is abusing DAS. This is from the DAS FAQ page for WDW, screenshot a few minutes ago.
View attachment 850044
People may be able to wait in a 15-20 mins line, but not a 45 min+ one. They may be able to wait in outdoor queues (where sound dissipates more easily) longer than they can wait in indoor queues). Regardless of reason, Disney explicitly allows - if not encourages, given this is their FAQ - using DAS in this manner.

Since you quoted me, I want to clarify that I was NOT suggesting it is abuse of the system, it is how the system is currently designed. I could see arguments for changing it, but was pointing out it would be hard to make rules for the reason noted.

 

[ToxicRoyalty]

They don’t actually wait the same amount of time. It’s the standby wait minus 15 minutes.

Those 15 minutes are meant to accommodate for time waiting in the lightning lane, though, which more often is exceeding a 15 minute wait (and DAS users who can't wait in it for reasons that require the DAS in the first place are then having to get out of line and forfeit all that time waited in the first place)

To add, there's quite a few times DAS users wait more than standby guests. It's not uncommon to see people saying a ride said it had a 40 minute wait time, for example, but they only waited 12. DAS users can't have that experience though, they have to go by what the standby time says.

 

[LuvinTheWorld]

Now, I also wonder if Disney may end up opening up a whole new can of worms so to speak though. There are many, many people who likely have Autism, ADD, ADHD and the like that were born in the early 80's and earlier that were never officially diagnosed with such disabilities. I wonder if people who feel like they may have such disabilities will now seek out an official diagnosis, even though they have learned how to mostly cope with it, maybe with some assistance like the DAS. If so, this may end up causing a minor (maybe major depending on how many people we are talking) upheaval over all the country.

This is my biggest issue. We have been doing DAS for years for our older son but never got a real diagnosis because 1. there was basically no need for it (no SSI, no IEP bc homeschool, and Disney never required one) and 2. my husband, who was diagnosed in the late 80s, used to be VERY sensitive to the diagnosis and gave a lot of pushback on getting it for our son when he was younger (even though I've tried to explain to him that there is much less stigma now than there used to be). Our trip is in 45 days, so not really much time to get a diagnosis now. We do have a diagnosis for our toddler for a genetic issue that includes GDD with autistic and ADHD-like features, but IDK if they would give a DAS to a toddler? He is tall enough to ride some height requirement rides (36" at last check up but possibly 38" by now), but not old enough to have a purchased ticket. I have severe anxiety issues myself, so the thought of having to wait in line with him while he is "stimming" or yelling loudly due to the over-stimulation of being in a tight space with a lot of people for a long time is making my nervous. I guess I at least need to see about getting his stroller marked as a mobility aid (he can't walk yet and is getting more difficult to hold for long periods of time with his weight + stimming behaviors) which we have never done before and is another reason I was *really* glad to already have the DAS for our older son. If they would have announced this sooner, I would have moved our check in up by a week.