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

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

1) yes, I never said everyone will be offered DAS I said those who are offered
2) I appreciate the answer

Still not finding it correct that extra 3 presumably non disabled friend (and not family) could be added to DAS instead of Rider Switch or RTQ offered

Meanwhile kids with legitimate needs get denied DAS

I understand the meltdown will happen 100% so yes, you (general you) shouldn't get into line but what about the all the others in your company?

I'm not telling that this is the person's fault as they are only using what the system is offered to them! But if Disney really wants to cut back LL lines they should find another solution.

I keep repeating myself I know but RIDER SWITCH would be the solution if can be used as in DLR.

The legitimate disabled still could get a fair accommodation but the number of people in the LL would be reduced dramatically.

With Rider Switch one should walk up to the ride itself and request it. Whenever they are ready. And assuming Rider Switch window is not expiring the disabled could ride anytime after their party is done.

If it's not immediate l'm sure the disabled party's family would understand the extra added time but the one with the disability (+ 1 carer) wouldn't have to suffer/risk to be in the line ....

I do hope Disney is "listening"

I haven't heard of friends being approved yet, but I of course haven't read every post on the Internet - I've seen a lot of people being told they can only have their DAS when they're alone, for example, and have to use Rider Switch or ARQ if with others.

 

[cat4hurricane]

Wanted to give a quick update about the roller/rollator that we talked about a handful of pages back. I talked about it with my mom and she seemed amenable to me using it in the parks, especially once I explained that WDW doesn’t allow pop-up/camp chairs. Still unsure as to how we would get it there and back (sometimes we drive, sometimes we fly so it would depend on the trip) but it’s definitely an option I’d like to pursue once we get closer and plan a park trip. All of our schedules are very busy recently, so it’s not going to be within the next handful of months, most likely later in the year if we manage it this year at all. I’m hoping by then that Disney will have figured out the alternative accommodations/if they want to put account markers/ease up on denials/etc. I have no doubt that they’ll figure it out in the coming months, but for now, assuming nothing else changes, I should be fine with a roller.

I would really like to see an account marker for the RTQ/return time option or the AQR, and for Disney to determine if they want to keep tracking usage. My hope is that they’re tracking usage to see if the RTQ is being overused/an acceptable accommodation so they can give more manpower to incorporating it and suggesting it, but I have heard that CMs are being told not to hand it out because it affects something in their metrics. I’m unsure why Disney would be okay with suggesting this as an accommodation when it seems like they aren’t giving CMs the bandwidth to properly utilize it and hand it out, but this is a transitional period so I’m not too surprised about it.

 

[jlundeen]

Wanted to give a quick update about the roller/rollator that we talked about a handful of pages back. I talked about it with my mom and she seemed amenable to me using it in the parks, especially once I explained that WDW doesn’t allow pop-up/camp chairs. Still unsure as to how we would get it there and back (sometimes we drive, sometimes we fly so it would depend on the trip) but it’s definitely an option I’d like to pursue once we get closer and plan a park trip.

Most of the rollators I've seen fold up so they are not as big. Not sure about flying with them, as I've never noticed one checked or used in airport...

 

[PrincessV]

Our annual passes expire 10 days before we can call to try to renew our DAS. If my daughter no longer qualifies for DAS, we won’t be renewing and will need to cancel the 3 DVC trips we have booked. Is there any way to find out before our APs expire? Or is there a grace period to renew?

There IS a 30-day grace period after expiration in which you can renew an AP at the discounted price:

Renew Your Pass on the My Disney Experience App​

Choose to renew into any available pass type during your renewal window (60 days before and 30 days after expiration) with a special renewal benefit.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/

 

[koszmok]

My ds not level one is an adult do you suggest we as a family should be separated? I would list a few reasons why that wouldn't work but that may provide a roadmap for cheaters. Also how can Disney determine what makes up a "family" with many living in what wouldn't be considered a traditional family

No! I'm saying exactly the opposite!!!

I don't understand why FRIENDS (and not family members are getting added to the DAS - based on post here on the forums)

Meanwhile disabled Kids turned down offering DAS.

I don't think it's fair that friends can get added instead of using Rider Switch.

In my previous post actually I stated I get why Families need to stay together

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No! I'm saying exactly the opposite!!!

I don't understand why FRIENDS (and not family members are getting added to the DAS - based on post here on the forums)

Meanwhile disabled Kids turned down offering DAS.

I don't think it's fair that friends can get added instead of using Rider Switch.

In my previous post actually I stated I get why Families need to stay together

Traveling parties aren't solely comprised of familial relations. It's personally why I phrase it as traveling parties vast majority of the time in lieu of families.

 

[jlundeen]

Gosh, some of these posts about how people "should" or "should not" get this or that accomodation are really depressing. One wonders why some folks would even GO to Disney if they cannot enjoy a vacation with friends and family members even if there are disabilities involved.

 

[figmentfan423]

No! I'm saying exactly the opposite!!!

I don't understand why FRIENDS (and not family members are getting added to the DAS - based on post here on the forums)

Meanwhile disabled Kids turned down offering DAS.

I don't think it's fair that friends can get added instead of using Rider Switch.

In my previous post actually I stated I get why Families need to stay together

All I'm saying is in the past we have traveled with friends(Not Disney so far) and sometimes they have watched my son so we get a bit of a break. They're not family but imho should be treated like family

 

[SueM in MN]

Appreciate that and I did find those. The concern i have is not receiving what she said she would send and having no acknowledgement of being approved. Is this typical? Do you just show up in the park and it's in the app then? Or should I be concerned?

The DAS tile usually doesn't show up until after getting to a park the first time

 

[SueM in MN]

Our annual passes expire 10 days before we can call to try to renew our DAS. If my daughter no longer qualifies for DAS, we won’t be renewing and will need to cancel the 3 DVC trips we have booked. Is there any way to find out before our APs expire? Or is there a grace period to renew?

The period for renewal is 60 days before or 30 days after the expiration date.
AP renewal info

 

[PrincessV]

Traveling parties aren't solely comprised of familial relations. It's personally why I phrase it as traveling parties vast majority of the time in lieu of families.

I thank you for this. I have only one living family member - my adult child - who rarely accompanies me to WDW. But I do have a few very close friends who very much ARE my family in every way that counts, other than a blood or marital connection, and WDW is where we spend time together. I mostly just scroll & ignore when the talk turns to friends not being considered family, but your comment went a long way toward making me feel good, so I wanted to highlight that.

 

[jo-jo]

Most of the rollators I've seen fold up so they are not as big. Not sure about flying with them, as I've never noticed one checked or used in airport...

We've flown several times with them. Because they are made to pop open and close, I bring some velco to wrap the legs close when we hand it off for gate check.

We always gate check. We had one flight there weren't any wheelchairs when we got off the plane. Even walking up the ramp with nothing but a cane would be tough for him. We take a folding cane on the plane.

 

[SueM in MN]

Has anyone seen/used large umbrellas to attach to wheelchairs at all? I have an issue in that I take medications that causes sun sensitivity but have also had a stroke so use my left hand to steer my wheelchair but my right hand is too weak to hold an umbrella. Also not sure how I am putting the umbrella up and down to go through queues.

Oh the complexities of navigating WDW with former DAS accommodating disabilities (the wheelchair use was not one of them) is stressing me out! I know people will think just don’t go but this was my happy place to the point of just purchasing DVC less than a year ago!

We tried an umbrella once with our daughter's wheelchair, but it was pretty cumbersome for us. We are mostly pushing her in her wheelchair, which got in the way of pushing. If you are propelling the wheelchair yourself, that might not be an issue.
The issue for you would more be folding it and getting it out of the way when you need to transfer.
I don't know if you've looked at UV blocking clothing, but UV clothing with a UV blocking hat might work for you. Here are a couple of companies to look at:
Coolibar
Solbari
Those companies specialize in sun protection clothing, but many other companies like Land's End, REI, Patagonia, Uniqlo, Columbia, Duluth Trading also have UV protective clothing

Wanted to give a quick update about the roller/rollator that we talked about a handful of pages back. I talked about it with my mom and she seemed amenable to me using it in the parks, especially once I explained that WDW doesn’t allow pop-up/camp chairs. Still unsure as to how we would get it there and back (sometimes we drive, sometimes we fly so it would depend on the trip) but it’s definitely an option I’d like to pursue once we get closer and plan a park trip. All of our schedules are very busy recently, so it’s not going to be within the next handful of months, most likely later in the year if we manage it this year at all. I’m hoping by then that Disney will have figured out the alternative accommodations/if they want to put account markers/ease up on denials/etc. I have no doubt that they’ll figure it out in the coming months, but for now, assuming nothing else changes, I should be fine with a roller.

I would really like to see an account marker for the RTQ/return time option or the AQR, and for Disney to determine if they want to keep tracking usage. My hope is that they’re tracking usage to see if the RTQ is being overused/an acceptable accommodation so they can give more manpower to incorporating it and suggesting it, but I have heard that CMs are being told not to hand it out because it affects something in their metrics. I’m unsure why Disney would be okay with suggesting this as an accommodation when it seems like they aren’t giving CMs the bandwidth to properly utilize it and hand it out, but this is a transitional period so I’m not too surprised about it.

If you don't want to travel with a rollator, some medical equipment companies rent them. One I know of is Orlando Medical Rentals

Most of the rollators I've seen fold up so they are not as big. Not sure about flying with them, as I've never noticed one checked or used in airport...

Rollators can be transported when flying. They can be used up to the gate and gate checked - I see that often. Mobility devices fly for free and don't count toward the traveler's baggage allowance

 

[koszmok]

Traveling parties aren't solely comprised of familial relations. It's personally why I phrase it as traveling parties vast majority of the time in lieu of families.

Ok.

I trie to be clear this time

I remember seeing a post where someone said they were granted DAS. They are not travelling with family members but couple of friends. Those friends were added to their DAS party. That't the fact.

What my post are about:

If DAS only offered for a handful of conditions AT LEAST Rider Switch should be offered to the disabled person (+1 most likely the caregiver) in case DAS denied. That's my Wish.

Other conditions than PTSD/Autism got denied because Disney thinks can be managed by other accommodations.

This other accommodation can/might/should be Rider Switch. That's my Opininon.




IF the person is an independent adult but got offered DAS the person is allowed to ad "3 friends ". however being an independent adult would be able to handle the situation with a Rider Switch. So "in theory we added 2 extra person to the LL".

IF the person is a part of the family offered DAS than the whole family should be able to stay together and don't get separated. So Rider Switch is not an option.

Should the independent adult reject the option to ride with 3 of their friends? No! Should the system allow it meanwhile plenty of others get denied? I don't think so....

So....What I don't understand is Why Disney allow to add "3 friend" (the emphasis on friend and not caregiver/family member) when so many person get denied DAS a lot even when the kid is a disabled person.
I assumed Disney wants to reduce the number of people in LL.



Now what they are doing is denying DAS from families... but letting extra "friends" in....

I'm not suggesting that in case of a kid got offered DAS the family should be separated. The opposite! They should stay together.

However if a disabled kid (or adult doesn't matter ) get denied DAS as a minimum Rider Switch should be offered for the the person +1



Again. The system now allows to add 3 person to the DAS list even if they are not family members/caregivers. Which is not the person's fault they just using what they are given. But when so many disabled families get denied it just "hurts my brain"

 

[Evita_W]

As to "explain at the attraction" -- the argument against that was raised years ago when GAC changed to DAS and several "needs" were removed. Those individuals with vision needs, hearing needs, unseen mobility needs (i.e. avoid stairs without a mobility device) were all told to explain at the attraction. I expect the discussion at the attraction does not need to go into details, just brief "I can't wait in the queue because..." just as folks have been saying "I need to avoid the stairs" or "I need to sit in a certain spot."

And even today, I would say that the need for those stamps on the GAC are still necessary, as for example, DH has seen many people who can’t handle stairs, but don’t have mobility devices denied accommodations at an attraction with stairs, Splash Mountain at DLR has been the worst example of this, but even at Indiana Jones where bypassing the stairs doesn’t really bypass much of the queue he has still seen people denied. So, this raises concerns about this approach to begin with, as this has been the case even as recent as a couple of months ago (not with Splash obviously, but others).

 

[Evita_W]

No! I'm saying exactly the opposite!!!

I don't understand why FRIENDS (and not family members are getting added to the DAS - based on post here on the forums)

Meanwhile disabled Kids turned down offering DAS.

I don't think it's fair that friends can get added instead of using Rider Switch.

In my previous post actually I stated I get why Families need to stay together

If it is a party of 4 or less, it shouldn’t matter if it is family or friends.

 

[lanejudy]

If DAS only offered for a handful of conditions AT LEAST Rider Switch should be offered to the disabled person (+1 most likely the caregiver) in case DAS denied. That's my Wish.

At this time Rider Switch at WDW appears to only be available if there is a non-rider. DLR has slightly different rules and allows Rider Switch for a disabled individual who is unable to wait in the queue.

Moderators have asked to please not post speculation or what posters think should be done. Disney has stated the options and such posts only serve to create confusion.

 

[greeneyedchick]

I think I'll go read some tax codes to reset my brain.

lol I was thinking last night that Disney has a knack for making things so much more complicated than necessary. I used to work in the Software User Experience industry and we had a huge list of acronyms. So does Disney. There's a website with all of them. Why can't they hire someone who understands "user friendliness" to name their systems? Genie, Genie +, Lightening Lanes, Individual Lightening Lane, Return to Queue and Attraction Queue Return...And they wonder why guests are confused?

I understand that they needed to re-vamp DAS and fast pass, but the people who came up with their new systems and names seem like total amateurs. They could have at least made clear, distinct names for each option. Universal has Express Pass and it does exactly what you think it would. That's it.

They could have renamed the following:

Genie: Tour Planner
Genie+: Lightening Lane Pass System
Individual Lightening Lane: Paid Ride Reservation
RTQ: Return Time Ticket
AQR: Hall/ Restroom Pass

We all went to school and understand what a hall pass was. The names aren't cutesy but it would at least be easier for people who decide to go to Disney and haven't been studying how the parks work for the past few years. And if any Disney execs are reading this, feel free to use the suggested names. I won't charge use a consulting fee.

 

[Evita_W]

Ok.

I trie to be clear this time

I remember seeing a post where someone said they were granted DAS. They are not travelling with family members but couple of friends. Those friends were added to their DAS party. That't the fact.

What my post are about:

If DAS only offered for a handful of conditions AT LEAST Rider Switch should be offered to the disabled person (+1 most likely the caregiver) in case DAS denied. That's my Wish.

Other conditions than PTSD/Autism got denied because Disney thinks can be managed by other accommodations.

This other accommodation can/might/should be Rider Switch. That's my Opininon.




IF the person is an independent adult but got offered DAS the person is allowed to ad "3 friends ". however being an independent adult would be able to handle the situation with a Rider Switch. So "in theory we added 2 extra person to the LL".

IF the person is a part of the family offered DAS than the whole family should be able to stay together and don't get separated. So Rider Switch is not an option.

Should the independent adult reject the option to ride with 3 of their friends? No! Should the system allow it meanwhile plenty of others get denied? I don't think so....

So....What I don't understand is Why Disney allow to add "3 friend" (the emphasis on friend and not caregiver/family member) when so many person get denied DAS a lot even when the kid is a disabled person.
I assumed Disney wants to reduce the number of people in LL.



Now what they are doing is denying DAS from families... but letting extra "friends" in....

I'm not suggesting that in case of a kid got offered DAS the family should be separated. The opposite! They should stay together.

However if a disabled kid (or adult doesn't matter ) get denied DAS as a minimum Rider Switch should be offered for the the person +1



Again. The system now allows to add 3 person to the DAS list even if they are not family members/caregivers. Which is not the person's fault they just using what they are given. But when so many disabled families get denied it just "hurts my brain"

One has nothing to do with the other, letting them add 3 additional people is the way the system is designed, but only if they are approved for the DAS. Now, I think they have gone too far on the restrictions for who gets approved, but there is nothing wrong with adding friends, as for many people friends can be far closer to them than family. We often hear "blood is thicker than water” trying to make it sound that family is always more important than friends; however, the correct phrase is “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb” (which is a paraphrase of the original quote by all accounts, but has a similar meaning), which would indicate that friends and others who support you in times of need (best way I can sum up the religious aspect) are more important than family who doesn’t. Now, the truly fortunate are the ones who have people that are in both categories in their lives, but remember not everyone is that fortunate, so for many, while there may not be a blood relation, friends are their family.

 

[Evita_W]

lol I was thinking last night that Disney has a knack for making things so much more complicated than necessary. I used to work in the Software User Experience industry and we had a huge list of acronyms. So does Disney. There's a website with all of them. Why can't they hire someone who understands "uses friendliness" to name their systems? Genie, Genie +, Lightening Lanes, Individual Lightening Lane, Return to Queue and Attraction Queue Return...And they wonder why guests are confused?

I understand that they needed to re-vamp DAS and fast pass, but the people who came up with their new systems and names seem like total amateurs. They could have at least made clear, distinct names for each option. Universal has Express Pass and it does exactly what you think it would. That's it.

They could have renamed the following:

Genie: Tour Planner
Genie+: Lightening Lane Pass System
Individual Lightening Lane: Paid Ride Reservation
RTQ: Return Time Ticket
AQR: Hall/ Restroom Pass

We all went to school and understand what a hall pass was. The names aren't cutesy but it would at least be easier for people who decide to go to Disney and haven't been studying how the parks work for the past few years. And if any Disney execs are reading this, feel free to use the suggested names. I won't charge use a consulting fee.

At bare minimum, can we get these added as translations in the sticky thread? I think this sums them up nicely.