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

[starlite_]

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"

We all understand what you mean. We simply disagree about your need to prioritize blood relations to any other type.

Lots of parties traveling to Disney Parks are friend groups, or a mix of both. I can count on one hand the times I've gone to a Disney Park with my family after I started university, even thought we went at least once a year when I was a kid. I would need multiple hands to count the times I've gone with friends. Why would one visit be more deserving than the other? The amount of people is the same, or even less if going with friends.

A person that needs DAS doesn't suddenly stop needing it because they are going with friends vs blood relations. A limit to party size makes sense. Doing a DNA test to grant accommodations does not.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

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?

With an annual pass, you should be able to book a random park reservation day. The DAS call just requires tickets, not a resort reservation etc. Or you could even call and tell them one of the passholder good to go dates. You could do that a few days before your pass expires.

 

[koszmok]

We all understand what you mean. We simply disagree about your need to prioritize blood relations to any other type.

Lots of parties traveling to Disney Parks are friend groups, or a mix of both. I can count on one hand the times I've gone to a Disney Park with my family after I started university, even thought we went at least once a year when I was a kid. I would need multiple hands to count the times I've gone with friends. Why would one visit be more deserving than the other? The amount of people is the same, or even less if going with friends.

A person that needs DAS doesn't suddenly stop needing it because they are going with friends vs blood relations. A limit to party size makes sense. Doing a DNA test to grant accommodations does not.

Please read my new post.

It's not about DNA...

 

[jlundeen]

Please read my new post.

It's not about DNA...

As @starlite_ said, we all understand what you mean and you are entitled to your opinion, however most of us who travel with others, and only rarely with family, (especially those of us who are older with grown families doing thier own thing), and who love Diseny, simply disagree with you.

 

[Justrose]

Yesterday, I took my 12.5 year old out for coffee and broke the news as gently as I could that she may no longer qualify for DAS with the new rules for our August and December trips. She said she'd already heard about some of the changes on Tik Tok. She cried a little but it went better than I expected.

I told her I would speak for her when we call for DAS in July and she said absolutely not - she feels empowered by doing it herself - but we discussed how she would likely be asked why she can't wait in line as well, which she was also asked back in March when we called for our trip in April. Additionally - she is going to talk about how her disability affects not just Disney but her daily life as well, and I plan to discuss why the other options aren't going to work for us as a party of two (who both have similar disabilities). We took notes and both of us feel much better to be prepared.

After reading this entire thread, I am also going to stop my usual tirade about how she shouldn't be on her phone in queues. Usually that bugs me and I say stuff like "I AM PAYING THOUSANDS FOR YOU TO BE HERE GET OFF YOUR PHONE" but now I understand from pervious posters that her watching Tik Tok and YouTube might be helping her anxiety in line. I will also download Heads Up.

We also talked about the future - we travel together a lot. If DAS is no longer an option and the alternatives Disney is providing do not work for us in August, our December trip will probably be the last for awhile. It is for her 13th birthday over New Years and I know it will be super busy, but she didn't want to cancel it. It was a hard conversation to have; Disney has been our happy place for many years now.

ETA: I am considering typing out basic info about her/my disabilities onto a small card and laminating it to show a castmember instead of verbally rehashing it at every ride, if my daughter is not approved.

 

[diablodancer]

Yesterday, I took my 12.5 year old out for coffee and broke the news as gently as I could that she may no longer qualify for DAS with the new rules for our August and December trips. She said she'd already heard about some of the changes on Tik Tok. She cried a little but it went better than I expected.

I told her I would speak for her when we call for DAS in July and she said absolutely not - she feels empowered by doing it herself - but we discussed how she would likely be asked why she can't wait in line as well, which she was also asked back in March when we called for our trip in April. Additionally - she is going to talk about how her disability affects not just Disney but her daily life as well, and I plan to discuss why the other options aren't going to work for us as a party of two (who both have similar disabilities). We took notes and both of us feel much better to be prepared.

After reading this entire thread, I am also going to stop my usual tirade about how she shouldn't be on her phone in queues. Usually that bugs me and I say stuff like "I AM PAYING THOUSANDS FOR YOU TO BE HERE GET OFF YOUR PHONE" but now I understand from pervious posters that her watching Tik Tok and YouTube might be helping her anxiety in line. I will also download Heads Up.

We also talked about the future - we travel together a lot. If DAS is no longer an option and the alternatives Disney is providing do not work for us in August, our December trip will probably be the last for awhile. It is for her 13th birthday over New Years and I know it will be super busy, but she didn't want to cancel it. It was a hard conversation to have; Disney has been our happy place for many years now.

If it’s feasible for you and you don’t get DAS, you might want to consider the international parks for future trips/check if your daughter would be eligible at one of those. Not ideal but a way to still experience the magic

 

[frannn]

Quick question about the new DAS, cause this happened a handful of times on our recent trip. If DD has DAS and we are all on line but she decides not to go last min, do DH and I have to leave the line as well? It didn't matter this past trip because I had put the rides under my DAS. My disability is not developmental, so I am assuming I will not qualify on our next trip, but she will likely. This past trip, if she started getting super stressed she could excuse herself and sit outside the ride.

 

[starlite_]

Please read my new post.

It's not about DNA...

I did. And again, we all understand what you are trying to say. We disagree with you.

You say it's not about DNA and yet use various scenarios where you think it's unfair for a blood relation party to be separated, but it's ok to separate a group of friends. As it's been mentioned to you before, a group made of blood relations isn't somehow more deserving of not being separated than a group made of friends.

You also seem to be confusing how accommodations are being decided by Disney. It's not about the guest's disability, but the guest's needs. Accommodations given for guests with IBD might differ from those given to guests with other needs.

For DAS specifically, Disney (and I think everyone here as well) doesn't care if your 3 guests are your blood relations, your best friends, your brother and his best friend, your cousin 3 times removed or whoever. For now, Disney only cares that DAS guests are only bringing up to 3 guests. It's about the size of the party, not who you are bringing. The LL doesn't spontaneously get more backed up if you bring your friend instead of your mother. An extra body is an extra body.

In an ideal world everyone could ride with their whole party and only have to line up for 10 min or less. Unfortunately that is not the world we live in, and compromises need to be made. One of those compromises is that your party might need to split up, regardless of who you are with.

 

[starlite_]

Quick question about the new DAS, cause this happened a handful of times on our recent trip. If DD has DAS and we are all on line but she decides not to go last min, do DH and I have to leave the line as well? It didn't matter this past trip because I had put the rides under my DAS. My disability is not developmental, so I am assuming I will not qualify on our next trip, but she will likely. This past trip, if she started getting super stressed she could excuse herself and sit outside the ride.

Yes, you need to leave the line. The accommodation would be for the benefit of your daughter, not so you and your husband can skip the standby line. You might want to buy Genie+ if you want to access the LL on rides your daughter doesn't want to go on.

 

[PrincessV]

Please read my new post.

It's not about DNA...

I’m really trying to see what y’re saying, but I think the problem is that you’re comparing two completely different disability needs and accommodations - and neither of them have anything to do with a person’s family unit.

Guest A’s disability needs meet the criteria for DAS, and they are issued DAS to ride with 3 family members. Guest B’s disability needs also meet the DAS criteria and they also are issued DAS, which they use to ride with 3 friends. Do you feel it is unfair that Guest B is riding with friends instead of family?

Guest C’s disability needs are found not to meet DAS criteria and they are offered the ability to use Rider Switch - they wait outside the line with 1 family member, while the other 2 family members ride, and then they switch. Guest D’s disability needs are also found not to meet DAS criteria and they are also offered the option of using Rider Switch - they wait outside the line with 1 friend, while the other 2 friends ride, and then they switch. Do you feel it is unfair that Guest D uses Rider Switch with friends instead of family?

The type of accommodation offered has nothing to do with whether of the disabled Guest’s party is composed of family or friends.

After reading this entire thread, I am also going to stop my usual tirade about how she shouldn't be on her phone in queues. Usually that bugs me and I say stuff like "I AM PAYING THOUSANDS FOR YOU TO BE HERE GET OFF YOUR PHONE" but now I understand from pervious posters that her watching Tik Tok and YouTube might be helping her anxiety in line. I will also download Heads Up.

Kudos to you on this, because I know it’s not easy! My ASD son needs to use his phone and headphones to manage daily life. Things have changed a lot in the last 5ish years and this isn’t viewed as negatively as it once was, but I struggled a LOT with it when he was young, and even now I need to remind myself that it isn’t personal: he’s not ignoring me, but using the tools he needs to function so that he CAN spend time with me.

 

[koszmok]

I’m really trying to see what y’re saying, but I think the problem is that you’re comparing two completely different disability needs and accommodations - and neither of them have anything to do with a person’s family unit.

Guest A’s disability needs meet the criteria for DAS, and they are issued DAS to ride with 3 family members. Guest B’s disability needs also meet the DAS criteria and they also are issued DAS, which they use to ride with 3 friends. Do you feel it is unfair that Guest B is riding with friends instead of family?

Guest C’s disability needs are found not to meet DAS criteria and they are offered the ability to use Rider Switch - they wait outside the line with 1 family member, while the other 2 family members ride, and then they switch. Guest D’s disability needs are also found not to meet DAS criteria and they are also offered the option of using Rider Switch - they wait outside the line with 1 friend, while the other 2 friends ride, and then they switch. Do you feel it is unfair that Guest D uses Rider Switch with friends instead of family?

The type of accommodation offered has nothing to do with whether of the disabled Guest’s party is composed of family or friends.

Kudos to you on this, because I know it’s not easy! My ASD son needs to use his phone and headphones to manage daily life. Things have changed a lot in the last 5ish years and this isn’t viewed as negatively as it once was, but I struggled a LOT with it when he was young, and even now I need to remind myself that it isn’t personal: he’s not ignoring me, but using the tools he needs to function so that he CAN spend time with me.

I know. I was super confusing.

I gave it another go to try to explain what is on my mind

It might be still not clear though.

Thank you for trying to make sense of it but actually not this is not what I meant.

I think me and my brain needs some quiet time now

I'm sorry If I confused/offended someone here.

 

[PrincessV]

I'm questioning is why is an adult offered DAS at the first place if there is no separation anxiety from their family ( as lot of little kids do) ?

Okay, I think I see some of the confusion… separation anxiety isn’t a sole determination of whether one is approved for DAS. It might be part of a bigger picture - I don’t know. But DAS eligibility under the current system is determined based on needs and whether or not those needs can be accommodated in any way other than DAS. Many adults are granted DAS because their needs are not accommodated by the alternatives. Nothing form Disney has indicated that DAS is only reserved for children who may have separation anxiety.

I was told repeatedly DAS only offered because/If the person is solo traveller (in the NEW system) Hence my confusion how could someone add friends if ONLY offered DAS because they are being solo?

This falls into the unknowns at present: we haven’t seen enough (any??) reports from solo visitors to know what options are available to them. There’s been lots of speculating and guessing, but nothing concrete. But based solely on what Disney has posted on its website, DAS eligibility is based on needs, not whether one is visiting solo or with others, whether family or friends.

 

[PrincessV]

As an aside, regarding wait times over the weekend…

Len Testa (Touringplans) reported that MK’s crowd level on Memorial Day was estimated to be a 5, but wound up being… a 1. ONE. I can’t overstate how unusual a crowd level that low is these days. It also came in exceptionally low the previous couple days. It seems unlikely it had anything to do with the new DAS rules, though: his team is looking into what may be causing this drop.

 

[starlite_]

Fair enough.

I think the confusion is that I mixed in my wish (using Rider Switch in WDW as a disability accommodation) and you and others PAST experiences in the old system.

So no. Still not about DNA or who you consider as friends. It's about why would people offered DAS in the new system in some cases when IMO is not fair when so many legitimate needs seems to get denied. IMO some of those could make rides with other accommodations.

(I was trying to put it in words carefully not to hurt anyone with my suggestion that someone is offered DAS unjust. I think that's what you call lost in translation. In my head meant something completely different as it was on paper).

And once they get DAS (that maybe not warranted they can get to add friends)
-as per a previous post here
(Again NEW system)

I feel for those families who are denied DAS in the new system they only option to do the rides is to "get separated ". Or they have to cancel the trip all together.
- again per previous posts here


That's what I'm saying!

What you are referring is the past.
Unless you already granted DAS based on the new rules.

My thoughts/theories are about the NEW system and info so far I read in this very forum....

Number of DAS offered is very reduced. I think this is a fact now.


In the past when someone was offered DAS was able to ad x,y, z "person" to their DAS list. Not questioning this fact either.

My concern is about the NEW system. What I'm questioning is why is an adult offered DAS at the first place if there is no separation anxiety from their family ( as lot of little kids do) ? I was told repeatedly DAS only offered because/If the person is solo traveller (in the NEW system) Hence my confusion how could someone add friends if ONLY offered DAS because they are being solo?

My thoughts are running away again....

What you and others mentioning is the PAST. I'm trying to make sense of the present rules!

I'm still not questioning why could you add extra 3 people? If that's the rules sure!

So. No. I think you still not understand what I'm trying to say.

And yes as the moderator mentioned using Rider Switch is not an option at this moment in WDW. I just wish it was.

Lot of people share theories here I thought I share mine. But now I understand it can be confusing.

I'm sorry if I'm offended someone or their feelings.

Trying to make sense of the new rules....

Apologies about my rambling again!

You are assuming DAS changed, there is no Past DAS or New DAS. DAS has not changed at all with the exception of two minor things:

1. There is now a 10 minute cooldown after tapping into the ride before you can schedule another one.
2. Party size was reduced from 6 to 4 (1 DAS user +3)

Besides that it works exactly the same, what has changed are the qualifications a guest must meet to be granted a DAS. A solo traveler may be granted DAS as an accommodation BECAUSE they are solo, so systems like AQR would not work for them. If that person is bringing guests, then DAS would be void because their needs can be meet by AQR or other systems.

 

[Smugpugmug]

As an aside, regarding wait times over the weekend…

Len Testa (Touringplans) reported that MK’s crowd level on Memorial Day was estimated to be a 5, but wound up being… a 1. ONE. I can’t overstate how unusual a crowd level that low is these days. It also came in exceptionally low the previous couple days. It seems unlikely it had anything to do with the new DAS rules, though: his team is looking into what may be causing this drop.

The Pirate pass was blocked out this weekend, which may be one of the key factors. Also it's extremely hot and humid. I'm here now and definitely spending less time in the parks due to it.

I saw that while MK crowd levels were low, Epcot was pretty high. I was there on sunday where it was a crowd level 8 and rides like Test Track, Remy, Mission Space and Soarin had an over 100 minute wait at some point in the day. This weekend was the last day of Flower and Garden which would explain it but the booths had 0 lines. I walked up to every booth I went to.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Len Testa (Touringplans) reported that MK’s crowd level on Memorial Day was estimated to be a 5, but wound up being… a 1. ONE.

That's because all the tourists were on Cape Cod....

 

[keishashadow]

ETA: I am considering typing out basic info about her/my disabilities onto a small card and laminating it to show a castmember instead of verbally rehashing it at every ride, if my daughter is not approved.

Seems like a great idea to me. Who knows if the CMs will look at it though, seem pretty firm on not reading anything.

I realize WDW won’t look at doctor notes, etc. when determining DAS eligibility.

I am wondering:

(if, after being denied DAS and requesting help @ the individual line & in the processes of presenting their case/reciting their needs @ the attraction)

if the CM would bother looking at the IBCESS card before making a decision. IMO, worst thing, they will say no.

For those not familiar with the IBCESS cards, they clearly state the “Helpful Accommodations” that were determined for the individual…

Many different ones, some that come to mind are:

-sensitivity to crowds, enclosed spaces,

-May need frequent access to restrooms,

-may need to leave areas/lines quickly or have access to respite areas

We took notes and both of us feel much better to be prepared

Your DD is fortunate to have you

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

The Pirate pass was blocked out this weekend, which may be one of the key factors. Also it's extremely hot and humid. I'm here now and definitely spending less time in the parks due to it.

I saw that while MK crowd levels were low, Epcot was pretty high. I was there on sunday where it was a crowd level 8 and rides like Test Track, Remy, Mission Space and Soarin had an over 100 minute wait at some point in the day. This weekend was the last day of Flower and Garden which would explain it but the booths had 0 lines. I walked up to every booth I went to.

Test Track's closure on 17 will probably keep Epcot busy through that date.

 

[PrincessV]

Also it's extremely hot and humid. I'm here now and definitely spending less time in the parks due to it.

I live about 100 miles west of WDW… I went out for groceries Saturday morning and spent the rest of the long weekend indoors - too hot, for sure!

 

[Smugpugmug]

Test Track's closure on 17 will probably keep Epcot busy through that date.

I saw it had a 2 hour wait while I was there. Even single rider was like a 30 minute wait.