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

[Smugpugmug]

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!

The feel temp was at a high of 106 yesterday. I saw that and was like, yeah I'll do a pool day thanks.

 

[lanejudy]

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.

Why? The IBCCES card has zero standing at any Disney park. That would be like bringing a doctor's note. I would hope they do not look at one.

Whether an attraction CM might look at a card someone wrote themselves is hard to say. They probably prefer that you speak to them and briefly explain your needs. I'm not sure what's so difficult about "I need to use the restroom, may I have a return time please?" or "I need to sit in the shade to wait, may I have a return time please?"

I think all the internet chatter over this is causing folks to jump ahead of themselves and start dreaming up ways that may not even be necessary. I realize it's stressful, but I politely ask folks to wait for the time to do your video call and/or wait for more definitive reports to come through (right now the few we have are getting lost in all the "what ifs") making it hard to determine actual experience vs internet rumors.

 

[Todd H]

If anyone is thinking of emailing management don’t bother. You’ll get a cookie cutter form letter reply.

 

[ellataylor]

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

Thank you so much for this, so helpful!

 

[Angel Ariel]

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.

There is data that shows that the average wait times at WDW over Memorial Day have averaged appx 30 mins going back to 2016. So I'd be hesitant to correlate this to DAS at all.

 

[jlundeen]

Plus, isn't anyone there now up until about June 20 under the OLD rules anyway? (ADDED: unles of course they registered last week)

 

[SueM in MN]

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

Your DD is fortunate to have you

No. It has nothing to do with WDW.
It's not a robust system anyway

Why? The IBCCES card has zero standing at any Disney park. That would be like bringing a doctor's note. I would hope they do not look at one.

Whether an attraction CM might look at a card someone wrote themselves is hard to say. They probably prefer that you speak to them and briefly explain your needs. I'm not sure what's so difficult about "I need to use the restroom, may I have a return time please?" or "I need to sit in the shade to wait, may I have a return time please?"

I think all the internet chatter over this is causing folks to jump ahead of themselves and start dreaming up ways that may not even be necessary. I realize it's stressful, but I politely ask folks to wait for the time to do your video call and/or wait for more definitive reports to come through (right now the few we have are getting lost in all the "what ifs") making it hard to determine actual experience vs internet rumors.

I agree with all of lanejudy's points.

it is really too early in the process to assume anything about how things will work. If you can wait a few weeks or a month, the information will be much better

 

[dizneedoll]

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.

Wow, a one! I did look at wait times yesterday and was really surprised how low wait times were at MK for Memorial Day. The other parks still had high wait times though. Maybe a bit of the shorter waits could be because people cant line up GR to get DAS and those doing the video chat while at the parks are being denied. If you see any follow up for TP about why they think the wait times went down, please post a link.

Just checked wait times at MK right now and 12 rides are currently temporarily down!

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Wow, a one! I did look at wait times yesterday and was really surprised how low wait times were at MK for Memorial Day. The other parks still had high wait times though. Maybe a bit of the shorter waits could be because people cant line up GR to get DAS and those doing the video chat while at the parks are being denied. If you see any follow up for TP about why they think the wait times went down, please post a link.

Just checked wait times at MK right now and 12 rides are currently temporarily down!

It's raining/thunderstorms - that's most likely the cause for rides being down especially because it looks like they're all outdoor ones that are down.

 

[dizneedoll]

It's raining/thunderstorms - that's most likely the cause for rides being down.

Oh that makes sense then. Yes, I just realized all the rides are outdoor rides.

 

[Karin1984]

Whether an attraction CM might look at a card someone wrote themselves is hard to say. They probably prefer that you speak to them and briefly explain your needs. I'm not sure what's so difficult about "I need to use the restroom, may I have a return time please?" or "I need to sit in the shade to wait, may I have a return time please?"

Those questions will probably be followed by a "why?" or other follow up questions from the CM.

And it might not be difficult for some, but for others it might feel like they have to defend themselves when they leave the line. When people have that feeling, they tend to overexplain. Use more words, more sentences to convince the other person. Or if they have issues explaining their needs, having some kind of card that explains it for them might help. Even if it's just something to fall back on.

I disagree with that CMs probably prefer to speak to a guest. Unless Disney forbids the CMs to look at cards or notes, I personally think that CMs will prefer a card. It saves time and discussions, especially with those who have a hard time explaining their needs.

However, I do agree with you that we should wait and see if Disney can fix the childhood diseases of the new set up.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I disagree with that CMs probably prefer to speak to a guest. Unless Disney forbids the CMs to look at cards or notes, I personally think that CMs will prefer a card. It saves time and discussions, especially with those who have a hard time explaining their needs.

Cards may also be necessary depending on co-existing disabilities a person may have. We already use cards for character interactions because DD is often not able to use her AAC device in meet and greets for a variety of reasons. If we end up in this situation, a card explaining these reasons would be an extension of a Disney routine she already has.

 

[nalababybear]

If anyone is thinking of emailing management don’t bother. You’ll get a cookie cutter form letter reply.

That's unfortunate; hopefully they'll collate them with a team to digest and more personal again once the initial surge passes.

Don't you also have DVC? can try that route on issues; but Disney really doesn't give much hoot about DVC in the past

 

[GoingSince1990]

I'm not sure what's so difficult about "I need to use the restroom, may I have a return time please?" or "I need to sit in the shade to wait, may I have a return time please?"

Unless you are traveling alone or as the sole caregiver of children too young to wait alone, the answer to the first question will probably be "no, but you can rejoin your party in the line when you are done", whether by being escorted back to them, having them call you when they are at the LL merge (at which point you could enter through the LL and reunite with them), or some other method depending upon the attraction. And for the second question, for example if the ride is SDD, the CM may tell you to wait somewhere shady until the rest of your party enters the part of the line that is undercover, at which point you could join them, so you never have to wait in the sunny part of the line. In both cases, problem solved, with no RTQ return times needed.

 

[CottonJones]

If anyone is thinking of emailing management don’t bother. You’ll get a cookie cutter form letter reply.

While it stinks getting a cookie cutter response (I got one too), I still think it’s worthwhile to email feedback to Disney right now in hopes that they might listen to some of it

 

[dreamer17555]

I hate how Disney as a company rolls out changes and then basically throws CMs under the bus. It is like when the Oceaneers club on DCL lowered it's age but they were telling guests to speak to crew onboard about exceptions that might need to be made (they didn't make exceptions, the new rule took effect and crew had to deal with upset and mislead parents).

This feels similar for RTQ. Especially since we are hearing from CMs that they have been told to rarely grant it and that they will be audited and tracked and could be disciplined for granting too many. What if a CM has guests with legitimate needs but they are worried that they might be over their quota of RTQ? Also this is going to make accessing LL a mess. Guests will go up to speak to CMs manning the LL to explain their need for RTQ (and I bet in the process sharing some sensitive medical information within hearing of others) and then the CM will likely deny them and the guest will argue back and meanwhile the line is likely going to be blocked or held up. Disney should not mention RTQ if is not a likely accommodation (and from what we are hearing it will not be) just like the guest services call center should not have told guests of DCL that they could speak to crew onboard and be accommodated outside the new age range for Oceaneers.

Disney needs to stop throwing their front line CMs in front of the bus that is their new and poorly announced policies.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

Whether an attraction CM might look at a card someone wrote themselves is hard to say. They probably prefer that you speak to them and briefly explain your needs. I'm not sure what's so difficult about "I need to use the restroom, may I have a return time please?" or "I need to sit in the shade to wait, may I have a return time please?"

I also wonder if reading from something like this might come off as a red flag so think the simpler question approach here may be better.

I was one of those that had a bit of a "gossipy" CM when I was approved for DAS (pre-changes) and she went off on a few tangents about DAS abuse and mentioned twice how she saw so many people "read from scripts they wrote" during their interviews. While that assumption is unfortunate, especially for folks that struggle describing their conditions who might write things down to help prepare, it might rub other CMs with a preconceived notion on that approach the wrong way.

 

[diablodancer]

I also wonder if reading from something like this might come off as a red flag so think the simpler question approach here may be better.

I was one of those that had a bit of a "gossipy" CM when I was approved for DAS (pre-changes) and she went off on a few tangents about DAS abuse and mentioned twice how she saw so many people "read from scripts they wrote" during their interviews. While that assumption is unfortunate, especially for folks that struggle describing their conditions who might write things down to help prepare, it might rub other CMs with a preconceived notion on that approach the wrong way.

This is one of the things about what training CMs get that I really wonder about. Unconscious bias like that is so important to catch in systems dealing with disabled people and there’s been numerous examples in this past week of it not having been addressed via things said by CMs on the calls (and then there appears to be little recourse afterwards so I’m not clear on how it ever gets caught and addressed).

It’s an issue in an org I work with and there’s a large program of checks and balances to try and catch these instances. Would love to know what Disney’s process is (if any) but likely never will

 

[GoingSince1990]

I also wonder if reading from something like this might come off as a red flag so think the simpler question approach here may be better.

Absolutely. Tell them what your concerns or issues are and let them decide what accommodation to offer. Telling a CM that you "need" a particular accommodation is quite likely to rub them the wrong way, as they may feel like you're telling them how to do their job.

 

[lanejudy]

Disney should not mention RTQ if is not a likely accommodation (and from what we are hearing it will not be)

The thing is that I’m not sure the DAS video call CMs are telling most folks to use RTQ. I seriously think most such reports were suggested AQR but the caller heard “return to queue” because that’s what was so often discussed during the lead-up.