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

[starlite_]

That is also disney's own fault because that's how they were previously treating it basically.

I do not agree with blaming Disney for guests being entitled. It absolves folks from being responsible for their own behaviour.

 

[keishashadow]

Just wanted to share these first hand observations with the group as I'm on a bit of a goodbye tour of being able to ride things, in the case I am denied for DAS soon.

There appear to many doing so, understandable

This is how it was for most rides when we last went about 1.5yrs ago. One of the reasons they need the change as the LL lines were too long.

JMHO as one who visits every few months. Take the thoughts from a bit of a cynic(s), with a big grain of salt as I have no data/proof positive to support my inference

The last few trips, the LLs often looked quite long(er) than they actually were. People were standing stacked up, still outside where others in the standby, even just strolling past, could see them waiting

Once we entered the interior of an attraction, often would walk straight thru to the check point without seeing many people waiting ahead of us. Not always, enough that it became a game of sorts wherein we would guess if it would happen or not. It really ramped up during our April visit over the course of 9 days.

Struck me that they possibly were employing the end of night Optic sort of thing where they wildly inflate the SB wait time and stack people outside to try to keep the number of people in check who jump in line then.

Or not, what do I know? Doesn’t really matter now, as the die has been cast with the new system. Would be nice to see the LLs function as intended in an expedient manner, whether paid or the new version of the DAS.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I do not agree with blaming Disney for guests being entitled. It absolves folks from being responsible for their own behaviour.

It's not so much people feeling entitled. It's the fact that disney clearly said that they were eligible for the service, and now they're treating it like they aren't disabled enough for the service.

I understand and agree with what disney is trying to do. But from a marketing perspective they really screwed it up.

 

[PrincessV]

As awkward and uncomfortable as it is, there is a good amount of that going on. There are people whose perspective is "I have a disability, so THIS is the accommodation I am entitled to", and that is not always the case.

Respectfully, most of what I’ve seen has been concern and confusion about how or if the “alternate accommodations” will actually work for them, when they already know from experience that DAS does. I see it not so much as entitlement as worry: if you’ve made your plans for your vacation assuming DAS would be the same as it ever was, and now need to plan for part of your party to wait in SB instead, even though nothing about your disability has changed, that can be difficult to wrap your head around - and especially so when hearing others report that RTQ/AQR isn’t really working in parks as it sounded like it would.

 

[StarLime]

Yep, have just seen another report of this on Facebook. To note this person was also explicitly told it’s only for developmental disabilities, the second case I’ve read of this this week, despite reading numerous reports of people getting it for non-developmental conditions.

View attachment 865584View attachment 865585

It’s crazy to me that there’s still this much confusion about whether any non-developmental disabilities will be approved for DAS. I’ve seen reports of people saying they got it under the new rules for unspecified non-developmental disabilities. But with an actual CM saying that, it’s making me think that going forward the verbiage on the website is correct that it’s only for developmental disabilities.

 

[shannnsavage]

I know this all probably has been said, as I have been following this thread. But I now feel compelled to say my piece. I have a 17 year old developmentally disabled daughter. I also have a husband, a 20 year old daughter, and a 5 year old daughter. We have used the old paper system x2 and the new DAS system x2. I am very sad that this may no longer work for our family. I am concerned that I will have to split up my family of 5. I know people here aren't always thinking with their hearts, and discussing factual truths. However, my daughters disability has taken me away from my 5 and 20 year old children many times because of her social and emotional needs. The idea that since I am a family of 5 and not 4, that I will have to spend up to half the day away from my husband, son, and other daughter is just sad. May it be the only option??? I suppose...but it still doesn't make it any more sad and hard for me as a mother. Our family have loved our Disney vacations. We have been able to stay together as a family with DAS when often times in other situations we cannot. I know I am not offering solutions, and speaking from a place of emotion, but it just makes me sad.

 

[mistysue]

Respectfully, most of what I’ve seen has been concern and confusion about how or if the “alternate accommodations” will actually work for them, when they already know from experience that DAS does. I see it not so much as entitlement as worry: if you’ve made your plans for your vacation assuming DAS would be the same as it ever was, and now need to plan for part of your party to wait in SB instead, even though nothing about your disability has changed, that can be difficult to wrap your head around - and especially so when hearing others report that RTQ/AQR isn’t really working in parks as it sounded like it would.

Absolutely. There is a lot of both. Part of me wonders if they would be better off going back to where nobody got a DAS until they were there in person. I see the side of "now we will worry until we arrive" but you also have the "there is nothing to DO, so I need to chill until I arrive"

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Respectfully, most of what I’ve seen has been concern and confusion about how or if the “alternate accommodations” will actually work for them, when they already know from experience that DAS does. I see it not so much as entitlement as worry: if you’ve made your plans for your vacation assuming DAS would be the same as it ever was, and now need to plan for part of your party to wait in SB instead, even though nothing about your disability has changed, that can be difficult to wrap your head around - and especially so when hearing others report that RTQ/AQR isn’t really working in parks as it sounded like it would.

It's a bit of both but the comments about if something would actually work as in logistically are few and far between and mostly centered around something that already occurs which is mobility devices in the queues.

There's a difference between work as in will this logistically and physically work and work as in what someone wants or prefers or wishes would be the case and that latter has taken up most of the conversation even after the alternative accommodations have come out with more reports on what people have been told or done themselves in the parks. I agree there's been a lot of concern and confusion but it's also important to separate out if the accommodation won't work for someone because of logistical or physical restrictions vs someone saying or worrying it won't work for them because it's not what they had before. Disney is able to address the former when possible but can't just arbitrarily address the latter.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I know this all probably has been said, as I have been following this thread. But I now feel compelled to say my piece. I have a 17 year old developmentally disabled daughter. I also have a husband, a 20 year old daughter, and a 5 year old daughter. We have used the old paper system x2 and the new DAS system x2. I am very sad that this may no longer work for our family. I am concerned that I will have to split up my family of 5. I know people here aren't always thinking with their hearts, and discussing factual truths. However, my daughters disability has taken me away from my 5 and 20 year old children many times because of her social and emotional needs. The idea that since I am a family of 5 and not 4, that I will have to spend up to half the day away from my husband, son, and other daughter is just sad. May it be the only option??? I suppose...but it still doesn't make it any more sad and hard for me as a mother. Our family have loved our Disney vacations. We have been able to stay together as a family with DAS when often times in other situations we cannot. I know I am not offering solutions, and speaking from a place of emotion, but it just makes me sad.

If it gives you hope, I have seen others get approved with 5 as long as they were immediate family.

 

[mistysue]

I know this all probably has been said, as I have been following this thread. But I now feel compelled to say my piece. I have a 17 year old developmentally disabled daughter. I also have a husband, a 20 year old daughter, and a 5 year old daughter. We have used the old paper system x2 and the new DAS system x2. I am very sad that this may no longer work for our family. I am concerned that I will have to split up my family of 5. I know people here aren't always thinking with their hearts, and discussing factual truths. However, my daughters disability has taken me away from my 5 and 20 year old children many times because of her social and emotional needs. The idea that since I am a family of 5 and not 4, that I will have to spend up to half the day away from my husband, son, and other daughter is just sad. May it be the only option??? I suppose...but it still doesn't make it any more sad and hard for me as a mother. Our family have loved our Disney vacations. We have been able to stay together as a family with DAS when often times in other situations we cannot. I know I am not offering solutions, and speaking from a place of emotion, but it just makes me sad.

Hasn't the limit of +3 ALWAYS been stated with the exception for immediate (mom, dad, kids in family) exception so it doesn't apply to your situation anyway?

 

[PrincessV]

Speaking as someone who understands the logic and reason behind the changes, AND ALSO feels anxious that if not approved for DAS next time around the alternatives won’t logistically work for my needs because I still haven’t seen any report of them working for a case like mine, AND ALSO that if the alternatives do work logistically for my needs they will require drastically altering how I enjoy the parks with loved ones, I just think there can be space for both logic and emotion. Maybe that space isn’t in this thread, but for me, it’s actually been helpful to hear that others have mixed feelings about it all, too.

 

[PrincessV]

Hasn't the limit of +3 ALWAYS been stated with the exception for immediate (mom, dad, kids in family) exception so it doesn't apply to your situation anyway?

No, it used to be a total of 6 - so DAS user +5 - regardless of relationship.

 

[jennab]

There appear to many doing so, understandable

JMHO as one who visits every few months. Take the thoughts from a bit of a cynic(s), with a big grain of salt as I have no data/proof positive to support my inference

The last few trips, the LLs often looked quite long(er) than they actually were. People were standing stacked up, still outside where others in the standby, even just strolling past, could see them waiting

Once we entered the interior of an attraction, often would walk straight thru to the check point without seeing many people waiting ahead of us. Not always, enough that it became a game of sorts wherein we would guess if it would happen or not. It really ramped up during our April visit over the course of 9 days.

Struck me that they possibly were employing the end of night Optic sort of thing where they wildly inflate the SB wait time and stack people outside to try to keep the number of people in check who jump in line then.

Or not, what do I know? Doesn’t really matter now, as the die has been cast with the new system. Would be nice to see the LLs function as intended in an expedient manner, whether paid or the new version of the DAS.

No, it was the LL queue that was full and outside in many areas, Peter Pan, 7DMT, Splash, etc.

 

[Gentry2004]

Someone is very much excluded. If I can't spend the 60 minutes with my family, because I have to sit and wait with my disabled daughter, our family will be separated and myself and my daughter will be excluded and by ourselves possibly half the day

Think about how everyone who no longer qualify at all feels!

 

[lanejudy]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.

That same argument arose years ago when changing from GAC to DAS and all the mobility, vision and hearing disabilities were told they no longer would qualify. It's somewhat amazing to me how quickly folks now overlook those "other" disabilities as if they don't need any accommodation. They most certainly do, and most are accommodated adequately by asking at the queue for what they need. I expect in a few years thecurrent controversy will become similar -- standard practice.

I see Disney removing "disability" accommodations and creating general accessibility available to anyone who needs it, as they did previously for mobility, vision and hearing needs. No special approval, no cards, just a simple request and "sure, here's how that works." DAS becomes what it was intended to be -- a limited access accommodation for those who absolutely cannot be accommodated in any other manner.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Speaking as someone understands the logic and reason behind the changes, AND ALSO feels anxious that if not approved for DAS next time around the alternatives won’t logistically work for my needs because I still haven’t seen any report of them working for a case like mine, AND ALSO that if the alternatives do work logistically for my needs they will require drastically altering how I enjoy the parks with loved ones, I just think there can be space for both logic and emotion. Maybe that space isn’t in this thread, but for me, it’s actually been helpful to hear that others have mixed feelings about it all, too.

It's not about saying the discussion shouldn't contain both logic and emotion. I'm not sure if you read logic but I said logistically as in how something with work with a person's traveling party and their situation with the theme park itself. A good chunk of the conversation around that has been mobility devices which are already present in the queues. People may now be in the situation of using those mobility devices when they didn't before and wondering how it would work but logistically Disney has largely had those mobility devices in queues for years now.

Like another poster has now said several times just because a person is commenting on something doesn't mean they are meaning you specifically. What you may be anxious about may have nothing to do with what the several other posters are discussing regarding the words disability, entitlement, DAS only being the accommodation, etc.

People have been chiming in going over what accommodations Disney has given out and how that may look/is looking offering up suggestions. Just using a blanket "it won't work for me" you do often see that in the end it's a case of what someone wants vs logistics/physically work when those alternatives on how to tour the parks are rejected or attempts to add some positive outlook are rejected. That's why I said there would need to be a separation in what the problem or concern, it's important both for Disney's operations and for explaining someone's fears or approvals or rejections/alternative accommodations given when discussing their situation. I can tell you all day long about how I sit out when my husband rides rides and how I don't find any less enjoyment about the parks and tell you what I do find enjoyment out of but that type of "lending a shoulder" will fall differently on someone who feels that DAS is only what they should get.

 

[nalababybear]

I think you missed my point, I was saying it makes sense the have 4 on the das that can be the person who needs the das plus any 3 others in the party, then on the few attractions where all will want to ride, have AQR work. It is a decent balance, but it does exclude the people who are waiting off to the side from the group while waiting, so it isn't perfect.

We all love to have perfect.

I'll take for good enough for those who need it to make the riding possible for the one with disabilities.

Disney has taken the position that DAS is no longer the one-size fits all as it needs to address the extended LL queues to make it back to reasonable times.

Respectfully, most of what I’ve seen has been concern and confusion about how or if the “alternate accommodations” will actually work for them, when they already know from experience that DAS does. I see it not so much as entitlement as worry: if you’ve made your plans for your vacation assuming DAS would be the same as it ever was, and now need to plan for part of your party to wait in SB instead, even though nothing about your disability has changed, that can be difficult to wrap your head around - and especially so when hearing others report that RTQ/AQR isn’t really working in parks as it sounded like it would.

Those folk are definitely out there..just not here on disboards nearly as much.

Most here are trying to get to 'yes'

 

[GoingSince1990]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.

If they would change the name and take away the label disability, then they might not get so much push back from other people that have genuine disabilities and are wondering why they are not "disabled enough" for this. Under the prior system basically if you had any sort of disability you normally got approved. That's on disney. From their own execution they were basically painting the idea that DAS is for those with disabilities and the name of it reflected it.

I'm not saying that they do not deserve the right as a company to modify the service and narrow the scope, but leaving it labeled as disability access and then cutting out a large majority of the disabilities is poor market labeling, and will leave feelings of resentment.

They should reliable DAS as it is to something different based on its narrow service. Then make DAS an overall umbrella program with the relabeled digital queue, RTQ and AQR as sub programs underneath it. Then basically state we match disabled needs to one of our DAS programs based on needs.

I think the labeling and how it is presented matters.

AQR isn’t even necessarily a sub-program of DAS, it can be used by anyone needing to temporarily leave the line for any reason. You’ve waited an hour in line for PP with your 6-year old daughter who now needs to use the restroom before you got to the front? Use AQR. And with newly formalized procedures for rejoining the line, there should be no reason anymore for anyone to be pushing forward through the standby line “to rejoin our group”

 

[Disneylvr]

That's good news for parties with mostly adults. Do you have more than 4 people in your party? Wondering if this only affects larger parties who go over the 4 person limit. The 2nd party who added our son was able to add our entire family (even the 14+ ones) as "rotational" people within the party without any problem via chat the day after their approval, but I also know of a party who had an adult approval with 3 kids 14 and under who were not able to add a 16 yr old family member without it affecting their approval, so they kept him off. Hopefully all of this will be more clear by our fall trip, but I'm glad we were able to figure it out this trip. ETA: I think this is why they are asking you to name all the people who will be on it before the video call begin so they can determine who to steer to return to the line instead of DAS. From my memory, they never did they before. They approved you and then asked for the MB for who will be in it.

My daughter is 21 years old but functions as a 3-4 year old. We are a party of 3 adults, 2 parents and our adult daughter. Has anyone been approved as a party of 3 adults, one needing a DAS? So far I am seeing denials. I am worried about our upcoming trip in October. We have always used DAS and before that, the GAC.

 

[lanejudy]

My daughter is 21 years old but functions as a 3-4 year old. We are a party of 3 adults, 2 parents and our adult daughter. Has anyone been approved as a party of 3 adults, one needing a DAS? I am worried about our upcoming trip in October. We have always used DAS and before that, the GAC.

Nobody can really give you the answer you seek until you do the video chat. There have been parties approved with 4 guests age 14+, there have been parties denied with 4 guests age 14+. It will come down to how you present her needs related to waiting in a standard queue environment. Diagnosis alone will not cut it.