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

[BingoJoe]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

I am not sure waiting while other people line up for things or going on separate rides sometimes is anything particularly new or something that would give Walt Disney much distress.

 

[Disneylover99]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore?

Families can do so many things together at Disney World.

he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

I’m not sure GAC, DAS, FP, Genie+ or LL were on his radar back then. Lol.

And times change. Crowds build. People with disabilities now have a voice. Accommodations are made. But compromise is necessary.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

I think people forget DL opened in the '50s. We should probably keep that in mind and not look at it through rose colored glasses.

 

[Dulcee]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

The reality is accommodations are meant to get the experience as close as reasonably possible to a “typical” guest experience… and typical families at Disney run into many moments where they may need to split up in lines. Expecting your family to always be together because of wanting to experience it together, 100% of the time would be an accommodation above the normal park experience.

 

[razlime]

Not sure if this has been posted (I've only skimmed through the last week or so) but I've seen a few reports in disability Facebook groups that those denied DAS have attempted the parks with the alternative accommodations, had those not work, then re-applied in the park via video the same day or next morning.

At least one person said they had to try to re-apply in park twice, the second time with more "specific" language about why the alternate accommodations weren't working. I think that's important to say because it's clear they're not automatically approving if disabled guests are struggling with ATQ/RTL/Genie+. I just wanted to point it out for those with disabilities that are getting denied - there may still be hope if lines are still a struggle.

It's my impression that most of those doing this do have developmental disabilities, or something very similar that makes lines specifically a problem.

 

[jo-jo]

The reality is accommodations are meant to get the experience as close as reasonably possible to a “typical” guest experience… and typical families at Disney run into many moments where they may need to split up in lines. Expecting your family to always be together because of wanting to experience it together, 100% of the time would be an accommodation above the normal park experience.

Some of this comes down to how many rides. If using DAS you hit 7 rides, then you are apart during that time. But the eating, shows, etc you are together. Now maybe if you are one of these super users of riding 15-20 rides, than you are spending tons of time apart.

As others have mention, lots of families split up. Last trip with grandkids, big kids went with moms to big rides, we took the three little ones to dumbo and mermaid. If we went today, they all would go on the big rides, we'd be sitting out. Many rides we can no longer has nothing to do with DAS.

 

[lovethattink]

Close to park opening on April 9th my son’s DAS was “renewed”. Hours later, the changes were announced, so we weren’t sure what would happen with his DAS. 30 day? 60 day? We went to a park yesterday and his DAS was still working. So I assume it was under the old 60 days system.

Once we entered the LL, each queue we went in, went directly to the merge. So this was definitely a noticeable difference from previous.

The 10 minute rule was in effect as well.

 

[erinch]

There was a question upstream about getting ILLs refunded and someone had a bad experience at MK. I was recently at Epcot, and had purchased an ILL for Cosmic. It wasn’t due yet, and my DH was experiencing a spiking blood pressure and pain from a hip fracture 6 months previously. I talked to the blue umbrella CMs and they were lovely. Offered to move my ILL to right then if he could wait that long. Offered to go get a wheelchair to get him to first aid or the car, and very cheerfully refunded my ILL to take him “home” and monitor. They were super. I actually stopped in guest services the next day to do an in-person compliment.

 

[lanejudy]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

Others have mentioned the numerous other aspects of a visit that the family can do together. It's also important to note that in almost all scenarios Disney is still allowing the party to RIDE together, which had always been my understanding of Walt's dream. No attractions at WDW have upper height maximums, meaning adults and children can ride together unlike many other amusement parks -- particularly in that 1950's era. However families have been splitting up for years if there was a child too short, too young, didn't want to ride, etc.

 

[lanejudy]

I think people forget DL opened in the '50s. We should probably keep that in mind and not look at it through rose colored glasses.

Very true, especially with regards to this discussion. Many folks on this very thread would not have been able to enjoy attractions back then. Despite current challenges, we really have come a long way.

 

[Philsfan77]

I think people forget DL opened in the '50s. We should probably keep that in mind and not look at it through rose colored glasses.

Bingo - ADA laws as we know them today didn't really start to take shape until 1990. Walt would probably be amazed at how many people can actually access his parks these days given that context.

 

[PrincessV]

There was a question upstream about getting ILLs refunded and someone had a bad experience at MK. I was recently at Epcot, and had purchased an ILL for Cosmic. It wasn’t due yet, and my DH was experiencing a spiking blood pressure and pain from a hip fracture 6 months previously. I talked to the blue umbrella CMs and they were lovely. Offered to move my ILL to right then if he could wait that long. Offered to go get a wheelchair to get him to first aid or the car, and very cheerfully refunded my ILL to take him “home” and monitor. They were super. I actually stopped in guest services the next day to do an in-person compliment.

This is great to hear and I’m not at all surprised - I’ve always found the GS team at EP to go above and beyond in kindness and professionalism!

 

[starlite_]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

There is a really big difference between a carrousel and a modern E-ticket.

 

[mistysue]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

I WANT to eat all table service at the perfect times for no more cost or time than the typical family without allergies can mobile order QS - but I can't. It's not uncommon that we even have to split and eat at multiple locations because the one who can handle X allergy can't handle the selective eater or Y allergy. We've had to take 2+ hours just to get quick service, and easily spend a solid 6 hours on just acquiring food in a totally normal park day.

Our preference would be to stick together and get all this done in 30 minute pops, but sometimes our needs stop that from being a reality. It's not on the other guests or the park itself to be asked to change so that we can do it the way we PREFER.

There are people who prefer to be naked. The rules can't change every time someone has a preference - or there would effectively be no DAS or even LL because EVERYONE would be in that line.

 

[gottalovepluto]

As far filling in all available space, recent reports CMs are still packing them in so them stopping that as some assessment CMs have claimed is definitely wrong.

 

[AJA]

I guess Walt Disney's idea of making a place where families can do things together isn't part of WDW anymore? he came up with the idea of Disneyland while sitting on a bench watching his daughters ride a carrousel.

When it was a small company sure……today Disney is a billion dollar business. You cannot compare it.

If the Disney family felt that way they should have retained ownership.

BUT that sentiment is a possible solution.
Visiting local family owned parks that offer more streamlined services.
As popular as Disney has become they have too many people legitimately qualifying for DAS under the old rules.

Family owned parks may not.

 

[GoingSince1990]

The “our whole family must stay together at all times, even in the lines” argument is kind of grasping at straws. Every family with kids has spent years being separated in lines because height requirements meant they needed to use child swap, with absolutely no choice in the matter, if the parents wanted to do those rides.

 

[Liquidice]

Haven't been keeping up with the thread so apologies if this has been posted already - I've read multiple reports of people who have spoken to the "medical professional" from Inspire Health and were denied and when they went to re-apply for DAS, they were told they could not because the medical professional had already denied them.

One report claimed they were a CM and told everyone to not talk to the medical professional.

I also read a report that a CM supervisor told someone that a change occurred last week and supervisors can no longer overrule a CM's decision on whether to grant DAS as an accommodation. This differs from earlier reports that supervisors were granting DAS in some cases.

I'm not sure if there is any truth to either of the above reports, but hearing not just one but at least three reports of people being told that because they already spoke to a "medical professional" that they are automatically denied when they try to re-apply seems to be a pattern. I'm not sure if that is a new change, but it seems like recent applicants are being told this.

The recommendation from others is that you should not talk to a medical professional if the CM denies you and if they insist on adding the medical professional to the Zoom call that you should disconnect from the call.

 

[shannnsavage]

The “our whole family must stay together at all times, even in the lines” argument is kind of grasping at straws. Every family with kids has spent years being separated in lines because height requirements meant they needed to use child swap, with absolutely no choice in the matter, if the parents wanted to do those rides.

I guess that is your experience. It has been my experience that my whole family wants to experience Disney together. I guess I have a hard time on these boards because I am overly emotional bout this topic We have always rode rides as a family. All I am saying is that there is a chance (I know we are not supposed to speculate, but I can't help it) that I will not get to experience the parks with my family like I had in the past. Again, like I said, Disney was a place we could experience together, where most places we could not. I do not have a desire to sit on a bench trying to manage my disabled 17 year old daughter by myself while the rest of my family waints in a line. So I guess that means my family has to reconsider our vacationing plans! I value everyones take on this.

 

[nalababybear]

The “our whole family must stay together at all times, even in the lines” argument is kind of grasping at straws. Every family with kids has spent years being separated in lines because height requirements meant they needed to use child swap, with absolutely no choice in the matter, if the parents wanted to do those rides.

Short of kids with ASD, splitting families, especially different aged ones is part/parcel of theme parks. The rider switch accommodation is specially designed for it.

Not everyone is going to ride Rise or GotG or watch a parade or the fireworks.