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

[Ms Bibbidi]

.

 

[Disneychick75]

Not sure where the lottery suggestion is coming from.

Disney asks a question. What keeps you from accessing a standard queue for an attraction. They will try to match a reasonable accommodation so that you can access that attraction.

Medical diagnosis in itself does not do anything toward that. One could state immunosupressed status. Yet, if it were a ig deficiency and just received ivig prior to the trip, would one be really deficient state for those subsequent days?

And if Disney knew one was at a high risk, I am certain they will not know how to truly accommodate for such aside giving general recommendations of...consult your doctor . Same for pregnancy. They don't discern 6 weeks from 8 months. If you're pregnant...use caution on x attraction.

Disney has changed the pixie dusting of giving higher level of accommodations than needed and returning to level that's more in line with other theme parks.....which continues the slide of Disney toward mediocrity and folk questioning the price.premium it used to command easily.

I believe Disney will find a new balance as well as the disability community in the following months. I am hopeful they will get it right more often than not.

Some people who have similar problems with lines are getting DAS approved and others are not. That's why it has been called it a lottery.

 

[nalababybear]

Some people who have similar problems with lines are getting DAS approved and others are not. That's why it has been called it a lottery.

As folk pointed out above, unless we truly know the details of the conversations behind the proported similar issues at hand, the apparent randomness is not there.

As many have mentioned, disabilities range greatly within each diagnosis.

More importantly, how one is able to communicate that issue impacting ones ability to remain in a standard queue effectively to the CM is a very important factor that more likely than not leads to perception of randomness

 

[Disneychick75]

As folk pointed out above, unless we truly know the details of the conversations behind the proported similar issues at hand, the apparent randomness is not there.

As many have mentioned, disabilities range greatly within each diagnosis.

More importantly, how one is able to communicate that issue impacting ones ability to remain in a standard queue effectively to the CM is a very important factor that more likely than not leads to perception of randomness

I stated problems with lines not diagnoses.

The italicized part is a problem because if a person cannot communicate or say the magic words, then No DAS for them even though they need it. Bet the cheaters will know the words though and communicate them very well.

 

[marikujawa]

I stated problems with lines not diagnoses.

The italicized part is a problem because if a person cannot communicate or say the magic words, then No DAS for them even though they need it. Bet the cheaters will know the words though and communicate them very well.

There aren’t any magic words. Just questions and truthful answers.

 

[Bearval]

I wasn’t sure if the comment was intended to be as trollish as I initially read it, but I do think there is some truth to the fact that the WDW experience was made much worse with the rollout of G+ (combined with the increasing number of DAS users limiting FP/LL availability and functionality— These two things happened in tandem and probably exacerbated each other, and only Disney would be able to accurately calculate relative weighting) and if you have been on DAS since 2020, you might not realize just how much more grueling it became to spend a day in the parks with your family even if you don’t have any significant health challenges, even if you’re willing to buy the upsell LLs.

The massive increase of guests requesting DAS since Disney's rollout of Genie + was no coincidence. Disney had no choice but to cut back on who they approved DAS for to the ADA guidelines so that people who really needed the DAS accommodations could benefit by them.

 

[Disneylover99]

I stated problems with lines not diagnoses.

The italicized part is a problem because if a person cannot communicate or say the magic words, then No DAS for them even though they need it. Bet the cheaters will know the words though and communicate them very well.

I think the use of magic words was very much part of the old DAS. But now, it seems, they’re moving away from that, which I think will really help to deter the cheaters.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Some people who have similar problems with lines are getting DAS approved and others are not. That's why it has been called it a lottery.

When people explain things differently, there will be different results.

Plus, on most of the sites I've seen, which don't really allow people to detail what they said (due to scammers), I've seen people denied with the same diagnosis as someone who is was approved, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they had the same problems with lines.

 

[diablodancer]

I'm sure this isn't going to come across the way I hope but here goes... You are willing to spend 8-9 hours on a transatlantic flight with maybe 300-600 others, but you are asking to avoid a 45-60 minute queue while subjecting yourself to 10's of thousands in the parks themselves. I'm not saying that's right or wrong...just that I can see the contradiction in those statements.

Not the OP but want to jump in here as someone who’s also immunocompromised (not saying that alone should be valid for DAS, it’s not why I’ve had it in the past) as think there’s a few slight misconceptions here around risk:

- Most commercial airplanes have in built HEPA filters that operate in flight so they’re actually not as big a risk as people initially think. The airport itself is far higher risk but as someone who gets assistance (suspect a lot of us do due to related conditions) and avoids most of the crowds, that is also minimised. I fly regularly (often 14 hours flights) wearing FFP3s and have not caught Covid or anything else from flying and it’s the part of my travels that I worry least about getting sick during.

- Less important but there is a different risk in being outdoors among people (and it is possible to avoid crowds in the parks if you avoid parades/night time shows) and being stuck indoors with people for a long period in terms of risk of infection. I visit at quiet times and many of the thoroughfares are the same level of busyness I would see on the main shopping street of my city.

As with many disabilities it’s about finding ways to mitigate that risk and workaround. I don’t think it’s contradictory (and I say that as someone who has been ill from the parks before).

 

[TwoMisfits]

Some people who have similar problems with lines are getting DAS approved and others are not. That's why it has been called it a lottery.

But some people may have a ride history that shows they did not need it, while others have a ride history that does.

We know from a previous poster that Disney is also considering that rider history and DAS usage in the parks. And that may be why you see 2 different outcomes for close to the same needs. When push comes to shove, one party in reality has continually shown those needs cropping up in the parks, and the other has not.

As mentioned before, the 4 months renewals may also further slim down DAS approved folks based on DAS usage over the period, b/c there will be a nice amount of data again just from this go around with the now shorter LL lines.

 

[Bearval]

As folk pointed out above, unless we truly know the details of the conversations behind the proported similar issues at hand, the apparent randomness is not there.

As many have mentioned, disabilities range greatly within each diagnosis.

More importantly, how one is able to communicate that issue impacting ones ability to remain in a standard queue effectively to the CM is a very important factor that more likely than not leads to perception of randomness

Many have the same disability but at different levels. The CM is following a flow chart based upon the responses they are given to the questions they ask and it is more than just being able to communicate the impact of waiting in line.

 

[mhautz]

Another observation. Disney said they would ban anyone lying to obtain DAS. The issue in those interviews is why can’t you use the standby line. People are posting skepticism as so how Disney would know.

The Magic band plus or the phone app tracks where you are in the park with amazing precision. The technology will show if the DAS user is also using longer standby lines.

I think this gives Disney far too much credit in their abilities or intentions. They certainly have access to a lot of data, but the precise data to prove you stood in a standby line would be tricky, expensive and prone to error (and possibly a legal grey area).

I’m also not quite sure how disqualifying that information would be anyway. It can be completely consistent with your needs to be able to tolerate or even prefer standby in specific instances. I also don’t think it’s in Disney’s interest to discourage standby usage.

 

[Vampiress88]

Actually, it wasn't because of DAS that you were allowed to use the Guardians VQ late; only TRON is strict on VQ returns. At GotG they allow anyone to enter the queue any time after the boarding group has been called. So this example is a non-issue when it comes to DAS.



No, it isn't the same as the old manual DAS. It's Attraction Queue Re-entry (AQR) and I don't believe you would all be leaving the queue. Unless you need your husband and children to assist you, they remain in the queue while you exit to take care of your disability. Then you rejoin them -- most likely via the LL.

Didn’t know that. They made it seem like as I had das then that was the reason I was allowed to guardians lots of hours after the boarding.

No my husband would not have to leave with me everytime. It all depends on what’s happening at that moment. Sometimes being let out and let back in would work other times it won’t. And I’ve also had it on meeting Anna and Elsa where I was just told to go out the queue and come back in before- lots of people not very happy at me walking past them but I don’t think that will be every ride as I’m sure the CM has ways out of other queues better.

 

[razlime]

The Magic band plus or the phone app tracks where you are in the park with amazing precision. The technology will show if the DAS user is also using longer standby lines.

Of course they're not going to do that, they barely have a consistently working app for guests. That would be a pretty big investment in tech and labor to catch what is obviously a small minority of "fakers." It's not worth it.

Plus I've seen people with disabilities that only have occasional issues with lines that are getting approved under the new rules. There are tons of reasons they can't do lines in some places but can do lines in others. Even neurodivergent kids can handle some lines and not others.

Disney also encourages neurodivergent guests to get a return time then spend the wait in other lines.

They'll ban people for bragging about lying publicly or teaching others how to do the same, beyond that there isn't much ability or need to enforce it.

As a reminder, multiple reports have come out that this change wasn't only to do with concerns about "abuse" - it's because there are simply too many disabled people to accommodate now, so they narrowed the rules. There were other options available to them, but Disney chose this one.

 

[Bearval]

But some people may have a ride history that shows they did not need it, while others have a ride history that does.

We know from a previous poster that Disney is also considering that rider history and DAS usage in the parks. And that may be why you see 2 different outcomes for close to the same needs. When push comes to shove, one party in reality has continually shown those needs cropping up in the parks, and the other has not.

As mentioned before, the 4 months renewals may also further slim down DAS approved folks based on DAS usage over the period, b/c there will be a nice amount of data again just from this go around with the now shorter LL lines.

You better believe that Disney is going to use rider data to help determine if someone approved for DAS really needs it or not. I also wouldn't be surprised if they also used the same data to determine if someone who was denied DAS and was told to use one of the other suggested options would get approved in the future if the data showed that a DAS pass was actually what is needed for them. Unfortunately for people with mobility issues I think that Disney will hold the line on denying DAS for them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You better believe that Disney is going to use rider data to help determine if someone approved for DAS really needs it or not. I also wouldn't be surprised if they also used the same data to determine if someone who was denied DAS and was told to use one of the other suggested options would get approved in the future if the data showed that a DAS pass was actually what is needed for them. Unfortunately for people with mobility issues I think that Disney will hold the line on denying DAS for them.

I agree that they have that data, as they used it in lawsuit. However, they had a lot of time to gather and distill that data for a specific guest on specific days...I'd be very surprised if the data is tagged to the degree necessary for CMs/medical professionals to look at it on an ad hoc basis during a DAS call.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Not the OP but want to jump in here as someone who’s also immunocompromised (not saying that alone should be valid for DAS, it’s not why I’ve had it in the past) as think there’s a few slight misconceptions here around risk:

- Most commercial airplanes have in built HEPA filters that operate in flight so they’re actually not as big a risk as people initially think. The airport itself is far higher risk but as someone who gets assistance (suspect a lot of us do due to related conditions) and avoids most of the crowds, that is also minimised. I fly regularly (often 14 hours flights) wearing FFP3s and have not caught Covid or anything else from flying and it’s the part of my travels that I worry least about getting sick during.

- Less important but there is a different risk in being outdoors among people (and it is possible to avoid crowds in the parks if you avoid parades/night time shows) and being stuck indoors with people for a long period in terms of risk of infection. I visit at quiet times and many of the thoroughfares are the same level of busyness I would see on the main shopping street of my city.

As with many disabilities it’s about finding ways to mitigate that risk and workaround. I don’t think it’s contradictory (and I say that as someone who has been ill from the parks before).

As another one, yes, outdoor is always preferable to indoor...and outdoor in heat and sun is the ideal for a person if they are immunocompromised and want to have fun. When local schools are in session is also better than when they are out, and non-holiday weeks are always better than holiday, and flu season travel just needs to be skipped.

And planes are ideal for travel...if you can't drive yourself (or get a personal car service), they are much preferable to trains/buses.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Reading reports that under AQR when leaving a line you must coordinate with the CM. If not, then upon return you have to go to the end of the line. If you did coordinate, the CM gives directions on how to re-enter.

I wonder if that means you do not need to wait to come across a cast member in the middle of the line somewhere to leave. You can leave the line, but coordinate with the cast member near the entrance before completely leaving about how to reenter?

 

[Karin1984]

With all the discussions about lines, DAS, Genie+, FP, FP+, some people might find below analysis of Fastpass jnteresting. It doesnt take DAS into account, but it is a great watch to understand queuing.

Defunctland - Fastpass: a complicated history.

 

[lanejudy]

But if they did not tell the CM they were leaving before they left, then they were “re-entered” at the end of the line even if they had someone holding their place.

Attraction Queue Re-entry does not involve re-entering the standby queue. If they have someone “holding their spot” they re-enter via the LL and re-join their party at the merge point.

I wonder if that means you do not need to wait to come across a cast member in the middle of the line somewhere to leave. You can leave the line, but coordinate with the cast member near the entrance before completely leaving about how to reenter?

That is correct. You don't have to "stay" at your place in the queue until you come across a CM. If you need to leave, head towards the exit -- in most cases that is probably back behind you at the entrance to the queue but depending on the queue it may be ahead at a merge point or loading. That's when you speak with a CM.

I was just told to go out the queue and come back in before- lots of people not very happy at me walking past them but I don’t think that will be every ride as I’m sure the CM has ways out of other queues better.

AQR does not involve pushing past people in line to re-join your party. In pretty much all cases it will involve use of the LL. But your party remains in the queue.