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

[mhautz]

And who knows better what the need is, a CM that has a short contact via video chat or a parent that lives 24/7 with the challenges and strengths that comes with the autism.

And the cast member is arguably better equipped with information about the accommodations available based on those advocated needs. This is a team effort. There's also been a lot of bluster about this issue without any concrete evidence that Disney is in fact denying people who demonstrably need the full accommodations of the DAS pass. I'm sure there are people who do need it who did not adequately advocate their case, but I think much of the anecdotal evidence is from people who you can read between the lines and determine that DAS is definitely a decent accommodation, but hardly necessary. And that's not to diminish their disability or need for accommodation, just that less ideal (in the sense we'd all rather have more than needed) accommodations will work fine.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

So you are convinced that a CM is able to judge the need and that with let’s say max. 5% error margin and that parents are not able to do this odjectively.

I think that the number of people who TRULY cannot stand in line being rejected is much MUCH lower than what some people make it out to be, so yes, especially compared to the massive number of people who would claim any advantage that were offered. Look no further than mainstream classrooms in expensive areas where 75% of kids are granted extra time on tests, for example.

Are people being denied that might prefer DAS, absolutely. But I am skeptical enough of some of the reports of people being denied to think that the system is probably working pretty close to as it is intended, at least for now. Disney is giving itself enough room to become more generous, rather than immediately having to tighten the screws again.

 

[Ollivier]

I don't believe that anyone who is that close to this kind of situation could be objective about this. It's human nature.

I have a different opinion on this.
When living with a kid/adult with autism, it is important to know and understand the needs. And this for all situations.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm sure there are people who do need it who did not adequately advocate their case

This is often an issue for autistic people and those with other developmental disabilities. Struggles with self-advocacy are often part of the disability. And not everyone has someone else to be on the call to advocate for them. For these individuals, information about what will be asked (everyone the initial explain your need, as it seems there are questions beyond that depending on how you answer that one) ahead of the call can significantly help their ability to self-advocate, but that can also lead to cheating...so an accommodation that could help these people better explain their needs on the call is not likely to happen because of how it could enable cheaters.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I have a different opinion on this.
When living with a kid/adult with autism, it is important to know and understand the needs. And this for all situations.

You are probably approaching this from the experience of someone who lives with a person with severe autism. The issue is that there are many other families who are not in the same situation but will either exaggerate their needs or outright lie about them. And if group B is significantly larger than group A (as it appears to be), something has to change.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

1. DAS was given as a blanket accommodation, though. That's one of the issues that Disney is addressing with these changes. 2. There wasn't really discretion between which disabilities were best served by rider switch vs. attraction queue re-entry vs. DAS the way there is now. Sure, both alternatives always existed, but weren't as well-known.

3. Additionally, even if initially denied, causing enough of a scene at guest services typically resulted in families getting their way no matter how non-DAS-appropriate their alleged need. That's no longer an option for people, either.

1. This is much better statement, but still not entirely true. The moderators, lanejudy and Sue in MN, have repeatedly clarified that DAS was not intended for mobility disabilities.

2. In the past, Rider switch was only available for parties with a small child that did not meet the height requirements of a ride that had height requirements. CM's were very clear about that policy and would only issue a swap pass after they verified the height of the child. The new Rider Swap policy is a significant change from prior policy.

3. Did it? Do you have evidence to support this claim?

 

[Disneylover99]

So you are convinced that a CM is able to judge the need and that with let’s say max. 5% error margin and that parents are not able to do this odjectively.

Most parents can’t do this objectively. They are calling about the DAS. They want the DAS. They have already justified the need in their mind. That’s why they’re calling.

 

[Ollivier]

I think that the number of people who TRULY cannot stand in line being rejected is much MUCH lower than what some people make it out to be, so yes, especially compared to the massive number of people who would claim any advantage that were offered. Look no further than mainstream classrooms in expensive areas where 75% of kids are granted extra time on tests, for example.

I agree that we don’t have a clear view at this time.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

1. This is much better statement, but still not entirely true. The moderators, lanejudy and Sue in MN, have repeatedly clarified that DAS was not intended for mobility disabilities.

2. In the past, Rider switch was only available for parties with a small child that did not meet the height requirements of a ride that had height requirements. CM's were very clear about that policy and would only issue a swap pass after they verified the height of the child. The new Rider Swap policy is a significant change from prior policy.

3. Did it? Do you have evidence to support this claim?

1. I didn't ask for your assessment of my statement, which is a repetition of what I said before and thus shouldn't be any "better" or worse than what I said previously, but thanks. What the DAS is or is not meant for has no bearing on whether or not people feel entitled to it. Plenty of people with mobility issues have blatantly expressed that they feel they deserve the DAS pass even more than people with developmental disabilities.

2. So, you concede that I was correct and that the new policy partially came about to address the issue of DAS being given as a blanket accommodation?

3. Yep, I and others have seen it firsthand. You see a lot when you're in the parks often, especially when youre disabled yourself and have to visit a blue umbrella more often than you'd like.

 

[OurBigTrip]

1. This is much better statement, but still not entirely true. The moderators, lanejudy and Sue in MN, have repeatedly clarified that DAS was not intended for mobility disabilities.

2. In the past, Rider switch was only available for parties with a small child that did not meet the height requirements of a ride that had height requirements. CM's were very clear about that policy and would only issue a swap pass after they verified the height of the child. The new Rider Swap policy is a significant change from prior policy.

3. Did it? Do you have evidence to support this claim?

Not the PP, but I'll answer from my perspective.

1. While the DAS wasn't intended for mobility use, it was certainly being given out to some that had mobility issues and nothing else.
2. Agree
3. I've seen it personally in GS when visiting for another issue, so yes, it has happened. I believe that's why Disney has taken the face-to-face option away completely in Florida, and moved it out of GS in California.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

. Have their been people in this forum previously who were upset that they couldn't get DAS for an issue that could be resolved by a mobility device?

Ah, so nobody has said want and need are the same thing. Your reply is not what I asked.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Ah, so nobody has said want and need are the same thing. Your reply is not what I asked.

Wanting something that you don't need in the very definition of want v. need.

Another want v. need, which has been seen in this thread, is wanting a DAS so that parties aren't separated.

Have there been any posters who have explicitly said "I don't need it, but I want it!"? Of course not.

Have they made statements that make it very clear that they don't need it but still want it? Absolutely.

But hey, if you choose to believe that the DAS hasn't been massively overused, then you do you.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Look no further than mainstream classrooms in expensive areas where 75% of kids are granted extra time on tests, for example.

Wait, what? Do you have a source for this claim?

I get this is an emotional discussion, but again such statements are not helpful.

 

[lanejudy]

Folks - arguing about documentation or school IEP accommodations is not a helpful discussion here.

What we know:
Disney is not requiring documentation.
Disney appears to want other accommodations to be used if at all possible, therefore reducing the number of DAS issued.
Many people are still confused by the difference between diagnosis and needs. Advocating for oneself or a loved one is a valuable skill and involves more that giving a diagnosis or documentation.
We have received a few first-hand reports of in-park accommodations. Hopefully more will come through in the next few days/week.

Until then, let’s not rehash old arguments that aren’t going to have any impact.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

Folks - arguing about documentation or school IEP accommodations is not a helpful discussion here.

What we know:
Disney is not requiring documentation.
Disney appears to want other accommodations to be used if at all possible, therefore reducing the number of DAS issued.
Many people are still confused by the difference between diagnosis and needs. Advocating for oneself or a loved one is a valuable skill and involves more that giving a diagnosis or documentation.
We have received a few first-hand reports of in-park accommodations. Hopefully more will come through in the next few days/week.

Until then, let’s not rehash old arguments that aren’t going to have any impact.

Heard and heeded, Miss Judy. Thanks for keeping us in check when we get a little too caught up in a back-and-forth.

Debate can be fun, but it's not always appropriate for the venue.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I have a different opinion on this.
When living with a kid/adult with autism, it is important to know and understand the needs. And this for all situations.

I suspect it is a bit of both. It is being argued- repeatedly in this thread- that there is a difference between wanting DAS and needing DAS.

If Disney has indeed come up with a more suitable accommodation than DAS, then we should not assume every guest knows the parks better than Disney.

A % of those who apply for DAS are time/infrequently visitors, for example.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Folks - arguing about documentation or school IEP accommodations is not a helpful discussion here.

What we know:
Disney is not requiring documentation.
Disney appears to want other accommodations to be used if at all possible, therefore reducing the number of DAS issued.
Many people are still confused by the difference between diagnosis and needs. Advocating for oneself or a loved one is a valuable skill and involves more that giving a diagnosis or documentation.
We have received a few first-hand reports of in-park accommodations. Hopefully more will come through in the next few days/week.

Until then, let’s not rehash old arguments that aren’t going to have any impact.

I've actually seen some reports where people were pleasantly surprised that the revised accommodations worked better than they anticipated. Most have said they still like the DAS better, and that the new accommodations weren't at the same level as DAS (obviously), but there were able to make it work.

I'm also seeing more posts (on other sites) that some people aren't even requesting DAS any more because they either a) assume they won't be approved due to the new criteria or b) realize that the new accommodations will work for them.

That's where my sister is at - now that she knows about AQR, she's not even going to call about the DAS. So long as there is a way for her to leave the line if necessary, she's perfectly happy with leaving if need be and meeting up with the group upon her return.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Wait, what? Do you have a source for this claim?

I get this is an emotional discussion, but again such statements are not helpful.

https://nypost.com/2024/03/27/us-news/private-school-students-get-fake-adhd-diagnoses-boost-sat/

Just one example

"One mom of a junior at an elite Manhattan prep school said that out of her daughter’s eight closest friends, six have gotten extra time."

 

[steve456]

So you are convinced that a CM is able to judge the need and that with let’s say max. 5% error margin and that parents are not able to do this odjectively.

I'd be happy if the CMs could get it down to 20% error rate. SSDI examiners, judges on asylum cases, and everyone else who has to deal with very vague guidelines where its tough to draw a line know they make lots of mistakes.

But I don't think parents are the answer. You might as well just have the kids decide if they need DAS. They could probably be more objective than their parents.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

1. I didn't ask for your assessment of my statement, which is a repetition of what I said before and thus shouldn't be any "better" or worse than what I said previously, but thanks. What the DAS is or is not meant for has no bearing on whether or not people feel entitled to it. Plenty of people with mobility issues have blatantly expressed that they feel they deserve the DAS pass even more than people with developmental disabilities.

2. So, you concede that I was correct and that the new policy partially came about to address the issue of DAS being given as a blanket accommodation?

3. Yep, I and others have seen it firsthand. You see a lot when you're in the parks often, especially when youre disabled yourself and have to visit a blue umbrella more often than you'd like.

I'll make this shorter,
1,A broken leg was not a condition covered by DAS.
2. More or less, yes. Expanding Rider Swap is an excellent idea. I've long felt it should be extended in this manner. It has often been asked on this forum if rider swap was an option for children who are afraid of rides like HM, even though they are tall enough to ride. Disney is finally listening.
3. Fraud is never okay. If you say you saw it, I'll take your word.