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

[mistysue]

My DD just got denied DAS (after receiving it the past two trips to DLR and WDW), and with the same conditions before both hematology/oncology related conditions and psychological pathology conditions.

Now that my DD is an adult, DD must logon on with DD's MDE account and needs to advocate and apparently didn't answer the questions about the conditions at work and university very well to the health care professional my DD was transferred to, because the health care professional apparently wasn't convinced that my DD's accommodations at school (504 plan) and work (ADA assistance plan) wasn't deemed fitting the need to queue outside the standby queue.

Not surprised by the decision with the new rules that TWDC implemented. I just don't see my DD being able to have a positive vacation and we are kind of screwed as a family. Oh well, such is life. My DD, DW and I have sat so many hours in the pediatric oncology / hematology waiting room seems only fair that TWDC will make us all wait hours in the standby queue too.

I wish everyone better luck than my DD.

I'm sorry. Are there possibly things someone might be able to help you plan or brainstorm ideas for that may improve your trip?

 

[lanejudy]

the health care professional apparently wasn't convinced that my DD's accommodations at school (504 plan) and work (ADA assistance plan) wasn't deemed fitting the need to queue outside the standby queue.

Not knowing her school or work accommodations (and I’m not asking for those details) — it is highly possible those accommodations don’t translate into avoiding the standby queue. However, she absolutely can have you or your wife assist her on the video call even if done from her own MDE account. Maybe the three of you can sit down to make notes about everyday queues (or waits) even if she avoids such things.

When you give AQR a try in the park, if it doesn’t work make detailed notes about the where/when/why/how and then reconnect with the Accessibility Team to discuss options.

 

[nalababybear]

Yes, agree. I mean to use the old DAS, you still had to be able to handle the LL line and wait time, so about 15 minutes, closed in, surrounded by people. I can think of pretty much zero examples in my real life that are even that bad. I know people above mentioned some, but they are very specific, and not ones I’ve ever encountered.

The lines I see everyday are short in comparison to Disney, open, and easy to exit and return to. Just not an apples to apples comparison.

Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with this at the moment, but I do get your confusion on exactly how to answer that.

I suspect Disney flowsheet is looking for adaptations one deploys to mitigate queue issues. Whether that is truly applicable doesn't matter if in their checklist needed to get past.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I'm sorry. Are there possibly things someone might be able to help you plan or brainstorm ideas for that may improve your trip?

Thank you. No great ideas. We will just remain in the queue if/when she has an issue. Or if it gets too bad leave the queue and head to a bathroom or first aid.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Not knowing her school or work accommodations (and I’m not asking for those details) — it is highly possible those accommodations don’t translate into avoiding the standby queue. However, she absolutely can have you or your wife assist her on the video call even if done from her own MDE account. Maybe the three of you can sit down to make notes about everyday queues (or waits) even if she avoids such things.

When you give AQR a try in the park, if it doesn’t work make detailed notes about the where/when/why/how and then reconnect with the Accessibility Team to discuss options.

Thanks for your thoughts and wisdom. I appreciate that you are trying to help.

I’d be shocked if AQR works because my kid may have to go to first aid and would need an escort depending upon the amount of blood. No AQR is practical when you have no clue when my kid can return to the queue. I don’t want to abandoned my kid by staying behind. Also, the rest of my family isn’t going to hang out at the end of the standby line for an undetermined amount of time. It could be 30 minutes or it could be 90 minutes. No one knows.

Another reason why G+ return times don’t always fit for us either.

In the end, I’m unsurprised by TWDC decision to change DAS. There is no revenue attached to it.

Chemo sucks for folks like my DD. BUT, she’s still alive.

 

[mistysue]

Thank you. No great ideas. We will just remain in the queue if/when she has an issue. Or if it gets too bad leave the queue and head to a bathroom or first aid.

I recommend you talk to the CMs when you are having an issue every time, they may offer more assistance that isn't commonly given and nobody with a legit need should be pushed to suffer. I don't believe that is the intention of anyone. Especially if it's a smaller group, or a subgroup they can likely help more than sending you through in two halves.

Not knowing much, but seeing your other comments I am guessing you are caught in the "but is this common enough you need this all the time?" Which you can assess once you've been there and spoken to the CMs at attractions. It's either all/most of the lines, or it's not, and many people do need a wakeup call about being in that latter group even if that's not you. I do believe the "backup accommodations" do more and are more flexible than people give them credit for.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I recommend you talk to the CMs when you are having an issue every time, they may offer more assistance that isn't commonly given and nobody with a legit need should be pushed to suffer. I don't believe that is the intention of anyone. Especially if it's a smaller group, or a subgroup they can likely help more than sending you through in two halves.

Not knowing much, but seeing your other comments I am guessing you are caught in the "but is this common enough you need this all the time?" Which you can assess once you've been there and spoken to the CMs at attractions. It's either all/most of the lines, or it's not, and many people do need a wakeup call about being in that latter group even if that's not you. I do believe the "backup accommodations" do more and are more flexible than people give them credit for.

Appreciated.

Sure we can talk to CMs whenever needed. It’s embarrassing for my DD to have to explain the conditions and the side effects to total strangers. Doing it repeatedly just doesn’t help her psychological pathologies.

My DW and I will sit down and discuss further about whether or not to cancel the trip and eating whatever deposit is non refundable for YC and MNSSP. We stopped going to WDW for many years because our kid was too sickly, DAS or no DAS. It wasn’t in the cards.

Today, our kid is healthier than before and that’s more important than a trip to WDW. We are far more fortunate than some of the parents we befriended at DD’s pediatric clinic.

Again, best wishes to all those families who can still get DAS for their loved ones.

 

[Nikkimouse44]

Appreciated.

Sure we can talk to CMs whenever needed. It’s embarrassing for my DD to have to explain the conditions and the side effects to total strangers. Doing it repeatedly just doesn’t help her psychological pathologies.

My DW and I will sit down and discuss further about whether or not to cancel the trip and eating whatever deposit is non refundable for YC and MNSSP. We stopped going to WDW for many years because our kid was too sickly, DAS or no DAS. It wasn’t in the cards.

Today, our kid is healthier than before and that’s more important than a trip to WDW. We are far more fortunate than some of the parents we befriended at DD’s pediatric clinic.

Again, best wishes to all those families who can still get DAS for their loved ones.

I’m so sorry about your daughter and your DAS experience but your positive attitude about this and not “throwing a tantrum” is so admirable. Your focus on your Daughter health and wellbeing clearly shows and your love for her and your family is so heartwarming!

 

[lanejudy]

Sure we can talk to CMs whenever needed. It’s embarrassing for my DD to have to explain the conditions and the side effects to total strangers. Doing it repeatedly just doesn’t help her psychological pathologies.

I don't believe she needs to explain anything further than "I need to leave the queue to go to first aid; my caregiver needs to come with me. How do we return?"

AQR is available to all guests even without disability. The attraction CMs do not need guests to go into detail about their particular needs of why they are leaving the queue.

Good luck!

 

[mistysue]

Appreciated.

Sure we can talk to CMs whenever needed. It’s embarrassing for my DD to have to explain the conditions and the side effects to total strangers. Doing it repeatedly just doesn’t help her psychological pathologies.

My DW and I will sit down and discuss further about whether or not to cancel the trip and eating whatever deposit is non refundable for YC and MNSSP. We stopped going to WDW for many years because our kid was too sickly, DAS or no DAS. It wasn’t in the cards.

Today, our kid is healthier than before and that’s more important than a trip to WDW. We are far more fortunate than some of the parents we befriended at DD’s pediatric clinic.

Again, best wishes to all those families who can still get DAS for their loved ones.

FWIW - if the resort is room only it should be refundable this far out. In some cases, if people are within the window to keep a deposit, you can modify your reservation to move the date out, then cancel and get a full refund because you are now outside the 7 day or 60 days window or whatever it is.

Also, if it helps, the CMs at the attraction do not need to know medical details, only that you can not stay and what you're expecting for return or other party members. Telling them that you have to go now and that this may take 3 hours or whatever it will, is enough information.

ETA - If I were walking away and said "I'm leaving for 2 hours", they might sort of want to know why, but it's probably because they imagine I'm ditching the line for a dining reservation and want to sneak a bonus LL. In which case, "it is medical" would clear that up without divulging details.

 

[notatallmagic]

My DD just got denied DAS (after receiving it the past two trips to DLR and WDW), and with the same conditions before both hematology/oncology related conditions and psychological pathology conditions.

Now that my DD is an adult, DD must logon on with DD's MDE account and needs to advocate and apparently didn't answer the questions about the conditions at work and university very well to the health care professional my DD was transferred to, because the health care professional apparently wasn't convinced that my DD's accommodations at school (504 plan) and work (ADA assistance plan) wasn't deemed fitting the need to queue outside the standby queue.

Not surprised by the decision with the new rules that TWDC implemented. I just don't see my DD being able to have a positive vacation and we are kind of screwed as a family. Oh well, such is life. My DD, DW and I have sat so many hours in the pediatric oncology / hematology waiting room seems only fair that TWDC will make us all wait hours in the standby queue too.

I wish everyone better luck than my DD.

I am so sorry. My DDs first solo experience was horrible, and ended up with her in tears. We were able to write out talking points and call back together with a better result. Hugs to you all.

 

[PrincessV]

I’m just back from a week at WDW and UO and don’t have a lot to share, but a couple notes that may or may not be helpful…

I had DAS approved in the before-times that included this trip, so I used it where I needed to. The surprise was how little I needed it: wait times were consistently low at a large number of attractions. It was HOT and I was in the parks from around 4pm-closing. July 1 at EP I only used DAS for the VQ at GOTG - Seas, LWTL, SE, Figment were all under 10 minutes in SB, so I used the SB lines. July 3 at MK was wild - 5-10 minute waits for half the park in the late afternoon. Several times, I’d book a DAS return time for something that had a 25 minute posted wait and by the time I got there, it was 5 minutes, so I canceled DAS and the actual wait was even less than 5 minutes. I got into the VQ for TBA but arrived late - they were understanding and allowed me to ride and also converted it to DAS so I could use the LL there. SB wait times picked up later in the evening, as people showed up for the holiday fireworks, but not for everything and it didn’t last - I walked on Small World after the fireworks. July 4 at EP I didn’t do any rides, but wait times were again very short. July 6 late afternoon at DHS was the lowest wait times of all for many rides - ROTR was posted as 20 but I heard people say they actually walked on, TSM 20, ST said 10 but was a walk-on, MF:SR was posted 20 but was a walk-on - only SDD, TOT, RnR were posted 45-60 minutes (and Touring Plans estimates agreed.)

LL lines I used with DAS or ILL were nearly all walk-through with no waiting before the merge. Exceptions were GOTG, which had a few minutes before merging, and JC, which had a boat malfunction that halted both lines for about 10 minutes.

I didn’t try utilizing AQR because I never had a need for it - crowds were just that light and the few times I needed accommodation I used DAS. I did happen to be near when a couple others inquired about needing to leave the line and return and though I didn’t eavesdrop to hear the details, nobody looked upset or put out and CMs seemed to understand the request.

UO was a different story on July 2 and 5: very normal summer crowds there. I have the FL AP with Express Pass after 4, so I used that, but waited longer in the EP lines than on previous Spring visits. Still within my tolerance, though: around 10-15 minutes.

 

[mamaofsix]

I am so sorry. My DDs first solo experience was horrible, and ended up with her in tears. We were able to write out talking points and call back together with a better result. Hugs to you all.

This will be my kids. They are teens now, but once they are adults I'll still need to be on the call helping them. The very nature of an interrogation-style interview is completely non-friendly to those with developmental disabilities - the very audience for whom DAS is meant. Without my advocacy, they would be like deer in headlights, unable to express their needs. They would be denied instantly, because their delays are such that verbal explanations and comprehension of language are low.

Oh, the irony - a system meant to help those with developmental disabilities takes zero account for those disabilities in an interview / assessment situation.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Oh, the irony - a system meant to help those with developmental disabilities takes zero account for those disabilities in an interview / assessment situation.

What would you suggest that Disney could do to improve the process?

 

[OurBigTrip]

What would you suggest that Disney could do to improve the process?

That's what I wonder as well - there has to be individualized assessment, so I'm not sure how that can be done without an interview.

 

[mamaofsix]

What would you suggest that Disney could do to improve the process?

Lots of things. My job is virtually interacting with clients. We are mandated by law (Canada) to do ADA training every single year to make sure we are accommodating those with disabilities. Among the requirements:

-Allow the client to communicate in writing or with a pre-written letter if speaking is difficult for them.
-Accept documentation of your client's disability and ensure that you are following the suggestions of the documentation they provide.
-Recognize the signs of someone with a disability and ask them if you should slow / simplify your speech to accommodate their needs.
-Inform them of their right to have an advocate to help navigate their communication with you.
-If you do not have current accommodations to suit their needs, ask the client how you could adjust your business environment to help accommodate them.
-Offer alternative to a video-based platform if this is not suitable to the client. Alternatives include phone conversation, email or in-person conversations.

From what I hear and have experienced, Disney routinely misses every one of the points above. These are just a few of the many things suggested to us in training. Every business owner in Canada must follow these guidelines. I understand that the U.S. has different requirements for businesses. However, it is clear from recent reports of DAS conversations with CMs that Disney is not following even basic protocol for interacting with the disability community.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Lots of things. My job is virtually interacting with clients. We are mandated by law (Canada) to do ADA training every single year to make sure we are accommodating those with disabilities. Among the requirements:

-Allow the client to communicate in writing or with a pre-written letter if speaking is difficult for them.
-Accept documentation of your client's disability and ensure that you are following the suggestions of the documentation they provide.
-Recognize the signs of someone with a disability and ask them if you should slow / simplify your speech to accommodate their needs.
-Inform them of their right to have an advocate to help navigate their communication with you.
-If you do not have current accommodations to suit their needs, ask the client how you could adjust your business environment to help accommodate them.
-Offer alternative to a video-based platform if this is not suitable to the client. Alternatives include phone conversation, email or in-person conversations.

From what I hear and have experienced, Disney routinely misses every one of the points above. These are just a few of the many things suggested to us in training. Every business owner in Canada must follow these guidelines. I understand that the U.S. has different requirements for businesses. However, it is clear from recent reports of DAS conversations with CMs that Disney is not following even basic protocol for interacting with the disability community.

Bolded above would cause everything to revert back to the way DAS was, because everyone would claim that they need/must have/can't do without DAS.

Sorry, but I just disagree that Disney should be forced to do in-person interviews (although they have chosen/perhaps must in California). Reducing the ability for guests to bully CMs into granting DAS is plus in my book.

 

[mamaofsix]

Bolded above would cause everything to revert back to the way DAS was, because everyone would claim that they need/must have/can't do without DAS.

Sorry, but I just disagree that Disney should be forced to do in-person interviews (although they have chosen/perhaps must in California). Reducing the ability for guests to bully CMs into granting DAS is plus in my book.

I think you misunderstood my post. By "business environment" I meant the specific environment you are interacting with the client in that moment. My post was about the unfriendliness of the virtual interview process.

I work in a virtual environment.

When assisting someone with a disability in a virtual environment, I have had to adjust things based on their suggestions, such as:

-increase the font size in my chat so they can read it better (visual impairment)
-increase the volume of my microphone or move closer to my webcam so they can see my facial expressions
-re-book a time to meet with the client when they are less stressed. Be present for that next booked appointment.

And it's not about what Disney should be "forced" to do - it is about what is required under the law as good business practice.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I think you misunderstood my post. By "business environment" I meant the specific environment you are interacting with the client in that moment. My post was about the unfriendliness of the virtual interview process.

I work in a virtual environment.

When assisting someone with a disability in a virtual environment, I have had to adjust things based on their suggestions, such as:

-increase the font size in my chat so they can read it better (visual impairment)
-increase the volume of my microphone or move closer to my webcam so they can see my facial expressions
-re-book a time to meet with the client when they are less stressed. Be present for that next booked appointment.

And it's not about what Disney should be "forced" to do - it is about what is required under the law as good business practice.

Well, it's not required under the law in Florida, so I applaud them sticking with the video only.

And let's not kid ourselves that "required under the law" and "good business practice" are the same - they're not.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Official Canadian government websites describing the law in Canada for businesses interfacing with disabilities and accommodations do not support the law as stated above. For example, businesses do have the right to choose which accommodations are offered and are not bound by a health care provider’s recommendations. Very close to what Disney is doing. Not challenging the poster’s training as stated above. Sometimes training material can be wrong or misunderstood. However, official Canadian government published information is different. Ontario has some detailed information.