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

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My DD has had this happen in the past with the video chat (and I've currently been having trouble with other Disney pages) and clearing cookies or switching to a different browser might do the trick?

(I think we went from Chrome to Firefox to access the chat last winter?)

I think Chrome can have some weird quirks with websites. Others can too but Chrome, my preferred browser, seems to have more compatibility issues. This was long ago but in 2017 I had to use Microsoft Edge to apply the room discount to my existing Disney on-site hotel stay because the change button was greyed out if I used Chrome.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

If your touring style is exclusively focused on riding as many rides as possible then I can understand why the uncertainty may be challenging. And in that case I would probably try to budget Genie+ even if I had to cut out other spending.

But honestly there is so much that is great about being at Disney that has NOTHING to do with rides. Have you considered a secondary plan that isn’t ride-focused where you will have more control around your environment?

I had a whole bunch of suggestions typed out about all of the things that I love about being at Disney that have nothing to do with rides but ultimately only you can decide what is best for you and your family.

 

[sprem96]

I'll bow out of the convo for awhile and take an bird's eye approach, I'll still share my experience next week on the other forum or approval/denial

I'm emotionally drained, just so some of you know, some people come from traumatic life experiences and don't have it as easy as others and are just looking for support, maybe some empathy in this chaotic new era of DAS, not just robotic cold answers, without taking in the true need of the disability because we're not really getting it from Disney anymore

 

[lanejudy]

and would you throw away $5000 (all plane, hotel, car costs) in committed money on a trip designed specifically around visiting theme parks, coming from Canada, not a drive down the street unfortunately

While I am in the US, I'm only slightly closer than you. If the thought of the changes was causing me so much stress that it was triggering significant discomfort as you've implied... I would have canceled back in May or June and planned something else. Honest, that's what I would do; wait it out and see if a trip next year might be better. I do not have a next trip planned right now.

If putting it off absolutely isn't an option -- and at this point the flights, hotel, car costs may already sunk and non-refundable for an Aug trip -- then I absolutely would be looking into alternative activities to do while in Orlando. Things that wouldn't involve needing ride accommodations: resort activities, activities at other resorts or DS, waterparks, non-Disney activities (there's a ton of stuff in/around Orlando), etc. Anything to relieve the stress that was making my body sicker.

 

[Rivergirl2005]

So I was able to get ahold of the virtual phone call. Sadly I was denied. I explained to her how we had to change the dates due to the death in the family before we started. She said she's seen that I have had it in the past and that my travel agent was wrong so she's glad I'm reapplying. She then asked me to explain what happens, which I explained. She told me this didn't sound like autism there was nothing she could do. She said das is much more rigorous now and never asked any follow up questions. She suggested I may be able to talk to CMS at each ride but she couldn't guarantee anything. At this point I just started to lose it and she said she's sorry and thank you for calling and hung up.

With everything that's happened over the past month I'm just so mentally spent. I was really preparing for a longer conversation but I was maybe on with her for less than 5 minutes. I'm still planning on going and hopefully the magic will still be there. Thank you everyone for your help throughout the past few months. We will try to see how it goes.

 

[nalababybear]

lots of gaslighting on here, hope MODS keep an eye on that

This forum and particular thread has been very balanced and well.moderated with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and users, including parents, adults with disabilities and ranging from physical to mental to combos of both.

We are here to help each other and move forward to get to 'yes' with a common thing that we all love and care about.....Disney.

Do we squabble? Absolutely. Do we use not the best and right terms or tone? Very often.

What really matters is we care to respond and help get each other understand the reason, the process, and hopefully get to successfully experience Disney to the best of our capabilities.

To your concerns, I believe the last several pages folk have tried to guide and help, including our moderators...gaslighting is not the intent.

I do believe you are going to have a difficult call with the accessibility team this coming week.

My suggestion would be to formulate your needs and write them down. One cue card for each issue and an example of how you deal with them routinely and how that would fail if you are to utilize a standard Disney queue.

The team will give you the space and time to go through the issues.

Be prepared that they will probably offer up AQR as the reasonable accommodation. You can go over the issues of that accommodation for sure, but you will end up more frustrated like here and may spiral further to saying things that may lead to a disconnect and notation.

There are reports of folk being denied, trying AQR and other options the CM offer at the ride, and if they fail, reengage with the disability team via the QR code while in the park to reassess the situation.

Suggestion. Don't burn your bridges unless you don't want to get to your ultimate goal....successfully touring Disney.

We are here to help...just like the CMs

 

[StarCruzer]

I think one policy change that would be helpful is extending the interview window from 30 days to 60 days. People who purchase packages or book with DVC absolutely get dinged for canceling within a 30-day window. It seems for many, the ability to have a certain level of disability access is very much a make or break situation.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Tried to look back a little since I haven't popped on this in awhile. So, sorry, if this has already been talked about. We had settled into Genie+ serving us better than DAS primarily due to party size restrictions. But, with the fastpass revamp that was recently announced, I am finding myself concerned all over again. Having to make our lightning lane reservations before the day of limits our flexibility significantly and increases our likelihood of missing windows and forfeiting rides. Listen, I KNOW we can modify times on the fly. However, that is based on availability, so let's not pretend like it will be easy to adjust E-Ticket times day of when most users have had times reserved (and times have potentially been sold out) for several days before the actual park day. Am I alone in feeling like changing Genie+ back to an advanced reservation system like old fastpass+ was on the tail of restricting DAS is a double whammy? Just me? Over here anxiously waiting for reports after that system goes live about availability and such....

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

Publishing the details of their “defined process” for each attraction would do little to alleviate a stressed out guest’s anxiety pre-trip. Practically, it would only generate more rounds of questions, endless “what if” scenarios and would not be effective for an insatiable desire for more and more details.

A guest’s strong “want” to know details does not equate a right to know or even a need to know details. At some point, you trust Disney to provide a safe ride. Trust them to deploy their attraction accommodation policies. The CMs at each attraction are experts in running those attractions. The details of Disney’s defined process” for each attraction are internal policies.

Publishing details may have an undesirable effect on guest expectations of trying to lock Disney down and defeating the flexibility needed for both the guest and the attraction.

Added details could wind up being a roadmap for cheaters.

Sticking with the language “defined process” was a good choice on Disney’s part.

 

[cat4hurricane]

If your touring style is exclusively focused on riding as many rides as possible then I can understand why the uncertainty may be challenging. And in that case I would probably try to budget Genie+ even if I had to cut out other spending.

But honestly there is so much that is great about being at Disney that has NOTHING to do with rides. Have you considered a secondary plan that isn’t ride-focused where you will have more control around your environment?

I had a whole bunch of suggestions typed out about all of the things that I love about being at Disney that have nothing to do with rides but ultimately only you can decide what is best for you and your family.

I dunno about the rest of y’all, but I’d actually love to see that list of suggestions. One of my favorite non-ride things to do in the park was Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, something that required no rides or line waiting (usually, at most you’d wait a couple of minutes for the current user to be done pointing their card at the magic mirror and seeing the cutscene), I unfortunately jumped on it too late to really grow a collection, and then they got rid of it. AK for example has multiple trails you can do, and animals you can actually see, while Epcot has their whole World Passport activity. All of these (and more, stuff I’m probably not even thinking about) can be done without going on rides, or waiting in lines.

The people watching is also great, you see so much in the park while just sitting there having some ice cream (love me the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor) or taking a break. There’s the daily parades, and MK at least seems to have started back up with the Dapper Dans Quartet. Sure, Rides might be a big part of Disney and MK especially, but there’s generally a lot of stuff that can done without doing rides or even waiting in especially long lines.

 

[lanejudy]

Am I alone in feeling like changing Genie+ back to an advanced reservation system like old fastpass+ was on the tail of restricting DAS is a double whammy? Just me?

Unfortunately for every person thinking similar to you there is a person (with a disability) of the opposite opinion who is welcoming back the ability to pre-book. There were lots of folks who claimed they only started looking at DAS once FP+ with the pre-booked attractions disappeared. Neither is right or wrong, just different opinions or approaches to planning.

 

[ShaneDJ]

…having that ability to have a queue wait under 30 minutes brings such calmness and far more certainty that it actually relieves the stress

Non-DAS and/or non-disabled guests feel the same way about shorter queues.

AQR is available to everyone and can help relieve stress.

And couple that with LLMP should be workable for many guests with the same anxiety concerns (both disabled and non-disabled).

 

[2tinkerbell]

I can certainly emphasize with the stress that people have over unknown situations. Especially when a lot of time, effort and money is spent in trying to plan and execute a vacation. It is almost like you need a vacation from your vacation that you haven’t even been on yet. It can be disheartening when other places give the desired accommodation. They aren’t Disney. Disney has chosen this current way of accommodating their disabled guests.

If I were in that situation, I would try what is offered me as far as accommodating my needs. Is it the preferred accommodation? No! But I would make the best of it. If I am having a flare then I would perhaps choose to not be in the park that day. It is a hard thing but life happens to everyone, disabled or not, and you just have to deal with it. I like what the mod said that if you were so worried about it, you could have cancelled when the changes were announced a couple of months ago.

While I can empathize, I do believe that attitude goes a long way in handling things, especially living life with a disability.

 

[jennab]

I dunno about the rest of y’all, but I’d actually love to see that list of suggestions. One of my favorite non-ride things to do in the park was Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, something that required no rides or line waiting (usually, at most you’d wait a couple of minutes for the current user to be done pointing their card at the magic mirror and seeing the cutscene), I unfortunately jumped on it too late to really grow a collection, and then they got rid of it. AK for example has multiple trails you can do, and animals you can actually see, while Epcot has their whole World Passport activity. All of these (and more, stuff I’m probably not even thinking about) can be done without going on rides, or waiting in lines.

The people watching is also great, you see so much in the park while just sitting there having some ice cream (love me the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor) or taking a break. There’s the daily parades, and MK at least seems to have started back up with the Dapper Dans Quartet. Sure, Rides might be a big part of Disney and MK especially, but there’s generally a lot of stuff that can done without doing rides or even waiting in especially long lines.

Yessss I wish they would bring back SOTMK! We sadly didn’t find it until the year or so before they discontinued it. We played a lot our one trip and my son was excited to write his name in the book. It kept us busy as a family without having to wait in lines. We did end up piecing together a full collection then they closed it down before we could get back

 

[Angel Ariel]

So I was able to get ahold of the virtual phone call. Sadly I was denied. I explained to her how we had to change the dates due to the death in the family before we started. She said she's seen that I have had it in the past and that my travel agent was wrong so she's glad I'm reapplying. She then asked me to explain what happens, which I explained. She told me this didn't sound like autism there was nothing she could do. She said das is much more rigorous now and never asked any follow up questions. She suggested I may be able to talk to CMS at each ride but she couldn't guarantee anything. At this point I just started to lose it and she said she's sorry and thank you for calling and hung up.

With everything that's happened over the past month I'm just so mentally spent. I was really preparing for a longer conversation but I was maybe on with her for less than 5 minutes. I'm still planning on going and hopefully the magic will still be there. Thank you everyone for your help throughout the past few months. We will try to see how it goes.

Reading lots of reports - not just here but elsewhere - of people sharing their interview CM said something along these lines is concerning for those who have significant developmental disabilities that aren't autism. Given DAS isn't diagnosis based, these aren't quotes from CMs that should be coming up as frequently as I've seen them (and yes they've been from different people).

 

[jennab]

Reading lots of reports - not just here but elsewhere - of people sharing their interview CM said something along these lines is concerning for those who have significant developmental disabilities that aren't autism. Given DAS isn't diagnosis based, these aren't quotes from CMs that should be coming up as frequently as I've seen them (and yes they've been from different people).

Maybe they are saying “like autism or similar” to follow what it states on the website, but people are only hearing and posting that the CM specifically said “autism”?

 

[Angel Ariel]

Maybe they are saying “like autism or similar” to follow what it states on the website, but people are only hearing and posting that the CM specifically said “autism”?

Possible. It's also equally possible that the CMs are shortening the wording themselves. I personally find it difficult to dismiss the number of these reports I've read, but others may feel otherwise. I'm not getting into a debate about it, not passing definitive judgment - just indicating that it's a concern I have.

 

[starlite_]

I'm not an idiot, I can see slowly parks across the world are tightening their rules regarding ride accommodations, and maybe there will be a time where I might not get granted at any park anymore, I'm preparing for that time because I can see the change happening in real time with stricter policies or medical proof needed, or more scrutinizing processes, I would be naive to think I will always be granted at the pace things are moving towards. Will it suck if Disney denies me Tuesday? Hell yeah, they would be the first park to actively shut me out for my disability. The reason it would suck is because I know they haven't done anything for me to help out, being left out doesn't feel great, nobody likes to be left with no options, it takes some time to process and move on, please be respectful for those being forced to fend for themselves and are venting out as a way to cope.

It has been said many times, but I will repeat it because it seems like folks keep trying to make a DAS rejection something that it isn't.

Not getting accommodated via DAS, does not mean Disney is shutting you out, rejecting your disability, saying you do not have a disability or any other colorful phrases that seem written in a way that makes it seem like Disney hates disabled folks.

DAS is simply 1 of many accommodations.

 

[lanejudy]

It's also equally possible that the CMs are shortening the wording themselves.

Shortening what they say when denying someone doesn’t mean they aren't following full protocol when making that decision. It's an easy habit to slip into, though I'm not saying it's right, but easy to slip into shortening a phrase. I can see how a CM who has to say it 10 times a day ends up saying "sorry, not autism."

I might say "please pick up the playroom -- pick up the toys, pick up the books, pick up the blankets, pick up the stuffed animals." Then on the 3rd reminder I end up saying "did you pick up your toys yet?" I don't intend to cut the task shorter -- but sure enough, DD's waiting for that shorter version so when I look at the playroom later and still see books, blankets and stuffies she's sure to tell me I only mentioned the toys.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Shortening what they say when denying someone doesn’t mean they aren't following full protocol when making that decision.

I didn't say it did. Which is why all I said was it was concerning, because it can mean different things. And as we've been asked not to assume, I'm not assuming - either way. Just expressing that it's a concern.