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

[SirDuff]

I've been on these boards for a long while. Many know I have family members with different challenges including developmental and/or cognitive. My response was strictly in reference to the comment directed towards me specifically. I would NEVER diminish another's struggles or tell them how to feel.

Except, when you did.

 

[OurBigTrip]

This is disheartening. Although I like to believe the best in people and I believe most are honest. Seeing first hand who is being denied...actually cutoff before explaining their needs is distressing. Are there really that many who are trying to gain the system?

I wonder if COVID has had an effect. It's triggered multiple issues in otherwise healthy individuals. So many have been affected long term.

Curious.. is this also affecting Make A Wish?

No, this doesn't affect Make A Wish, as those cases are vetted outside of Disney.

And no one is questioning that there are more people with disabilities - there are. The question is does every person with a disability need a DAS? And the answer to that is no, they don't.

 

[TLSnell1981]

No, this doesn't affect Make A Wish, as those cases are vetted outside of Disney.

And no one is questioning that there are more people with disabilities - there are. The question is does every person with a disability need a DAS? And the answer to that is no, they don't.

The other concern is these are not being appropriately vetted. I know from personal and professional experience...they are not. I'm too tired and frustrated to fight a flawed system. Don't have the energy. They don't care so I'm moving on. I just need a moment to vent and grieve. There are many happy memories over forty five years. This has come to an abrupt end. We were enjoying the parks this spring but now it's ended..

 

[TLSnell1981]

Except, when you did.

I apologized. I was defensive because I was attacked...vulnerable and emotional, It was not my intent..a weak moment. Anyone who has ever followed me knows my story but I digress. Judge me if you must. I wear my big girl panties daily and can handle it. My only concern if someone feels hurt by my comments, I'm not a "sweetheart'' but neither am I intentionally cruel. I am what I am.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

I apologized. I was defensive because I was attacked...vulnerable and emotional, It was not my intent..a weak moment. Anyone who has ever followed me knows my story but I digress. Judge me if you must. I wear my big girl panties daily and can handle it. My only concern if someone feels hurt by my comments, I'm not a "sweet'' but neither am I intentionally cruel. I am what I am.

I have had extended conversations with TLSnell1981. She is not mean.

TL, I like you just the way you are.

When we have conversations in person, we get the advantage of facial expressions, tone of voice, body language and understanding the character of the person from reputation and first hand past experiences. In those situations, the vast majority of us hear things differently. That is one of the great weaknesses of communicating on message boards.

I too have been attacked in this forum and people piled on. It does hurt feelings. So, I am standing in the corner with TL. She needs a friend and I am here. In my opinion, the continuing jabs at her are considerably worse than anything she posted in this forum recently. Time to move on.

How about continuing with the on topic discussion?

 

[SueM in MN]

This is disheartening. Although I like to believe the best in people and I believe most are honest. Seeing first hand who is being denied...actually cutoff before explaining their needs is distressing. Are there really that many who are trying to gain the system?

I wonder if COVID has had an effect. It's triggered multiple issues in otherwise healthy individuals. So many have been affected long term.

Curious.. is this also affecting Make A Wish?

Make A Wish was actually removed from DAS and has had their own program since DAS began in 2013. MAW has done/continues to do the vetting for that program.
Prior to that, Guest Relations staff had the 'green arrow' stamp that was used for MAW available and it was being used for people not on Wish trips (when it was not meant to be).

 

[SueM in MN]

DS started to use the GAC starting about 20+ years ago. We could always send one person to get a return time. Once you had the card you were approved for X number of guests and they took no names. All that existed was the card so whoever was holding the card got the time. They would just write down a return time and you came back with no more than the X number of guests. From the time he has been approved he never had to go get a return time, we could always have someone else get it. Many times we were all together and he was there as we tried to keep our travel in the parks down, but he didn't have to be. They have always made getting return times as accessible as they could with the current technology.

I think you have mis-remembered and mixed the early days of DAS with GAC (Guest Assistance Card).
The GAC was a card with the guest's name hand written on it along with the number of guests allowed to accompany the guest with the disability. It had stamps that were meant to represent the needs of the guest which were accommodated at the time the group came to the attraction and presented the card.
In the beginning, the card for DAS included lines for a CM to write the attraction and Return Time based on the currently posted wait time. That was new with DAS and was the main basis of the lawsuit by people with autism/families; they claimed that was an unreasonable change that their family members could not adjust to.
As you mentioned, whoever had the DAS card could obtain a DAS Return Time. The guest registered for DAS was never required to be present to obtain it.

Newest change? Have seen screenshots and reports on multiple pages.

People now have to wait 120 days to reapply? Honestly, this makes sense to me and if confirmed and done by all CMs, good change. It gives those who have been denied a cooling off period to reassess and actually try the other accommodations. It also gives Disney time to really nail down it rules for the new program going forward, so all the inconsistencies stop.

Most of all it stops all those on Facebook and Tik Tok from endlessly calling back and encouraging others to do it as well. That is where much of the"CM was mean and rude to me " comes from. They keep trying and trying and getting angrier and angrier, making their stories more and more outlandish.

I have not seen the bolded. I think this is a misunderstanding.
If someone is approved for DAS, it is valid for up to 120 days, based on the length of the ticket

 

[SueM in MN]

I posted this several times in the early days of this thread, but coming up on 500 pages soon, I think it bears repeating again...

OK to say: I think the new accommodations will work for me.
NOT OK to say: I think the new accommodations will work for me, so it will work for everyone.

OK to say: My (non disabled) child used return to line to leave and go to the bathroom.
NOT OK to say: It worked for me/my child, so it will work for anyone with a disability.

OK to say: I/my child has a developmental disability, so we think we will still be covered.
NOT OK to say: I/my child has a developmental disability, I think other people should be happy with whatever accommodations they get.

NOT OK to say: Developmental Disabilities are the only ones that deserve accommodations.
NOT OK to say: You are lucky you/your child has a developmental disability.

OK to say: I'm worried because the accommodations for my disability are changing.
OK to say: Things are too unclear and unsettled for me to feel safe

NOT OK to say: Anyone who is upset because accommodations are changing for them is just upset they won't get 'free Fastpasses'
NOT OK to say: Anyone who is upset is faking/didn't really need DAS

OK to say: I wouldn't mind providing proof of disability/I think proof of disability should be required
NOT OK to say: Anyone who is against documentation or doesn't want to provide it feels that way because they are faking a disability or don't have proof

NEVER OK:
Saying someone else's disability doesn't matter

Dismissing, minimizing or making fun of anyone's disability or concerns

Telling anyone what to say to try to obtain DAS

 

[Just_another_figment]

By this do you mean the person who needs accommodation is being told they, personally, need to try waiting in SB, or that their party needs to wait in SB while the person who’s requesting accommodation waits outside the line and meets their party at the merge? And/or is this referring to Guests who request accommodation but are solo or want their party to stay together?

I ask because if the people requesting accommodation are being told THEY must try waiting in SB, that’s very different from my and others’ experiences and maybe points to a recent change in procedures.

What I saw was parties asking for a return time prior to waiting in the line. The CMs told them they have to try the queue before requesting a comeback time. Nothing was said about waiting with or without their party because they were being told to try the queue first. I didn’t see anyone request a time that had already tried waiting in line. I did see CMs letting people out of queues, but I didn’t personally experience anyone getting a return time after waiting in the queue.

I saw A LOT of people requesting return times. So it may be that they’re trying to discern who can and can’t really make the queue.

 

[kyton]

I too have been attacked in this forum and people piled on. It does hurt feelings. So, I am standing in the corner with TL. She needs a friend and I am here. In my opinion, the continuing jabs at her are considerably worse than anything she posted in this forum recently. Time to move on

I don’t post here in this subforum very often but a lot of people disagreed with you when you posted incorrect advice from memory. Then when you were “called out” you deleted every one of the posts so the train of thread was disrupted.

People disagreeing with erroneous postings are not being mean.

 

[TLSnell1981]

One can only apply for DAS at 30 days. At that point airfare , park tickets, etc have been purchased. DVC reservations can only be cancelled 30 days plus without penalty. DAS is a dealbreaker for some.

 

[TLSnell1981]

No, this doesn't affect Make A Wish, as those cases are vetted outside of Disney.

And no one is questioning that there are more people with disabilities - there are. The question is does every person with a disability need a DAS? And the answer to that is no, they

I've never been involved with Make A Wish other than fund raising. I'm happy to hear these families are not affected by the new guidelines.

 

[jo-jo]

What I saw was parties asking for a return time prior to waiting in the line. The CMs told them they have to try the queue before requesting a comeback time. Nothing was said about waiting with or without their party because they were being told to try the queue first. I didn’t see anyone request a time that had already tried waiting in line. I did see CMs letting people out of queues, but I didn’t personally experience anyone getting a return time after waiting in the queue.

I saw A LOT of people requesting return times. So it may be that they’re trying to discern who can and can’t really make the queue.

Have you seen anyone with a scooter?

Maybe I've missed them, but I haven't read anyone saying I got into line with my scooter, X mins later I needed to leave, this is how I did it. I don't think we'll be able to continue with DAS and some of those queues in my memory to seem tight to try to get out .

 

[jennab]

One can only apply for DAS at 30 days. At that point airfare , park tickets, etc have been purchased. DVC reservations can only be cancelled 30 days plus without penalty. DAS is a dealbreaker for some.

But hasn’t this always been the case? Even before the changes, one couldn’t apply until 30 days prior to park date and same issues with tickets, airfare, DVC. So honestly that hasn’t changed. I think people just assumed they would be approved. Even now, someone could be approved today but denied other next trip so I wouldn’t take an approval as an “always”. People will need to decide if they are willing to take that risk I guess. Also, people can plan to buy LLMP, which should help to some degree. You might not be able to do as many rides that you could with DAS, but using the other accommodations, going at less busy times, and doing less rides might still make for a fun trip.

 

[Just_another_figment]

Have you seen anyone with a scooter?

Maybe I've missed them, but I haven't read anyone saying I got into line with my scooter, X mins later I needed to leave, this is how I did it. I don't think we'll be able to continue with DAS and some of those queues in my memory to seem tight to try to get out .

I didn’t see anyone leave lines in a scooter, which didn’t mean it isn’t happening, I just didn’t see it.

I DID see tons of scooters and such in the queues and there was plenty of room to maneuver. If scooters don’t fit in the queue the CMs will take you a different queue entrance.

 

[jo-jo]

I didn’t see anyone leave lines in a scooter, which didn’t mean it isn’t happening, I just didn’t see it.

I DID see tons of scooters and such in the queues and there was plenty of room to maneuver. If scooters don’t fit in the queue the CMs will take you a different queue entrance.

Thank you. I don’t mean just getting in line to the ride,I meant turning around and getting past people.

 

[Just_another_figment]

Thank you. I don’t mean just getting in line to the ride,I meant turning around and getting past people.

I understand. I didn’t see it happening at all. With fewer people using DAS, and seemingly fewer than I remember in the old fast pass lines, the stand-by queues moved pretty quickly. I saw a few people leave, but not scooters. However, it seemed people leaving queues weren’t pushing past to exit the way they came, they were being let out alternate exits. So maybe scooters were exiting the same way.

 

[HopperFan]

I think you have mis-remembered and mixed the early days of DAS with GAC (Guest Assistance Card).
The GAC was a card with the guest's name hand written on it along with the number of guests allowed to accompany the guest with the disability. It had stamps that were meant to represent the needs of the guest which were accommodated at the time the group came to the attraction and presented the card.
In the beginning, the card for DAS included lines for a CM to write the attraction and Return Time based on the currently posted wait time. That was new with DAS and was the main basis of the lawsuit by people with autism/families; they claimed that was an unreasonable change that their family members could not adjust to.
As you mentioned, whoever had the DAS card could obtain a DAS Return Time. The guest registered for DAS was never required to be present to obtain it.

I think this is where so much abuse came with the GAC. If you had the Alternative Entrance Stamp for people who had issues with the queue design itself (my DS) then you were supposed to go get a return time to come back. Yes, on GAC it was not lined on the card, but they would hand us a paper FP/RE-AD. Unfortunately CMs, for whatever reason, started letting guests have immediate access without waiting in or outside the line. Over the years it evolved to we would walk up, hand them the card (for a time) and they would just wave us in. At that point we were "front of line" access, we literally went on ride after ride after ride with no wait at all. I remember telling DH over and over, we are not supposed to be getting on right away they need to give us a RE-AD, and him saying "they sent us straight on so we'll do what they say". It is no wonder some guests went nuts when the DAS came about, forcing a return time. They had literally been riding with no wait for years.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I didn’t see anyone leave lines in a scooter, which didn’t mean it isn’t happening, I just didn’t see it.

I DID see tons of scooters and such in the queues and there was plenty of room to maneuver. If scooters don’t fit in the queue the CMs will take you a different queue entrance.

The fact that you saw tons of scooters in the line is really the issue. I’m assuming you haven’t used a scooter. There is very little room to maneuver to begin with and if you need to get by scooters lined up behind you then you are more than likely not getting out. Think halfway through the standby line at Navi and all the switchbacks. Even if you can turn around, the minute you run into another scooter… you’re stuck.

I travel solo and have a large scooter. I will not get in a line I can’t get out of. Stand by lines are wheelchair accessible but they are not meant for scooters to turn around and exit.

 

[DiznyDiva]

But hasn’t this always been the case? Even before the changes, one couldn’t apply until 30 days prior to park date and same issues with tickets, airfare, DVC. So honestly that hasn’t changed. I think people just assumed they would be approved. Even now, someone could be approved today but denied other next trip so I wouldn’t take an approval as an “always”. People will need to decide if they are willing to take that risk I guess. Also, people can plan to buy LLMP, which should help to some degree. You might not be able to do as many rides that you could with DAS, but using the other accommodations, going at less busy times, and doing less rides might still make for a fun trip.

Yes, It always been 30-2 days before a trip for the advance online option. And that 30 has to cover the whole trip unless you want to call back each day. Before it was going to the umbrella every trip and then you spent money and could have still been denied. Before covid they were pretty strict on it not being used for mobility. It got so lax that people took it as a given, but it should never have been, because some, not all disabilities, ie anxiety or a few physical, can improve. For many it is a need, for a lot it became a want.

I think with how angry some are they are using being denied to. bring up all the other issues they didn't like and lump it all in to make their denial as heinous as possible. I am seeing people complaining now how the penalty for missing a reservation after 3 times is against those with disabilities. It's not. Every Key has it and it is in your key agreement. Many times you can even call and get the first one taken off with a compelling enough reason.

Planning is still needed. DAS should never take that need or responsibility from the park goer away.