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

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I’m starting to think people think DAS is a program Disney HAS to do to be ADA compliant, and therefore if they make enough noise publicly it will be available to more people like it was before. It’s been reiterated over and over that DAS goes beyond what is required. You know what will happen if they get too much flack for it? They will stop the program entirely for being an unreasonable accommodation the negatively impacts operations.

Going on a Disney Trip in the US inherently means:
-being around thousands of people
-waiting for things like rides, shows, characters, transportation, being seated for a meal, checking out in a store
-long distances between things that require walking or some mobility device
-exposure to heat and sunlight, especially in Florida where it is hot and humid a good portion of the year

Disney can only do so much to make the park accessible to individuals who have disabilities that make dealing with any the above challenging. At some point it is the responsibility of the individual to be honest with themselves about whether a Disney vacation is something they can safely experience and enjoy within the confines of accommodations Disney is makes available to that individual (not the accommodations the individual needs beyond what Disney has said is available to them). Unfortunately that may mean some people can no longer go to Disney. My sibling is in that category and it is sad but it is the reality and we find places to go that they CAN safely enjoy.


And before purists go all “exclusion is against what Walt wanted”, Walt wasn’t alive when all the information in the world is available at our fingertips and disabilities stopped behind hidden in the shadows. Walt also had to have others step in and keep him from running the company out of money with his grand visions, so he as an individual isn’t the best example of how to run a multibillion dollar company.

With the rise of the internet, acceptance of disabilities, and an increase in entitlement behavior, use of any accommodation is going to be utilized more by those who need it and those who feel entitled to it. That means Disney can’t be as generous with accommodations that impact operations and the experience of guest as a whole. (More people in LL impacts standby waits and dilutes the value of LL and DAS.)

Losing anything is difficult, especially when daily life is such a struggle for some. But DAS as we knew it is gone and the repeated chant of “bombard them with complaints until it goes back so that more qualify” just puts DAS at more risk of going away entirely and all guests being told RtQ and AQR are all that is available.

 

[dbriggsq]

What evidence do you have that people with similar needs are not getting consistent outcomes? It’s not enough to say “I need to not wait in line.” Also if person A did a better job of articulating their needs than person B, it would not be surprising that A got a better outcome than B. The Disney CMs are not mind readers can only do so much what what is presented to them. There may always be a little bit of variation of experience, but I would be really surprised if, after normalizing for guest inputs, the outcomes were dramatically different.

It has long been discussed why rules are different from people coming from overseas (eg. relating to privacy policies and legal differences in various jurisdictions.) Those coming from overseas have options. They may not be their preferred options, but they can:
a) use a VPN (or whatever technology exists)
b) plan to come for 2 weeks - on a vastly discounted ticket vs. what is available to domestic buyers - and have a slower touring plan if needed for week 1 if LLs are not available
c) come to the US for 2 weeks and do something else for the first week, only spending a week at Disney
d) roll the dice and see what happens with DAS/LLs/etc
e) take their vacation dollars elsewhere.

The suggestion to get around booking LLMP early is to use a GPS spoof app which is illegal.
UK tickets are no longer vastly discounted - a 14 day ticket costs more than a 10 day US ticket and more than Florida resident annual passes.
To get value from those tickets I would prefer to use them for the whole 2 weeks rather than just one week
‘Take our vacation dollars elsewhere’ doesn’t sound very welcoming and not our preferred option when before these changes we could have a very good experience even if not being able to spend much time in the parks

 

[jennab]

I’m starting to think people think DAS is a program Disney HAS to do to be ADA compliant, and therefore if they make enough noise publicly it will be available to more people like it was before. It’s been reiterated over and over that DAS goes beyond what is required. You know what will happen if they get too much flack for it? They will stop the program entirely for being an unreasonable accommodation the negatively impacts operations.

Sadly I think this is exactly what some people want. They have the “if I can’t get it no one should” mentality.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The suggestion to get around booking LLMP early is to use a GPS spoof app which is illegal.

The suggestion I have read is to turn off your location, then change your country of residence to USA in the MDE App.
That does not sound difficult or illegal. Though to be fair I have not tried it, maybe it is more complicated than this in practice.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The suggestion to get around booking LLMP early is to use a GPS spoof app which is illegal.
UK tickets are no longer vastly discounted - a 14 day ticket costs more than a 10 day US ticket and more than Florida resident annual passes.
To get value from those tickets I would prefer to use them for the whole 2 weeks rather than just one week
‘Take our vacation dollars elsewhere’ doesn’t sound very welcoming and not our preferred option when before these changes we could have a very good experience even if not being able to spend much time in the parks

https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-tickets-for-uk-and-other-visitors/

Special Offers on 14-Day Magic Ticket

• Get a 2025 14-day Magic Ticket for £529 – £689 per adult (age 10+) or £509 – £669 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date.
• Get a 2024 14-day Magic Ticket for £519 – £609 per adult (age 10+) or £499 – £589 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date, the same price as the 7-day Magic ticket! Valid for select arrivals 1st January through 3rd November 2024. Blockout dates may apply. Book by 29th August 2024.
• Get a 2024 14-day Magic Ticket for £549 – £609 per adult (age 10+) or £529 – £589 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date.

If these prices are accurate I would not be complaining about ticket prices, especially compared to what we pay here in the US.

Park Hopper Plusses (equivalent to the kind of access on these tickets) are currently over $1,000 with memory maker for an adult for 10 days for discounted summer tickets. Even without the memory maker, which is included in overseas tickets, it’s still about $827 with tax. At the current exchange rate your GBP519 would cost less than $700. So you save more than $150/ticket and with 4 extra park days.

 

[DiznyDiva]

I also think some people are used to just saying “I have autism” and being approved. Now if they go in to a call with just that statement, they probably won’t be approved. It’s not about the diagnosis or even needs. I don’t want to go into much detail on what people need to say, but just don’t go in claiming a diagnosis.

This the part you see most all over the internet. people upset because the have a condition and not being able to just get DAs by saying they have it.

Look, did I want to explain everything about kiddo to a complete stranger? Certainly not. I asked kiddo what she would want someone to know about how hard things were and I had her write it down and read it word for word. She didn't want to be there while I talked but I want her to know what I was doing and I asked what her limits were. I am her mom, but here are HER individual accommodations. This way, for us, if we got denied, she knew we said everything she wanted to say but it wasn't some fantastic inflated story of someone with her condition, it was about her. I get in some cases that is not possible, I am JUST speaking for us.

But I also understand Disney has a business to run and these are their rules? Fair... sure.. Now everyone has to do it.. so yes it's fair. Are they giving the DAS out to everyone..No not anymore. It is going to be far smaller and stricter pool. Again their choice.

BUT they are making sure everyone has some sort of accommodation to go with their need. IS it the one people want.. obviously not. Thats where the choice comes in.

 

[DiznyDiva]

I’m starting to think people think DAS is a program Disney HAS to do to be ADA compliant, and therefore if they make enough noise publicly it will be available to more people like it was before. It’s been reiterated over and over that DAS goes beyond what is required. You know what will happen if they get too much flack for it? They will stop the program entirely for being an unreasonable accommodation the negatively impacts operations.

Going on a Disney Trip in the US inherently means:
-being around thousands of people
-waiting for things like rides, shows, characters, transportation, being seated for a meal, checking out in a store
-long distances between things that require walking or some mobility device
-exposure to heat and sunlight, especially in Florida where it is hot and humid a good portion of the year

Disney can only do so much to make the park accessible to individuals who have disabilities that make dealing with any the above challenging. At some point it is the responsibility of the individual to be honest with themselves about whether a Disney vacation is something they can safely experience and enjoy within the confines of accommodations Disney is makes available to that individual (not the accommodations the individual needs beyond what Disney has said is available to them). Unfortunately that may mean some people can no longer go to Disney. My sibling is in that category and it is sad but it is the reality and we find places to go that they CAN safely enjoy.

Everything in a nut shell said perfectly!

Unfortunately after covid, we have become a very selfish wold and online bulling to get what we perceive is our rights is out of control. Hense the people screaming ADA violations, ableist and inventing and exaggerating some of the denial stories out there.

Change is hard. But inevitable. How we respond is what defines us. I think the lack honesty with oneself with their individual conditions and what DAS really is intended to be is the main thing feeding all the outrage. It's always easier to blame something else then take the hard look inward. Believe me, I know.

 

[dbriggsq]

https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-tickets-for-uk-and-other-visitors/

Special Offers on 14-Day Magic Ticket

• Get a 2025 14-day Magic Ticket for £529 – £689 per adult (age 10+) or £509 – £669 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date.
• Get a 2024 14-day Magic Ticket for £519 – £609 per adult (age 10+) or £499 – £589 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date, the same price as the 7-day Magic ticket! Valid for select arrivals 1st January through 3rd November 2024. Blockout dates may apply. Book by 29th August 2024.
• Get a 2024 14-day Magic Ticket for £549 – £609 per adult (age 10+) or £529 – £589 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date.

If these prices are accurate I would not be complaining about ticket prices, especially compared to what we pay here in the US.

Park Hopper Plusses (equivalent to the kind of access on these tickets) are currently over $1,000 with memory maker for an adult for 10 days for discounted summer tickets. Even without the memory maker, which is included in overseas tickets, it’s still about $827 with tax. At the current exchange rate your GBP519 would cost less than $700. So you save more than $150/ticket and with 4 extra park days.

Currently prices for the rest of the year are around $830-$870. Prices for next year are even higher. I don’t think that’s heavily discounted especially considering there might be very little value in the first week

 

[jennab]

Currently prices for the rest of the year are around $830-$870. Prices for next year are even higher. I don’t think that’s heavily discounted especially considering there might be very little value in the first week

I would pay that price for 2wks! Heck looking at an 8 day tickets for family of 3 with hopper was $2400 (not including memory maker). I love having longer stay because it means we don’t have to see everything every day. We can spend a few hours in the park here and there. Also nice for ADRs as can get some harder ones later in our stay. That doesn’t mean you are “wasting” half your ticket. You just need to tour differently. Rope drop, go late, do shorter ride queues the first few days, buy single passes if you absolutely must do certain rides, etc.

 

[lanejudy]

Currently prices for the rest of the year are around $830-$870. Prices for next year are even higher. I don’t think that’s heavily discounted especially considering there might be very little value in the first week

I suppose that's a question of your definition of "heavily discounted" -- I just picked a random start date of October 20, 2024:

14-day UK ticket = 515 GBP or approx. $659 in US$
10-day US PH+ = $944 US$ or approx. 737 GBP, and this doesn't include Memory Maker

Almost $300 dollars less expensive (~222 pounds) for a ticket that can be used for a longer period of time and includes more? And you are complaining it's not discounted enough?

I get it. International travel is hard, it's expensive, it takes a lot of planning even without disabilities. But making illogical claims to sound worse isn't helping your cause.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Currently prices for the rest of the year are around $830-$870. Prices for next year are even higher. I don’t think that’s heavily discounted especially considering there might be very little value in the first week

If you are unhappy with the prices for UK tickets nothing is stopping you from buying US tickets instead.

 

[nalababybear]

DAS is not going anywhere. It's been litigated and deemed reasonable for ASD with needs.

Tickets for UK has always been an advantage over US. We don't get same for Paris or any other non US Disney parks when we travel. Disney IS expensive. Doesn't change level or reasonable accommodations based on US laws.

We are traveling to Japan next year and they require physician letter for their accommodations. Each place has own unique processes to follow their local and national laws
Same for touring. Japan have DPA, priority and Vacation packages with VIP level access compared to US system....to each their own.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

DAS is not going anywhere. It's been litigated and deemed reasonable for ASD with needs.

To clarify (because I asked above), DAS is considered a reasonable accommodation but not the only reasonable accommodation for ASD. In other words, it is good enough, but that does not mean that something lesser would not also be good enough from a legal perspective.

 

[DiznyDiva]

DAS is not going anywhere. It's been litigated and deemed reasonable for ASD with needs.

Which is why after all the abuse it reverted to DAS being just for this. Other accommodations are available, I hate hearing that Disney got rid of DAS for money and the abuse was barely there. If you think this bad about Disney why go to a park? But then again the truth is always something in between both extremes.

I feel for all of those who have had it and now have to pivot. IMO the other accommodations are easier at Disneyland, but that might just be my bias

 

[mistysue]

Just a clarification for Apple devices. I don't know about similar features on other devices.

Facetime is part of the iPad and iPhone operating system. iPods also use the basic iPhone operating system. Facetime works over WiFi or cellular, but requires a good connection (iPod can only use WiFi). If using cellular, it does use a fair amount of data.

Yes, sorry, they are apple, not specifically ipod, but when I tried I could not get them on non-apple products at all. The main point being they couldn't really require actual video calls for an accommodation. (issues with brands, unsmart phones, international plan issues, etc, it would be a huge can of worms)

 

[dbriggsq]

I suppose that's a question of your definition of "heavily discounted" -- I just picked a random start date of October 20, 2024:

14-day UK ticket = 515 GBP or approx. $659 in US$
10-day US PH+ = $944 US$ or approx. 737 GBP, and this doesn't include Memory Maker

Almost $300 dollars less expensive (~222 pounds) for a ticket that can be used for a longer period of time and includes more? And you are complaining it's not discounted enough?

I get it. International travel is hard, it's expensive, it takes a lot of planning even without disabilities. But making illogical claims to sound worse isn't helping your cause.

I’ve just priced up a 10 day park hopper on undercover tourist starting from 22 October at $859 inc tax. A sorcerer’s annual pass is $899. On the cheapest UK site a 14 day ticket costs $793. Yes it is less ( $66) but I was commenting on theMoreDisneytheBetter’s claim that they are heavily discounted. They definitely used to be heavily discounted when they were trying to encourage UK folks to go over but not any more

 

[dbriggsq]

If you are unhappy with the prices for UK tickets nothing is stopping you from buying US tickets instead.

Absolutely, and I didn’t say I was unhappy with them, I was simply commenting on your comment that they are heavily discounted. They used to be when they’re trying to encourage more UK visitors but not anymore, I provided a dated comparison above.

 

[mistysue]

I’ve just priced up a 10 day park hopper on undercover tourist starting from 22 October at $859 inc tax. A sorcerer’s annual pass is $899. On the cheapest UK site a 14 day ticket costs $793. Yes it is less ( $66) but I was commenting on theMoreDisneytheBetter’s claim that they are heavily discounted. They definitely used to be heavily discounted when they were trying to encourage UK folks to go over but not any more

It needs to be park hopper + at $885 plus the $185 for memory maker. So UK gets a $1,070 ticket for $793, which is a $277 discount PLUS an extra 4 days are on it and they get even more days to spread it out accross.

 

[jennab]

I’ve just priced up a 10 day park hopper on undercover tourist starting from 22 October at $859 inc tax. A sorcerer’s annual pass is $899. On the cheapest UK site a 14 day ticket costs $793. Yes it is less ( $66) but I was commenting on theMoreDisneytheBetter’s claim that they are heavily discounted. They definitely used to be heavily discounted when they were trying to encourage UK folks to go over but not any more

So most people can’t buy the sorcerer’s AP. And if they can, the first time it’s still over $1,000, only less for renewals. Also only available to those that are FL residents or DVC . I believe it also has black out dates. For someone who lives out of state and is not DVC, the cheapest AP is approximately $1,500.

 

[lanejudy]

I’ve just priced up a 10 day park hopper on undercover tourist starting from 22 October at $859 inc tax. A sorcerer’s annual pass is $899. On the cheapest UK site a 14 day ticket costs $793. Yes it is less ( $66) but I was commenting on theMoreDisneytheBetter’s claim that they are heavily discounted. They definitely used to be heavily discounted when they were trying to encourage UK folks to go over but not any more

I was comparing Disney's prices; for the US I used www.disneyworld.disney.go.com and for the UK price I used www.disneyholidays.co.uk for apples-to-apples comparison. There may well be various other ways to purchase tickets and save a bit, but the fact remains that comparing Disney's prices the UK ticket is still considerably lower than a US ticket plus adding memory maker itself is $185. And the US ticket is not exactly comparable because we don't have an option of more than a 10-day ticket that expires after 14 days. The UK ticket is 14 park days and expires after 18 days and includes more "plus" options than the US can purchase. Maybe it was a "better" deal at one time, but US tickets cost less at one time as well; even at current pricing the UK ticket provides more and costs less than US tickets.

I won't price out the Sorcerer AP because that isn't available to most US guests, besides it wouldn't be an equivalent comparison. APs come with their own unique pros and cons different from regular date-based tickets.