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

[jlundeen]

Most of the CMs I've encountered in ride queues ask about transfering to ride vehicle, and "in the event of an emergency, can you do X"? (could be descend steps, walk x far out, etc) to exit the ride using back corridors - of course, I use a scooter and bring my cane along if they let me, so they know they need in advance, to perhaps be able to assist. Since my answer is "yes", I've never thought about folks who would not be able to do that... I would assume that they have some additional level of assistance to get everyone off.

 

[MoonFaerie]

With the DAS changes, I wish they'd bring back being able to pre-buy Genie+ for the length of stay. Getting proper sleep is crucial to being able to manage my disabilities, so needing to buy G+ at midnight and then be up at 7 for LL/ILL is problematic. This is the biggest hurdle I'm struggling to figure out how to make work. (That and I want to be able to ride Tower of Terror 2-3 times. It's the only HS ride I care about, but that darn outside queue makes it a harder one to wait in line for.)

 

[Unity]

So if the posted wait time is 120 minutes why should such a person even play silly games of pretending to be in the line when in the end they will have to leave it anyway?

It's really sad that it's considered gaming the system to avoid causing a person known and unnecessary pain while they still have to wait the standby wait and go through the AQR rejoin process.

Especially since ultimately, is it worth exacerbating one's condition by waiting in line until at a point they feel that the worst is upon them and then hope they get out of line in time to tell a CM?

I think potentially the system would work for me and my conditions. I hope so at least. But I am hoping my mom can stay outside the entire time without attempting such a thing for no arbitrary reason.

 

[PrincessV]

I really didn’t think we solo/single adult accompanying minor children folks were all that rare, but as I’ve yet to find many reports on using AQR from them at all, let alone for more than one attraction in a visit, maybe we actually are the unicorns of the parks lol?!

I’ve seen so many fearing needing to backtrack out of queues and I don’t want to dismiss those worrying at all - speaking as someone for whom that can be almost as triggering to my disability as being in the queue, it’s not an unreasonable concern. But I have needed to backtrack through queues over the years, on my own, with a friend, and/or with my young child - and it was always okay. There was that one time we exited the MF:SR queue and wound up backstage, without a CM (or any other human) in sight, but we figured it out and got back to where we were supposed to be quickly. I’ve never had other guests be difficult, and found that most helped get their family’s and other guests’ attention to make a little space for me to get by. At worst, some were indifferent - but they didn’t block me or anything. I’m sure some people can be difficult, but I promise: that is not the norm.

That’s also not to dismiss those needing to backtrack in a scooter or wheelchair. The queues are admittedly not designed for that, and I fully understand concerns about it. But again: I think folks will find that most guests want to do the right thing and will be helpful.

 

[greeneyedchick]

Does anyone know how they accommodate the cane chairs? Would they bring it to you after the ride, just as they would a wheelchair?

 

[Disneychick75]

Does anyone know how they accommodate the cane chairs? Would they bring it to you after the ride, just as they would a wheelchair?

Last November, my rollator was waiting at the end of the rides. My husband would hop out and get it for me.

 

[Jdavidm]

It’s going to be awhile before I have to apply under the new DAS system because we won’t be getting a new DL Magic Key until after the summer months (most are blocked out then anyways).

I just want to say thank you to everyone sharing their experiences in the mean time. It helps me to be able to see how things are going for those in similar situations to me.

As someone on the spectrum, change is hard, so I’m trying to keep up with how the change is impacting everyone and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to share with us

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What was weird is I bought my tickets from a vendor besides Disney. Then, I booked our room through Disney. When I first booked the room, we had the DDP but when I found out that there would be DAS changes that might affect our trip, I called and dropped the DDP so that we'd have the 5 day cancellation and had the CM double check to make sure our reservation was room only. Then, when I wanted to add another resort for our first couple of nights, I couldn't because Disney had converted my room only to a package! Had to call again. Checked today and again, it's listed as a package??? Won't affect our trip because it starts in a couple of days but anyone contemplating a cancellation might want to check their reservation.

Disney now offers room only vacation packages, and they push hard to have people book that over real room-only bookings. I called and very expressly asked for room only, and CM booked it as a package. When I tried to have CM rebook as room-only, suddenly there were no rooms available. Luckily, the room I wanted was (mysteriously) available 24 hours later, so I was able to cancel/rebook.

A room only booking = a one night deposit. A package is $200 deposit.

If you are swapping between the two then they have always had to refund the original deposit and take a new one.

Policies could change, but that was still the case earlier this year.

 

[EThomas]

With the DAS changes, I wish they'd bring back being able to pre-buy Genie+ for the length of stay. Getting proper sleep is crucial to being able to manage my disabilities, so needing to buy G+ at midnight and then be up at 7 for LL/ILL is problematic. This is the biggest hurdle I'm struggling to figure out how to make work. (That and I want to be able to ride Tower of Terror 2-3 times. It's the only HS ride I care about, but that darn outside queue makes it a harder one to wait in line for.)

Unless you’re going on New Year’s Day, don’t worry about buying Genie+ at midnight. You can buy genie easily in the morning. It’s never sold out before park opening. Also, if you’re not wanting to ride the most popular ride in the park (looking at you slinky dog dash) there’s no benefit to getting up at 7 for Genie+ —Your next booking time is 2 hours after park opening whether you book at 7AM, or one minute before the park officially opens.

You still need to get up before 7 for the virtual queue. There are ILL$ available well into the afternoon, so no need to set an alarm for these either, unless you want a super specific time and you can’t be flexible.

The Vloggers telling us how to maximize Genie+ make it seem like we *have* to do all this stuff… a lot of it provides very little reward for a lot of work!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I am sure this has been said, but I can't read 300 pages lol.
I think this is all to sell more genie plus.
I can only go on certain rides due to a disability. I have trouble doing anything like test track where I have to step down in and back out. Space mountain is a complete no for me. I am an ambulatory wheelchair user.
I use DAS for other reasons related to being in a line.
That being said, if the suggestion is for me to buy genie plus - ok - but I can only ride something with faster line ONCE. There are some rides I love to ride over and over because I am physically able to ride them. So many of the genie plus options I can't even ride - so what happens after I use the few I can and then its a waste. For instance my most fave ride is guardians in DCA - I could ride that all day. Also Soarin' - these are very easy for me to get in and out of. Having a DAS allows me to choose MY rides that I can utilize. Genie Plus does not allow that -one and done
I just invested in DVC as well and now really regretting that

 

[Liquidice]

With the DAS changes, I wish they'd bring back being able to pre-buy Genie+ for the length of stay. Getting proper sleep is crucial to being able to manage my disabilities, so needing to buy G+ at midnight and then be up at 7 for LL/ILL is problematic. This is the biggest hurdle I'm struggling to figure out how to make work. (That and I want to be able to ride Tower of Terror 2-3 times. It's the only HS ride I care about, but that darn outside queue makes it a harder one to wait in line for.)

Genie+ has never sold out before 7am even on 10 out of 10 crowd level days like during the last 2 weeks of December. So if you wanted, you could go to sleep early and wake up maybe 5 or 10 minutes before 7am to buy Genie+ and then book your first ride at 7am.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Interesting pre-selects DP on the approved/not thread. Someone who was approved after the new rules went into effect was able to do pre-books for a June trip. I don’t expect that to stay around, kinda wondering if maybe since they’re traveling during the transition period they were able to do them?

I know pre-selects aren’t that popular but if you were approved under new rules and are interested, it might be worth trying to book them on the chat.

 

[starlite_]

That’s also not to dismiss those needing to backtrack in a scooter or wheelchair. The queues are admittedly not designed for that, and I fully understand concerns about it. But again: I think folks will find that most guests want to do the right thing and will be helpful.

This. I genuinely don't think guests are gonna cross their arms and make it hard for folks with or without mobility devices to leave the line.

 

[Marrila]

This. I genuinely don't think guests are gonna cross their arms and make it hard for folks with or without mobility devices to leave the line.

Some will make it hard. I hope most won't.

 

[PrincessV]

Some will make it hard. I hope most won't.

I’ve been visiting WDW regularly for several decades now, so I’ve seen plenty of people exit lines, as well as having exited a bunch myself…- I can genuinely say that I’ve never seen any guest purposely make it hard for someone else to leave a line. Be zoned out or busy chatting with their party and not realize someone is trying to get by right away? Sure. But intentionally make it hard? Nope; never.

 

[GoingSince1990]

I’ve been visiting WDW regularly for several decades now, so I’ve seen plenty of people exit lines, as well as having exited a bunch myself…- I can genuinely say that I’ve never seen any guest purposely make it hard for someone else to leave a line. Be zoned out or busy chatting with their party and not realize someone is trying to get by right away? Sure. But intentionally make it hard? Nope; never.

Anyone trying to leave the line is clearly having a bathroom or some other kind of emergency, and nobody will give them a hard time; if anything, it will be the opposite. The potentially tricky part is returning to the line, which might be perceived as cutting, which is why Disney apparently has various solutions (depending on the attraction) like being escorted by a CM or meeting the rest of the party at the LL merge point.

 

[lanejudy]

From everything I've read they don't seem to know much on these calls about this new line leaving thing. Nearly everybody has been told to ask the CM at each attraction for more information. The rules do not seem to be clearly defined. Also this line leaving thing isn't just for disabled people but all guests, apparently.

It's not the the phone CMs "don't seem to know much" but rather that the procedure to leave the queue and re-enter differs from one attraction to another, and potentially even different based on where you are in the queue when you leave. That's why you are instructed to ask the CM at each attraction.

if the suggestion is for me to buy genie plus

No. "Buy Genie+" is not an offered accommodation. It is an option for you just as it always has been an option for you, and depending on how the new accommodations work for your needs it may be an option you want to consider. But it is not the new accommodation.

 

[starlite_]

Some will make it hard. I hope most won't.

Why would anyone??? What can people possibly gain for not letting other guests leave a queue??? People aren't malicious, no one is thinking: I'm gonna make that other guest's life hard just because buahahaha

 

[MoonFaerie]

Unless you’re going on New Year’s Day, don’t worry about buying Genie+ at midnight. You can buy genie easily in the morning. It’s never sold out before park opening. Also, if you’re not wanting to ride the most popular ride in the park (looking at you slinky dog dash) there’s no benefit to getting up at 7 for Genie+ —Your next booking time is 2 hours after park opening whether you book at 7AM, or one minute before the park officially opens.

You still need to get up before 7 for the virtual queue. There are ILL$ available well into the afternoon, so no need to set an alarm for these either, unless you want a super specific time and you can’t be flexible.

The Vloggers telling us how to maximize Genie+ make it seem like we *have* to do all this stuff… a lot of it provides very little reward for a lot of work!

Ok, thanks. I was trying to research and kept seeing stuff about everything selling out. The list of stuff I physically can ride and also would want to ride isn't very long. I recently had spine surgery, so that limits me even more than I already was. Slinky is one that hopefully I can do again in the future, but I won't be trying it on either of our next 2 trips at least.

 

[Marrila]

Why would anyone??? What can people possibly gain for not letting other guests leave a queue??? People aren't malicious, no one is thinking: I'm gonna make that other guest's life hard just because buahahaha

It's likely they will be pretty ok with folks walking out. An ECV in a darkish hall even when trying not to bump people or run over toes might be met with a different reaction. It's a large device in a small area.
The bigger issue may be returning. As mentioned above, perceived line cutting will sometimes bring on negative responses.