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

[lanejudy]

We are trying to keep this thread ACCURATE and not just regurgitating internet rumors or hearsay. Please do not post links to external sites with inaccurate information. It only serves to continue the confusion and perpetuate the inaccurate rumors.

At this point we KNOW that DAS has definitely been granted under the new rules for both developmental disabilities and disabilities not typically classified as "developmental." The Disney website does indicate "or similar" which seems to be a big factor, not the diagnosis. It is the needs that are important; and more specifically, it really seems to be how one phrases/explains those needs.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, while in Florida - but did they talk to a person in Guest Relations, or were they handed an iPad to do the online thing?

Guest Relations won't answer questions about DAS -- they direct you to an area with iPads that connect you to the video chat.

 

[BingoJoe]

Yes, while in Florida - but did they talk to a person in Guest Relations, or were they handed an iPad to do the online thing?

A video chat

 

[lanejudy]

These terms, RTQ and AQR, are they documented from Disney?

Attraction Queue Re-entry is described on the WDW website under the Accessibility section:

Attraction Queue Re-Entry​

There may be times when a Guest must briefly step out of the standby line and then rejoin their party in the line. Every location has a defined process to support this option based on a person’s disability while the rest of the party remains in line.​

How to Use Queue Re-entry​

Speak to a Cast member at the location for directions on how to re-enter the queue.​

1. A Cast Member will provide details about how to exit the queue and how to navigate back to your party.
2. While the Guest who must leave the line is briefly away, the rest of the party will remain in line.
3. The Guest reunites with their party to ride the attraction.

Note: Guests must meet boarding requirements to ride.​

RTQ (or return to queue) is not clarified by Disney. It may be an option for when leaving a queue, or it may be an option offered by a CM if asked before entering a queue, or it may not be available at a given attraction at a given time or for a particular need.

 

[Phijammamama]

for DLR - DAS revamp doesn't start until Jun 18; so don't know.

In the past season, DAS wasn't limited to the media ticket itself. eg: we bought two sets of three day SoCal tickets this year. DAS renewal covered the 3rd date of our using first ticket AND the first two days this past weekend of the 2nd ticket.

We did not have the 2nd ticket loaded either at the time of DAS approval, so something happened in the background to keep the authorization.

My trip dates are after the new DAS starts if that makes a difference.

 

[mistysue]

Conversely, I can count on one hand the number of times a SB line I was in went significantly (more than 5-10 minutes) longer than the posted wait when I entered. I’m not dismissing those who experienced differently - it’s just bizarre that as often as I’m in the parks I’m not seeing the same! All I can think is that I must visit mostly at different times of day/year.

This is in line with our experience (especially the past few years) EXCEPT this very last trip this Spring! Last fall, we were planning around "if it says 35 minutes, we are usually back out front within 30 minutes of entering" and usually came out ahead of that schedule.
The first week of May, we were getting in 20 minute lines and standing still for 30+ minutes, with MASSIVE chunks of that being LL just streaming by. There wasn't a wait in the LL, they were completely stopping the standby until LL was empty at every ride. Things like at haunted mansion they would completely fill the holding area 3-4 times from LL, then do a half fill from standby, and right back to all LL. It was insane. A group in front of us got separated and the CM wouldn't let the second half through, so they finished a solid 10 minutes apart because they filled all the rotations from LL in between them.

Something was seriously broken about the balance on this last trip. We paid for Genie+ and even with paying felt bad for how quickly they were shuttling us through. LL's were not a 10-15 wait, they were walk on.

 

[mistysue]

DAS is an accommodation. Those gaining an advantage out of it probably shouldn't have it as an accommodation.

Yes, it is. I worded it the way I did specifically to make clear that for some people it's an accommodation, and with overuse it is a perk for people who qualify but might not need it the same way as others. Obviously not everyone who qualifies has the same level of need for it, so there are users for whom parks are impossible without it, users who get more of a level field from it, and users who gain a benefit from it. When wait times are deflated, the level of benefit for those who gain from the system are compounded.

 

[Becky Mouse]

On our trip in April 2023, we had constant issues with the standby line just being repeatedly stuck at a standstill for 10-20 minutes at a time while LL folks were rolled through across multiple rides. Our 35 minutte Remy wait became an hour and 50 minutes for this reason. On Toy Story Mania, not one single standby person was let in for 45 straight minutes while a packed stream of LL were put thru - we bailed on that one - God only knows how long we'd have been there. We chatted with numerous folks all of which had the same experience across all the parks & rides when using standby. All of our waits were 2-4 times longer than posted due to the LL being exclusively prioritized. By the last day, my husband wouldn't even get in line for a ride that had a LL and I don't think I'll ever get him to go back .

Yes, but that's the impact of DAS abuse and overuse. Because DAS users can come back at any time, the LLs fill beyond their typical capacity at times. Instead of doing a 1:4 ratio, they do almost entirely LL. Once everyone is moved to the new system and a lot of people are denied DAS, and people who are approved have smaller groups with them, it should improve. So, tell your husband that if you wait about 2 months for everyone to be out of the old system, the standby lines should be a lot better!

 

[greeneyedchick]

On our trip in April 2023, we had constant issues with the standby line just being repeatedly stuck at a standstill for 10-20 minutes at a time while LL folks were rolled through across multiple rides. Our 35 minutte Remy wait became an hour and 50 minutes for this reason. On Toy Story Mania, not one single standby person was let in for 45 straight minutes while a packed stream of LL were put thru - we bailed on that one - God only knows how long we'd have been there. We chatted with numerous folks all of which had the same experience across all the parks & rides when using standby. All of our waits were 2-4 times longer than posted due to the LL being exclusively prioritized. By the last day, my husband wouldn't even get in line for a ride that had a LL and I don't think I'll ever get him to go back .

The strange this is that Disney had FastPass for years. Presumably, FastPass would have worked the same way at Lightening Lane regarding the ratio of FP people to standyby line crowds. They should have a ton a data to figure out the optimal number of people to allow in the lightening lne at one time that still keeps the standby lines moving. If they are allowing more people per time slot with genie+ than FP, then it's them being greedy over prioritizing all guests' experience. I haven't been to Disney sinec covid, but hearing how horrid the standby lines are now makes me never want to go back. Thankfully, my kids don't miss the heat or crowds.

 

[greeneyedchick]

Crazy thing is that SWA now considers (neck) pillows and blankets as carry-on items. So you can no longer have a roll-on, blanket+ pillow unless you are able to put the pillow in your bag.

Except a person in that situation is just going to end up having to pull the pillow out as soon as they are on the plane. I don't see how that's going to speed up boarding.

I mention because I think many people bring travel pillows to help with medical needs. I don't know if there is way to request a medical exception for pillows.

I was just a bit shocked to hear their new policy.

That is crazy, but has been the norm on Frontier. I need to sit on a tailbone pillow and am not allowed to bring that pillow unless it fits in my "personal item" that fits under my seat. Unfortunately, it takes up a lot of my room in my personal item. It's quite frustrating. I never considered citing the ADA rules for it. I will have to look into that.

 

[disneymum58]

We were just approved Monday for DAS. Today, a new ticket promo for Disneyland was released and we want to take advantage of it. I am concerned that we have to reregister with DAS if our tickets change (used a TA). Anyone have experience with DAS CMs in this situation? Could we potentially lose our DAS if a CM deems we are not qualified for some reason? All of the uncertainty with approval now makes me nervous.

I bought a 4 day Park Hopper for Disneyland in February, and was approved for DAS. I decided to buy a Believe Key when they became available a few days later, and save the PH for when family came on a different trip. I had to go through the whole approval process a 2nd time because the DAS was attached to my PH which I wasn't planning on using.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

And even today, I would say that the need for those stamps on the GAC are still necessary, as for example, DH has seen many people who can’t handle stairs, but don’t have mobility devices denied accommodations at an attraction with stairs, Splash Mountain at DLR has been the worst example of this, but even at Indiana Jones where bypassing the stairs doesn’t really bypass much of the queue he has still seen people denied. So, this raises concerns about this approach to begin with, as this has been the case even as recent as a couple of months ago (not with Splash obviously, but others).

In today’s TikTok & Instagram society, that list of stamps would be posted online and tips for how to get the most “desireable” stamps would go viral. The instant access to information on the internet is a blessing and a curse.

 

[keishashadow]

I think saying this group is doom and gloom is under cutting how these very real changes are upending some families plans to be able to safely travel to one of the few places that offered accommodations for their needs and a place they loved.

Often, a situation can invoke two entirely different yet, simultaneous reactions.

Just wish people would stop assuming bad intent.

There’s so much out there & many are so anxious, they are on heightened alert.

We were just approved Monday for DAS. Today, a new ticket promo for Disneyland was released and we want to take advantage of it.

You were approved for WDW? Are you asking if it applies to DL or asking a tix question?

Haven’t seen official determination if the DAS systems will finally merge be tween the two…have read some (non-verifiable comments elsewhere).

I mention because I think many people bring travel pillows to help with medical needs. I don't know if there is way to request a medical exception for pillows.

Spirit & Allegiant, along with others permit one to bring an extra bag for medical needs. They will randomly check it to enforce that it only has medical items inside it. No idea if SWA also has this policy.

In general, CPAPs, POCs, breast pumps, medications, and medical supplies do not count towards your baggage allowance and can be brought on board for free. They must fit in the overhead & comply with the same sizing rules as other carry-on bags.

 

[nalababybear]

Yes, it is. I worded it the way I did specifically to make clear that for some people it's an accommodation, and with overuse it is a perk for people who qualify but might not need it the same way as others. Obviously not everyone who qualifies has the same level of need for it, so there are users for whom parks are impossible without it, users who get more of a level field from it, and users who gain a benefit from it. When wait times are deflated, the level of benefit for those who gain from the system are compounded.

Hence a more restrictive application of its use so that it matches more correctly as an appropriate accommodation.

Key word. Appropriate.

I get people seeing LL walking by and standby being...standby. when LL are 30minutes....no stakeholder is getting a fair shake.

 

[starlite_]

Attraction Queue Re-entry is described on the WDW website under the Accessibility section:

Attraction Queue Re-Entry​

There may be times when a Guest must briefly step out of the standby line and then rejoin their party in the line. Every location has a defined process to support this option based on a person’s disability while the rest of the party remains in line.​

How to Use Queue Re-entry​

Speak to a Cast member at the location for directions on how to re-enter the queue.​

1. A Cast Member will provide details about how to exit the queue and how to navigate back to your party.
2. While the Guest who must leave the line is briefly away, the rest of the party will remain in line.
3. The Guest reunites with their party to ride the attraction.

Note: Guests must meet boarding requirements to ride.​

RTQ (or return to queue) is not clarified by Disney. It may be an option for when leaving a queue, or it may be an option offered by a CM if asked before entering a queue, or it may not be available at a given attraction at a given time or for a particular need.

Wait wait wait! What we are calling RTQ here and other forums has not been officially disclosed and named by Disney??

So internally for Disney, AQR and RTQ might be the same thing???

So the only reason there is so much confusion and misunderstanding between CMs and guests talking about alternative accommodations to DAS is BECAUSE people in said forums have an almost obsessive need to have the most information possible??? (no offense meant by obsessive, I just can't find another word to describe it and I feel it's something everyone who partakes in niche forums like this one does)

 

[lanejudy]

Wait wait wait! What we are calling RTQ here and other forums has not been officially disclosed and named by Disney??

A CM who posts on another forum has confirmed RTQ and AQR are different. RTQ supposedly is very limited and CMs will be audited over its use. That’s unofficial so we can’t really tell what’s going on right now, especially with so many video chats supposedly recommending something they reportedly are calling return-to-queue.

 

[StarGirl11]

Often, a situation can invoke two entirely different yet, simultaneous reactions.

There’s so much out there & many are so anxious, they are on heightened alert.

You were approved for WDW? Are you asking if it applies to DL or asking a tix question?

Haven’t seen official determination if the DAS systems will finally merge be tween the two…have read some (non-verifiable comments elsewhere).

Spirit & Allegiant, along with others permit one to bring an extra bag for medical needs. They will randomly check it to enforce that it only has medical items inside it. No idea if SWA also has this policy.

In general, CPAPs, POCs, breast pumps, medications, and medical supplies do not count towards your baggage allowance and can be brought on board for free. They must fit in the overhead & comply with the same sizing rules as other carry-on bags.

just wanted to add on here as well @mickeyluv'r I’ve seen SWA allow medical bags. A rather sizable one too before.

I think this deals with the air carriers act or whatever it is disability in air travel falls under. But if your traveling with something that’s medically required from what I understand they are supposed to allow it no extra charge or fuss.

In practice is a whole other matter though.

Unexpected trip means I’m going to be at WDW most likely at the end of June. And right around Tiana’s too. So I’m in the window for applying for the window. Will report back how this goes.

 

[mistysue]

Hence a more restrictive application of its use so that it matches more correctly as an appropriate accommodation.

Key word. Appropriate.

I get people seeing LL walking by and standby being...standby. when LL are 30minutes....no stakeholder is getting a fair shake.

Yes. Unfortunately, as we're seeing, there are many more people who want it to be appropriate than it may truly be appropriate for, causing an uproar over the adjustment. Many people have in the last year or so been getting DAS for conditions that 5 years ago they would have been blasted over even considering but nobody would want to give that up.

 

[Disturbia]

My fiancé and I were watching a show on how the Blue Angels train to deal with g forces without wearing a g suit... I was sitting there the whole time wondering why/if the drs that deal with autonomic issues like POTs think to use some of the same techniques for dealing with flare up symptoms. I know this is way off topic, and I'm very sorry to everyone, but it was definitely thought provoking when thinking of my own symptoms.

It takes so long to get an accurate diagnosis let alone get Dr.‘s to actually look at something that might help.

Neighbor who runs 26k marathons yearly mentioned liquid IV and my decades long muscle cramps disappeared (sugar free doesn’t work for me and pedialyte did nothing) and vertigo improved.

https://www.liquid-iv.com/articles/hydration-and-pots-the-invisible-illness

Mods feel free to delete my off topic post

 

[Cloudy]

Crazy thing is that SWA now considers (neck) pillows and blankets as carry-on items. So you can no longer have a roll-on, blanket+ pillow unless you are able to put the pillow in your bag.

Except a person in that situation is just going to end up having to pull the pillow out as soon as they are on the plane. I don't see how that's going to speed up boarding.

I mention because I think many people bring travel pillows to help with medical needs. I don't know if there is way to request a medical exception for pillows.

I was just a bit shocked to hear their new policy.

I don’t think the restrictions on pillows and blankets are to “speed up boarding”. Have you seen what people are trying to bring on planes these days? A large carryon, a large personal item, plus a neck pillow, full size blanket, and full sized pillow. There just isn’t room for all that stuff on the plane. Plus there are TikToks teaching people how to stuff a pillowcase with clothing to get an another personal item/carryon on the plane for free. People working within the rules to get an advantage. Too many people do it and the rules have to change because the system cannot support it. Now my post is on topic.