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

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I saw the same report - it’s been making the rounds! That’s the only one I’ve seen with a scooter having a hard time exiting a queue.

I think that’s just it: it WILL be case by case, depending on the individual needs, how the attraction’s queue is set up, how long you need to be gone, how long y can tolerate being in the queue, etc. Until you actually put it into action, I don’t think you’ll know because until then, it’s a hypothetical, right?

I agree with all of that and also it may vary based on how long the queue is at that time. The merge return options could very well be different if the line is 25m or 55 or 95m.

As a likely occasional AQR user (who uses planning to maximize limited time I can be in the parks and also to manage my anxiety) I would love all the answers, but I also support Disney’s decision not to post it all in advance to make it easier for outright fakers and misuers to decide how they will game the system. They want to limit use to people who need it enough that they are willing to inquire each time even knowing that sometimes the accommodation will change. Eventually all the info will likely trickle out and get synthesized, but maybe it slows down abuse for 3-6 months?

 

[PrincessV]

I agree with all of that and also it may vary based on how long the queue is at that time. The merge return options could very well be different if the line is 25m or 55 or 95m.

As a likely occasional AQR user (who uses planning to maximize limited time I can be in the parks and also to manage my anxiety) I would love all the answers, but I also support Disney’s decision not to post it all in advance to make it easier for outright fakers and misuers to decide how they will game the system. They want to limit use to people who need it enough that they are willing to inquire each time even knowing that sometimes the accommodation will change. Eventually all the info will likely trickle out and get synthesized, but maybe it slows down abuse for 3-6 months?

I still have some questions about whether AQR would actually work for my needs, but my biggest conundrum is whether to ask the poor CMs in the parks, who know the options but aren’t equipped to hear why they may or may not work for me, or wait and see if I’m denied DAS next time and ask those CMs, who don’t always seem to know how things actually work in the parks. The upside is I have time. Unless the reports change drastically over next few weeks, rather than ask CMs hypothetical questions, I’m just going to give AQR a try in a few places while I still have DAS as a back-up, see how it goes and if it works. At least then I’ll have real-life experience to pull from when making the next DAS registration call.

 

[Karin1984]

I have decided to delay my August trip until (and *IF*) everything is worked out and running smoothly.

Wise.
I still wonder what made them decide to implement this just before the busy Summer season starts. I know there is not really a "low" season anymore in either WDW or DL, but late August and September are a little less busy than the Summer?

 

[starlite_]

Wise.
I still wonder what made them decide to implement this just before the busy Summer season starts. I know there is not really a "low" season anymore in either WDW or DL, but late August and September are a little less busy than the Summer?

I would honestly argue that Halloween is busier than Summer.

 

[KPeterso]

I would honestly argue that Halloween is busier than Summer.

That is definitely true at Disneyland. Disneyland during October is insane - almost worse than Christmas. We go to WDW in September and it usually is not too bad.

 

[PrincessV]

I would honestly argue that Halloween is busier than Summer.

Agreed - it’s bizarre, but I visit in what was once high season - mid-summer - every year and it’s been getting less and less busy every year. Last year, I practically had all of Batuu to myself for the last couple hours HS was open one night!

 

[mistysue]

Wise.
I still wonder what made them decide to implement this just before the busy Summer season starts. I know there is not really a "low" season anymore in either WDW or DL, but late August and September are a little less busy than the Summer?

There's never a good time. It's always a busy time or almost a busy time.

I would also argue it's because the overuse is getting worse constantly, and will peak in a season with mostly families of school aged children. The parks were not that busy on our last trip, but the strain on the LL system was obvious every time we did a standby line. If it got any worse, and I'm serious I think even a 5-10% untick would do it, standby lines would simply not be lines at all but holding pens.

 

[cat4hurricane]

I know I’m definitely interested in seeing how this decreases (or not) the LL lines. I know that data is probably months out at this point, but the last time I went to WDW it was like they were pushing through LL and letting everyone in SB wait for a while, even past the SB time in some cases. I kinda get it because money component, but with lots of people being denied DAS or told to use other accommodations, it’s going to strain on how long people can wait in line before they start showing symptoms or having issues, not to mention everyone else with the heat or any bathroom breaks. Just thinking for the times where a half hour/20 minute line becomes something like 40 or 50 minutes long in some cases, that’s going to be over a lot of people’s limits from what I’ve heard here and elsewhere. Hoping to see that improved at least somewhat as these changes roll out and start becoming more common place.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Wise.
I still wonder what made them decide to implement this just before the busy Summer season starts. I know there is not really a "low" season anymore in either WDW or DL, but late August and September are a little less busy than the Summer?

The opening of the Tiana ride is a factor, and perhaps changes to G+ in 2025.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There's never a good time. It's always a busy time or almost a busy time.

I disagree. We've seen several slow periods this year. My visits this year happened during slow weekends. This past weekend, the parks were also oddly empty. Touring Plans predicted a 5, but revised to a 1.

I suspect people are getting priced out, as holiday hotel rates and G+ tend to be very high.

 

[mistysue]

I disagree. We've seen several slow periods this year. My visits this year happened during slow weekends. This past weekend, the parks were also oddly empty. Touring Plans predicted a 5, but revised to a 1.

I suspect people are getting priced out, as holiday hotel rates and G+ tend to be very high.

So you think Disney could have predicted and instituted ALL the changes within that weekend specifically because 2 days were going to be slow? That's the point. There's never going to be a long enough stretch that it's not a "busy time" at some point in the transition of 2-3 months.

 

[keishashadow]

The other piece of this is that I’ve also seen several people say they expressed to the DAS CMs directly that they cannot handle describing their specific needs to CMs all day, and were told there is no need to do that: that all one need do is state that they have a medical need to leave the line and the CM will offer what is available to meet that need.

That covers a concern I had as to wondering If this convo was to be directed to a CM standing @ entrance to line

could only imagine the potential level of annoyance from some of those trying to get into the standby line behind them.

Work in progress ahead

 

[mickeyluv'r]

So you think Disney could have predicted and instituted ALL the changes within that weekend specifically because 2 days were going to be slow? That's the point. There's never going to be a long enough stretch that it's not a "busy time" at some point in the transition of 2-3 months.

I was merely pointing out that - factually -WDW does have slow periods.

As to the changes to DAS, Disney aimed to change DAS before Tiania opens.

Disney knows how many park tickets they sell for any given time period. They 100% chose when they wanted to make the change, and how fast they wanted to change DAS.

If you are saying Disney doesn't know how many June or August tickets/hotel bookings they have sold, okay.

 

[StarGirl11]

Well that was a mess. Not entirely on any one person it just kind of was if that makes any sense.

I can't really complain because after an hour long conversation with quiet a number of people. I eventually walked away with what I needed. I am exhausted. Emotionally and physically spent in a way I haven't been in a while. Partly because the conversation also made me realize several things I had just ignored in the past. And not for the best.

But hopefully now that I've gone through the new system once and I can show that I've been through it and what actually works for me. Applying for DL will go a bit smoother along with renewing it in October.

I am off to crash for a while. I nearly went into a shutdown from draining my battery in more then one sense of the word.

I saw the same report - it’s been making the rounds! That’s the only one I’ve seen with a scooter having a hard time exiting a queue.

I think that’s just it: it WILL be case by case, depending on the individual needs, how the attraction’s queue is set up, how long you need to be gone, how long y can tolerate being in the queue, etc. Until you actually put it into action, I don’t think you’ll know because until then, it’s a hypothetical, right?

I am not going to expand much on the call for multiple reasons. But I will say it seems like the CMs are aware of that report. Because when we were discussing one of the issues the fact I had a scooter and thus causing an issue of getting out of line for both the user and other people around them.

 

[mistysue]

I was merely pointing out that - factually -WDW does have slow periods.

As to the changes to DAS, Disney aimed to change DAS before Tiania opens.

Disney knows how many park tickets they sell for any given time period. They 100% chose when they wanted to make the change, and how fast they wanted to change DAS.

If you are saying Disney doesn't know how many June or August tickets/hotel bookings they have sold, okay.

You seem to be taking my comment out of the context of what I replied to. I don't get what point you are trying to make other than arguing to imply other people are stupid because there was three day lull as if they were going to get through all the complaints and changes within 3 days. Disney was not going to wake up one morning, cancel EVERYONE's DAS and completely revamp the system overnight without announcement because there was one slow weekend coming up. It was going to take time, and there isn't a long period of slow times like that.

The discussion going on when I said there isn't a good time to do this ever was a "why are they doing it now right before Summer?" when schools are phasing out of session any time from late May to mid-June. lt would have been "right before summer" or "right before Halloween" or Food and wine, Thanksgiving, Christmas, President's day, Run Disney, cheer week, Spring break, Easter, etc. There is ALWAYS something coming up in the following few months for people to latch on and object to. There is no point where they have a few months with no reason people are going to say it's a bad time.

 

[dreamer17555]

I know I’m definitely interested in seeing how this decreases (or not) the LL lines. I know that data is probably months out at this point, but the last time I went to WDW it was like they were pushing through LL and letting everyone in SB wait for a while, even past the SB time in some cases. I kinda get it because money component, but with lots of people being denied DAS or told to use other accommodations, it’s going to strain on how long people can wait in line before they start showing symptoms or having issues, not to mention everyone else with the heat or any bathroom breaks. Just thinking for the times where a half hour/20 minute line becomes something like 40 or 50 minutes long in some cases, that’s going to be over a lot of people’s limits from what I’ve heard here and elsewhere. Hoping to see that improved at least somewhat as these changes roll out and start becoming more common place.

I am sure that Disney is going to keep a close eye on lines. But I do not have faith that they actually want SB waits to stay low. If SB waits are low, then there is less incentive to buy Genie+ (especially because they can raise the price when demand is up). I fully predict Disney releasing more Genie+ spots if DAS is using the LL less and keep prioritizing those guests far above the SB to keep those Stand By lines long enough to keep guests buying Genie+

 

[SueM in MN]

That covers a concern I had as to wondering If this convo was to be directed to a CM standing @ entrance to line

could only imagine the potential level of annoyance from some of those trying to get into the standby line behind them.

Work in progress ahead

At least at WDW, most attractions have had a CM with an iPad to handle guests coming to the attraction to request DAS Return Times. They are normally near, but not blocking entrance to either Standby or Lightning Lane. I'd suggest looking for the CM with an iPad

 

[PrincessV]

Well that was a mess. Not entirely on any one person it just kind of was if that makes any sense.

I can't really complain because after an hour long conversation with quiet a number of people. I eventually walked away with what I needed. I am exhausted. Emotionally and physically spent in a way I haven't been in a while. Partly because the conversation also made me realize several things I had just ignored in the past. And not for the best.

But hopefully now that I've gone through the new system once and I can show that I've been through it and what actually works for me. Applying for DL will go a bit smoother along with renewing it in October.

I am off to crash for a while. I nearly went into a shutdown from draining my battery in more then one sense of the word.


I am not going to expand much on the call for multiple reasons. But I will say it seems like the CMs are aware of that report. Because when we were discussing one of the issues the fact I had a scooter and thus causing an issue of getting out of line for both the user and other people around them.

Oh @StarGirl11 I understand this so much! The first time I inquired about DAS, I wound up trauma dumping on the poor CM in EP and was just lucky that he happened to have the same condition and was both sympathetic and incredibly helpful. I still feel badly for the poor kid, but he handled it like a pro! I was DONE for the day after that, though: never even used DAS to do anything and went home early.

I’m very glad to hear they’re taking the scooter situation into consideration - that just feels like accidents waiting to happen.

 

[jo-jo]

How difficult was it when people had to travel from ride to ride to request a time for each ride? I suspect the ease of just tapping on phone played a big part in the number of fake DAS.

 

[dreamer17555]

How difficult was it when people had to travel from ride to ride to request a time for each ride? I suspect the ease of just tapping on phone played a big part in the number of fake DAS.

It made it very difficult to use for my son because the process of getting him physically to an entrance of a ride and then needing to explain to him we would come back to ride was a non starter most days. Instant meltdown.

I still think a few things explain the increase in DAS-

1. Many people were managing with FP+ when they could pre schedule ride times around their needs and not by fighting for any spot at 7 AM

2. We had a mass debilitating world wide health event and even before that developmental disabilities like autism were on the rise along with an aging baby boomer population

3. Like you stated the old DAS system was clunky and harder to use- My son had DAS but we almost only used FP+ to manage his day

4. When Disney started having a vested interest in keeping stand by lines long to increase Genie+ sales and how it made those that were used to certain attractions being walk ons, now needed a DAS to ride

Not everything is abuse. Yes it happens but I also think Disney set this monster in motion with Genie+ & ILLs because they now have a reason to want SB lines to stay long. If SB lines aren't long, guests are not going to pay a premium to skip them. They could have easily raised prices for everyone and left FP+ in place and no one would have blinked but they are going to push Genie+'s price point up and up until they find a breaking point.