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

[shannnsavage]

Just to clarify, nobody is excluded…if you don’t qualify for DAS or your party is bigger than 4, the person who cannot tolerate lines is able to meet the rest of the family somewhere between the LL return and boarding the ride (it appears to vary by ride).

Someone is very much excluded. If I can't spend the 60 minutes with my family, because I have to sit and wait with my disabled daughter, our family will be separated and myself and my daughter will be excluded and by ourselves possibly half the day

 

[AJA]

Someone is very much excluded. If I can't spend the 60 minutes with my family, because I have to sit and wait with my disabled daughter, our family will be separated and myself and my daughter will be excluded and by ourselves possibly half the day

Space is limited.

What else can Disney do?

If any brain storming on these boards comes up with a solution to the math problem I am sure all theme parks would be open to it.

For eveyy able-bodied person (not needed as the direct care giver, or a minor) that takes the place of another disabled person. Again it is math, the line doesn’t have infinite room.

No adult able bodied relative/friend of a disabled person (who understand better than most the hardship) after having that explained to them, would want to take up that space in the DAS line.

Its not just “fakers” it’s overall too many people qualifying to be in the line. The only solution is to cut out some that qualify. Starting with able bodied friends/ adult family seems to be the most fair.

 

[NumberOneDime]

I went to Animal Kingdom last night, it was about a 5 in terms of crowd levels. River Rapids was about 40 minutes and FoP was 60 minutes.

I can honestly say that in my 2 years of using DAS last night was the longest I have ever had to wait in a LL (it was for FoP). I think it took at least a half hour and that's about the upper most limits that my party can handle...and I wouldn't call it comfortable. Just wanted to share these first hand observations with the group as I'm on a bit of a goodbye tour of being able to ride things, in the case I am denied for DAS soon.

 

[jennab]

I went to Animal Kingdom last night, it was about a 5 in terms of crowd levels. River Rapids was about 40 minutes and FoP was 60 minutes.

I can honestly say that in my 2 years of using DAS last night was the longest I have ever had to wait in a LL (it was for FoP). I think it took at least a half hour and that's about the upper most limits that my party can handle...and I wouldn't call it comfortable. Just wanted to share these first hand observations with the group as I'm on a bit of a goodbye tour of being able to ride things, in the case I am denied for DAS soon.

This is how it was for most rides when we last went about 1.5yrs ago. One of the reasons they need the change as the LL lines were too long.

 

[starlite_]

No adult able bodied relative/friend of a disabled person (who understand better than most the hardship) after having that explained to them, would want to take up that space in the DAS line.

One would think right? And yet I've seen posts of guests wanting to use their child's DAS to skip the stand by line for themselves (in the scenario the child wasn't riding), wanting to use their DAS so their family could skip the stand-by line without them, guests upset they couldn't bring 7 guests with them (3 of them unrelated to them, their teenagers' friends) and guests admitting to using DAS even when they didn't need it because "disney didn't stop them". Those are only the ones at the top of my head.

So even guests that used to qualify for DAS don't seem to have that type of curtesy towards other disabled folks.

 

[Bearval]

One would think right? And yet I've seen posts of guests wanting to use their child's DAS to skip the stand by line for themselves (in the scenario the child wasn't riding), wanting to use their DAS so their family could skip the stand-by line without them, guests upset they couldn't bring 7 guests with them (3 of them unrelated to them, their teenagers' friends) and guests admitting to using DAS even when they didn't need it because "disney didn't stop them". Those are only the ones at the top of my head.

So even guests that used to qualify for DAS don't seem to have that type of curtesy towards other disabled folks.

There was an article in the NY Post ( How the 1% Do Disney) where wealthy people from NY would " rent" a disabled person for the day to do just this.

 

[Evita_W]

Just to clarify, nobody is excluded…if you don’t qualify for DAS or your party is bigger than 4, the person who cannot tolerate lines is able to meet the rest of the family somewhere between the LL return and boarding the ride (it appears to vary by ride).

That is excluding them, sorry, but splitting up is indeed excluding people, even if it is "only" for the time waiting, that is time they could be spent together.

 

[Evita_W]

Space is limited.

What else can Disney do?

If any brain storming on these boards comes up with a solution to the math problem I am sure all theme parks would be open to it.

For eveyy able-bodied person (not needed as the direct care giver, or a minor) that takes the place of another disabled person. Again it is math, the line doesn’t have infinite room.

No adult able bodied relative/friend of a disabled person (who understand better than most the hardship) after having that explained to them, would want to take up that space in the DAS line.

Its not just “fakers” it’s overall too many people qualifying to be in the line. The only solution is to cut out some that qualify. Starting with able bodied friends/ adult family seems to be the most fair.

What else can Disney do? There is actually plenty, like bringing back all of the entertainment and streetmosphere and make sure there are enough times for all of them, bring back parades at every park, even the small things, making sure all rides are always operating at full capacity, reopening all dining venues as dining venues, fixing attractions so they are in good repair and not constantly going down and bringing back some form of free FP/LL. All of these things individually wouldn't do much, but combined they would disperse the crows tremendously. Note this isn't intended as speculation on what they will do, it is just answering the question as to what else they can do.

 

[Evita_W]

Isn't this the exact situation that AQR is designed for? Parties of 7-8 where most can wait in a line? If some members of the group aren't going on a particular ride, the person who can't handle the line can hang out with them until the others who ARE going to ride to get to the "meetup" point of the queue.

I think you missed my point, I was saying it makes sense the have 4 on the das that can be the person who needs the das plus any 3 others in the party, then on the few attractions where all will want to ride, have AQR work. It is a decent balance, but it does exclude the people who are waiting off to the side from the group while waiting, so it isn't perfect.

 

[brockash]

Someone is very much excluded. If I can't spend the 60 minutes with my family, because I have to sit and wait with my disabled daughter, our family will be separated and myself and my daughter will be excluded and by ourselves possibly half the day

I agree. I think a lot depends on a families touring style and how much they prefer to be together. Having to split up is an exclusion and not something we'd be interested in.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Space is limited.

What else can Disney do?

If any brain storming on these boards comes up with a solution to the math problem I am sure all theme parks would be open to it.

For eveyy able-bodied person (not needed as the direct care giver, or a minor) that takes the place of another disabled person. Again it is math, the line doesn’t have infinite room.

No adult able bodied relative/friend of a disabled person (who understand better than most the hardship) after having that explained to them, would want to take up that space in the DAS line.

It’s not just “fakers” it’s overall too many people qualifying to be in the line. The only solution is to cut out some that qualify. Starting with able bodied friends/ adult family seems to be the most fair.

As we’ve been asked not to speculate, I won’t, other than to say there is LOTS Disney could do to reduce the number of people, including DAS users, in the LLs, if they would get their IT act together.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.

If they would change the name and take away the label disability, then they might not get so much push back from other people that have genuine disabilities and are wondering why they are not "disabled enough" for this. Under the prior system basically if you had any sort of disability you normally got approved. That's on disney. From their own execution they were basically painting the idea that DAS is for those with disabilities and the name of it reflected it.

I'm not saying that they do not deserve the right as a company to modify the service and narrow the scope, but leaving it labeled as disability access and then cutting out a large majority of the disabilities is poor market labeling, and will leave feelings of resentment.

They should reliable DAS as it is to something different based on its narrow service. Then make DAS an overall umbrella program with the relabeled digital queue, RTQ and AQR as sub programs underneath it. Then basically state we match disabled needs to one of our DAS programs based on needs.

I think the labeling and how it is presented matters.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think you missed my point, I was saying it makes sense the have 4 on the das that can be the person who needs the das plus any 3 others in the party, then on the few attractions where all will want to ride, have AQR work.

I didn't miss the point, I just disagree with it. If AQR can work for the party, then there's no reason to be given DAS at all. That seems to be how they're treating some parties/disabilities but not others. The lack of consistency is a problem.

 

[Keladry84]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.
........

They should reliable DAS as it is to something different based on its narrow service. Then make DAS an overall umbrella program with the relabeled digital queue, RTQ and AQR as sub programs underneath it. Then basically state we match disabled needs to one of our DAS programs based on needs.

I think the labeling and how it is presented matters.

I think you hit the nail on the head re the labeling, and I love your suggestion for DAS as an umbrella term with different accessibility options umbrella'd under it. Now if only Disney would see it.....

 

[jennab]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.

If they would change the name and take away the label disability, then they might not get so much push back from other people that have genuine disabilities and are wondering why they are not "disabled enough" for this. Under the prior system basically if you had any sort of disability you normally got approved. That's on disney. From their own execution they were basically painting the idea that DAS is for those with disabilities and the name of it reflected it.

I'm not saying that they do not deserve the right as a company to modify the service and narrow the scope, but leaving it labeled as disability access and then cutting out a large majority of the disabilities is poor market labeling, and will leave feelings of resentment.

They should reliable DAS as it is to something different based on its narrow service. Then make DAS an overall umbrella program with the relabeled digital queue, RTQ and AQR as sub programs underneath it. Then basically state we match disabled needs to one of our DAS programs based on needs.

I think the labeling and how it is presented matters.

Yes I agree! They should have altered the name, even slightly to make it more known that it’s for different reason than the previous DAS.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Mayne call it DQS, Digital Queue Service . Or DAQ, Digital Access Queue?

Then they can stay in this weird 3 word acronym gimmick they have at going on.

 

[starlite_]

I think honestly DAS as it exists now needs a name change. It's a marketing issue at the heart of it. It is literally called Disability Access Service. And with this change they are telling a whole lot of disabled people that they are not the right disabled people for this service. I can understand
why it leavess a bad taste in their mouth.

If they would change the name and take away the label disability, then they might not get so much push back from other people that have genuine disabilities and are wondering why they are not "disabled enough" for this. Under the prior system basically if you had any sort of disability you normally got approved. That's on disney. From their own execution they were basically painting the idea that DAS is for those with disabilities and the name of it reflected it.

I'm not saying that they do not deserve the right as a company to modify the service and narrow the scope, but leaving it labeled as disability access and then cutting out a large majority of the disabilities is poor market labeling, and will leave feelings of resentment.

They should reliable DAS as it is to something different based on its narrow service. Then make DAS an overall umbrella program with the relabeled digital queue, RTQ and AQR as sub programs underneath it. Then basically state we match disabled needs to one of our DAS programs based on needs.

I think the labeling and how it is presented matters.

I don't disagree exactly but... it kinda makes it seem like folks feel entitled to it just because the word "disability" is in the name. It rubs me the wrong way.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I don't disagree exactly but... it kinda makes it seem like folks feel entitled to it just because the word "disability" is in the name. It rubs me the wrong way.

That is also disney's own fault because that's how they were previously treating it basically.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

It still goes to the reality that Disney created their own marketing nightmare and they are not handling the clean up appropriately.

Pretty par for the course lately though.

 

[mistysue]

I don't disagree exactly but... it kinda makes it seem like folks feel entitled to it just because the word "disability" is in the name. It rubs me the wrong way.

As awkward and uncomfortable as it is, there is a good amount of that going on. There are people whose perspective is "I have a disability, so THIS is the accommodation I am entitled to", and that is not always the case.