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

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And when they probe a toddler?
I think people need to think about their suggestions in terms of being in a queue vs normal daily tasks.

Disney does not prohibit these. Additionally it's not a "suggestion" people are coming up with, it's something a person with a visual impairment may use, meaning it's not like someone on the DIS is suddenly suggesting something that isn't already being done. To even think about it like a person with a visual impairment is out there hitting children is insensitive to say the least and makes me wonder if you've seen these actually being used or are just assuming how someone would use it (which if I'm thinking the better out of people I would think more this).

 

[jo-jo]

I think one of the big reasons Disney moved DAS from Guest Relations into a new department is that Guest Relations CMs were not consistent. Some asked all the questions they were supposed to ask and some didn’t really ask any. Being Guest Relations, some seemed more concerned with having a satisfied guest than making sure the policy was followed.
I saw a Facebook thread the other day that illustrated some of the issues. A person posted their son had a tumor removed from his foot and had a brace on the foot. They asked what accommodations Disney had.
Some posters gave information about wheelchairs and pointed out the lines are accessible without need for anything else.
A large number of posters suggested DAS for various reasons - “being in a wheelchair is no fun…:he deserves some pixie dust…tell them his foot might get bumped…”

About 6 months ago, someone here and had tried online twice and was denied. People said ask in the park , they did , and was approved.

Elsewhere, I have read some people got approved just because it didn't look good to have a guest yelling their head off at CM at guest services.

 

[PrincessV]

Okay, there’s a question for the thread wrapped up in all this, but I’m also thinking “out loud” here…

Absent any late-breaking first-hand reports of AQR in action for solo visitors, I’ve got a day next week I’m happy to use for some testing at WDW. It’s just a day visit with the primary goal being the AP preview of Tiana’s, but I missed out on getting a MK reservation and am booked at EP, planning to try for the VQ at 1pm. But I’ve also got a 2+ hour drive home and can’t stay very late, so there’s a high likelihood that I won’t actually get into the Tiana’s preview. So I’ll have time on my hands is what I’m saying lol!

Here’s my weird concern: I do have DAS approved starting that day. Is that likely to be an impediment to trying AQR? I guess what I’m imagining is that I start in a SB line, wait as long as I’m able to tolerate it, leave and ask a CM how I can return… they opt for a LL return time and scan my ticket… and see I could use DAS instead. Awkward conversation ensues? Or am I overthinking it?! I mean, my DAS CM did mention the alternative accommodations and sent me a link to them, so it’s reasonable that I might be giving them a try, right?? I just really don’t want to annoy a CM in the process.

2nd question is really for you all: are there any particular rides you’d like to see tested for AQR? I think I’ll probably tap into EP and immediately hop to MK, so I’m thinking mostly MK rides, aiming for things that have long enough SB wait times to activate my need to bail after 15 mins or so. I’m guessing I’ll have time to fit in 3-4 rides and have no real priorities for myself, so if there are particular lines folks are concerned about, I’m down for trying them. Maybe throw in an EP ride or two, too, in case MK is especially aggravating and I need to hop back to EP to collect my sanity.

 

[sunburnin]

Or am I overthinking it?

Yes HA.

I understand what you are thinking, though and it will be helpful to the community. I think you should use your DAS like normal and ask the CMs how their AQR process works when you encounter them throughout the queue. i.e. CMs at entry scan, merge, ride load, etc. Just tell them you are curious if you don't get a DAS in the future, as this is all new. It would be helpful to hear if they are consistent for that ride and to also hear what differences you find from ride to ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

About 6 months ago, someone here and had tried online twice and was denied. People said ask in the park , they did , and was approved.

Elsewhere, I have read some people got approved just because it didn't look good to have a guest yelling their head off at CM at guest services.

I've seen plenty of times where guests were yelling their heads off at Guest Services and ending up getting DAS approved pretty much just to get them out of there.

 

[GoingSince1990]

I've seen plenty of times where guests were yelling their heads off at Guest Services and ending up getting DAS approved pretty much just to get them out of there.

Yep, very hard for CMs who have been trained that customer service is absolutely paramount to deliver a polite but firm “no” when someone is screaming at them in City Hall. These CMs are probably very happy to have the decision taken out of their hands and be able to say “sorry, but it’s not my decision”.

By the way, based upon the utter lack of headlines along the lines of “OMG GROSS, someone just pooped in the line!” which we all know that the click-seeking WDW sites and bloggers would be all over if it actually happened, it seems that Disney’s alternative accommodations are working pretty well so far.

 

[Vampiress88]

Why wouldn’t Disney argue that G+ would have worked for you in all of these circumstances, but you didn’t buy it because you couldn’t justify the cost (a personal decision)?

Why do you think CMs wouldn’t be able to accommodate some kind of return to queue option IF you have an episode where your husband needs to help you and your kids can’t be left alone? I genuinely believe that most CMs want to help give guests a good experience. That’s why so many of us have pixie dust stories about people who went above and beyond.

As someone said above, Disney is drawing a line between maybe/sometimes and always/absolutely.

How would Disney genie have worked in those two examples I gave you of my days last year? Please I’d be interested to know as if there is a better way I’m happy to learn

But I had thought I gave clear examples of how/why they it wouldn’t have worked for me that day.

I have no clue if/what accommodation the CM could give me if I was in line and had to leave with everyone in tow. I really wouldn’t like to be leaving everything up to chance to get a CM at a ride that can help- I’d rather have accommodations put in place.

Same reason you would for anything, when you have issues then you tend to over research and plan and that’s every day life not just Disney so a holiday is just the same

 

[jo-jo]

Yep, very hard for CMs who have been trained that customer service is absolutely paramount to deliver a polite but firm “no” when someone is screaming at them in City Hall. These CMs are probably very happy to have the decision taken out of their hands and be able to say “sorry, but it’s not my decision”.

But now the ride CMs have to make the decisions.

 

[lanejudy]

But now the ride CMs have to make the decisions.

No, ride CMs only have to offer procedures in place for that ride. The only decision to be made at that point might be AQR vs RTQ.

There is really zero reason to get into

 

[Vampiress88]

Why wouldn’t Disney argue that G+ would have worked for you in all of these circumstances, but you didn’t buy it because you couldn’t justify the cost (a personal decision)?

Why do you think CMs wouldn’t be able to accommodate some kind of return to queue option IF you have an episode where your husband needs to help you and your kids can’t be left alone? I genuinely believe that most CMs want to help give guests a good experience. That’s why so many of us have pixie dust stories about people who went above and beyond.

As someone said above, Disney is drawing a line between maybe/sometimes and always/absolutely.

How would Disney genie have worked id like to know as I’m happy to learn if there is a better way

I did think I gave clear examples of those two days I had

 

[jo-jo]

No, ride CMs only have to offer procedures in place for that ride. The only decision to be made at that point might be AQR vs RTQ.

There is really zero reason to get into

I would think the CMs are/will be asked many times a day, if one is able to get a RTQ. They can't just give them out like penny candy.

 

[lanejudy]

I would think the CMs are/will be asked many times a day, if one is able to get a RTQ. They can't just give them out like penny candy.

Correct, largely based on the situation. But at that point the only decision is between AQR vs RTQ (and yes, mostly it will be AQR offered). NOT a refusal of accommodation.

 

[disneyseniors]

Translation thought- for the Deaf or HOH who don't sign, Disney has a closed captioning device you can borrow for the day. I know there is a language selection. You have to leave a $25 deposit but you get it back at the end of the day when you return it. Might even be interesting if you had a person trying to learn another language that it would print out for you.

We've been being told the last few trips nobody fills out the survey and they want to improve the system but need more feedback before corporate will move on it. My son fills one out every day we are in the parks... So if anyone is just up for random activity to see how accurate the read out is... please have at it. My son really relies on it due to his inability to hear words out of the noise in loud places.

Thanks for mentioning that device, mistysue! I lost a lot of my hearing post covid, and even with hearing aids I can't seem to hear certain words or certain people for some reason. Something like that would be a big help.

 

[mistysue]

Thanks for mentioning that device, mistysue! I lost a lot of my hearing post covid, and even with hearing aids I can't seem to hear certain words or certain people for some reason. Something like that would be a big help.

So when you go to get it - they have them at guest services at each park - it's this little box and they can offer a lanyard so it can hang around your neck. But they have the option to give it to you with an earphone, OR it can just display text. I usually have to repeat that we need it to just give a read out, not the earphone because it seems to be more common for people to take the earphone part but it's the same device. If one of your ears has better hearing, the earphone might be nice but we've never used it.

They will then charge you $25. Put the receipt somewhere you will easily find it at the end of the day as this makes the refund easier. If it's a choice, they prefer to use a credit card vs a magic band charge- we have lost the receipt or had issues getting the refund back to a magic band, once they did a $25 gift card, or we've had a refund put on a different card than we used so you're not completely out of luck if you lose it, but for the sake of your time just don't lose the receipt.

We discovered the devices when my son was around 10 and usually go to WDW a couple times per year. That first trip, he was absolutely amazed at the things he had committed to memory completely wrong based on mishearing. He still has his own version of songs from multiple rides (that make no sense!) that he's been singing his whole life.

 

[Ms Bibbidi]

.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

How would Disney genie have worked id like to know as I’m happy to learn if there is a better way

I did think I gave clear examples of those two days I had

For example I only managed 2 hours in animal kingdom one day before having to leave and also had a rest day the next day. That would have been a waste of genie+ as I would have only booked that first one at 7am. Then as we left after two hours I wouldn’t have actually gotten around to booking anymore. So that’s whatever it costs x4 that would be wasted. As we had DAS we managed one ride. But didn’t lose out on anything.

>> depends on when you arrived in AK. You could have ridden your 7am for sure, and once you ride that you can book another. If you rope dropped you could have walked on something and then ridden. Or ridden, gone through a short SB line, and then ridden whatever was after your 7am.

If you went in the afternoon instead of the morning you would have been even better off. Book at 7am, 2 hours after park open, etc. you should be able to stack pretty much everything and modify times as needed. With 2 hours in AK you can do an awful lot.

Your argument seems to be that it isn’t worth it for one ride. But that’s a subjective judgement. You were still able to use the service to access the LL. Others say Genie+ is never worth it for AK. My mom thinks it is worth it even if she only rides Safari or Navi with the LL. I could care less about Navi but love Safari. My daughter we loves Everest and would ride it as many times as she will find people to go with it.

Second example for last year is we were up getting a return time for Guardians and we got a virtual queue and it was a really good time, like one of the first boarding so it was before 9.30am. We were just leaving the villa at 8.10am and it hit me and we couldn’t go (luckily my kids love the villa so they don’t get too disappointed at a pool day)
We eventually managed to get in at around 4.30 and I just explained to the CM under the blue umbrella and as I had DAS she said it was all ok and to go on. It was only just an off chance I asked as I thought it might have just been gone.
This could have gone a little worse though-as in I might not have gotten to the park at all that day.

>> so here you had an issue and the CM was able to resolve it for you. I think that’s exactly how most of us expect this to work.

I still don’t understand why you don’t think Genie+ would have worked for you.

 

[Vampiress88]

Honestly the scenario where you showed up at the park at 4:30 seems perfect for G+. You could stack G+ LL’s all day and just ride back to back once you arrive in park in the evening.

For the scenario you mentioned where you only managed 2 hrs in Animal Kingdom, I’m confused why you think you’d only use 1 G+ LL? You can book your next LL as soon as you scan in for your existing G+ selection. If you book a G+ LL right at 7 am for shortly after park opening, you could easily book another LL.

Well yes if I knew I was going into the park late then stacking is fine. The problem being that I don’t know if I will be going. I could book and stack them all day and still not be able to go- hence the waste of $100 ish.

So no for what your saying about the two hours, looking at how it all works and speaking to others about genie+ then I would have booked a ride at 7am, hopefully for an early return time. But then I can’t book another until the park has been open two hours which is when we left. So unless what these people have been telling me is wrong then that particular day I would have gotten 1 ride from genie and that’s IF I had a return time before 10am.

I use these as examples as they happen often. I don’t spend long in the parks

 

[Vampiress88]

I think you should find a queue return quite workable. On those occasions where you need to leave the queue with your hubby I am sure the cast members will be able to issue a return time.

I honestly think you don't have much to worry about and will still have a good time.

As we are all still leaving the queue is this not the same as DAS but with the cast member actually just issuing it. Sounds like 2019 when we went to the blue umbrella

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

How would Disney genie have worked id like to know as I’m happy to learn if there is a better way

I did think I gave clear examples of those two days I had

Also AK - for many rides - often has near immediate return times for Genie+, so you could potentially do MORE with it than with DAS.

 

[disneyseniors]

So when you go to get it - they have them at guest services at each park - it's this little box and they can offer a lanyard so it can hang around your neck. But they have the option to give it to you with an earphone, OR it can just display text. I usually have to repeat that we need it to just give a read out, not the earphone because it seems to be more common for people to take the earphone part but it's the same device. If one of your ears has better hearing, the earphone might be nice but we've never used it.

They will then charge you $25. Put the receipt somewhere you will easily find it at the end of the day as this makes the refund easier. If it's a choice, they prefer to use a credit card vs a magic band charge- we have lost the receipt or had issues getting the refund back to a magic band, once they did a $25 gift card, or we've had a refund put on a different card than we used so you're not completely out of luck if you lose it, but for the sake of your time just don't lose the receipt.

We discovered the devices when my son was around 10 and usually go to WDW a couple times per year. That first trip, he was absolutely amazed at the things he had committed to memory completely wrong based on mishearing. He still has his own version of songs from multiple rides (that make no sense!) that he's been singing his whole life.

I do have more hearing in one hear, so I would try the earphones, I think. Again, thanks so much for this valuable information on something that is not talked about much on here!