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

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You could but you miss the point, reducing the amount of time in line reduces the chance of that happening. And you seem to think things are all or nothing, day to day life is absolutely nothing like a 60 minute wait in a line at a theme park.

I can’t think of a single instance where there are lines over 15 minutes in my day to day life outside of a theme park.

And yes, there could be other accommodations that a DAS, but RTQ doesn’t work for many, perhaps due to a mobility device added into the mix, or the speed at which there is an issue, etc., there needs to be a better in between option that doesn’t involve trying to flag down a cast member during the urgent issue.

I can think of numerous situations in my day to day life where an access to a bathroom immediately is hard to come by and we may complain about stuff here in the U.S. but go international and its a whole 'nother story; I was actually relieved to be back in the U.S. not having to locate the random public and paid access to a bathroom such that the majority of our Europe cities we traveled to were.

I know this has already been hashed up before and I'm going to not stray too deep here but for those with issues under the umbrella of bathroom issues time and time again it's about the immediate urgency and need for a bathroom. That is something that many will experience outside of a theme park. I do know that some individuals with those issues spend a lot of time researching and getting patterns down for known bathroom spots so for example they may plan out a road trip where they know they can stop quickly if need be.

My sister-in-law has IBS and had to stop in fast food joints enough time when out and about and she's even asked if she could use our house for emergencies if need be due to its proximity to her stepchildren's schools. As far as specifically long lines yeah I experience that often enough from sporting or concert events waiting in line to get in, from the dreaded DMV to annoyingly just trying to check out at a store that doesn't have self-check out open, to traffic (probably the most common) to many other instances.

It's my opinion here but if you are an individual who feels they may experience an issue in a line or you just want to know just in case your best bet is to ask the CM at the entrance to the attraction as you enter the line when there is one there, even asking a CM who is at the LL entrance if there is one (if there isn't one for the standby line) explaining you'll be in the standby line and if you need to leave the line what is the process. But I'm often a person who likes to know ahead of time if A happens then I do B, if C happens then I do D and so on.

 

[Disneylover99]

Except the problem is if you are having a flare, you aren’t going to have time to stop and ask for a RTQ, you are also far more likely to be stuck in a part of the queue where leaving is problematic. Not saying that DAS is the only solution here, but RTQ isn’t going to work either.

People may not normally need them in their everyday life, but I would absolutely recommend diapers for any type of bathroom issue someone may have at a theme park.

If there is an issue trying to get to the washroom while in line, it will buy the person some time and cut down on their stress. I feel like people don’t want to talk about that, or think it’s not for them, but it can seriously save your park days.

 

[mistysue]

You could but you miss the point, reducing the amount of time in line reduces the chance of that happening. And you seem to think things are all or nothing, day to day life is absolutely nothing like a 60 minute wait in a line at a theme park.

I can’t think of a single instance where there are lines over 15 minutes in my day to day life outside of a theme park.

And yes, there could be other accommodations that a DAS, but RTQ doesn’t work for many, perhaps due to a mobility device added into the mix, or the speed at which there is an issue, etc., there needs to be a better in between option that doesn’t involve trying to flag down a cast member during the urgent issue.

Just for curiosity's sake - do you have ideas on what that better in-between is? I'm sure as things sort themselves out, if this is an issue for so many Disney will want better ideas. (I've seen estimates that 15% of the adult population has IBS symptoms)

 

[oynk]

And others with PTSD have been approved. It always comes back to a person’s needs, not their diagnosis.

Unfortunately I think it all also depends on the cast member and how recently they've been "reminded" of the criteria Edited because I should never type on my phone.

 

[Ollivier]

Not saying anyone who NEEDS a DAS should be being denied the DAS. It is important to keep perspective on what people are comparing when it's said "but I'm international, I should be treated better because I'm there longer..."

Of course we should not be treated better.
It should be possible for every one to be screened before investing in tickets, transportation and hotels.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Of course we should not be treated better.
It should be possible for every one to be screened before investing in tickets, transportation and hotels.

What you propose is impractical. Some trips are booked 11 months in advance. DAS needs can change over that time. That’s why everyone has to reinterview periodically, even if the prognosis is not going to change.

 

[mistysue]

Of course we should not be treated better.
It should be possible for every one to be screened before investing in tickets, transportation and hotels.

For most of WDW's existence, nobody had accommodation information until arrival. Yet people went, and most of this time was when they also were not as generous with giving everyone the "highest level" of accommodation available.
At the heart of it, nobody is wanting anyone to suffer. The most they are saying to people by denying DAS is "try this other thing that we think covers your needs" - then if it doesn't you can tell them why and there might be a better plan.

 

[Ollivier]

What you propose is impractical. Some trips are booked 11 months in advance. DAS needs can change over that time. That’s why everyone has to reinterview periodically, even if the prognosis is not going to change.

Universal does it.

 

[starlite_]

Universal does it.

Ok, who else? What other vacation destination allows you to apply for accommodations before committing to the vacation?

 

[mistysue]

Universal does it.

So say Disney moves to having everyone interview with this marketing company and providing them all their medical documentations - why does this make you think Disney's next step would be giving out DAS to everyone who registered? Universal has people register, then doesn't give everyone EVERY available accommodation because they registered, they then meet to evaluate what they will offer.

 

[mistysue]

Ok, who else? What other vacation destination allows you to apply for accommodations before committing to the vacation?

I've been contacting places all around the country the past 15 years - with food allergies (full anaphylaxis ones) we get told no outside food, no re-entry, and talk to a chef when we arrive to see if they can help us. Most places have no sense of urgency with planning before you are inside and committed.

 

[Ollivier]

Ok, who else? What other vacation destination allows you to apply for accommodations before committing to the vacation?

Almost all parks in europe. Before you go you can read on there site what type of documentation you need. This includes Disney.

 

[Ollivier]

So say Disney moves to having everyone interview with this marketing company and providing them all their medical documentations - why does this make you think Disney's next step would be giving out DAS to everyone who registered? Universal has people register, then doesn't give everyone EVERY available accommodation because they registered, they then meet to evaluate what they will offer.

Correct, but you dont need to buy tickets to do the interview.

 

[mistysue]

Correct, but you dont need to buy tickets to do the interview.

But the point is the interview doesn't tell you what accommodations there will be.

So would you just feel better having an interview where they tell you "find out when you get here" vs just being told you'll find out when you get there in the first place?

 

[Ollivier]

But the point is the interview doesn't tell you what accommodations there will be.

So would you just feel better having an interview where they tell you "find out when you get here" vs just being told you'll find out when you get there in the first place?

This is not how it works at universal. Yes you need to provide documentation to get approved in phase one. In phase two you get the call and it is like the das call. You explain the issues for waiting in line. Answer the questions and get an approval or a not.
If you are approved you get the case number.
You do not need to buy tickets to go through this process

 

[mistysue]

This is not how it works at universal. Yes you need to provide documentation to get approved in phase one. In phase two you get the call and it is like the das call. You explain the issues for waiting in line. Answer the questions and get an approval or a not.
If you are approved you get the case number.
You do not need to buy tickets to go through this process

I see they've changed their system a bit (I did not read through it since years ago until just now)
Then go to Universal. But I would keep in mind that eventually, if they become more popular they are going to need to change their system just like Disney is. Because granting EVERYONE with a diagnosis a pass isn't sustainable. The rate of individuals with disabilities is too high for it.

 

[nalababybear]

This is not how it works at universal. Yes you need to provide documentation to get approved in phase one. In phase two you get the call and it is like the das call. You explain the issues for waiting in line. Answer the questions and get an approval or a not.
If you are approved you get the case number.
You do not need to buy tickets to go through this process

I suspect universal will he getting a bunch of calls and accommodations with the revamp of DAS, and they too will reevaluate and adjust their accommodations policy.

Their paid product will be similarly impacted soon enough with the surge of accommodations if all the folk saying they are moving to universal really truly are. Will the grass stay greener there?

 

[Ollivier]

I see they've changed their system a bit (I did not read through it since years ago until just now)
Then go to Universal. But I would keep in mind that eventually, if they become more popular they are going to need to change their system just like Disney is. Because granting EVERYONE with a diagnosis a pass isn't sustainable. The rate of individuals with disabilities is too high for it.

They do not approve everyone, they just choose a different approach to keep the “fakers” out.

 

[Evita_W]

I can think of numerous situations in my day to day life where an access to a bathroom immediately is hard to come by and we may complain about stuff here in the U.S. but go international and its a whole 'nother story; I was actually relieved to be back in the U.S. not having to locate the random public and paid access to a bathroom such that the majority of our Europe cities we traveled to were.

I know this has already been hashed up before and I'm going to not stray too deep here but for those with issues under the umbrella of bathroom issues time and time again it's about the immediate urgency and need for a bathroom. That is something that many will experience outside of a theme park. I do know that some individuals with those issues spend a lot of time researching and getting patterns down for known bathroom spots so for example they may plan out a road trip where they know they can stop quickly if need be.

My sister-in-law has IBS and had to stop in fast food joints enough time when out and about and she's even asked if she could use our house for emergencies if need be due to its proximity to her stepchildren's schools. As far as specifically long lines yeah I experience that often enough from sporting or concert events waiting in line to get in, from the dreaded DMV to annoyingly just trying to check out at a store that doesn't have self-check out open, to traffic (probably the most common) to many other instances.

It's my opinion here but if you are an individual who feels they may experience an issue in a line or you just want to know just in case your best bet is to ask the CM at the entrance to the attraction as you enter the line when there is one there, even asking a CM who is at the LL entrance if there is one (if there isn't one for the standby line) explaining you'll be in the standby line and if you need to leave the line what is the process. But I'm often a person who likes to know ahead of time if A happens then I do B, if C happens then I do D and so on.

Bathroom issues is only one example, but honestly, it is very rare to be far from a usable restroom and by far I mean more than 3-5 minutes away.

It still doesn’t address the concern of how does someone find a CM during an urgent issue (bathroom, food, drink need, etc. are all cases where medically they could be needed urgently)? That is the point here, no one addresses the elephant in the room of how to actually accomplish this. Yes, for some attractions, this is easy to do and in some cases you will pass a CM on the way out no matter what, but for many that isn’t the case and this tends to be at the attractions with longer queues that have this problem, which is where the queues are more problematic for these issues.

The more that I think about it, the more I think Disneyland Tokyo’s system of having a designated waiting space for each attraction (according to their website for certain needs) that one can go to use the restroom, get food, etc. and come back to join their party, then be admitted through an alternate entrance actually makes the most sense. Even if someone needs to leave the waiting area, the rest of the party remains (except maybe someone to assist if necessary) while they go to take care of what they need to.

This doesn’t work like the DAS, but does provide accommodations and not having experienced it first hand, I am guessing that some attractions may have combined waiting areas to reduce the amount of space required for waiting areas. Think Fantasyland at Disneyland in the U.S. where there are a lot of attractions close to each other, having a combined waiting area would make sense.

 

[Evita_W]

So say Disney moves to having everyone interview with this marketing company and providing them all their medical documentations - why does this make you think Disney's next step would be giving out DAS to everyone who registered? Universal has people register, then doesn't give everyone EVERY available accommodation because they registered, they then meet to evaluate what they will offer.

They also have various levels of accommodations at Universal ranging from having an employee escorting through the queue to allowing food and drink in the queue to providing return times and some other options that DH has heard about as well. So, not everyone will or should get the equivalent of a DAS, they get what actually works for their needs. Bathroom issues work similar to Disney, except from what DH has been told they give you a card that shows you have the accommodation available so you don’t have to find an employee on the way out of the queue, you just go and do what you need to, then let the person at the front of the line know the rest of your party is in line when you come back and they will help to arrange for you to meet up with them prior to boarding. This solves one of the major problems with Disney’s system.