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

[mhautz]

We don't get Autism "cards," no, but we do have diagnostic paperwork from doctors/psychiatrists with an NPI that will show we have a genuine diagnosis. That would be easy enough to provide if they ever went the route of accepting (not requiring!) "proof."

Assuming Disney had a need for such paperwork (which I think some of the discussion suggests they don't need or even that they aren't allowed to request it), such paperwork would be difficult to review and administer. The reason the cards and things like that exist is because if you are going to implement a program that requires some confirmation of a medical diagnosis or need, you are going to want to standardize it and make sure the information being submitted is actually answering the questions you need answers to. Such a system also allows for better verification of the validity of the document.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

I wouldn’t call autism the golden ticket to getting DAS.
There are reports of autistic people not receiving DAS.

I know it’s been said again and again. DAS is needs based, not diagnosis based. And we’re legit seeing that in first hand reports.

Hence why I said it is SEEN as being the golden ticket to getting DAS. All it's actually doing is causing actual Autistic people to receive more scrutiny (if not from Disney, from those who will roll their eyes at a person who doesn't "look" Autistic enough to deserve accommodations). With Disney having named Autism specifically, a lot of people are going to begin making assumptions about anyone whose LL turnstile turns blue.

 

[sunburnin]

To put it another way, it's like if Disney stated they would give DAS to people who couldn't stand in line because they turned purple if they were in a line for more than 45 minutes. I have enough faith in humanity to believe that very few people, who never turned purple, would lie. But I do believe there would be plenty of people who would say, "I turn kinda pinkish; that's close enough," or "I turn purple after 2 hours, but I "could" turn purple in 45 minutes."

That was well said and very true. "One time, I stubbed my toe, and it turned purple. I deserve a pass."

We joke about the fact that whenever my daughter needed a new wheelchair we would go wheelchair shopping at Disney. It's the only place that I've ever seen so any people in wheelchairs. We would stop people and ask about their brand and if they like it. People also would stop us.

HA! Yes! We've had many good conversations at the parks, getting on buses, and waiting for rides. It's wonderful when the "rare" community gets to be around other "rares" who can actually relate. We're part of a rare disease organization that meets every few years for a conference, and it is so refreshing to come together.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My comment was Universal never has promised super fast waits,

This is a thread about DAS, not the merits of EP over G+. My statement was simple and direct: Disney's G+ does not promise short waits. Disney has always been careful to avoid making any such promises. It is clearly stated on MDE.

 

[sunburnin]

This is a thread about DAS, not the merits of EP over G+. My statement was simple and direct: Disney's G+ does not promise short waits. Disney has always been careful to avoid making any such promises. It is clearly stated on MDE.

Yup! G+ guarantees* you a ride (*unless the ride breaks down), but not a short line. It often comes with a shorter line, but that's not always the case.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Someone with a broken leg won't best be helped by DAS, they'll best be helped with an ECV or wheelchair - giving everyone DAS as a blanket accommodation was making the parks a worse experience for disabled and abled people alike.

Disney is already ADA compliant and doesn't need to do DAS at all, so I'm grateful they are just cutting back instead of getting rid of it altogether...

DAS was given to people with a broken leg?

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

DAS was given to people with a broken leg?

I've seen people with colorblindness upset they don't get DAS anymore, so let's not pretend the example of a broken leg was too uproarious.

There are people posting all over social media who are very much upset over not getting DAS for their arm/leg injuries...some individuals with those afflictions absolutely feel entitled to the pass and are threatening to cancel their vacations over being told to use a mobility aid instead.

As Naveen said, "sad, but true."

 

[lanejudy]

I read several reports of people with autism that are convinced of the need being denied.

But having an autism diagnosis is not an automatic need for DAS. No doubt those with autism have a variety of challenges, but whether or not any individual can wait in a standby queue will vary from one to another.

I also believe things will level out after a bit. It’s new. Lots of denials for those who thought their needs qualify. I have read reports of folks who gave the new accommodations an honest effort and went back to report exactly why/how that didn’t work. Whether that was the party learning to explain their needs better or Disney listening and adjusting, probably a bit of both.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've seen people with colorblindness upset they don't get DAS anymore, so let's not pretend the example of a broken leg was too uproarious.

Wanting DAS and being issued a DAS are two VERY different things, so let's not pretend otherwise.

Saying someone said it somewhere on the internet doesn't carry any water, and somewhat cheapens the discussion.

In your prior post you wrote in hyperbole, saying, "giving everyone DAS as a blanket accommodation." DAS was NEVER issued as a blanket accommodation. Straw man arguments like that are not at all helpful.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

Wanting DAS and being issued a DAS are two VERY different things, so let's not pretend otherwise.

Saying someone said it somewhere on the internet doesn't carry any water, and somewhat cheapens the discussion.

In your prior post you wrote in hyperbole, saying, "giving everyone DAS as a blanket accommodation." DAS was NEVER issued as a blanket accommodation. Straw man arguments like that are not at all helpful.

DAS was given as a blanket accommodation, though. That's one of the issues that Disney is addressing with these changes. There wasn't really discretion between which disabilities were best served by rider switch vs. attraction queue re-entry vs. DAS the way there is now. Sure, both alternatives always existed, but weren't as well-known.

Additionally, even if initially denied, causing enough of a scene at guest services typically resulted in families getting their way no matter how non-DAS-appropriate their alleged need. That's no longer an option for people, either.

 

[Ollivier]

But having an autism diagnosis is not an automatic need for DAS. No doubt those with autism have a variety of challenges, but whether or not any individual can wait in a standby queue will vary from one to another.

That is why I said “that are convinced of the need”.

And who knows better what the need is, a CM that has a short contact via video chat or a parent that lives 24/7 with the challenges and strengths that comes with the autism.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Wanting DAS and being issued a DAS are two VERY different things, so let's not pretend otherwise.

Saying someone said it somewhere on the internet doesn't carry any water, and somewhat cheapens the discussion.

In your prior post you wrote in hyperbole, saying, "giving everyone DAS as a blanket accommodation." DAS was NEVER issued as a blanket accommodation. Straw man arguments like that are not at all helpful.

Never is a pretty strong word in this context.

I would add that wanting DAS and needing DAS are two VERY different things, so let’s not pretend otherwise.

 

[OurBigTrip]

That is why I said “that are convinced of the need”.

And who knows better what the need is, a CM that has a short contact via video chat or a parent that lives 24/7 with the challenges and strengths that comes with the autism.

What you’re implying is that every guest should decide for themselves whether or not they get DAS, and that just isn’t practical for a park the size of Disney.

 

[Ollivier]

What you’re implying is that every guest should decide for themselves whether or not they get DAS, and that just isn’t practical for a park the size of Disney.

That is where the documentation could make a difference and it is how it works in Europe.
I m just saying that it is nearly impossible for a cm to make a correct judgement. I have the experience with my kid but would not be able to do this for others.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Never is a pretty strong word in this context.

I would add that wanting DAS and needing DAS are two VERY different things, so let’s not pretend otherwise.

Who- in this entire thread - has said want and need are the same?

Hasn't DAS always required approval?

 

[lanejudy]

That is why I said “that are convinced of the need”.

I know of several families who are “convinced if the need” for DAS but the disabled individual doesn’t truly have such need and can be adequately accommodated in another manner. Documentation of diagnosis doesn’t show need either. Explaining the needs in simple language will get you far. For those who struggle to explain needs, suggestions have been made earlier in this thread.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

That is why I said “that are convinced of the need”.

And who knows better what the need is, a CM that has a short contact via video chat or a parent that lives 24/7 with the challenges and strengths that comes with the autism.

Nothing would make the system implode faster than allowing people to self attest to their needs like you suggest, and shady doctors would invalidate any documentation safeguards in about 2 minutes. That is the whole reason why Disney is tightening criteria.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Who- in this entire thread - has said want and need are the same?

Hasn't DAS always required approval?

In this particular thread? Not sure, as I don't recall every single post. Have their been people in this forum previously who were upset that they couldn't get DAS for an issue that could be resolved by a mobility device? Absolutely - one particular poster comes to mind, though I won't call them out by name.

As for other social media platforms, there is ample evidence based on posts that there are plenty of people who want the DAS even though they don't need it. People who want it (and previously received it) because they have a service dog, people who want it (and previously received it) because they *might* have an issue in the standby line, people who want it (and previously received it) because they didn't want to use a mobility device.

So yeah, there are plenty of people who believe because their preference for a DAS over other accommodations means that they need it.

 

[Ollivier]

I know of several families who are “convinced if the need” for DAS but the disabled individual doesn’t truly have such need and can be adequately accommodated in another manner. Documentation of diagnosis doesn’t show need either. Explaining the needs in simple language will get you far. For those who struggle to explain needs, suggestions have been made earlier in this thread.

So you are convinced that a CM is able to judge the need and that with let’s say max. 5% error margin and that parents are not able to do this odjectively.

 

[OurBigTrip]

So you are convinced that a CM is able to judge the need and that with let’s say max. 5% error margin and that parents are not able to do this odjectively.

I don't believe that anyone who is that close to this kind of situation could be objective about this. It's human nature.