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

[mistysue]

I'm glad to see it's been standardized between the two parks finally! Thanks for the update!

That said, it seems like in both of these cases it does require that there be someone who does not want to ride. Versus being available as an accommodation for someone who does want to ride, can't wait on their own, but cannot be in the queue either. So it reads like it's not so much an accommodation for the disabled person who cannot wait alone, but rather for their caregiver(s) who may want to ride.

The end result is the same though- because the person riding second can take others on the ride with them... in a way it may actually be better if the disabled person is riding because you could have a group of 4... 2 go on the ride and 2 wait outside to swap... when the first 2 riders return, three people can to into the LL. That's the 2 who waited plus one of the original riders could ride again.

 

[Ollivier]

I can think of very few circumstances where people are allowed to pick their own accommodation for a facility. Most people aren't even allowed to do that at work.

Well de Efteling in the Nederlands does it. You can download a faciliteitenkaart and fill it in. With this you can use a das like system. They can ask you to provide documentation when you use the faciliteitenkaart. De Efteling is a resort that has 5M visitors per year.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I agree, but then again, there are other accommodations for the disabled person.

While I would personally like to see them open up rider switch as accommodation in lieu of AQR for some rides, the existing accommodations should work as well.

i guess my point is there's been discussion about rider switch being a disability accommmodation. The way this is worded, it isn't a disability accommodation as it isn't about accommodating the disabled person to access the attraction. It's still a family accommodation, but not a disability accommodation.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The end result is the same though- because the person riding second can take others on the ride with them... in a way it may actually be better if the disabled person is riding because you could have a group of 4... 2 go on the ride and 2 wait outside to swap... when the first 2 riders return, three people can to into the LL. That's the 2 who waited plus one of the original riders could ride again.

Rider swap is only for one additional person now, isn't it? So 3 would not be able to ride.

 

[Jrb1979]

i guess my point is there's been discussion about rider switch being a disability accommmodation. The way this is worded, it isn't a disability accommodation as it isn't about accommodating the disabled person to access the attraction. It's still a family accommodation, but not a disability accommodation.

Than for that matter neither is AQR since it's available to everyone.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

WDW website has actually said it can be used for guests who are not able to or do not wish to ride as well as too-small children for quite a while - I’d say at least 5 -7 years. My husband and I used it for attractions our adult disabled daughter can’t ride and she can’t be left alone while we ride together. One of us waited in the Standby Line while the other waited with her, then person 2 rode while person 1 waited with her.
The recent change I noticed on the WDW website was it changed for selected attractions to ‘most’

The DLR listing includes very specific wording:

• Meets boarding requirement and does not want to ride but cannot wait outside queue on their own

The WDW wording has been changed in the last week or so to say the same:

• Meets boarding requirement and does not want to ride but cannot wait outside queue on their own

I was not aware of the change.

I've not requested a rider swap in many years. When last we used it, the CM made my family wake up a sleeping toddler so he could verify the child was too short to ride. Mind, the child was well under the height requirement. It seemed rather heartless.

Come to think of it, that may have been the last time we (my extended family) requested a swap pass. It was a big turnoff for the parent of that child at the time.

I am truly glad to hear the CM's no longer have to do that.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Well de Efteling in the Nederlands does it. You can download a faciliteitenkaart and fill it in. With this you can use a das like system. They can ask you to provide documentation when you use the faciliteitenkaart. De Efteling is a resort that has 5M visitors per year.

Pre-pandemic MK had more than 20M visitors per year.

 

[mistysue]

Rider swap is only for one additional person now, isn't it? So 3 would not be able to ride.

Looks like it - I actually just went and googled it because rider switch and rider swap used to be two separate things (one was the person went through the line, the other was the wait outside version) and got a page that said 3 which is what we did when we still had people too short.
wording is now "Please note that if the person in party 2 waited alone with the child or non-riding Guest, one Guest may join the person that waited alone." - so it might be limited to only those who waited, or maybe if 2 wait they would allow 3, but that is pretty set up for abuse IF allowing re-rides.

 

[mhautz]

Well de Efteling in the Nederlands does it. You can download a faciliteitenkaart and fill it in. With this you can use a das like system. They can ask you to provide documentation when you use the faciliteitenkaart. De Efteling is a resort that has 5M visitors per year.

I'm a little confused, if they're asking for documentation, aren't they still deciding whether you qualify or not?

 

[Ollivier]

Pre-pandemic MK had more than 20M visitors per year.

I am not saying that this could work in WDW.
But the third biggest resort in Europe chooses to do it like this.

 

[mistysue]

I'm a little confused, if they're asking for documentation, aren't they still deciding whether you qualify or not?

yes, that would be them saying who gets the card, and "asking for documentation" means people who have legit needs but they don't fit in a defined box get left out.

 

[Ollivier]

I'm a little confused, if they're asking for documentation, aren't they still deciding whether you qualify or not?

No, you can use it without an interview. It is statement on honour. They reserve the right to check it an have a list of documentation that is accepted.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Lori Laughlin and her husband were thoroughly prosecuted. As were many others in the case.

Remember, the original claim was, "Look no further than mainstream classrooms in expensive areas where 75% of kids are granted extra time on tests, for example."

Saying that 75% of 'mainstream students" are granted extra time on 'tests' is a far cry from the 2019 scandal.

I’m not talking about all schools, but I don’t think that you are familiar with the lengths that wealthy families will go to secure spots in elite schools. In NYC when my son was applying to PRESCHOOL families hired private tutors to prepare their kids for the entrance evaluations. Kids openly brag about taking ADHD medicine to help them focus. Coworkers in more elite school districts (Greenwich, Westport, Scarsdale, Short Hills) tell me that the competition is fierce, and they will do anything they can to get an edge. It just so happened that Lori Laughlin and her husband got caught.

Getting a doctor to write a diagnosis for extra time on exams is child’s play.

 

[mhautz]

No, you can use it without an interview. It is statement on honour. They reserve the right to check it an have a list of documentation that is accepted.

Fair enough. I'm glad they can make that work. Still not convinced Disney could make that work since the whole reason they're making the standards stricter is because a more relaxed system proved unworkable for them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Fair enough. I'm glad they can make that work. Still not convinced Disney could make that work since the whole reason they're making the standards stricter is because a more relaxed system proved unworkable for them.

Agree.

And while I agree with Disney’s reasons for changing DAS, they also deserve much of the blame for it getting out of control.

 

[lanejudy]

Folks - arguing about documentation or school IEP accommodations is not a helpful discussion here.

What we know:
Disney is not requiring documentation.
Disney appears to want other accommodations to be used if at all possible, therefore reducing the number of DAS issued.
Many people are still confused by the difference between diagnosis and needs. Advocating for oneself or a loved one is a valuable skill and involves more that giving a diagnosis or documentation.
We have received a few first-hand reports of in-park accommodations. Hopefully more will come through in the next few days/week.

Until then, let’s not rehash old arguments that aren’t going to have any impact.

REPOSTING THIS! I went to a graduation and come back to find we're still discussing documentation and schools! Yes, this thread is slow at the moment. There really isn't anything much to discuss until we get more first-hand reports of new accommodations at WDW, or maybe some DLR reports will start coming in Monday.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Every time we try to stand in line at a store or for anything I just think "And this is why we will need DAS". I am just hoping to goodness we get approved when we call in a few months because this return to que would make things ten times worse if he has to leave a line and come back.

Just a Mom venting here!

 

[PrincessV]

Tomorrow’s my AQR testing day!!! I mean, it’s also mission try to get into the Tiana’s AP preview day, but I like to be realistic: I’ve got a WAY higher chance of checking out AQR in some real lines than getting onto Tiana’s.

It looks to be a relatively slow day at MK, and my park reservation is at EP, so my thought is try to grab a VQ for GOTG and hit that and lunch at EP, and test AQR at TT. Hop to MK and see how many rides with typically longer (longer than 15 mins is my threshold, so that should be easy) waits I can test out there before heading home.

Honestly, there’s little chance I’ll be able to report back until later Monday, but I promise I will come back with a report!

 

[lanejudy]

Rider Switch - to my knowledge Rider Switch, Rider Swap, Child Swap all referred to the same thing, there aren't (and weren't to my knowledge) different programs.

WDW website this afternoon states this:

Rider switch is a program available to all Guests. With Rider Switch, Guests can wait with member(s) of their party who aren’t riding due to any of the reasons listed below. Once the first Guest returns the waiting Guest can board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again!​

​

Rider Switch is available for Guests who meet one of the following:​

• Does not meet the boarding requirements
• Has a service animal that cannot board the attraction or does not want to use a provided kennel
• Meets boarding requirement and does not want to ride but cannot wait outside queue on their own

Rider Switch is available at most attractions throughout Walt Disney World Resort.​

As @SueM in MN mentions, the word "most" is new; before the DAS changes Rider Switch was only offered at WDW attractions with a height restriction. WDW does apparently still require a non-rider, though that non-rider may be the disabled individual.


DLR website this afternoon looks to be exactly the same as WDW. It's been a week or so since I checked, but it used to list more options at DLR. Interestingly, the Accessibility Planning Guide for DLR/DCA still lists the previous rules:

With Rider Switch, supervising Guests (14 years or older) can wait with member(s) of their partywho aren’t riding due to any of the reasons listed below. These supervising Guests still get theirchance to experience the attraction—without waiting in line again. Rider Switch is available at all attractions in Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure Park.​

​

Rider Switch is available for a Guest who:​

• Does not meet the boarding requirements​

• Has a service animal that cannot board the attraction or does not want to use a provided kennel​

• Cannot wait the duration of the queue and needs another member of their party to do the waiting for them​

• Cannot wait outside queue on their own and chooses not to ride​

• Need access to restrooms for frequent or unexpected use​

• Elements of the standby queue may trigger anxiety or sense of claustrophobia or similar​

• Prefers to sit and wait outside the queue due to mobility concerns and prefers to not use a mobility device​

​

Rider Switch is available at all attractions in Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure Park.​

So it remains to be seen if changes are coming to WDW, or if DLR is going to be more limited (what the website) indicates or if the edit to the website was in error and it will revert back to match the Accessibility Guide.

However, I believe Rider Switch on both coasts limits "Party 2" to just 2 guests. That may be 1 who waited plus 1 who rode (gets to ride twice) or it may be 2 people who waited.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Than for that matter neither is AQR since it's available to everyone.

That's not what I'm saying. AQR can be used by the disabled person - so yes, that is a disability accommodation.

Something that cannot be used by the disabled person is not a disability accommodation.