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

[Karin1984]

I thought (and I honestly haven't been able to keep up with this thread so I may be incorrect), that there isn't anything to denote that you have a disability for this service on your app/ticket and you have to ask cast members at each ride if you can do this. Additionally, that they have limits to how often they can allow this. Am I mistaken?

I thought the same, also because the queue at each ride is different, indoor vs. outdoor, narrow vs wide, etc. The accommodations can differ per ride, and why you need to explain it at each ride.

 

[lanejudy]

I thought (and I honestly haven't been able to keep up with this thread so I may be incorrect), that there isn't anything to denote that you have a disability for this service on your app/ticket and you have to ask cast members at each ride if you can do this. Additionally, that they have limits to how often they can allow this. Am I mistaken?

I’ll preface this with we haven’t had much in the way of reports from DLR. But I think Rider Switch has been an option there for a while. Both Attraction Queue Re-entry and Rider Switch are requested at each attraction, the CM will inform the best process for your party at that attraction. The request does not need to be long or detailed, it’s basically to let the CM know you need something. To my knowledge CMs should not necessarily be “approving or denying” either AQR or RS. Asking for a “return time” is the limited process because most guests should be able to use one of the other accommodations.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

I thought (and I honestly haven't been able to keep up with this thread so I may be incorrect), that there isn't anything to denote that you have a disability for this service on your app/ticket and you have to ask cast members at each ride if you can do this. Additionally, that they have limits to how often they can allow this. Am I mistaken?

There is a report from someone that visited a few days ago a couple pages back. The person was visiting with their daughter who is disabled at MK. I also believe the poster's daughter was in a wheelchair, and the reason why that is important is because some of the older MK Lines are not set up to accommodate a wheelchair, so for those lines he got an RTQ.

This poster stated that at almost every line there was a sign that marked the area for Disability Access, And that you would talk to a person in a blue vest. However they specifically said he did not have to say anything about her condition to any person. There could be because it was visually obvious she would need an RTQ for the lines that could not accommodate her wheelchair.

I suggest going back a bit and trying to find their post. It might answer some of your questions.

 

[nalababybear]

I’ll preface this with we haven’t had much in the way of reports from DLR. But I think Rider Switch has been an option there for a while. Both Attraction Queue Re-entry and Rider Switch are requested at each attraction, the CM will inform the best process for your party at that attraction. The request does not need to be long or detailed, it’s basically to let the CM know you need something. To my knowledge CMs should not necessarily be “approving or denying” either AQR or RS. Asking for a “return time” is the limited process because most guests should be able to use one of the other accommodations.

Mods - is there a way to pin your FAQ on the initial OP to reference that may have missed the sticky on the forum?

I believe that there's a learning curve that all stakeholders will need, including the CMs at the attractions to manage all the different levels of accommodations; including RTQ requests -- specifically to try the other standard, expanded RS and AQR options.

For the prior non-DAS holders this won't be as much an issue. For prior DAS holders, this is a much harder transition and trial because of the 'once bitten' type of trauma already instilled and Disney really should be helping their CMs at the attractions be aware of this and take that extra moment.

Likewise, we'll be sure make that extra effort and do the same when we go later this summer/fall as we typically skip the summer crush -- solo upcoming for D23 without our son with ASD.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Just a quick public service announcement if you are doing the Tiana AP preview. You first need a boarding group but if you have a DAS as well they will put you through the lightening lane. They also had Rider Switch set up for those who need that.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

Just a quick public service announcement if you are doing the Tiana AP preview. You first need a boarding group but if you have a DAS as well they will put you through the lightening lane. They also had Rider Switch set up for those who need that.

Sounds like it's similar to how they do it for Tron and GoG, then. That's excellent.

Hopefully they still run it that way when it opens for real. We won't be heading back to MK anytime soon due to its anticipated popularity, but I'd love to try it out in a few years when its crowds calm down.

 

[oynk]

There is a report from someone that visited a few days ago a couple pages back. The person was visiting with their daughter who is disabled at MK. I also believe the poster's daughter was in a wheelchair, and the reason why that is important is because some of the older MK Lines are not set up to accommodate a wheelchair, so for those lines he got an RTQ.

This poster stated that at almost every line there was a sign that marked the area for Disability Access, And that you would talk to a person in a blue vest. However they specifically said he did not have to say anything about her condition to any person. There could be because it was visually obvious she would need an RTQ for the lines that could not accommodate her wheelchair.

I suggest going back a bit and trying to find their post. It might answer some of your questions.

That was us... Essentially what we saw. Even for rides that were wheelchair accessible (my daughter has other disabilities that do impact waiting in line) we did not have to explain. Again she is in a personal power chair so there is an easy assumption that she is "really" disabled and I'm sure that helped. Not going to give an exact script but she told them that she couldn't wait in a particular line and was directed to a different CM (actually there were groups but that will probably change). She was very anxious but did not need to go into any detail. We will be trying at a different park this week or next.

 

[wareagle57]

I’m going today for the first time since these changes and I need help.

Does anyone know if I can still add my friends joining me for the day at guest relations in person? (4 total including me , which is the new max)

Or do I have to do it online? If online, where do I do that? I never made advance return times because it’s just too annoying dealing with it. I’m not sure why they are trying to make this whole experience less convenient for us even after decimating the number of people allowed to use it.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

I’m going today for the first time since these changes and I need help.

Does anyone know if I can still add my friends joining me for the day at guest relations in person? (4 total including me , which is the new max)

Or do I have to do it online? If online, where do I do that? I never made advance return times because it’s just too annoying dealing with it. I’m not sure why they are trying to make this whole experience less convenient for us even after decimating the number of people allowed to use it.

I was able to add my mom in-person at a guest services tent. It was very easy and took all of ten seconds.

However, I don't know if that will be the same for everyone, as she was supposed to have been part of my group already and was only missing due to some backend error.

I would personally call and ask instead of risking it, just to be safe.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I’m going today for the first time since these changes and I need help.

Does anyone know if I can still add my friends joining me for the day at guest relations in person? (4 total including me , which is the new max)

Or do I have to do it online? If online, where do I do that? I never made advance return times because it’s just too annoying dealing with it. I’m not sure why they are trying to make this whole experience less convenient for us even after decimating the number of people allowed to use it.

Not getting what is less convenient about it…

 

[wareagle57]

Not getting what is less convenient about it…

It takes way longer and requires advance planning. Having to wait an unknown amount of time to be connected to someone and then type everything out. Same reason I hate having to make reservations. Disney’s technology is not easy to use and you can’t even do it in the app.

Of all of the awful changes to DAS, it is one of the least problematic but still annoying nonetheless.

Sometimes I meet people at the parks I didn’t know were going to be there. I don’t understand taking away the in person option. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes and usually not at all.

I did finally get connected to someone and they confirmed the chat online option is now the only way to do it. Yaaaay for punishing disabled people.

 

[OurBigTrip]

It takes way longer and requires advance planning. Having to wait an unknown amount of time to be connected to someone and then type everything out. Same reason I hate having to make reservations. Disney’s technology is not easy to use and you can’t even do it in the app.

Of all of the awful changes to DAS, it is one of the least problematic but still annoying nonetheless.

Sometimes I meet people at the parks I didn’t know were going to be there. I don’t understand taking away the in person option. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes and usually not at all.

I did finally get connected to someone and they confirmed the chat online option is now the only way to do it. Yaaaay for punishing disabled people.

Ah got it.

I agree it's not as convenient, but unfortunately, that's a result of the abuse/overuse that overtook DAS. Since I've seen in a couple of different places that there are very specific cases where the DAS is for the guest only, with no additional guests permitted, doing it online is really the only way.

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

It takes way longer and requires advance planning. Having to wait an unknown amount of time to be connected to someone and then type everything out. Same reason I hate having to make reservations. Disney’s technology is not easy to use and you can’t even do it in the app.

Of all of the awful changes to DAS, it is one of the least problematic but still annoying nonetheless.

Sometimes I meet people at the parks I didn’t know were going to be there. I don’t understand taking away the in person option. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes and usually not at all.

I did finally get connected to someone and they confirmed the chat online option is now the only way to do it. Yaaaay for punishing disabled people.

I don't know if it's about punishing disabled people as much as it is about disallowing people to take their anger out on the guest services CMs after being offered an accommodation they wouldn't prefer to use.

People are liable to become heated if denied something they want/need (though Disney is already ADA compliant without the pass), and allowing them in-person access to the person telling them "no" would very likely result in more than one physical assault.

People have shot each other over sauces at fast food joints, so I get it, even if it's more inconvenient for me than the previous iteration was.

 

[SueM in MN]

It takes way longer and requires advance planning. Having to wait an unknown amount of time to be connected to someone and then type everything out. Same reason I hate having to make reservations. Disney’s technology is not easy to use and you can’t even do it in the app.

Of all of the awful changes to DAS, it is one of the least problematic but still annoying nonetheless.

Sometimes I meet people at the parks I didn’t know were going to be there. I don’t understand taking away the in person option. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes and usually not at all.

I did finally get connected to someone and they confirmed the chat online option is now the only way to do it. Yaaaay for punishing disabled people.

The main reason I've heard is that changing people in the parks was one of the biggest ways 'unofficial tour guides' were adding people to their DAS

 

[Grim Grinning Ghostie]

The main reason I've heard is that changing people in the parks was one of the biggest ways 'unofficial tour guides' were adding people to their DAS

Is that why all the 3rd party tour guides got banned from the parks? Makes sense.

 

[SueM in MN]

Is that why all the 3rd party tour guides got banned from the parks? Makes sense.

Not all the 3rd party tour guides were using DAS, but some were.
The 'regular' 3rd party ones were competing with Disney VIP tour guides

 

[lanejudy]

Is that why all the 3rd party tour guides got banned from the parks? Makes sense.

Not all the 3rd party tour guides were using DAS, but some were.
The 'regular' 3rd party ones were competing with Disney VIP tour guides

I also think most - if not all - were using Annual Passes for commercial use, which is prohibited under the terms of an AP.

 

[nalababybear]

Sounds like it's similar to how they do it for Tron and GoG, then. That's excellent.

Hopefully they still run it that way when it opens for real. We won't be heading back to MK anytime soon due to its anticipated popularity, but I'd love to try it out in a few years when its crowds calm down.

Disneyland-Tokyo does Virtual Standby for many

I also think most - if not all - were using Annual Passes for commercial use, which is prohibited under the terms of an AP.

Technically vloggers would fall into that same situation.

 

[SueM in MN]

I also think most - if not all - were using Annual Passes for commercial use, which is prohibited under the terms of an AP.

Yep. That too

 

[GoingSince1990]

Is that why all the 3rd party tour guides got banned from the parks? Makes sense.

Yep. Disney would have had no problem at all with the third party guides if they had limited themselves to things like helping guests buy and use Genie+, navigate around the parks, make ADRs, and so on. The problem was that they couldn’t resist the temptation to figure out perfect “scripts” to get DAS, either for themselves or for members of their touring parties (“just say you have IBS and they’ll give you DAS”), which they then rampantly abused. Banning these guides turns out to have been the first step in Disney’s cleanup of the DAS system.