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

[KrzyKtty101]

Perhaps cheating is the wrong word. I was referring to people who are looking for waits that are shorter than SB but don’t want to pay for Genie+. Aka the former DAS cheaters/exaggerators. If the SB line is 30 min but it becomes known that CMs will let people who ask into the LL instead, more and more people will be asking for the accommodation.

I think in this case it was due to the fact that the traveler was alone. That does leave a potential loophole for anybody travelling alone though...

Pure conjecture on my part, but another contributing factor could have been how slow the park was that day. They might have handled the situation a little bit differently if the park was at a crowd level of 8. I'm not saying they still would not have been accommodated, But the cast members might not have been so quick to just let them in the LL if crowd levels were a lot higher.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Ah well ride vehicle accessibility is a completely different topic than accommodations geared towards the topic at hand, that conversation was about comparing the threads of when Universal announced documentation to be required before getting to the secondary step of being granted their accessibility pass. Discussing making a park where you're in the 2020s having the advantage of understanding the adjustments in the population, etc was where I *thought* the poster you quoted was referring to.

Some, honestly most for Universal's caliber, rides simply can't be made to be inclusive to certain things (normally safety is the main reason). I remember when FOP came about I was highly concerned about the calf restraint and while I'm not as wide there as I was in 2017 it affected even me in terms of will I won't I. To my knowledge Tron is similar to that although they built the last row IIRC to be meant for situations of that.

One point to universal is at least hagrids. I like how the sidecar was built to at least be slightly more accommodating than the motorbike seat would be.

 

[softballmom3]

We just returned a few days ago. I'm sure this has been discussed and I've tried to read everything I could but here is my take on DAS (probably the last time I will use it).

LL were way shorter than we had seen them in the past, so it moved quickly. A couple of times we saw people who must have used return to que to meet up with their family and yes there were people who were grumbling that people were "cutting" the line. Honestly though, to me it was pretty obvious they weren't cutting. The parks appeared to be in low attendance, so I'm not sure if that's what made LL so much better. Saw a couple people clearly upset that the blue umbrellas couldn't give them DAS, but I just kept walking so don't know how that was resolved. All in all, it seemed better. We did have to wait 10 minutes before requesting another DAS, but I noticed whenever I chose any DAS it was 10 minutes less than the wait I thought it was going to be.

We go back in October and I doubt I even call to attempt getting DAS again. I will just purchase Genie plus and go from there.

 

[Keladry84]

My accessibility concern was ride design and interactive design. Mario kart is just not a very accessible ride for multiple reasons. The power bands required more force than my child can do (it was hard for me to "break" the blocks as an NT adult). The games with the power band also weren't super accessible. These are design issues, not space one - hence my lack of hope for epic universe.

I'm sorry on that :/ I think you are probably correct that those elements most likely won't change in the Orlando park. I too wish they would make it more inclusive in the design.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

One point to universal is at least hagrids. I like how the sidecar was built to at least be slightly more accommodating than the motorbike seat would be.

Sidecar all the way for me! Honestly we weren't even sure my husband would fit in the side car because of his height and since I had no interest in being in the motorbike it worked out great for us for me to take the sidecar. I felt more secure (though it was still too intense of an attraction overall for me to do again) there. They picked a good theme for a Hagrid's attraction to have the ability to do two different experiences in the same ride vehicle, I do think most guests prefer the motorbike but still it's nice to have both options.

People probably don't think much about height but with having a tall person in my traveling party it is a very salient thing. He's actually too tall (though just a wee bit) for Raging Spirits at Disney Sea, I know another ride at Six Flags he was too tall for. There was that small discussion about visual impairment and queues as far as guiding someone and honestly I'm like the de facto person for that when I'm traveling with my husband, often telling him if I'm ahead "watch your head", "narrow steps" (because he has size 13 shoes, sometimes 14 but usually 13) which was big in Europe with the winding narrow castle stairs, etc. He actually had to be extremely careful on our cruise because his head touched the Exit signs in the hallways (I took a picture for proof lol).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I doubt I even call to attempt getting DAS again. I will just purchase Genie plus and go from there.

If you wouldn't mind sharing I think many would be wondering the reason you'd not request DAS for your trip later in the year is because

1) you felt like the process was too much for requesting DAS under the newer adjustment
OR
2) if you felt like other accommodations (and seems like combined with Genie+) will work for you in particular
OR
3) if you feel like the LL lines were manageable enough from your observation of this trip
OR
4) some other reason.

 

[mhautz]

whenever I chose any DAS it was 10 minutes less than the wait I thought it was going to be.

I think it’s always been 10 minutes earlier than the wait time, to accommodate for the fact there
will still be a wait in the LL queue.

 

[softballmom3]

If you wouldn't mind sharing I think many would be wondering the reason you'd not request DAS for your trip later in the year is because

1) you felt like the process was too much for requesting DAS under the newer adjustment
OR
2) if you felt like other accommodations (and seems like combined with Genie+) will work for you in particular
OR
3) if you feel like the LL lines were manageable enough from your observation of this trip
OR
4) some other reason.

I believe I will not qualify under the new rules, so I will just do my best to make Genie+ work.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I believe I will not qualify under the new rules, so I will just do my best to make Genie+ work.

Thanks for answering! Although I'm sorry if you feel you won't quality

 

[lanejudy]

If folks want to discuss accessibility of Universal attractions feel free to start another thread. It adds confusion here for anybody not familiar with Disney’s attractions.

 

[PrincessV]

I think in this case it was due to the fact that the traveler was alone. That does leave a potential loophole for anybody travelling alone though...

Pure conjecture on my part, but another contributing factor could have been how slow the park was that day. They might have handled the situation a little bit differently if the park was at a crowd level of 8. I'm not saying they still would not have been accommodated, But the cast members might not have been so quick to just let them in the LL if crowd levels were a lot higher.

All of that, plus this was only 2 out of however many rides - I have no idea if any other rides would have sent me straight through the LL. I don’t think it’s any kind of loophole, though: as a solo visitor, you can’t return to a party in line, so they have to have some way of handling it, either by issuing a return time or sending folks through the LL. I can’t think of any other option.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I could not agree more about Peter Pan - I picked an AWFUL one to test. But in my defense, I’ve never used the SB queue since it was redone: I’ve either used FP+, DAS, or not ridden it at all. So I had no idea! It’s a shame, really, because it’s a neat queue. But I’ll never try it again unless it miraculously drops to a 15-minute wait lol!

That actually happens sometimes, though mostly late at night, IME.

 

[nalababybear]

I think in this case it was due to the fact that the traveler was alone. That does leave a potential loophole for anybody travelling alone though...

Pure conjecture on my part, but another contributing factor could have been how slow the park was that day. They might have handled the situation a little bit differently if the park was at a crowd level of 8. I'm not saying they still would not have been accommodated, But the cast members might not have been so quick to just let them in the LL if crowd levels were a lot higher.

Then it would be a failure of offering a standard accommodation. They don't have an * to it saying not applicable on busy park days

 

[OurBigTrip]

Then it would be a failure of offering a standard accommodation. They don't have an * to it saying not applicable on busy park days

But they can have such an * if they choose to.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Ah well ride vehicle accessibility is a completely different topic than accommodations geared towards the topic at hand, that conversation was about comparing the threads of when Universal announced documentation to be required before getting to the secondary step of being granted their accessibility pass. Discussing making a park where you're in the 2020s having the advantage of understanding the adjustments in the population, etc was where I *thought* the poster you quoted was referring to.

Mostly I was thinking, am hoping, the new park will be accessible in a more broad sense. Whereas MK had to retrofit a number of rides to accommodate disabilities, the new park should be built to modern accessibility standards.

 

[keishashadow]

Interesting day @ MK yesterday. Here for 3 days with intent to experience Tiana.

We were evacuated right before the last drop. Quite the process. Were given option to re-ride later in day. We passed, only because it was a big miss overall for us & we will back early July anyway

Continuing on @ MK, followed a suggestion of trying the standby lines at the attractions…even tho covered by old DAS. Idea being able to discuss during next DAS request how/why the typical suggestions might possibly not work

All lines we were interested in had wait times under 50 min. None shorter than 25 that I noticed.

It went wrong twice in line early on, to point we quickly resumed using the DAS

We then did inquire at each ride and ask to speak to the CM who handled accommodations for those who didn’t have DAS

All but one CM originally looked at me like I was speaking gibberish

Some insisted there were no such accommodations & I needed to go to city hall in the MK to talk to them. ???

Others indicated only that rider swap was an option. Probably because there were 2 people???

our experience was not as of the following poster. Note we didn’t arrive until after 1 pm, likely busier but overall a dead day

The CM at Tiana tried to turn us away saying VQ was barely expired even tho we had receipt from ADR in hand. I persisted, finally looked me dead in eye and said “just to get rid of you, I will make a one time accommodation to help you, move along”. I checked later at blue umbrella. She was “dead wrong”. Dining proof at conflicting time still trumps VQ at same time

Today, at Epcot several shut downs. SE, soarin bldg completely evacuated for a period & TT under rehab. Much larger crowd, long SB. We arrived at 9:30 am.

Frozen & remy staff knew the details. Again, rider swap only option. We used DAS

Tomorrow mgm. Curious how it goes

Apologies that I only got to test out two rides, but it was such a slow day, most things only ever had a 5-15 min wait posted! And I’m not a pack-in-lots-of-rides person: 5 rides in 5 hours, I plus lunch and a couple sit and rest breaks was a pretty good run for me!

We were there a bit less. Sounds like you are satisfied with your accommodation. Good to hear

The difference with more than 1 person seems to be a big factor here imo

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is exactly what I have expected -- not an "approve/deny" type of decision but rather how it will work best for the guest/party at that attraction at that time.

I’m hoping once the CMs receive training & work thru this for a bit all will be on the same page

It is interesting as it appears individuals may just be getting a bit more grace (for lack of a better term) as rider swap is off the table for them

Just to be clear, the CMs interpretation of rider swap consistently was: one person waits in line, rest of party may wait out and rejoin at merge point.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

We just returned a few days ago. I'm sure this has been discussed and I've tried to read everything I could but here is my take on DAS (probably the last time I will use it).

LL were way shorter than we had seen them in the past, so it moved quickly. A couple of times we saw people who must have used return to que to meet up with their family and yes there were people who were grumbling that people were "cutting" the line. Honestly though, to me it was pretty obvious they weren't cutting. The parks appeared to be in low attendance, so I'm not sure if that's what made LL so much better. Saw a couple people clearly upset that the blue umbrellas couldn't give them DAS, but I just kept walking so don't know how that was resolved. All in all, it seemed better. We did have to wait 10 minutes before requesting another DAS, but I noticed whenever I chose any DAS it was 10 minutes less than the wait I thought it was going to be.

We go back in October and I doubt I even call to attempt getting DAS again. I will just purchase Genie plus and go from there.

We were there a couple of days ago and really noticed a huge difference in the lightning lanes as well. They were much faster and there were times where there wasn't anyone in them. Complete opposite from the end of April and they were pretty much backed out the door at most attractions. Now my little dude is so programmed that he must use the mickey light that it confuses him when we just used the gasp standby for Spaceship Earth. He still did his mickey bump and then just twirled on up the ramp. Yes I did say twirl. The blue umbrella CM's looked honestly bored and there wasn't a massive line outside of Guest Relations in Epcot. The standby lines didn't really appear to be all that bad even at Test Track where it was the last day. Hubby even commented that it looked like the standby lines were moving more.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We then did inquire at each ride and ask to speak to the CM who handled accommodations for those who didn’t have DAS

All but one CM originally looked at me like I was speaking gibberish

Some insisted there were no such accommodations & I needed to go to city hall in the MK to talk to them. ???

Since CMs no longer handle things inside the park for WDW for DAS like previously they did this makes sense (as far as not knowing what was going on).

Purely guessing but I think it might have been the wording of "non-DAS" that tripped them up. If AQR, for example, is available to everyone the qualifier of DAS is not needed in order to get an accommodation. They may have thought you were looking for something directly tied to DAS and didn't know where to direct you because the options have been opened up to guests in general outside of DAS itself and DAS is handled through a specified team.

I do still think it's going to take time for all the CMs at all attractions and shows to get more experience on this.

 

[SueM in MN]

Then it would be a failure of offering a standard accommodation. They don't have an * to it saying not applicable on busy park days

It could be different on busy days than non-busy days.
Looking at the example of attractions where the line is not accessible, the process varies depending on the current wait and/or number of guests already in the accessible waiting area.
When it's not busy, they often just route guests with mobility devices into whatever is the accessible entrance. If it's busy, they give a wheelchair return time.
They could do the same type of process for the attractions the OP went on.

 

[lanejudy]

Then it would be a failure of offering a standard accommodation. They don't have an * to it saying not applicable on busy park days

I think what was meant is that instead of immediately directing the PP to the LL, CMs may have given a return time. Not saying no accommodation.