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

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Thank you @mistysue for always explaining things more clearly than I do.

 

[mistysue]

Thank you @mistysue for always explaining things more clearly than I do.

Every so often I get one right.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yes, that’s actually what I was trying to get at with respect to “independent” adults (aka those with relatively low support needs).

I believe that the concept of “inability to comprehend the line” comes from Disney, but if I am mistaken then I apologize.

People have anecdotally shared CMs saying that on DAS calls, but that language doesn't appear in writing anywhere to my knowledge

 

[PrincessV]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

 

[jennab]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

Things that come to mind for me are airports (bag drop, check in, TSA, boarding). Or other activities or local theme parks (sporting events, theater, zoo, fireworks, local fair).

You’re right though, most grocery stores or places like that you aren’t waiting 20+ min to check out.

 

[lanejudy]

My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out

I also prefer to shop at off-times to avoid lines but it’s not uncommon (DD is a bagger and can tell some stories). Depending on time of day and/or day of the week, grocery store lines can be 6 carts deep, often with at least 1 cart that is overflowing. Lines at our WalMart are consistently like that because they don’t open enough registers.

Other “lines” may or may not look the same but just this week — a line of 3 cars to drive through the ATM at the bank, and the person in one had no clue how to use the ATM so they got out of the car and another person eventually got out to help.

A line to enter the minor league baseball park. We arrive early before the closest parking lot gets full. Arriving a tad later would avoid the line at the gates. Then crazy long slow lines to buy food. Food lines were worse than usual but still typically long.

A long line of vehicles to enter the drive-in theater. So long they were directing traffic out on the road. I thought we had arrived early enough to be ahead of the crowd but apparently not. We didn’t go to the concession stand but I know from experience that is a long line.

Lines to exit the park after a concert and fireworks. That’s lines of people funneling through to the parking lot as well as lines of cars trying to exit.

Other scenarios we’ve had recently were lines for the restroom at a hockey game and at a store. Waiting for a table at a busy restaurant. A line for a pick-up order at fast food.

These may not all be 20+ minutes or may not look like attraction queues but they are all situations that start to get my DD on edge.

 

[Keladry84]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

This. 100%. I am similar.

I had a further detailed reply, but I suspect going further in this pathway might lead towards the distinguishment of what DAS is intended for, so probably it’s best not to continue with more detail….

I haven’t applied under the new terms yet, btw, so my comment above is speculation only. If I get asked about how I cope in a grocery store, I will reply honestly, but then also explain what happens to me in all of those venues that I completely avoid due to my disability. I suspect you also have some of those.

 

[mistysue]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

Yes and no - obviously there are going to be some who may have examples - likely those in high population centers or who can only go out at less ideal times.
On the surface this seems like a disadvantage or even an unfair question for those who aren't having trouble with daily lines. But it also opens the door for you to say why the lines you manage in "real life" are not like those in the parks, which can help them get a sense for how you need to be accommodated. There is going to be an overlap between people who specifically need an accommodation like DAS, and those who may have trouble thinking up examples - so any question that may extend the conversation bring up potential issues (even when they are merely drawing contrast with day-to-day) can help them help the caller.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue,

I've said it a few times that Disney is unlike any other theme park out there just because of how many visitors it gets every year but it is at the same time a place where conditions can be had the same as the outside world.

I think for some they are getting too bogged down in thinking about "nothing is exactly 100% like being in line at a theme park" but I would gently say that might just be a narrow view of it because someone is thinking about it with DAS in mind.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

100% agree. There's really one example I can think of in home life where we experience anything near what waiting in line at Disney would be like - and that's primarily in the length of the wait. I won't share it for roadmap reasons, as I will use that example whenever we do this, but most of day to day life is nothing like accessing a theme park. There's a huge difference between waiting 5-10 mins for something and 30+. Aside from the aforementioned one example, I can't think of anything where we wait with DD for 30+ mins outside of Disney.

(And as for accessing local theme parks - DD has always qualified for their disability access, whatever it is, so we can't say what it might be like without it).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I will reply honestly, but then also explain what happens to me in all of those venues that I completely avoid due to my disability.

Disney listing off places for someone to go to get out of the crowds is a way a guest could avoid a situation due to their disability or due to whatever issue they have. Offering an accommodation (AQR or a return time when appropriate, rider switch, etc) outside of DAS is as well. Avoidance of a trigger (for lack of a better term) does not necessarily denote DAS as the only option. I think that's why these questions asked are important. I don't truly believe Disney is looking at how to deny as many as possible but on the other hand I do think it's going to take some time for the frame of mind for many guests who did apply and were previously granted DAS to look at it not from "what can I say to get me granted DAS" but just to explain their issues with the queues and allow Disney to make their decision based on that and to that point there will be that adjustment period as both "sides" are working with the program adjustment.

 

[nalababybear]

Disney listing off places for someone to go to get out of the crowds is a way a guest could avoid a situation due to their disability or due to whatever issue they have. Offering an accommodation (AQR or a return time when appropriate, rider switch, etc) outside of DAS is as well. Avoidance of a trigger (for lack of a better term) does not necessarily denote DAS as the only option. I think that's why these questions asked are important. I don't truly believe Disney is looking at how to deny as many as possible but on the other hand I do think it's going to take some time for the frame of mind for many guests who did apply and were previously granted DAS to look at it not from "what can I say to get me granted DAS" but just to explain their issues with the queues and allow Disney to make their decision based on that and to that point there will be that adjustment period as both "sides" are working with the program adjustment.

All true. Hard to unring a bell and unlearn that. People will adjust.

 

[Keladry84]

Disney listing off places for someone to go to get out of the crowds is a way a guest could avoid a situation due to their disability or due to whatever issue they have. Offering an accommodation (AQR or a return time when appropriate, rider switch, etc) outside of DAS is as well. Avoidance of a trigger (for lack of a better term) does not necessarily denote DAS as the only option.

I wasn't implying avoidance of a trigger denotes DAS as the only option - My response was in reply to someone concerned about if they get asked about things in their daily lives. It is entirely possible for someone to not struggle with things if their life is structured around their disability in where they live, their work environment, places they go, etc - the disability is being accommodated by the structure/support of the environment around them that might not be present in Disney.

In that case, an explanation of the overall structure (including what they don't do and/or areas where they receive accommodations) would be pertinent and helpful to explaining their need for DAS. In my case, those things are directly related to my difficulties in the queue, so they are things I would bring up even if not directly asked. If those reasons actually qualify for DAS or not is up to Disney, and I would try to work with whatever they suggest me to try.

 

[PrincessV]

This. 100%. I am similar.

I had a further detailed reply, but I suspect going further in this pathway might lead towards the distinguishment of what DAS is intended for, so probably it’s best not to continue with more detail….

I haven’t applied under the new terms yet, btw, so my comment above is speculation only. If I get asked about how I cope in a grocery store, I will reply honestly, but then also explain what happens to me in all of those venues that I completely avoid due to my disability. I suspect you also have some of those.

Yep, I think we’re on the same page. I can’t go into detail without potentially providing a road map, but my trigger is very specifically and uniquely the conditions present in nearly all theme park queues. Theoretically, I imagine those conditions could also be present in some places that aren’t theme parks, but those aren’t places I go - not necessarily to accommodate my disability, but because I have no interest in them. All I can offer to a CM are real life examples of what has happened in theme park queues - which used to be more than enough for DAS to be recommended and approved because the only viable alternative was to not ride at all.

As an aside, the grocery store thing is fascinating to me - I have no less than 8 grocery stores within 2 miles of my home, two of them right across the street from each other. There are never more than 1-2 people in a line ahead of me, usually none at all. A “perk” of living in densely populated tourist/snowbird central, I guess!

 

[SueM in MN]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

I think it's a fair question.
No, nothing is exactly like waiting in a line at a Disney park. Trying to look at the question with only a 'theme park lens' is too narrow.
Even if they are not exactly the same, other line experiences are pertinent to discuss. They may be shorter, less people or more in your control, but what people do or don't do about other line situations can still be helpful (and, as other posters pointed out, there are more examples than just waiting behind 2 people in the grocery store).

 

[disneyseniors]

I also prefer to shop at off-times to avoid lines but it’s not uncommon (DD is a bagger and can tell some stories). Depending on time of day and/or day of the week, grocery store lines can be 6 carts deep, often with at least 1 cart that is overflowing. Lines at our WalMart are consistently like that because they don’t open enough registers.

Other “lines” may or may not look the same but just this week — a line of 3 cars to drive through the ATM at the bank, and the person in one had no clue how to use the ATM so they got out of the car and another person eventually got out to help.

A line to enter the minor league baseball park. We arrive early before the closest parking lot gets full. Arriving a tad later would avoid the line at the gates. Then crazy long slow lines to buy food. Food lines were worse than usual but still typically long.

A long line of vehicles to enter the drive-in theater. So long they were directing traffic out on the road. I thought we had arrived early enough to be ahead of the crowd but apparently not. We didn’t go to the concession stand but I know from experience that is a long line.

Lines to exit the park after a concert and fireworks. That’s lines of people funneling through to the parking lot as well as lines of cars trying to exit.

Other scenarios we’ve had recently were lines for the restroom at a hockey game and at a store. Waiting for a table at a busy restaurant. A line for a pick-up order at fast food.

These may not all be 20+ minutes or may not look like attraction queues but they are all situations that start to get my DD on edge.

You actually have a drive in theatre?????? I thought those were long gone.

 

[mommy2paisley]

I’m just envious of all of you who live where grocery lines are so short!!! To get the best dollar for my groceries, Walmart is it! And that means I have at least a 30-minute wait in line, sometimes more. If I go on off times, my husband is working and means I would have to take my kids, which have the issue with waiting and lines, etc. So, it’s long lines at the dreaded Walmart for me, unfortunately lol.

 

[nighttowll]

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who finds “how do you handle waiting in lines in everyday life” problematic? Waiting isn't an issue for me (or my disabled son): waiting in the very specific conditions that come with a theme park line are the problem. My grocery store never has those kinds of conditions: 2 minutes waiting behind one person to check out isn’t at all similar to an hour in a ride queue. My job involves working solo in a private office. I literally cannot think of anything in my everyday life that even comes close to waiting in a theme park queue, so if posed that question in a DAS interview, I’d have nothing to provide for an answer - though I can provide multiple examples of how my disability has been a problem in the parks. I’m not saying it’s a bad question to ask, but if that’s a box that needs to be checked off it really isn’t getting at the issue for some people like me or my son.

Yes, agree. I mean to use the old DAS, you still had to be able to handle the LL line and wait time, so about 15 minutes, closed in, surrounded by people. I can think of pretty much zero examples in my real life that are even that bad. I know people above mentioned some, but they are very specific, and not ones I’ve ever encountered.

The lines I see everyday are short in comparison to Disney, open, and easy to exit and return to. Just not an apples to apples comparison.

Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with this at the moment, but I do get your confusion on exactly how to answer that.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

My DD just got denied DAS (after receiving it the past two trips to DLR and WDW), and with the same conditions before both hematology/oncology related conditions and psychological pathology conditions.

Now that my DD is an adult, DD must logon on with DD's MDE account and needs to advocate and apparently didn't answer the questions about the conditions at work and university very well to the health care professional my DD was transferred to, because the health care professional apparently wasn't convinced that my DD's accommodations at school (504 plan) and work (ADA assistance plan) wasn't deemed fitting the need to queue outside the standby queue.

Not surprised by the decision with the new rules that TWDC implemented. I just don't see my DD being able to have a positive vacation and we are kind of screwed as a family. Oh well, such is life. My DD, DW and I have sat so many hours in the pediatric oncology / hematology waiting room seems only fair that TWDC will make us all wait hours in the standby queue too.

I wish everyone better luck than my DD.

 

[jods]

Deleted because details given by mistake