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

[jennab]

My friend who's children have comparable issues as my daughter has two children, both around her age, and both got it with no hassle. Same call. Party of 6.

Don't believe the Facebook sites. they have evolved form informational to downright nasty even turning on ANYONE who post positive or being granted the new DAS. They are nothing more then conspiracy theories and rumors they are know that are wrong and are passing anyway.

Be respectful to you CM. I found even saying good morning/afternoon, how is your day, helps reset the conversation from being so sterile. At this point the CM's know that these posts are fanning the nastiness and people are coming in hot, try to not be that and you might be surprised in a. good way at the respect you get back. imo.

Totally agree. I am in another fb group that is public and it seems like the people in there attack anyone who posts about being approved or positive use of the new accommodations. So people are afraid to post any positive experiences and it’s mostly all negative, which can make people think that no one is getting approved and everything is awful. So I definitely don’t think those fb groups are the norm of what is actually happening.

 

[SueM in MN]

My guess is that there is more scrutiny, especially if you’re trying to get them approved separately to expand your total party beyond 4— but I would still expect siblings who legitimately qualify to qualify individually, but I probably also wouldn’t ask for separate groups of adults to be attached to each kid.

If 2 siblings both have needs that would qualify them, they should both be approved the same as if they were 2 individuals from different families who qualified.
I agree there will probably be more scrutiny of the party size and who is part of the group.
There were people before the changes reporting on some Facebook groups that mom, dad and 2 out of 3 of their children registered for DAS, with each having 5 additional guests linked to their DAS. I haven't seen a lot of posts regarding what is happening now in situations where more than one person in a family is approved for DAS, but I think it's likely to be just family.

I understand that some people are angry or disappointed, but I don’t think bullying others online is going to get the results they are hoping for. I would be concerned about being banned from the parks completely if my posts were too volatile or could be seen as threatening. Perhaps those people don’t care. I would not be surprised to find out that Disney has people monitoring various websites and taking notes . . .

We have never applied for DAS, but we do have someone in our travel group with digestive issues that have caused us to bail on attractions, and even the park, in the past. I’m happy with how the leave and return to the queue reports have been, and we will try that if a problem arises instead of missing out completely in the future. We would have never known such a policy existed without a thread like this, so we thank you all for the information.

I don't know exactly what groups/websites Disney is currently monitoring, but I am aware of reports that they do monitor a lot of social media

 

[nalababybear]

Totally agree. I am in another fb group that is public and it seems like the people in there attack anyone who posts about being approved or positive use of the new accommodations. So people are afraid to post any positive experiences and it’s mostly all negative, which can make people think that no one is getting approved and everything is awful. So I definitely don’t think those fb groups are the norm of what is actually happening.

I messaged a few of the admins on that FB page -- crickets. They've lost control unfortunately.

As said before -- tip of the hat to our mods here in keeping this thread balanced and civil during this transition and getting everyone to whatever the new normal is.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yeah, tonight has gotten really bad. I had to finally leave.

The stories they are telling are more like who can make the worst, every one is worse then before, and every comment section of the new post starts a new round of frenzy hate and conspiracy theories. The occasional got accepted are even tinged with how horrible it was and that it took hours nd how mean the CM were.

They are psissed that Disney has not folded to their demands and that there are now positive stories out there in the news. They encouraging each other to lie, to record the the convo's so they can release it on twitter(X), and to get into the Cm's face. The went as far as going after an autistic boys u-tube channel and demanding he use his channel for their need. When his parents refused and asked them to stop trying to turn his love of Disney into their agenda they started blasting them on the page.

Ugly is a kind word for that page tonight.

There is quite a bit of ugly in Social Media.
Last night we had a severe storm warning in effect until 1:45am, so I was kind of aimlessly looking around the internet - specifically for some threads on other sites from 2013 when GAC (Guest Assistance Card) changed to DAS.
There were the same kinds of posts on forums as now, along with the same kinds of complaints - "Disney doesn't care about people with disabilities...my type 1diabetes was not approved....I need GAC because of my IBS and that doesn't qualify anymore..Disney is deciding who is disabled...we are starting a petition to make Disney change it back....etc"
One group was protesting despite being approved for DAS.
Parents of autistic children were protesting because DAS required them to get a Return Time, waiting outside the line the same amount of time posted for the Standby Line. With GAC, they went directly into the Lightning Lane or exit without waiting. Many of them were the people who filed the lawsuits trying to get Disney to reinstate GAC only for people with autism.
I remembered watching news coverage of one of the 2013 protests they held at a 7-Eleven just outside of Disneyland and was trying to find links to some of it. I didn't find any videos and the written stories were behind paywalls. I did find these 2 pictures and the location (screenshot of current area map).


The photos don't show any children, but the videos did. They also showed the parents subjecting their kids to all the things the parents said the kids needed to avoid by having immediate access to whatever attraction they wanted - a busy sidewalk on a noisy, busy street corner, aimless waiting in one place. Cars honking. People yelling.
I felt so sorry for the children.
When people are upset, sometimes common sense goes out the window

 

[nalababybear]

No doubt. Ultra-passionate beliefs can result in all sorts of dysinhibition and maladapted behaviors.

 

[DiznyDiva]

Great research! Passionate is commendable until it crosses into fanatic.

I worry about what they are planning for D23.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Great research! Passionate is commendable until it crosses into fanatic.

I worry about what they are planning for D23.

I’ve now seen this comment a few times around various boards. I’m not sure if there are actual plans, but I would be shocked if doing something disruptive or dramatic at D23 would engender sympathy from Disney or D23 attendees. I won’t be attending, so it doesn’t impact me personally, but I do worry it could further erode support for Disney’s program to give guests generous disability assistance.

 

[sprem96]

Genie+ seems to be about $30pppd so $120 for a family of 4 $180 for a family of 6 - on top of the increased entrance price. This seems to be the intention of the DAS denials. Prior bookings can only be made when on US territory so anyone coming from overseas is at a terrible disadvantage

just adding a correction to this

anyone in Canada can also prebook rides at the appropriate times alongside anyone in US territory in the following conditions below:
staying on Disney hotels can be done 7 days out of first park day for up to 14 days
non-hotel date based tickets can be done 3 days out of first park day for entire date based ticket (Example, you can book all 3 days of a 3 day date based ticket 3 days before the 1st day). I fall into this category (from Canada) and can book all my LLMP and LLSP reservations for my 3 days at the parks on August 12 because first day is August 15
non-hotel non date based (single day or AP) have to book each individual day 3 days away

I will be taking full advantage of this feature to try and get 5 rides a day booked to help out (regardless if denied DAS tomorrow morning)

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I messaged a few of the admins on that FB page -- crickets. They've lost control unfortunately.

As said before -- tip of the hat to our mods here in keeping this thread balanced and civil during this transition and getting everyone to whatever the new normal is.

I’m kinda curios to see this group. I have not seen anything like that in the groups I’m in.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I’m kinda curios to see this group. I have not seen anything like that in the groups I’m in.

One group I was instarted off as a DAS specific group, closed for a month while the changes were announced, reopened as a "Disney for families" group (and received feedback that people were disappointed at removing the disability focus), and the people who ran it are now prohibiting any DAS posts at all, permanently.

I left the group..I don't need yet another generic Disney for families group to be in. I'm glad this space remains.

 

[jennab]

One group I was instarted off as a DAS specific group, closed for a month while the changes were announced, reopened as a "Disney for families" group (and received feedback that people were disappointed at removing the disability focus), and the people who ran it are now prohibiting any DAS posts at all, permanently.

I left the group..I don't need yet another generic Disney for families group to be in. I'm glad this space remains.

Same. I was in that group and left it once they made that change. That’s how I ended up in the toxic group, trying to find another that was open and talking about the changes.

 

[nalababybear]

One group I was instarted off as a DAS specific group, closed for a month while the changes were announced, reopened as a "Disney for families" group (and received feedback that people were disappointed at removing the disability focus), and the people who ran it are now prohibiting any DAS posts at all, permanently.

I left the group..I don't need yet another generic Disney for families group to be in. I'm glad this space remains.

That very large group was very much family oriented and recognized the delicate situation they were in and chose the wise decision it sit out the transition and rebrand their group.

That resulted in a large group of dysaffected people that found their way to other groups including das defenders which wad a decent advocacy oriented group that's been overwhelmed by what is best described as an angry mob.

It's gotten a little better today. Marginally.

 

[ellataylor]

We have two kids who in the past have both qualified for DAS and I feel both will this year too. I read in one of the awful Facebook groups that are being mentioned that they won't give it to siblings. Our children ride different types of rides so we need it for both of them. Has anyone been able to get it for siblings since the change?

We are a family of 6 and myself, my D and my GD all qualified for DAS. We could have left it at 2 of us but because we all have different needs and ride choices we did all 3 of us.

 

[jennab]

That very large group was very much family oriented and recognized the delicate situation they were in and chose the wise decision it sit out the transition and rebrand their group.

That resulted in a large group of dysaffected people that found their way to other groups including das defenders which wad a decent advocacy oriented group that's been overwhelmed by what is best described as an angry mob.

It's gotten a little better today. Marginally.

I don’t know. That group was pretty cut throat from the beginning. If someone didn’t 100% agree that everyone should be able to have DAS and that documentation was the answer, others would gang up on the one with a different option and they would be banned. People were afraid to give a differing option for this reason.

So no wonder the group has gone downhill. Now it’s all the likeminded mob mentality since they ban anyone else that sees things differently…

 

[OurBigTrip]

I don’t know. That group was pretty cut throat from the beginning. If someone didn’t 100% agree that everyone should be able to have DAS and that documentation was the answer, others would gang up on the one with a different option and they would be banned. People were afraid to give a differing option for this reason.

So no wonder the group has gone downhill. Now it’s all the likeminded mob mentality since they ban anyone else that sees things differently…

Is that horrid MamaZebra part of that group?

 

[jennab]

Is that horrid MamaZebra part of that group?

I’m not sure. They banned me after a few days. I was having nice discussions with people about the changes and how maybe people should try the other accommodations and go back to Disney with real experiences of they dont work (things we talk about here). They requested I remove a part of a comment about how people might forge a fake document (if documents were accepted) and I did so right away. I even reached out to two admins asking what rules I broke, as I was always civil when my opinions were different and I never heard anything back ‍♀. I also have a friend who was banned from the group after me, so my theory is anyone who isn’t with their “cause” and has a differing opinion is banned.

 

[Angel Ariel]

That very large group was very much family oriented and recognized the delicate situation they were in and chose the wise decision it sit out the transition and rebrand their group.

That resulted in a large group of dysaffected people that found their way to other groups including das defenders which wad a decent advocacy oriented group that's been overwhelmed by what is best described as an angry mob.

It's gotten a little better today. Marginally.

I didn't mind the refocus as they were still allowing DAS posts. And I appreciated how they handled the transition - taking a pause was a good idea. Now permanently saying DAS posts are banned is too far for me. i don't know if we will qualify for DAS or not - based on its description and DD's needs, we should - but I'm not taking that for granted. i appreciated the positive posts being shared - it was helping me to see them. But if DAS questions aren't welcome, then there's no purpose to the group for me. I have other places that better fill the generic disney for family space for me. While I appreciate the difficult position they are in, exclusion will never sit right with me.

i breifly joined the defenders group the other night just to see what was happening, but left it quickly. Don't have the time or energy for the anger there.

 

[stenickar]

Very disappointed with the new system. I waited on line Saturday for over 8 hours, Sunday 7 hours and Monday 7 hours. I finally get a CM and he can't hear me. It was very loud, with many voices in the background. We finally make a connection and he asks why my daughter can't wait in line. I explain her needs and behaviors that happen in lines. Also let them know that we don't usually wait in lines with more than 2-3 people ahead of us. He brings over another CM, who is supposed to be "trained" to a higher knowledge. I even explained that my daughter has used the DAS every time we have been to WDW as she has autism and cognitive delays. They said she didn't need the DAS and could use the Return to Queue. I explained that this would not work as my other daughter is not able to be left alone -she is 8 and my daughter whom we are talking about can't be left alone. I have another adult going with me to be with one girl and I will be with the other. My other daughter has needs that need accommodations. SOOOOO..... what I am I supposed to do now? The RtQ would work if they gave us a time to come back in approximation to where we would be in line. There will be some rides that the littlest one will not be able to go on. I am so frustrated, we have always gotten the DAS and the website states it is for people with autism or cognitive disabilities, which my daughter has both. I understand not everyone with autism or cognitive delays needs accommodations, but my daughter does. My other issue is the time difference, we are 3 hours ahead of California. My 8 year old can not stay up until 9:30 pm, which is the time I got connected last night. I guess I will have to stand in line at the park (with 2 people who have issues standing in line) for however long it takes to get the accommodations my little one needs. I felt that I gave a good explanation of why my daughter can not stand in line. I guess they are going by the fact if you can wait in line at McDonalds with 2-3 people in front of you, you can wait in a 90 minute line.

 

[stenickar]

Well, that experience was much different than the first. I was only on the phone for 2 hours. And we were approved for my 8 year old. I am so glad that someone posted about mentioning what happens at school too. I also knew to describe my daughters behaviors in more details from others experiences. Our trip will go much smoother. And the CM, Grant, was awesome. He was very kind and engaged in small talk, unlike the last CM.

 

[nalababybear]

I don’t know. That group was pretty cut throat from the beginning. If someone didn’t 100% agree that everyone should be able to have DAS and that documentation was the answer, others would gang up on the one with a different option and they would be banned. People were afraid to give a differing option for this reason.

So no wonder the group has gone downhill. Now it’s all the likeminded mob mentality since they ban anyone else that sees things differently…

I'm not banned.

Give my honest opinion and help where I believe it can be had and plenty of stones at me.

People can be angry and engaged. Be productive out of it. Aiming the vile at each other where a lot had been happening just misses the target