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

[Vala]

I hate to say this - and in no way am I implying that OP did this - but I do kind of get why Disney would push back on people saying that they are too sick to function without DAS but somehow navigate the rest of the world on their own. Clearly some people can, but I think that given the desire to curb overuse, it does make sense that they are challenging users more than in the past.

Oh I totally understand, don't get me wrong. Things couldn't go on as before. But now treating everyone as 'guilty until proven innocent' is equally wrong. And that's what's happening now.

I have been sick for 20 years. Was always careful and limited myself. Then 10 years ago my GP suggested applying and it made things so much easier. At work and at home people know what happens when I 'malfuction' and know how to deal with it. If Disney wants to find out in a hands on case I guess so be it.

 

[Flynn's Gal]

Cane chairs have recently been added to the "allowed" list. It used to be considered a "folding chair" and not allowed into the parks except for use as a cane, but it is now one of the suggestions for those with mobility/stamina concerns who would not qualify for DAS. Feel free to bring and use your cane chair.

See two posts below. I accidentally hit the post button.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Posted details in the approval thread, but did our DAS call tonight for a last minute trip, and DD was approved. No medical professional, just the initial CM. They sent me the sensory guides also, but I can't get back to the chat screen right now.

Less than 45 mins for the entire call (wait+written chat+video chat). Thrilled that the wait time allowed us to get in tonight - fully expected I'd be calling back tomorrow when we'd have more time to wait.

 

[Flynn's Gal]

Cane chairs have recently been added to the "allowed" list. It used to be considered a "folding chair" and not allowed into the parks except for use as a cane, but it is now one of the suggestions for those with mobility/stamina concerns who would not qualify for DAS. Feel free to bring and use your cane chair.

ETA: Nevermind. I found where cane chairs are mentioned for queues. Maybe because we were at a show is the reason I was asked to not use it.

I've searched the WDW webpage under Guests With Disabilities for this information, but either I'm overlooking it or not clicking in the right place. I had a cane chair at Epcot at the end of last month that I was using at an outdoor show and a CM asked me to put it away with the explanation being I could use it as a cane, but not a seat. Admittedly, my adult daughter is the one who has a disability, but as her caretaker, my body isn't in great shape so I was hoping I could get by with not having to sit on the ground or stand the whole time and save my back some pain.

 

[HopperFan]

I've searched the WDW webpage under Guests With Disabilities for this information, but either I'm overlooking it or not clicking in the right place. I had a cane chair at Epcot at the end of last month that I was using at an outdoor show and a CM asked me to put it away with the explanation being I could use it as a cane, but not a seat. Admittedly, my adult daughter is the one who has a disability, but as her caretaker, my body isn't in great shape so I was hoping I could get by with having to not sit on the ground or stand the whole time.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/accessing-attractions-queues/

Here are a few tips and techniques to manage waiting in queues:

• In a theme park environment that requires additional walking or standing, bring a mobility device such as a wheelchair, ECV, walker with a seat or a cane chair.

 

[Flynn's Gal]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/accessing-attractions-queues/

Here are a few tips and techniques to manage waiting in queues:

• In a theme park environment that requires additional walking or standing, bring a mobility device such as a wheelchair, ECV, walker with a seat or a cane chair.

Thank you. I was overlooking it. I went back and read slowly and saw the info.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If you don't have date based tickets, you do still need to have theme park reservations for each day, not just linked tickets. The CM gave me a few mins before starting the video chat to make those reservations. (I thought linking tickets would be enough since preselects are no longer a thing).

I know you know now but just putting that information out there for potential DAS users to understand it's not related to DAS. It's solely about what your ticket is. It doesn't have anything to do with any of the get ahead of the line type systems they've had either (Genie+ and the present Lightning Lane Single/Multi-Pass).



https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/#drawer-card-beyondJanuary

APs have rules where you may not need one; good to go day, after 2pm, day of the week and which park, etc)

We have old tickets that went unused in 2017 purchased in 2015 (years before date-based) that at present would require park reservations just to get into the park (and is in part one of the reasons we're not in a hurry to go back).

 

[Angel Ariel]

I know you know now but just putting that information out there for potential DAS users to understand it's not related to DAS. It's solely about what your ticket is. It doesn't have anything to do with any of the get ahead of the line type systems they've had either (Genie+ and the present Lightning Lane Single/Multi-Pass).

View attachment 895384

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/park-reservations/#drawer-card-beyondJanuary

APs have rules where you may not need one; good to go day, after 2pm, day of the week and which park, etc)

We have old tickets that went unused in 2017 purchased in 2015 (years before date-based) that at present would require park reservations just to get into the park (and is in part one of the reasons we're not in a hurry to go back).

I realized we would need the theme park reservations to enter the park. Was planning on doing them after DD went to bed tonight.

What I didn't realize, and what I was sharing, was that the theme park reservations were required to be in place to have the DAS conversation. Just having valid, linked tickets isn't enough to have the video call at all if you have a type of ticket that requires the theme park reservations.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I realized we would need the theme park reservations to enter the park. Was planning on doing them after DD went to bed tonight.

What I didn't realize, and what I was sharing, was that the theme park reservations were required to be in place to have the DAS conversation. Just having valid, linked tickets isn't enough to have the video call at all if you have a type of ticket that requires the theme park reservations.

Ah gotcha. Since you have to buy tickets (which are now dated based) in order to have the phone call I guess my assumption was you'd also need to do a reservation if required to reflect just when you are going going hand in hand with the length of approval and time frame of when you can call . But I can see how that isn't explicitly reflected in the DAS registration page and they assume it's just guests who have dated based already or who already know they need a reservation and do it prior to the call, sounds like it might be good for them to insert a quick comment about making reservations first if the ticket requires it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Ah gotcha. Since you have to buy tickets (which are now dated based) in order to have the phone call I guess my assumption was you'd also need to do a reservation if required to reflect just when you are going going hand in hand with the length of approval and time frame of when you can call . But I can see how that isn't explicitly reflected in the DAS registration page and they assume it's just guests who have dated based already or who already know they need a reservation and do it prior to the call, sounds like it might be good for them to insert a quick comment about making reservations first if the ticket requires it.

The cast member in the written chat was great and said he could wait 10 mins for me to go do the reservations now, or I could come back. I'd already gotten crowd calendars (since we were deciding tonight anyway), so we just did quick reservations. The biggest variable here is that I now have my own diagnoses (I did not seek DAS for myself), and so trying to figure out how to mix up late nights vs early closures to accommodate my needs. That was a quicker decision than I was wanting to make. but, I figure we can modify them as needed (dates won't change, just which park on which days if anything - and everything is wide open right now).

We are staying on site, so they did have definitive days we were coming, which was also part of why I wasn't expecting to need the which park/which day info yet.

But, yeah, an explicit statement of you need to make theme park reservations if you don't have date based tickets would have been helpful!

 

[CalSea12]

I am trying to understand this since its the first time we are going with the change of rules.

I have pretty bad Crohns disease, IBS-D, and anxiety, which makes everything worse. I have had an accident in line several years ago, when this happened the CM suggested I start using the DAS. From everything I read, Disney doesnt care about conditions like these anymore. I am sure they will care when I have an accident again... but I also have a 7 year old who has pretty bad ADHD and it will only be us two. So its very apparent I cant just leave her in line and go to the restroom. Am I expected to leave and keep coming back and spend my day doing this? Also what happens if I cant get out of the line fast enough with my 7 year old in tow?

Or is there another option?

 

[jennab]

I am trying to understand this since its the first time we are going with the change of rules.

I have pretty bad Crohns disease, IBS-D, and anxiety, which makes everything worse. I have had an accident in line several years ago, when this happened the CM suggested I start using the DAS. From everything I read, Disney doesnt care about conditions like these anymore. I am sure they will care when I have an accident again... but I also have a 7 year old who has pretty bad ADHD and it will only be us two. So its very apparent I cant just leave her in line and go to the restroom. Am I expected to leave and keep coming back and spend my day doing this? Also what happens if I cant get out of the line fast enough with my 7 year old in tow?

Or is there another option?

I would plan on being denied. It’s not that Disney doesn’t “care”, it’s that they’ve changed what qualifies for DAS. There are other options. I would ask a CM before entering line what to do if you need to leave the line. Just say something like, I may not be able to stay in line due to a disability; what should I do? I also suggest buying LLMP just to make it easier for yourself.

 

[SueM in MN]

The cast member in the written chat was great and said he could wait 10 mins for me to go do the reservations now, or I could come back. I'd already gotten crowd calendars (since we were deciding tonight anyway), so we just did quick reservations. The biggest variable here is that I now have my own diagnoses (I did not seek DAS for myself), and so trying to figure out how to mix up late nights vs early closures to accommodate my needs. That was a quicker decision than I was wanting to make. but, I figure we can modify them as needed (dates won't change, just which park on which days if anything - and everything is wide open right now).

We are staying on site, so they did have definitive days we were coming, which was also part of why I wasn't expecting to need the which park/which day info yet.

But, yeah, an explicit statement of you need to make theme park reservations if you don't have date based tickets would have been helpful!

The statement about park reservations had been in at one time. I guess it disappeared during one of the revisions

 

[CalSea12]

I would plan on being denied. It’s not that Disney doesn’t “care”, it’s that they’ve changed what qualifies for DAS. There are other options. I would ask a CM before entering line what to do if you need to leave the line. Just say something like, I may not be able to stay in line due to a disability; what should I do? I also suggest buying LLMP just to make it easier for yourself

So what they are suggesting is I spend even more money on a vacation that others do not have to spend? I would love to not have these issues, but yet here I am. Asking someone before entering the line, doesnt help me get out of line when I need to. Do they now have CMs in the line that allow us to be able to easily leave the line and easily get back in?

 

[jennab]

So what they are suggesting is I spend even more money on a vacation that others do not have to spend? I would love to not have these issues, but yet here I am. Asking someone before entering the line, doesnt help me get out of line when I need to. Do they now have CMs in the line that allow us to be able to easily leave the line and easily get back in?

I suggest buying LLMP just to make your trip easier based on what your issues are. Even when we had DAS in the past we bought G+ too. Honestly anything to make it less stressful…

My understanding is the options can be different per ride depending on a few factors, such as party size, wait times, etc. That’s why I’d ask before even getting in line. Explain it’s just you and child and you may need to leave the line and cannot leave the child alone to meet back up. See what options they have for you.

 

[PrincessV]

I realized we would need the theme park reservations to enter the park. Was planning on doing them after DD went to bed tonight.

What I didn't realize, and what I was sharing, was that the theme park reservations were required to be in place to have the DAS conversation. Just having valid, linked tickets isn't enough to have the video call at all if you have a type of ticket that requires the theme park reservations.

The statement about park reservations had been in at one time. I guess it disappeared during one of the revisions

I was just pondering the park reservation component of DAS the other day..

Because for APs, some days are Good to Go, meaning no park reservation required. What’s more, you literally cannot make a park reservations on those days. I tried making one the other day and it just kicks you back saying, “no reservation needed.” I have no idea what a DAS CMs would do with a situation in which an AP is requesting DAS for a Good to Go day - I’m curious to know if anyone encounters this!

 

[PrincessV]

So what they are suggesting is I spend even more money on a vacation that others do not have to spend? I would love to not have these issues, but yet here I am. Asking someone before entering the line, doesnt help me get out of line when I need to. Do they now have CMs in the line that allow us to be able to easily leave the line and easily get back in?

My experience requesting accommodation at an attraction (what we’re referring to as AQR - Attraction Queue Reentry) and also what I’ve seen others report is that different attractions will offer slightly different variations depending on your party’s make-up, how long the wait is, and the logistics of the attraction queue itself. But the general theme is ask before getting in line - no need for many details, just explain that you are unable to wait in the queue for the length of the standby wait time and cannot leave your minor child alone. One of several things will probably be offered: get in the queue and leave if you need to, returning via LL; come back at X:xx time via LL; or go straight into the LL. Most queues are fairly easy to get out of, but for those that may be difficult (looking at you Peter Pan), I’d explain that to the CM.

 

[lanejudy]

So what they are suggesting is I spend even more money on a vacation that others do not have to spend?

Just to clarify... WDW will not suggest purchasing LLMP/LLSP as an accommodation. The accommodation offered is likely to be Attraction Queue Re-entry. They do have procedures at each attraction to handle solo visitors or single adults with a young child(ren). Asking before entering the queue is not required but may help you to understand the procedure at that attraction before you are in an urgent situation. Re-entry is almost always via the LL, though how that is handled may differ from one attraction to another. Considering this has been commonly in place for at least the past 4 months at WDW, there are so very few reports of difficulties exiting a queue. If there is a specific queue that concerns you, raise the concern when asking the CM at the entrance about AQR.

Many guests do find that purchasing LLMP/LLSP is helpful, with or without DAS. If short queues are the goal, that is an option available for anyone to purchase.

 

[Evita_W]

If there were too many people in the LLs, the only solution is to reduce the number of people allowed there, and Disney was long overdue in doing it.

As I have stated repeatedly, the issue isn’t with reducing the number of people in the LLs, the issue is how they went about doing it.

 

[nalababybear]

As I have stated repeatedly, the issue isn’t with reducing the number of people in the LLs, the issue is how they went about doing it.

Hindsight give lessons learned.

Disney certainly could have had better integration of city hall and ride cms on using the same nomenclature as to not confuse those really trying to find the new normal.

Overall seems like the primary surge and summer handled with no major changes and relatively good adjustments on the ground and on the calls.

Will be interesting to see how 2nd round of renewals and those who were red flagged for 120days start in.