DAS is getting an Upgrade!

[SueM in MN]

The "can't wait in line" needs to be followed by why. I prefer starting with "difficult to wait in queues for long periods of time because................"
I have a concern about the video pre-registration for DAS. My daughter is now legally an adult, we have legal guardianship of her. She is also non-verbal. I do hope Disney will allow us to speak for her.
This is quoted from the Disney World DAS page: "If deemed eligible for DAS, the Guest (or a parent/guardian if the Guest is under 18 years of age) will participate in a virtual registration process."

What you prefer starting with is what Ive suggested many times people be ready to discus.
I don’t think you need to be concerned about being able to speak for your daughter. I think the exact language was an oversight and will be corrected. There has never been an issue with a parent/guardian speaking for their adult child when registering for DAS at Guest Relations at the park. In fact, some adults with disabilities who don‘t have a guardian have had a parent or family member speak for them.
Just let the person on the video call know that your daughter is not able to speak and you are her legal guardian. As such, you have the legal right to speak for her.

 

[HopperFan]

You make very good points. And they are all very valid. I don’t want to argue against anyone who needs help accessing attractions. I want those systems in place. I just also believe this particular move on Disney’s part is going to heavily exploited, to the disadvantage of the very people it should help. A “stern warning” will be of very little help.

Completely agree with you. First and foremost they have to make it unattractive to begin with, stop it before it starts. Now that they sell the same service, they do have options of making it harder to get, I hope they have something in place or you are right, it's a step back.

 

[SueM in MN]

The current wording about DAS allows you to choose two attractions ahead of time? Wasn’t there a conversation here just recently about how being given one wait time at GS when you’re issued the DAS is currently pixie dust?

No. The current DAS does not allow choosing any attractions ahead of time or specify one DAS Return Time being given at GS when applying for DAS.

I was talking specifically about using DAS Return Times, which is separate from using the DAS Advance selections that guests can choose if they preregister for DAS using the virtual live video process.
The language about using DAS Return Times is the same in the new process as it is currently/was previously. The second part of that post was talking specifically about DAS Advance selections, which are separate from DAS Return Times.

Since my post was misunderstood , I will edit that part.

 

[ttintagel]

No. The current DAS does not allow choosing any attractions ahead of time or specify one DAS Return Time being given at GS when applying for DAS.

I was talking specifically about using DAS Return Times, which is separate from using the DAS Advance selections that guests can choose if they preregister for DAS using the virtual live video process.
The language about using DAS Return Times is the same in the new process as it is currently/was previously. The second part of that post was talking specifically about DAS Advance selections, which are separate from DAS Return Times.

Since my post was misunderstood , I will edit that part.

That’s what I mean about the wording of the new policy not being completely clear. It took me many readings, plus reading lots of commentary online, to figure out that those were two separate things. From what I’ve read in other comments both here and on other forums, I’m far from the only one who found it confusing.

 

[keishashadow]

My DGS came over for lunch yesterday so we could try to figure out how we would manage for our Sept 27 - Oct 2 trip. He pointed out that while someone might get a DAS for an hour long wait but then go to another hour long wait attraction it’s possible they might not have actually waited in line if they are part of a family using baby swap. Our big concern is that they’ll pop this system out so close to our trip we will never get through on the phone or we’ll be within the 2 day window already. My biggest concern is that my needs fluctuate, especially depending on if I’m solo or with others and the make up of the others with me. But it could also be good day/bad day.
We’re still not sure if I’m going on the trip or just he and his girlfriend. All depends on the covid situation, if I get my third shot by the end of the first week in September and what Disney’s protocols are. It’s not looking good for me.

We arrive a bit earlier than you.

I was also initially concerned about scrambling to set this up a day or two pretrip

a respected blogger I follow, who has been overwhelmingly right in his projections, feels there is little chance they’d have things in place before mid October. From his lips

 

[ttintagel]

I’m seeing a lot of that tired old ablest prejudice that says disability is always all or nothing. It’s the same kind of thinking as people who say, “I saw him stand up once! He’s obviously faking and doesn’t need a wheelchair at all!”

 

[gap2368]

We arrive a bit earlier than you.

I was also initially concerned about scrambling to set this up a day or two pretrip

a respected blogger I follow, who has been overwhelmingly right in his projections, feels there is little chance they’d have things in place before mid October. From his lips

I have also heard mid October too for this roll out

 

[Disneylvr]

I've heard mid-October as well. I am going solo during that time frame, no DAS needed then but I can at least use Genie+ and talk to CM's about DAS on Genie. Next family trip will be May 2022 so hopefully the glitches will be resolved by then. Hopefully.

 

[Selket]

A few more random thoughts:
- I think allowing people to pre-book two return times each day of their trip in advance when they get the DAS is more likely to lead people to want to abuse that system vs. the old way of allowing you to get them the day of....especially if you get first crack at those hard to book attractions. But we have to see how it works in person I guess. I still don't know why they added this option except to entice people to do the video chat vs. doing it in person
-The video chat thing will definitely be harder for some people - maybe older people or less tech savvy people...or people visiting from overseas?

 

[SueM in MN]

For people who are concerned that Disney will be looking at data thinking someone doesn’t need DAS because they waited in some lines without using DAS, Disney’s DAS FAQs encourages guests to use the other tools available for all guests in the Disney Genie or Genie+

“To maximize the benefits of DAS, Guests should plan ahead using available information to develop a tentative plan for their visit. Starting this fall, current and forecasted future wait times can be found in the Disney Genie service app tool, in addition to ride locations and attraction access options. DAS can also be used in addition to Disney’s Genie+ service and individual paid attraction selections (coming this fall).”
That isn‘t different than presently - while Fastpass was in use, Disney encouraged guests to use Fastpass and check for attractions with shorter waits to go on.

I‘m sure they understand that people have good and bad days or times of day, may be able to wait for specific attractions they are super interested in, and may have some lines that are problematic for them and others that are not. I’m sure they also understand guests may have variation in the number of attractions they can go on in a day or how long they spend in the park on a given day.
Someone had posted they thought Disney was making DAS valid for 60 days so they could have time to look for abuse - the current DAS is also valid for 60 days and has been for a long time, so 60 days is not a change.

I don’t know exactly what Disney will be looking at, but I don’t think people with disabilities who need and use DAS as intended have much to worry about. Someone who is actually not disabled has a good chance of severe consequences.
I don’t think the warning about possible penalties is an empty threat. Disney probably has quite a bit of data regarding the types of abuse that has happened and will use that.
Some things I’m sure they will be looking at include:
- guests visiting the parks very frequently, using DAS with a revolving group of ‘family and friends’ who are not staying with them and show up once and never again.

- guests trying to go on an attraction without the DAS user. Once might be a misunderstanding, but multiple times??

- someone posing as the DAS user. They can catch that with the photo being displayed on the attraction entry screen.

They have added things over the years - like electronic linking of individual party members to the DAS user (instead of just a number of guests on a card) and photo of the person registered for DAS.
I think the registration process will be planned to make the process more consistent and, so more secure. I have seen posts from people on Facebook and forums saying they refused to get a picture taken for DAS; that might not be allowed any more - if you want to use it, you need to allow photo.

 

[4Hawks]

You make very good points. And they are all very valid. I don’t want to argue against anyone who needs help accessing attractions. I want those systems in place. I just also believe this particular move on Disney’s part is going to heavily exploited, to the disadvantage of the very people it should help. A “stern warning” will be of very little help.

I get what you're saying. And I agree that while the advance selections are a nice perk, they're not essential and may lead to more abuse. However, I'm always hesitant to advocate for tightening rules to 'avoid fraud' in any system (food stamps are probably the best example), because most of the time, the fraud is comparatively small and tightening measures might leave out people who really need it.

All this to say, it's nice that they're streamlining things, but hopefully not so much that they'll make it too 'black or white'.

 

[SueM in MN]

A few more random thoughts:
- I think allowing people to pre-book two return times each day of their trip in advance when they get the DAS is more likely to lead people to want to abuse that system vs. the old way of allowing you to get them the day of....especially if you get first crack at those hard to book attractions. But we have to see how it works in person I guess. I still don't know why they added this option except to entice people to do the video chat vs. doing it in person
-The video chat thing will definitely be harder for some people - maybe older people or less tech savvy people...or people visiting from overseas?

What is not released yet is what these attractions will be.
My family liked the Fastpass system that was in effect before the shutdown. We made our Fastpasses for the things DH or I wanted to ride that DD couldn’t go on or things she could go on that typically had long waits. We did frequently have to change things, but frequently we’re able to change and, if we couldn’t, it just expired.
It was better than the old days of Fastpasses obtained day of in the park; we usually got none because they were all gone by the time we got to the park.
My DD requires a lot of care in the morning and before bed. In order to ride things with shorter waits, DH and I do go alone to a park early or stay late, but that also means whoever is back at ‘home base’ with our daughter needs to do all her cares alone. Maybe we are not typical, but I’m sure we aren’t the only ones.

 

[JenLT]

I would be surprised if the pre-booking thing sticks around long.

Oh I sure hope not. This is my favorite part of the whole thing. I was so worried about waiting in line at guest assistance while my son demanded to leave and go see Mickey. Having it ahead of time will be so much better.

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh I sure hope not. This is my favorite part of the whole thing. I was so worried about waiting in line at guest assistance while my son demanded to leave and go see Mickey. Having it ahead of time will be so much better.

I think the preregistration option will stay. It’s a way for Disney to keep the process consistent with consistent staff performing the process.
There is more chance of CMs at Guest Relations ‘cutting corners‘, feeling sorry for someone or getting bullied into authorizing DAS.
One of the reasons passes for children on WISH trips was moved out of being authorized at park Guest Services was that CMs were using the stamp for GAC (Guest Assistance Cards) that was for meant for kids on Wish trips for other people.
Moving a lot of the DAS registration out of the parks saves park CM staff and also gets rid of a type of abuse where CMs could authorize it for friends.

Disney will have data regarding use of the DAS Advance selections - I expect they will be able to see how many were used, what used for, how many expired without being used, etc.

 

[4Hawks]

Oh I sure hope not. This is my favorite part of the whole thing. I was so worried about waiting in line at guest assistance while my son demanded to leave and go see Mickey. Having it ahead of time will be so much better.

One time the GR line was so long that by the time we got to the front my DD was in full meltdown mode, punching and kicking me. The CM had to come out to help us, because I could not move her. He didn't ask me why we needed it

 

[Belle1962]

Speaking for my family, we would be fine if the LL attractions weren’t available for your 2 advance. We can pay for it like everyone else. Just having 2 regular attractions plus the one at a time is a blessing. Assuming other than RoTR you’d still be able to use the DAS at LL attractions so there shouldn’t be an issue anyway.

 

[lanejudy]

Assuming other than RoTR you’d still be able to use the DAS at LL attractions so there shouldn’t be an issue anyway.

It has been mentioned that at least some other new attractions will launch with virtual queues - Remy has been specifically mentioned, not sure about Tron or others. Presumably those will work similar to RotR, but unknown at this time. DAS can be used at RotR, just that you need to already obtain a Boarding Group and wait for it to be called.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I am excited about the video chat to obtain a DAS. I like the changes. However I am left with a couple of questions. We usually just go to Disneyland. Therefore we are used to MaxPass. Rides like ROTR and the Spider web slinger ride are virtual queue. I understand that we will need to get a boarding pass for those - no big deal. I will get Genie+ even though it just made our trip cost $200 more. Like I said we are used to MaxPass and use both effectively. My question is on attractions like RSR, BTMRR and possibly those tier 1 rides. Since stand by is offered along with paying for Lightning Lane, can the DAS be used for those rides or are they strictly pay for the Lightning Lane or stand in line for an hour +? It is the makeup of the line that gets to my DD. Enclosed, switch backs, echoing noise and where people can be “in her bubble.”

 

[OurBigTrip]

I’m seeing a lot of that tired old ablest prejudice that says disability is always all or nothing. It’s the same kind of thinking as people who say, “I saw him stand up once! He’s obviously faking and doesn’t need a wheelchair at all!”

I haven't seen anyone say that disability is all or nothing, but I've seen people, including myself, who would like to see Disney put some actual structure into a consistent, repeatable process for every guest who is requesting a DAS. And to me, that means Disney asking the questions, legal and within ADA guidelines, of course.

A previous poster gave the example of a decision tree, which is what I had in mind when I said to start out asking people if they have a disability per the ADA. If someone doesn't know if they have a disability per the ADA, then ask additional questions that go along with the ADA.

I think that for the most part, Disney has done a pretty good job of balancing the needs of those who request a DAS while still minimizing the cheaters, but I also don't think there were nearly as many cheaters with the DAS as there was with the GAC...although the DAS definitely provides advantages to those who use it, those advantages aren't nearly as generous as the GAC offered, so the incentive to cheat is reduced.

The new system adds the incentive to cheat right back in, so I'm hopeful that as Sue said earlier, Disney will have the data and analysis capabilities to find the cheaters and then ban them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I think the preregistration option will stay. It’s a way for Disney to keep the process consistent with consistent staff performing the process.
There is more chance of CMs at Guest Relations ‘cutting corners‘, feeling sorry for someone or getting bullied into authorizing DAS.
One of the reasons passes for children on WISH trips was moved out of being authorized at park Guest Services was that CMs were using the stamp for GAC (Guest Assistance Cards) that was for meant for kids on Wish trips for other people.
Moving a lot of the DAS registration out of the parks saves park CM staff and also gets rid of a type of abuse where CMs could authorize it for friends.

Disney will have data regarding use of the DAS Advance selections - I expect they will be able to see how many were used, what used for, how many expired without being used, etc.

I agree 100% that the pre-registration option will stay, but I'm curious as to whether the 2 attraction pre-select will.