DAS on Fox news

[brentm77]

Unfortunately, I the article itself is just lazy reporting. Why is a news organization summarizing a TikTok, only adding in one or two lines to additional info that you'd get as the top three hits for typing "Disney Disability Access" into Google? It' has everything to do with SEO rankings and nothing to do with providing actual information

It could have been a great opportunity to discuss how expensive it is to live with a disability, how the general population doesn't seem to think folks with disability should be allowed equal access to fun experiences, how the percent of adults with disabilities is growing due to medical advances (i.e. treatments are better so children with disabilities have the opportunity to grow into adults, better diagnostics, new disabilities being discovered), etc.

One of the most disappointing things about the DAS changes, was the discrimination that it brought to the forefront. Too many people are out for themselves, and would gladly have a disabled person sit at home over the thought that someone might have a little easier time getting on a ride, or that some idiot might cheat and get on easier. They have no idea how grateful some people, or family members, would be to stand in line again.

 

[nalababybear]

One of the most disappointing things about the DAS changes, was the discrimination that it brought to the forefront. Too many people are out for themselves, and would gladly have a disabled person sit at home over the thought that someone might have a little easier time getting on a ride, or that some idiot might cheat and get on easier. They have no idea how grateful some people, or family members, would be to stand in line again.

Yes, this is the unfortunate truth in the world we live in today and it too has invaded Disney's theme parks.

Haha well I won't get political, but I think most news platforms have pretty much devolved into content farms. More content = better SEO = higher traffic = more ad clicks = $$$.

Any news outlet that provides all its articles for free online follow this pattern and unfortunately, won't be very good quality.

Any news outlet would be subject to this. Fox doesn't have a monopoly on complacency

 

[StarCruzer]

Yes, this is the unfortunate truth in the world we live in today and it too has invaded Disney's theme parks.

Any news outlet would be subject to this. Fox doesn't have a monopoly on complacency

I mean...yes. That's the exact thing that I said.

Haha well I won't get political, but I think most news platforms have pretty much devolved into content farms. More content = better SEO = higher traffic = more ad clicks = $$$.

Any news outlet that provides all its articles for free online follow this pattern and unfortunately, won't be very good quality.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Unfortunately, I the article itself is just lazy reporting. Why is a news organization summarizing a TikTok, only adding in one or two lines to additional info that you'd get as the top three hits for typing "Disney Disability Access" into Google? It' has everything to do with SEO rankings and nothing to do with providing actual information

It could have been a great opportunity to discuss how expensive it is to live with a disability, how the general population doesn't seem to think folks with disability should be allowed equal access to fun experiences, how the percent of adults with disabilities is growing due to medical advances (i.e. treatments are better so children with disabilities have the opportunity to grow into adults, better diagnostics, new disabilities being discovered), etc.

Agree it was lazy reporting, don't agree with everything else you said, or rather, I don't see why any of that would have anything to do with a story on DAS.

 

[Dumbotron]

It could have been a great opportunity to discuss how expensive it is to live with a disability, how the general population doesn't seem to think folks with disability should be allowed equal access to fun experiences, how the percent of adults with disabilities is growing due to medical advances (i.e. treatments are better so children with disabilities have the opportunity to grow into adults, better diagnostics, new disabilities being discovered), etc.

I think this is a good example of what some people think DAS should be for: making someone with a hard life easier. I think that is problematic for many reasons, not just that it isn't what the ADA is for, but because many people have different perspectives on what makes a life hard. Some factory worker working double shifts to put food on the table for his kids and never gets to take them to Disney might be frustrated at the complaints of someone, disabled or not, who wants discounts because they go to Disneyland so many times a week the cost is adding up if they also pay for extras.
Disabilities cost money but so do a lot of things people don't get to choose. We've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a health issue for one of our kids who absolutely wouldn't and shouldn't qualify for DAS. we are never going to agree on what makes life "fair." I think the focus of DAS and disability accomodations at WDW should remain focused on having the same access to the rides as standby guests. Fox liked the visual of "Evil Disney wrongs disabled girl!" because it gets clicks, not because that's what actually happened.

 

[nalababybear]

I think this is a good example of what some people think DAS should be for: making someone with a hard life easier. I think that is problematic for many reasons, not just that it isn't what the ADA is for, but because many people have different perspectives on what makes a life hard. Some factory worker working double shifts to put food on the table for his kids and never gets to take them to Disney might be frustrated at the complaints of someone, disabled or not, who wants discounts because they go to Disneyland so many times a week the cost is adding up if they also pay for extras.
Disabilities cost money but so do a lot of things people don't get to choose. We've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a health issue for one of our kids who absolutely wouldn't and shouldn't qualify for DAS. we are never going to agree on what makes life "fair." I think the focus of DAS and disability accomodations at WDW should remain focused on having the same access to the rides as standby guests. Fox liked the visual of "Evil Disney wrongs disabled girl!" because it gets clicks, not because that's what actually happened.

That's what DAS is now. It wasn't pre-revamp. DAS had become a general catch-all for accommodation requests -- and if it was an extra pixie dusting -- so be it.

Then it became untenable to sustain operations (LL queues) and needed retooling which disenfranchised many losing that pixie dusting. Change is hard, especially for those with disabilities.

Folk geering and admonishing them for 'shouldn't have had it in the first place' type comments have a special place right next to the liars and cheats using accommodations unwarranted and happy to see most of those folk weeded out of this forum.

Balanced support communities like this are so important to successfully get to the new normal that Disney has set forth.

Fox absolutely went 'click bait' mode -- typical for any 24/7 outlet these days.

 

[StarCruzer]

I think this is a good example of what some people think DAS should be for: making someone with a hard life easier.

Hmm, that wasn't really the intent of what I was saying. But I could see how it would be misunderstood.

I was just outlining that actual journalism does real research and deep dives into these topics--one of those specifically being how many people truly believe those with disabilities should opt of out fun experiences like Disney instead of the company making the necessary accommodations for equal access.

And when I talk about a disability being expensive, I was more referring to the idea that this young woman was advocating that the solution for those with certain disabilities should just...pay more. That isn't equal access. If a disabled person has to pay more to gain an equivalent experience of navigating the park, attending shows and waiting in lines for rides (IMO, this even includes Disney pushing people to rent wheelchairs or scooters as a DAS alternative at an extra cost) then they don't have equal access.

 

[Dumbotron]

many people truly believe those with disabilities should opt of out fun experiences like Disney

I have truly never heard this in my life (which includes a career in medicine) and if you have I am sorry. I do not think it is a common sentiment at all.

this even includes Disney pushing people to rent wheelchairs or scooters as a DAS alternative

I think when people say "they shouldn't have had it in the first place" I think this is what most people are talking about. I think they are criticizing Disney, not the people using DAS. A wheelchair shouldn't be seen as a "DAS alternative" because DAS should never have been offered for conditions for which a wheelchair gives access to the ride. This is NOT the fault of the former users. It's Disney's fault for giving people a misunderstanding of what their legal entitlements are.

 

[Lewisc]

Universals most expensive AP imcludes one offpeak HHN ticket, preferred parking and express acess after 4p.
Adding lightning to existing AP wouldn't work

 

[2tinkerbell]

Couple of points:

She doesn’t have to purchase Genie+. It is available to everyone, disabled or not.

She was offered an accommodation. She can leave the queue, take care of things, and return.

Not to be judgmental but I understood that this is one of the reasons why Disney is having to modify the DAS. She goes and meets up with friends and all 8 of them get to use the LL on her DAS pass. Her touring party changes all the time.

Finally, this is an easy story to pick up on because it is clearly click bait.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have truly never heard this in my life (which includes a career in medicine) and if you have I am sorry. I do not think it is a common sentiment at all.

I think when people say "they shouldn't have had it in the first place" I think this is what most people are talking about. I think they are criticizing Disney, not the people using DAS. A wheelchair shouldn't be seen as a "DAS alternative" because DAS should never have been offered for conditions for which a wheelchair gives access to the ride. This is NOT the fault of the former users. It's Disney's fault for giving people a misunderstanding of what their legal entitlements are.

You are fairly new, so I'm betting you have yet to see a post about how all the people who use ECVS/Wheelchairs should have to wait for their own special bus, as to not keep the able bodied people waiting on them to board a bus. Or how maybe there should be walkways in the park for that same group to have to use.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You are fairly new, so I'm betting you have yet to see a post about how all the people who use ECVS/Wheelchairs should have to wait for their own special bus, as to not keep the able bodied people waiting on them to board a bus. Or how maybe there should be walkways in the park for that same group to have to use.

I've been here for a decade, and I've never seen what you mention. I have seen a lot of posts (with which I agree) that wheelchair/ECV users should stay in the regular bus line, wait their turn, and then split off for the loading area.

 

[Goldelpack]

You are fairly new, so I'm betting you have yet to see a post about how all the people who use ECVS/Wheelchairs should have to wait for their own special bus, as to not keep the able bodied people waiting on them to board a bus. Or how maybe there should be walkways in the park for that same group to have to use.

I've never seen what you are describing here. NEVER. I've never seen it on other boards either. I have seen people complain that what they perceive as "able bodied" or "just fat" or "lazy" people use ECVs/wheelchairs for some advantage or another. That is rare - and most are just not aware of how many hidden issues people can and do have.

 

[sunburnin]

You are fairly new, so I'm betting you have yet to see a post about how all the people who use ECVS/Wheelchairs should have to wait for their own special bus, as to not keep the able bodied people waiting on them to board a bus. Or how maybe there should be walkways in the park for that same group to have to use.

On the flip side, there have been posts of ECV users recommending they have their own bus, their own place to charge a battery, their own path etc., that other people can't use.

The extreme, over-the-top comments here should mostly be ignored and not called out to gaslight someone's opinion.

Most people here are very grounded and have great discussions.

 

[OurBigTrip]

On the flip side, there have been posts of ECV users recommending they have their own bus, their own place to charge a battery, their own path etc., that other people can't use.

The extreme, over-the-top comments here should mostly be ignored and not called out to gaslight someone's opinion.

Most people here are very grounded and have great discussions.

Exactly, it has to be balanced.

It's 100% wrong to say that disabled guests should never be able to use the LL, that they should have to wait in the line like everyone else, and if that can't handle it, don't come.

It's equally wrong to assert, as I've seen in numerous forums, that there should be a separate line (so now 3 lines) for the disabled to use, and if that impacts everyone else, tough.

 

[LilyWDW]

You are fairly new, so I'm betting you have yet to see a post about how all the people who use ECVS/Wheelchairs should have to wait for their own special bus, as to not keep the able bodied people waiting on them to board a bus. Or how maybe there should be walkways in the park for that same group to have to use.

I also have never seen those posts and I spend a lot of time on these boards.

 

[maxiesmom]

I also have never seen those posts and I spend a lot of time on these boards.

It has been a while sense I have seen one. But those posts have been made.

 

[StarCruzer]

I also have never seen those posts and I spend a lot of time on these boards.

I would say you're less likely to see them on these boards (mods here are superstars) but just look on any social media post and you'll see hoards for faceless folks telling people who are disabled that they simply shouldn't expect equal access to certain places/experiences.

They range from ignorant ("If it is so much of a struggle for you to get through the parks, why do you still choose to go?") to ableist ("The world doesn't revolve around you and your special needs") to outright vile ("I could never live with that type of disability, I would rather be dead.").

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Magic Key holders are not a small revenue source to DLR, and Disney knows that. Whether they'll be tempted to revisit the add-on -- who knows.

I don't disagree with pondering this possibility but MaxPass add on for a DLR AP was very underpriced, into the very ridiculously underpriced range. I believe at the end of it it was $125 per year. MP started at $10 per person per day, by the time we went in 2019 it was switching over to $15 per person per day and I believe it ended up being about $20 per person per day.

The APs have increased quite a lot since then in costs per year and Disney has to be super careful with what they do with the Magic Key program, so I wouldn't necessarily ever discount them bringing an add-on back but I don't think they saw it was a good financial decision.

To give context my local amusement park has a season pass for $110+ tax at the highest level allowing for Halloween visits as probably the largest difference between the next tier that is $95+ tax. A season pass for their Fast Lane is $299+tax. Approximately 3X the cost of the highest season pass gets you the highest level Fast Lane for the season.

 

[nalababybear]

I don't disagree with pondering this possibility but MaxPass add on for a DLR AP was very underpriced, into the very ridiculously underpriced range. I believe at the end of it it was $125 per year. MP started at $10 per person per day, by the time we went in 2019 it was switching over to $15 per person per day and I believe it ended up being about $20 per person per day.

The APs have increased quite a lot since then in costs per year and Disney has to be super careful with what they do with the Magic Key program, so I wouldn't necessarily ever discount them bringing an add-on back but I don't think they saw it was a good financial decision.

To give context my local amusement park has a season pass for $110+ tax at the highest level allowing for Halloween visits as probably the largest difference between the next tier that is $95+ tax. A season pass for their Fast Lane is $299+tax. Approximately 3X the cost of the highest season pass gets you the highest level Fast Lane for the season.

True. Already said that the add on As low and MK would buy it in droves at $200...which would be about breakeven of 10 visits and where most MK pricing is set at.

Comparatively X10 visits is way high compared to other theme park ticket : pass costs.

Up to Disney to set the costs. OP on the video has a point about retuning MP option. FP+ has been Resurrected. Not outlandish to think MP return too.