"Disney Faulted in Disability Access Complaints"

[seashoreCM]

Another word from a devil's advocate.

For the family who felt that Disney did not accommodate them adequately, can they conjure up and/or finagle this situation:

Choreograph how they would like to be treated and go on rides, but imagine that there is another family, with the same aged children with no disabilities and who would like to go on the same rides. The other family must ride almost immediately after them (in the next ride vehicle is acceptable in this choreography). While waiting to go on rides, the other family does not have to all the while be within sight or within 100 feet.

 

[seashoreCM]

(edit word will not click)

Rules changes may be imagined but all rules that apply to the other family must apply to all other guests.

 

[mistysue]

Another word from a devil's advocate.

For the family who felt that Disney did not accommodate them adequately, can they conjure up and/or finagle this situation:

Choreograph how they would like to be treated and go on rides, but imagine that there is another family, with the same aged children with no disabilities and who would like to go on the same rides. The other family must ride almost immediately after them (in the next ride vehicle is acceptable in this choreography). While waiting to go on rides, the other family does not have to all the while be within sight or within 100 feet.

Are you trying to say ask the family how they would work it so they get the same rides in the same amount of time as a family without any disabilities? That might be a nice way to get some of the individuals to back down for a minute when they realize it's not fair if they get more rides, but the perception in cases like these seems to be that families without disabilities don't ever need down time, naps, have to split up, take potty breaks, etc. As if telling a non-disabled 3 year old to hold it will buy me so much more time than saying that to a disabled 3 year old.

 

[SueM in MN]

Are you trying to say ask the family how they would work it so they get the same rides in the same amount of time as a family without any disabilities? That might be a nice way to get some of the individuals to back down for a minute when they realize it's not fair if they get more rides, but the perception in cases like these seems to be that families without disabilities don't ever need down time, naps, have to split up, take potty breaks, etc. As if telling a non-disabled 3 year old to hold it will buy me so much more time than saying that to a disabled 3 year old.

Having read the lawsuit, I think there is also a perception that guests without disabilities are going on a lot more attractions per day than they actually are.

I don't think the suggestion from the previous poster would have any impact.

 

[tinkerpea]

I str

The problem with this is that once you offer it, you pretty much have to offer it to anyone that says they need it. Some of the people in the lawsuit are claiming the DAS won't work for them because their child can only be in the park for a few hours, so they need to get in as much as they can.

IMO, wish kids are the only ones that should receive immediate access.

I struggle with this concept as therr are many terminal children that do not get wish trips, or that have trips by other organisations.
It would be much more beneficial that every child with terminal illness or likewise disability could if proven get the same accommodation.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I str


I struggle with this concept as therr are many terminal children that do not get wish trips, or that have trips by other organisations.
It would be much more beneficial that every child with terminal illness or likewise disability could if proven get the same accommodation.

As with the previous poster, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Jedana]

Are you trying to say ask the family how they would work it so they get the same rides in the same amount of time as a family without any disabilities? That might be a nice way to get some of the individuals to back down for a minute when they realize it's not fair if they get more rides, but the perception in cases like these seems to be that families without disabilities don't ever need down time, naps, have to split up, take potty breaks, etc. As if telling a non-disabled 3 year old to hold it will buy me so much more time than saying that to a disabled 3 year old.

RE: bolded/underline
This. Once thing I've noticed reading FP pages and boards about the DAS/GAC debates...is that some of the parents seem to think that having a non-disabled child means that we run from ride to ride, that you can be there from RD to closing without stopping, and there is never an emergency pee stop or a meltdown. Yes, the disabled child's meltdowns may be harder to cope with, that they may not understand the behavior is wrong, but most 2 year olds struggle with that concept as well. I've never been able to keep the little ones at the park more than 3 or 4 hours without leaving to go nap and cool down at the hotel. And yes, we even split up (from a family unit) so DH or DH/DS together can ride a ride no one else wants/can do...or someone goes to the hotel with the little one and someone else stays at the park.

I str


I struggle with this concept as therr are many terminal children that do not get wish trips, or that have trips by other organisations.
It would be much more beneficial that every child with terminal illness or likewise disability could if proven get the same accommodation.

I have a problem with this. look, if the child is on a wish trip, Disney will bend over backwards for that child---and I'm ok with that. If any other organization works WITH Disney to send a child on that type of trip, Disney should work with them for that child---and I'm ok with that.

But if you let every Tom, Dick and Harry with a mildly autistic child (and let's be honest---the parents of kids in wheelchairs aren't the ones having a hissy fit over the DAS----it's the parents of cognitively disabled children) gets a FOTL pass, then everyone's kid will have a mildly autistic disability. It happened with the GAC. Then it goes from just having mom and dad and 2 siblings to grandma and uncle Joe and cousins that this kid has never seen before having to ride with the kid. It goes from having 3 people jump in front of the 200 people in line to having 30 people jump in front of those 200. That impacts everyone in that line. When you go from 2 families of 5, to 20 families of 7, that makes the people who have been waiting in the line for 30 minutes have to wait just that much longer......and those people aren't the ones able to go to the bathroom or get a snack or go see a princess during that 30 minutes. So, yes, I'm saying that there have to be limits, to those who get those FOTL passes.

I'm sorry that people have to deal with these issues--I truly am. But you have to DEAL with them---not expect the world to bend over backwards for you. And that comment will probably make me seem like a horrible person. IMO, if you aren't teaching your children how to work around the problems they encounter, then you are part of the problem.

 

[seashoreCM]

OT: ... every Tom, D ick, and Harry ...

If people are upset because they perceive something that seems unfair, then those people really should do some homework on their own time to find out actual facts.

The word "perceive" in the description is enough to make one suspicious about the validity of a claim by the aggrieved party.

(copied from another forum) I was led to believe that, a few decades ago, Disney's think tank was second only to the U.S. Defense Dept's think tank. Surely Disney should have been able to imagineer or innovent some procedure that made it unnecessary for anyone to stand for more than fifteen minutes in a line that inched along. TBT to a vacation trip I took several years ago where I used an umbrella on sunny and rainy days alike, could the "standing in the sun" complaint be resolved with an umbrella instead of a guest assistance card (DAS)?

Would/could/should "terminal" children participating in "wish trips" sponsored by organizations other than the Offical Wish Trip Organization of WDW, receive comparable privileges? It may be noted that participation in some wish trip organization means that the family has already given answers to a variety of questions that Disney is not permitted to ask under the Americans With Disabilities Act, answers that Disney could put to good use to minimize abuse of privileges.

 

[OurBigTrip]

OT: ... every Tom, D ick, and Harry ...

If people are upset because they perceive something that seems unfair, then those people really should do some homework on their own time to find out actual facts.

Such as?

 

[Goddesstree]

I think families with children with disabilities see Disney as the place to get away from the day-to-day struggle of trying to work with society. Unfortunately, theme parks are part of society and one can't get away from a disability. I've also noticed that some people go to WDW with high expectations (with disabilities or not) and are crushed when things don't go as they imagined. I'm trying to understand why someone would go to WDW and expect a certain service when that service doesn't occur anywhere else in society?

 

[seashoreCM]

Such as?

RTFT
Quoting mistysue:
but the perception in cases like these seems to be that families without disabilities don't ever need down time, naps, have to split up, take potty breaks, etc. As if telling a non-disabled 3 year old to hold it will buy me so much more time than saying that to a disabled 3 year old.

Quoting SueM in MN:
think there is also a perception that guests without disabilities are going on a lot more attractions per day than they actually are.

 

[aaarcher86]

I str


I struggle with this concept as therr are many terminal children that do not get wish trips, or that have trips by other organisations.
It would be much more beneficial that every child with terminal illness or likewise disability could if proven get the same accommodation.

Disney can't vet these people. That's why they work with Wishers who have already gone through the process. I don't know why they don't work with every wish granting group, but I'm sure there's a reason.

And just wanted to point out that Wish kids aren't always terminal. So they may come back 10x. And that's actually one of the more disgusting arguments I've seen from autism parents. "Their kids have to live long lives with their disabilities."

I really think a lot of these complaints are more about the parents. They want to go to Disney and have a good time because life is difficult every day. Getting the GAC made it happen. They has fun. Their kids were happy. Life was a little easier for a week. I can sympathize, but no one owes that to them. No one is responsible for their happiness.

 

[the guardian]

But if you let every Tom, **** and Harry with a mildly autistic child (and let's be honest---the parents of kids in wheelchairs aren't the ones having a hissy fit over the DAS----it's the parents of cognitively disabled children) gets a FOTL pass, then everyone's kid will have a mildly autistic disability. It happened with the GAC.

First of all, my heart goes out to those children who have severe autism as well as their families because the GAC was so beneficial to them given the child’s inability to understand. The abuse that you allude to that ultimately led to the demise of the GAC is partly due to defining autism as a “spectrum disorder,” incorporating both mild and severe cases of problematic social communication and interaction, as well as restricted interests and behavior.

The fact that there are far more people under the age of 18 with autism than there are adults is proof that there is a misdiagnosis of mere communication and behavioral issues that have been around since the beginning of time. The ADA needs to reconsider labeling mildly autistic children as disabled given the fact that this so-called disability disappears with age and these children obviously become productive members of society like Mozart, Thomas Jefferson, Einstein, Stanley Kubrik and Bill Gates did.

 

[redberyl]

People keep bringing up wish kids, just wanted to point out that many wish kids who might return to the park dont "qualify" for DAS.

 

[aaarcher86]

People keep bringing up wish kids, just wanted to point out that many wish kids who might return to the park dont "qualify" for DAS.

What kind of Wish diagnosis has a mobility impairment as the only factor?

 

[the guardian]

People keep bringing up wish kids, just wanted to point out that many wish kids who might return to the park dont "qualify" for DAS.

Yeah, isn't that something. A child who has terminal cancer is given a wheelchair and "have a nice day" while some kid with ADHD gets a DAS. Now, what is wrong with that picture!!

 

[aaarcher86]

Yeah, isn't that something. A child who has terminal cancer is given a wheelchair and "have a nice day" while some kid with ADHD gets a DAS. Now, what is wrong with that picture!!

Give me a break. If there are other issues with waiting in line besides mobility they would get a DAS just like anyone else.

Let's not pretend people are walking up and telling the CMs their diagnosis and getting stuffed in a chair.

 

[redberyl]

My daughter has heart, lung, liver disease with a trach and gtube, qualified for MAW. When I asked on this forum about DAS, everyone wasvery quick to inform me all she woyld need was a stroller as wheelchair tag and a mist bottle to cool her off. When i called disney to learn about das i was told if her disability was visible she wouldnt qualify, it is only for people with cognitive impairments

 

[aaarcher86]

My daughter has heart, lung, liver disease with a trach and gtube, qualified for MAW. When I asked on this forum about DAS, everyone wasvery quick to inform me all she woyld need was a stroller as wheelchair tag and a mist bottle to cool her off. When i called disney to learn about das i was told if her disability was visible she wouldnt qualify, it is only for people with cognitive impairments

I read your previous thread, and you were pretty clearly told it's not about your diagnosis.

Your just mentioned stamina and a trach and that you were most concerned with the heat. I don't really understand what the problem is with the stroller as a wheelchair as suggested if it solves your problem? People who have used the DAS will tell you themselves that most of the time the lines are the coolest places and there's very few outdoors. But, you were advised to explain your NEEDS and how waiting outside the line would help. Not diagnosis. Your diagnosis doesn't matter.

Kind of misleading though to say you went through MAW when that's not what you advised us previously. http://www.disboards.com/threads/wish-trip-through-kids-wish-das-question.3291537/#post-51665119

 

[aejammers]

I'd like to know when it became the norm to accommodate intellectual disabilities, including Autism and ADHD, at amusement parks. Other than in educational situations, we don't accommodate these disabilities anywhere else. You can't skip to the front of the line at a busy restaurant that has a wait for a table. There isn't an alternate waiting area to wait for a city bus. There isn't a separate line at the grocery store. So why is it acceptable to be able to do all of these in an amusement park?