Do cognitive disabilities no longer qualify? I was approved 2x under new guidelines, but denied DAS today

[EpcotPhoenician]

I was approved twice under the new DAS guidelines. Today was my renewal, but my cognitive disability no longer qualifies. The coordinator Cast Member was unwilling to provide exactly what changed from my previous renewal, only that they are "always seeking improvements to their guidelines".

 

[lanejudy]

I do believe they have been “tweaking” their training and qualifying needs. And there does seem to be a matter of who conducts your interview; some may be more lenient which only makes it harder to be denied the next time. Did you say anything different in today’s interview? Explain anything differently? I don’t think “cognitive disability” necessarily qualifies without other queue-related challenges.

 

[SueM in MN]

No specific diagnosis or condition qualifies for DAS.
What the CMs are needing information/discussion about is what your concerns are with waiting in line and how your condition affects your ability to wait in line.
They may ask how you deal with waits or lines in others situations and what kinds of accommodations are needed or used outside of Disney ines.
It could be that the CM was looking for more specific information than you provided or that they misunderstood your challenges.
Also, as lanejudy pointed out, the CM you got last time might have been more lenient in what was being looked at

 

[Elephantay]

I've been reading a lot of these pages trying to determine if we should even bother with trying to get a DAS accommodation. Is the queue entry people are mentioning something that is part of this? And do I have it right that the person who cannot wait in the line would meet up with their party at a certain place in line? TIA

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I do believe they have been “tweaking” their training and qualifying needs. And there does seem to be a matter of who conducts your interview; some may be more lenient which only makes it harder to be denied the next time. Did you say anything different in today’s interview? Explain anything differently? I don’t think “cognitive disability” necessarily qualifies without other queue-related challenges.

I explained my challenges exactly the same as the previous two successful renewals. They immediately denied me whereas I was previously approved without question.

 

[lanejudy]

@Elephantay The “Attraction Queue Re-entry” is available to anyone regardless of disability or not. The individual (+caregiver) who needs to leave the queue will meet up with the rest of their party via LL.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I've been reading a lot of these pages trying to determine if we should even bother with trying to get a DAS accommodation. Is the queue entry people are mentioning something that is part of this? And do I have it right that the person who cannot wait in the line would meet up with their party at a certain place in line? TIA

I explained to the coordinator and health professional that I go to the parks solo, so how do they expect me to re-enter the queue if there’s no party member to meet up with.

They told me it won’t be an issue and the cast member at the front of every attraction will walk me to where I previously was prior to needing to exit.

I strongly disagreed with them and asked if they’ve ever actually been to any of the Disney parks. Clearly they haven’t.

 

[lanejudy]

They told me it won’t be an issue and the cast member at the front of every attraction will walk me to where I previously was prior to needing to exit.

This may not be correct, but there IS a procedure for solo guests.

 

[Elephantay]

@Elephantay The “Attraction Queue Re-entry” is available to anyone regardless of disability or not. The individual (+caregiver) who needs to leave the queue will meet up with the rest of their party via LL.

So do they stilll walk through the LL? Is that how DAS would work also?

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

So do they stilll walk through the LL? Is that how DAS would work also?

Yes, that is the procedure.

 

[SueM in MN]

So do they stilll walk through the LL? Is that how DAS would work also?

This is a link to the WDW website page about accessing queues. It includes the info about attraction queue re- entry
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/accessing-attractions-queues/#aa-queue-reentry

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

This is a link to the WDW website page about accessing queues. It includes the info about attraction queue re- entry
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/accessing-attractions-queues/#aa-queue-reentry

Nowhere in that article does it state the re-entry procedure for solo Guests… so, I suppose my medical condition accommodations rely entirely on the Disney College Program CM at every attraction.

 

[SueM in MN]

Nowhere in that article does it state the re-entry procedure for solo Guests… so, I suppose my medical condition accommodations rely entirely on the Disney College Program CM at every attraction.

The exact process depends on the attraction and what is available there.
I have seen posts from solo guests who used it and reported it worked fine for them.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Nowhere in that article does it state the re-entry procedure for solo Guests… so, I suppose my medical condition accommodations rely entirely on the Disney College Program CM at every attraction.

I know you are disappointed but why are you belittling the CMs? By and large most Disney CMs that I have met have been friendly and helpful.

If you find that the accommodations that have been offered aren’t working you can call back and try to get DAS again with specific examples of what you tried THIS TRIP and why it failed.