The Downfall of DAS and the rise of Fastpass+.... coincidence?

[Angel Ariel]

This is going to sound very “old man yells at clouds” but if I’ve learned one thing from all these DAS threads it is that nothing short of Disney taking aside each individual family and designing a perfect trip for them with completely bonkers accommodations and/or just VIP front of line access guided by Josh D’Amaro himself will ever be good enough. Nothing announced will be greeted with anything less than absolute disgust because it doesn’t solve all possible accessibility issues.

Edit to add that accessibility is not a zero sum game. It’s an iterative process that all sides have to participate in and I worry for families that give up because the wider world is so much more brutal than a Disney trip.

I don't expect Disney to cater to every individual. I've said on all of the threads numerous times I understand why the changes were made, and haven't argued against it. Questions were asked about what I meant, so I clarified.

As for the bolded - we fight so much every day for everything for DD. Well aware of how brutal the world is, and that's precisely why we look for vacations where we *don't* have to fight so hard to adapt and accommodate.
Everyone needs respite. Disney has served that need for a long time, and I continue to hope our experience will remain so.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I would think, especially with the pre-booking, this will also put LLMP back to where you could pick a period of the day to get times for. Then you get three. Are you sure being able to say "I think I would like to try for three things in the AM, or just after lunch, or in the evening... and getting to review the times" is worse than "AHH, quick, I think I want THIS one so whenever you randomly want to assign me is what I get!"

I was asked to explain, and I did. I get you may not understand where I am coming from, and as I won't explain DD's needs in detail due to the requests to not provide roadmaps, please respect that while I can't explain I am
not speaking from a place of ignorance or not having tried.

 

[fairy8i8]

New Rules (Again, no DAS)

• Have to pay $$ to get Lightning Lane
• Book 3 attractions per day in advance
  • Return window doesn’t work out, you can attempt to modify, as long as you know before the start of the return window, if that doesn’t work or you don’t know until after the start of your return window, you are now locked out of that attraction for the entire day if you can’t handle the standby wait time.
    • Chances of additional return windows are minimal.
• This also means coordinating with your entire party for attraction times.

I just wanted to point out that currently, you can change rides after your window has opened, so long as you have not tapped in and used it. That was also true of FP+, so you wouldn't lose your chance. Also, I believe there's actually a lot of return time flexibility in practice, so that might help if you can’t make the hour window.

Also, with DAS, you still have to coordinate with an entire party, even in the parks (yes, I was part of a large group last year with many people with various needs, and planning and navigating both before and during had added stress with a large group. We were all willing to split up if needed for our individual families, so that took some of the stress away.)

The most difficult stress is all the change, so having to replan and the stress of not knowing if you will qualify every trip makes it difficult to plan.

Also, I acknowledge that for some, Disney is just hard even with accommodations. I am a Disney lover, and I didn't go for years because I just didn't feel it was a good environment for my boys, especially because we had other parks that had accommodations that better fit our family. Went with in-laws last year, and it worked out well, but we also went the slowest week of the year. It's nice that theme park companies try, but the reality is that there have always been people who just can't go because of their disability and needs not being accommodated. We just are usually silent because someone who can't go to Disney, even with a DAS, isn't going to be on Disney forums long. And needs do change. As my children have gotten older, they actually could go to Disneyland last year, and we had a good time. 2 years prior would have been impossible.

 

[mistysue]

I was asked to explain, and I did. I get you may not understand where I am coming from, and as I won't explain DD's needs in detail due to the requests to not provide roadmaps, please respect that while I can't explain I am
not speaking from a place of ignorance or not having tried.

I read your comment and thought maybe we had a different understanding of the changes. I'm sorry being able to book multiple doesn't put you in a better spot. Hopefully being able to pick times for multiple will relieve the system enough by solving an issue for others that you will be able to get the accommodations you need without having to feel like you need to fight, rather than merely ask, for them.

 

[Selket]

The other issue is going to be if I can modify times or not, like G+ allowed, or if I’m locked into the slot I picked like old FP+(?? It’s been so long).

I haven't tried Genie+ too many times but the old FP+ system allowed one to modify the times. In fact, it got to be a sort of "hack" - I remember it talked about on these boards a lot. I used it often for my 4th and subsequent rides - booking a ride that I wanted but had a bad return time (perhaps 7 hours later for example) - and then going to modify it and hitting refresh over and over until a new time popped up. I remember I had to have it booked first to do the "refresh" method. Well...I'm hoping that the new system will allow something like this. Hoping I make sense!

 

[steve456]

Actually most of the queues in Florida or mostly or completely indoors so not sure what that has to do with people not being able to wait in the standby line.
And I definitely have not seen where its teens taking advantage of the system but rather "Karens" that feel entitled and manipulate the situation so that their family can wait in line for this ride while holding a DAS for that ride to hop on right after.

I don't understand why you think those Karens wouldn't have done the same thing if FP+ still existed. Old DAS was awesome and Disney was giving it away like candy on Halloween. More and more people were figuring that out and I don't think it had anything to do with FP+.

 

[Bearval]

Is it me or does anyone else find it interesting that Disney chased out the majority of DAS pass users and then instituted a guaranteed 3 Fastpasses to Genie+ buyers starting July 24th?

Is it me or does anyone else find it interesting that Disney chased out the majority of DAS pass users and then instituted a guaranteed 3 Fastpasses to Genie+ buyers starting July 24th?

No, DAS abuse was unbelievable and increasing every year in addition to that there were complaints that people were only getting a couple of attractions when purchasing Genie + unless you started your park day early. The "new" system will guarantee you at least three that you preselect.

 

[SueM in MN]

No, DAS abuse was unbelievable and increasing every year in addition to that there were complaints that people were only getting a couple of attractions when purchasing Genie + unless you started your park day early. The "new" system will guarantee you at least three that you preselect.

Disney even put out a statement to manage expectations about Genie+
I can't find the articles - too many hits about the new changes - but it said something like 'the average user can expect to get 2-3 Genie+ choices per day'.

 

[Ollivier]

No, DAS abuse was unbelievable and increasing every year in addition to that there were complaints that people were only getting a couple of attractions when purchasing Genie + unless you started your park day early. The "new" system will guarantee you at least three that you preselect.

Cutting back on das is part of the big change. Both go together.

 

[Genie+]

Yep the wording for Genie+ on WDW site:

Make the Most of Your Visit with Disney Genie+ Service​

Disney Genie+ service lets you use Lightning Lane entrances at select attractions and experiences. On average, Guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using Lightning Lane entrances if the first selection is made early in the day. Plus, you'll enjoy these additional features:

• Receive digital downloads of select Disney PhotoPass attraction images taken in the park on the day of your purchase.
• Unlock Disney PhotoPass Lenses, a special collection of Disney-themed lenses for your mobile device. Disney PhotoPass Terms and Conditions apply.
• Listen to Audio Tales to discover fun facts and behind-the-scenes insights about the parks during your visit.

—-

I think it was around March 2022 when WDW added this wording, 5 months after the introduction of Genie+.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I don’t know, but being able to book a few rides in advance with Genie+ will make a huge difference to the quality of our trip. I loved the pre-2020 system where I could book a few favorite rides at times that I knew would work. It might mean less people abusing DAS as well since they can now have a better experience too.

 

[Genie+]

I don’t know, but being able to book a few rides in advance with Genie+ will make a huge difference to the quality of our trip. I loved the pre-2020 system where I could book a few favorite rides at times that I knew would work. It might mean less people abusing DAS as well since they can now have a better experience too.

I’m optimistic too. It was nice knowing we had at least a few easier rides built into our schedule. It required less thinking that day than the way G+ works. The more I can prepare beforehand, the less hectic our park day seems. We liked that aspect.

 

[Bearval]

I don’t know, but being able to book a few rides in advance with Genie+ will make a huge difference to the quality of our trip. I loved the pre-2020 system where I could book a few favorite rides at times that I knew would work. It might mean less people abusing DAS as well since they can now have a better experience too.

People will still try to abuse the DAS system since the new option will have an added cost which will most likely be significantly higher that what Genie + was.

 

[jennab]

People will still try to abuse the DAS system since the new option will have an added cost which will most likely be significantly higher that what Genie + was.

I didn’t see a price change for the new version coming in July, did you?

 

[Bearval]

I didn’t see a price change for the new version coming in July, did you?

They didn't publish pricing yet but they will value this at least at $49 or higher since they now are guaranteeing you 3 advance selections and the ability to replace each selection as it is used. They were charging as much as $39 for Genie + with no guarantees and even added a disclaimer that you may only get 2 or 3 attractions.

 

[jennab]

They didn't publish pricing yet but they will value this at least at $49 or higher since they now are guaranteeing you 3 advance selections and the ability to replace each selection as it is used. They were charging as much as $39 for Genie + with no guarantees and even added a disclaimer that you may only get 2 or 3 attractions.

Yeah I suppose I could see it increasing. I find it interesting how people are angry about Disney charging for a faster lane, yet other theme parks do the same and no one seems to think that’s a problem…

 

[Genie+]

People will still try to abuse the DAS system since the new option will have an added cost which will most likely be significantly higher that what Genie + was.

Overuse played its part too. Either way the ability to abuse or overuse has been reduced.

Autism is not the golden word. It’s the severity in relation to the queue. Such a specific needle to thread is harder to feign all around. Previously some may have exaggerated childhood issues but this is trickier, especially for someone who has even the tiniest amount of consideration to their child. It’s one thing to coach little Jimmy about his uneasy feeling in line, totally different to coach severe queue related developmental disorders.

 

[sunburnin]

They didn't publish pricing yet but they will value this at least at $49 or higher since they now are guaranteeing you 3 advance selections and the ability to replace each selection as it is used. They were charging as much as $39 for Genie + with no guarantees and even added a disclaimer that you may only get 2 or 3 attractions.

The announcement last week said they were not changing prices. I'm sure that means for now, so who knows if/when they will adjust them in the future.

$39 is the high end during peak times in Dec and spring break. The rest fluctuate by park and crowd estimates.
This week it's $18-29.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/genieprice.htm
https://www.thrill-data.com/news/disney-world-genie-plus-price-tracker/

 

[sunburnin]

Yeah I suppose I could see it increasing. I find it interesting how people are angry about Disney charging for a faster lane, yet other theme parks do the same and no one seems to think that’s a problem…

Dynamic pricing and upgrade charges are everywhere—airlines, hotels, Ticketmaster. Didn't Wendy's tease dynamic pricing recently, and there was a lot of pushback?

 

[jennab]

Dynamic pricing and upgrade charges are everywhere—airlines, hotels, Ticketmaster. Didn't Wendy's tease dynamic pricing recently, and there was a lot of pushback?

Right, that was my point. Other theme parks charge for quicker access but everyone is up in arms when Disney does it? Like you pointed out, many other places do it too.