WDW Summary of NEW DAS changes and Disney Genie - Post ONE is an updated summary

[Willow1213]

Just posting my experience from over the weekend. I logged in about 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon to re-register my son for DAS for our upcoming trip starting on 6/24. To my pure shock, I was connected to a cast member within 2 minutes. We had a few technical issues getting the video chat to work on my home WiFi, but it worked fine on my phone. When I logged in to the page on my iPhone, the same chat and rep were waiting for me.

Total time from logging in to completing 8 days of advanced selections was just at an hour, and that included about 10 minutes of wait time between the DAS Registration chat and Planning chat. I was pleasantly surprised versus my previous experience in November that had me waiting 6+ hours to complete.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Not sure if anyone on here can answer this question, but a lot faster to ask here than to try to get through to Disney. I have physical limitations on standing but prefer not to rent a wheelchair since I can walk (albeit slowly). Would anyone know if I would be eligible for DAS? I don’t want to wait forever on chat for them to say I should just rent a wheelchair.

 

[bambialways4ever]

Not sure if anyone on here can answer this question, but a lot faster to ask here than to try to get through to Disney. I have physical limitations on standing but prefer not to rent a wheelchair since I can walk (albeit slowly). Would anyone know if I would be eligible for DAS? I don’t want to wait forever on chat for them to say I should just rent a wheelchair.

No. Disney has no legal obligation under ADA to give you your preferred accommodation. Only to offer you one compliant with ADA regulations.

Disney has deemed the ADA accomodation for someone with your described physical limitations is to rent or bring a wheelchair/stroller (for kids) that the person may use through the entire length of the line. They are free to sit or stand as often as they need, and even push the wheelchair rather than sitting it in if they desire.

 

[HeiHei2018]

No. Disney has no legal obligation under ADA to give you your preferred accommodation. Only to offer you one compliant with ADA regulations.

Disney has deemed the ADA accomodation for someone with your described physical limitations is to rent or bring a wheelchair/stroller (for kids) that the person may use through the entire length of the line. They are free to sit or stand as often as they need, and even push the wheelchair rather than sitting it in if they desire.

Thanks so much for the quick reply! I will try to wrap my head around using a wheelchair.

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks so much for the quick reply! I will try to wrap my head around using a wheelchair.

Would a rollator (walker with a seat) work for you? Push it while walking, and a place to sit instead of standing.

 

[Fitzwoman27]

Not sure if anyone on here can answer this question, but a lot faster to ask here than to try to get through to Disney. I have physical limitations on standing but prefer not to rent a wheelchair since I can walk (albeit slowly). Would anyone know if I would be eligible for DAS? I don’t want to wait forever on chat for them to say I should just rent a wheelchair.

I had a knee replacement and have a degenerative back ; so walking can be a real problem. I prefer to walk to. Last time I had to be pushed in wheelchair but I want to try walking too this time, since I lost 60 pounds. They gave me a DAS. Get a note from doctor or show handicap parking placard

 

[CJK]

My friends will be registering for DAS 30 days before their trip. Their group consists of 7 people. There's a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 kids). One of the kids is only 2, so no park tickets. They are travelling with the grandparents. I know that DAS is supposed to be only for 6 people, but do you think they would make an exception? Prior to the new DAS system, I know they did make an exception, but wondered if that changed. TIA!

 

[lanejudy]

My friends will be registering for DAS 30 days before their trip. Their group consists of 7 people. There's a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 kids). One of the kids is only 2, so no park tickets. They are travelling with the grandparents. I know that DAS is supposed to be only for 6 people, but do you think they would make an exception? Prior to the new DAS system, I know they did make an exception, but wondered if that changed. TIA!

Since the 2-yr-old doesn't have a ticket, only the 6 ticketed guests will count. The little one can ride with the rest of the party as long as they are tall enough for any height requirements.

 

[CJK]

What a relief! Thank you!!

 

[lanejudy]

Get a note from doctor or show handicap parking placard

Sorry, but this is bad advice and could lead to someone expecting an accommodation they don't receive. Documentation is not required and most times the CMs won't even glance at it. Only a Guest Relations CM can say yes or no whether someone will receive DAS. I recommend requesting one -- in advance is helpful but not required -- and having a back-up plan (wheelchair or rollator, etc.) just in case the request is denied. Documentation from a doctor or an HA parking placard will not help.

 

[bambialways4ever]

I had a knee replacement and have a degenerative back ; so walking can be a real problem. I prefer to walk to. Last time I had to be pushed in wheelchair but I want to try walking too this time, since I lost 60 pounds. They gave me a DAS. Get a note from doctor or show handicap parking placard

When was this? Because I haven't heard of anyone experiencing this since things changed in October. Also, Disney will not look at doctors notes so the CM you got did a bad job that day and broke policy.

 

[jlundeen]

Minnie Vans will be returning 6/29. Accessible MVs will be able to be booked through the Lyft App, and it says they can accommodate wheelchairs, but I wonder if they can accommodate a scooter?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1534188438429356033

 

[SueM in MN]

Minnie Vans will be returning 6/29. Accessible MVs be be able to be booked through the Lyft App, and it says they can accommodate wheelchairs, but I wonder if they can accommodate a scooter?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1534188438429356033

Assuming they are the same or similar to what they had before, they would be both wheelchair and ECV accessible. They had ramps or lifts that came out the back (depending on the size of vehicle)

 

[gap2368]

I had a knee replacement and have a degenerative back ; so walking can be a real problem. I prefer to walk to. Last time I had to be pushed in wheelchair but I want to try walking too this time, since I lost 60 pounds. They gave me a DAS. Get a note from doctor or show handicap parking placard

They will not look at dr notes

 

[Chuckdlc]

I've been using das since roughly 2014. Without going into detail, while not all, many of the symptoms of my disease have phyiscal manifestations.

This is my first trip in about 3 years. Previously, disney set up das for me ahead of my visits (as opposed to at the parks upon arrival). Do we think the process is streamed at all if a guests have had DAS previously or does that not matter at all? Asked differently am I going to have to re-convince disney that I can't do what they already agreed I couldn't do for years (wait in the standard line)?'

Just to clarify - I don't have any objection to explaining my situation and illness to the CM. My point is that my health hasn't improved magically. It's actually worse than it was originally.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've been using das since roughly 2014. Without going into detail, while not all, many of the symptoms of my disease have phyiscal manifestations.

This is my first trip in about 3 years. Previously, disney set up das for me ahead of my visits (as opposed to at the parks upon arrival). Do we think the process is streamed at all if a guests have had DAS previously or does that not matter at all? Asked differently am I going to have to re-convince disney that I can't do what they already agreed I couldn't do for years (wait in the standard line)?'

Just to clarify - I don't have any objection to explaining my situation and illness to the CM. My point is that my health hasn't improved magically. It's actually worse than it was originally.

You got a lot of pixie dust if WDW set up DAS for you in advance of your visit. Officially, DAS was only arranged at the theme parks and could not be arranged ahead of time prior to October 19, 2021 when video chat registration went live.

My youngest daughter is permanently disabled with multiple conditions that will not improve. She is our DAS user and has used it from when it first came out in 2013 and also used the previous GAC (Guest Assistance Card) for many years before it was discontinued when DAS began.
We have made 4 trips to WDW since it reopened after the COVID shutdown. We registered for DAS at a park for the first 2 trips. We did the video chat for our trip in February 2022 and again in April 2022.

During all the times, we were asked a variation of the same question - “What concerns do you have with waiting in lines?”

They don’t want diagnosis, specifics or a lot of details about illness or conditions. What they want to know is what about your situation impacts your ability to wait in line/prevents you from waiting in line.
Registration for DAS is valid for 60 days; expect to be asked the same/similar question each time you re-register.

 

[Randel_Raines]

Sorry for the question about DAS, we have never had to use it before and trying to get my head round it. The window for requesting it has to be within 30 days of travel, or can it be setup in advance. We are arriving in Orlando from the UK on the 15 August. I believe I will have to use a VPN as well to set this up. (trudged through the 47 pages but the more I read the more I am lost) Thanks

 

[lanejudy]

The window for requesting it has to be within 30 days of travel, or can it be setup in advance.

The advanced registration by video chat can be done up to 30 days prior to your first park day, but no less than 2 days before. If that timing doesn’t work well for you, you can always request a DAS when you go to the park like before.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry for the question about DAS, we have never had to use it before and trying to get my head round it. The window for requesting it has to be within 30 days of travel, or can it be setup in advance. We are arriving in Orlando from the UK on the 15 August. I believe I will have to use a VPN as well to set this up. (trudged through the 47 pages but the more I read the more I am lost) Thanks

The important information is summarized in the first post in this thread - so, if you feel lost, just read that post.
It may still work using a VPN - we have one mostly for travel, but it keeps turning itself on even when we are home and the wifi is safe. It was on the 2 times I registered for my daughter.

 

[leiaorgana]

Sorry for the question about DAS, we have never had to use it before and trying to get my head round it. The window for requesting it has to be within 30 days of travel, or can it be setup in advance. We are arriving in Orlando from the UK on the 15 August. I believe I will have to use a VPN as well to set this up. (trudged through the 47 pages but the more I read the more I am lost) Thanks

Yes, with being from the U.K. you’ll defo have to use a VPN to get through to the right page because without it, it’ll just keep looping you back to the U.K. site and you can’t do it from there. From my own experience last week, I would suggest clicking the join chat button as close to 12:00pm U.K. time as you can to reduce the length of time waiting. If you have anymore questions about it then feel free to reach out.

There’s some more recent U.K. based experiences on doing it over here on the U.K. board that might help you out as well:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/anyone-managed-to-book-a-das-using-the-chat-facility.3869066/