disabilities assistance Abuse

[WonderlandisReality]

Once, I asked a Disney Rep, why they don't require medical information like Six Flags does to get a DAS pass. The rep stated, they couldn't ask for that information because fast passes were free and monateraly there was no gain. Since, Six Flags charges for fast passes there is a monetary difference that allowed them to get paperwork because you are getting a paid service for free. So, maybe if Disney goes to paid fast passes they would implement a system that verifies for to get a DAS.

Universal charges for Express Pass and we didn’t need to supply medical documentation to get their DAS equivalent

 

[OurBigTrip]

Universal charges for Express Pass and we didn’t need to supply medical documentation to get their DAS equivalent

Does the DAS equivalent use a return time, or does it offer instant access to the Express line?

 

[WonderlandisReality]

Does the DAS equivalent use a return time, or does it offer instant access to the Express line?

For us it worked like express pass on everything except the train. We got a return time for 45 minutes later, went to the bathroom and the attendant caught my attention and said we could board right away so I think, both?

 

[HopperFan]

Does the DAS equivalent use a return time, or does it offer instant access to the Express line?

We have used the Universal Disability Pass for years. It is a card that you present at the attraction and they give you a return time to come back. I always read if the line is less than 30 minutes they were supposed to let you go in without a wait ... but we found that only happened when it was closer to 15-20 minutes. SO it has never worked as an Express Pass for us.

It is a more difficult to get than an DAS, and they are very strict with the number 6 on it. A few times we have had 7 and were always refused.

 

[Branderson610]

Universal charges for Express Pass and we didn’t need to supply medical documentation to get their DAS equivalent

I think it just depends on the company, Six Flags, Sea World and Cedar Point all have a documentation verification system.The Cast member said that because Fast Passes are free to everyone that DAS does not give an advantage opposed to other parks where that service is not free and this allows them to validate handing out paid services for free.

 

[Evita_W]

I think it just depends on the company, Six Flags, Sea World and Cedar Point all have a documentation verification system.The Cast member said that because Fast Passes are free to everyone that DAS does not give an advantage opposed to other parks where that service is not free and this allows them to validate handing out paid services for free.

Cedar Fair and SeaWorld parks do not have a verification system, but they do all more questions to advise what is safe for each individual.

 

[Yinn]

You need look no further that the “handicap” parking lot. It’s quite common to see families park in a handicap spot, hop out and jog up to the gate. Obviously using someone else’s placard.

Maybe? A family went to do a handicap drop off. I can see a family helping someone out of the carat the drop off point before going back to the parking lot to park. This may be especially true if the family finds the individual stubborn and refuses to accept the use of a wheelchair.

Why the handicap lot? Because while Mr. Stubborn was essentially forced out of the car to be dropped off, perhaps Mr. Stubborn is not ok with waiting to be picked up and will insist on walking with the family to the car at the end of the day.

Probably the worst is when people get a scooter or wheelchair just to get some type of advantage. Our last we actually came across a family that was arguing on who turn it was to ride in the wheelchair.

Maybe? Someone has an unrepairable bone chip/fracture in their foot. Capable of normal movement, heck even jogging. However 6-9 miles of walking in hot weather, hours of standing aggravates it, causing swelling, pain, which shifts the pressure and weight just enough to cause an occasional dislocation in their toes. One of which is sudden and quite painful when it happens and until you get pop it back in. Perhaps this is the same Mr. Stubborn and refuses to use a wheelchair and/or scooter because they are fully capable of walking. Yet the concerned family rented one just in case and the kids are more than happy to fight over who gets to play with it while avoiding some walking.

Of course there are people with disabilities that may not be obvious to the untrained eye. My issue is with People that abuse the system. They should be ashamed, its embarrassing.

The problem is you don't know who is and who isn't abusing the system. Your post may very well be valid, there may be folks who are abusing the system. However, you're also adding pressure to all the Mr. Stubborns out there.

There are families who struggle to get their disabled loved ones to accept reality. Who want nothing more than for them to be comfortable during the trip. It's bad enough to have to fight them because "I'm fully capable d!@%t!" They are working through their own pride and ego, unjustified judgment only gives them more reason to fight it and potentially injure themselves further.

 

[notatallmagic]

Would you mind explaining the DAS failure? Was the wait too long? We're here now and some of the waits have been over 10 minutes, closer to 20. I think that's going to be more common as WDW still doesn't have enough open shops, shows and restaurants to take the increased crowds.



That's a tricky one - did you tell the people behind you (and in the area) what you needed to do?



And what if those medical records meant nothing to the CM and you didn't get the pass? A medical record doesn't say anything about needs either, just condition.



Okay, I'm going to try to ask this without sounding like a jerk, and mods, feel free to delete if I don't get it right - but if your husband looks fit, strong, etc, then how is he 100% disabled? To me, 100% disabled means a nonverbal, mentally disabled, and physically disabled person, like my cousin's daughter who is an adult but cannot walk, talk, or take care of any of her own needs. She is not toilet trained, cannot sit upright without support, and has no language at all to communicate. Is the term 100% disabled veteran a military designation?

Thanks for your question! Our epic DAS fail was having to wait over 25 minutes to check back in for our DAS for Splash Mountain. We already had our return time; and the check in line was super crowded, and 100% in the sun with a heat index of over 100 degrees. Our total wait time ended up being over 45 minutes, with my daughter experiencing a medical crisis during the ride. Totally avoidable, had the DAS signage (there wasn't any, resulting in load of people in the DAS line that didn't even have DAS) and Cast Member (untrained, one poor guy) been appropriate. We wont' be back for awhile, at least until Disney gets their act together.

 

[notatallmagic]

Cedar Fair and SeaWorld parks do not have a verification system, but they do all more questions to advise what is safe for each individual.

We live less than 30 minutes from Cedar Point, and have not had to "verify" anything. The process for approval was virtually identical to Disney's, but we didn't have to, nor were we asked, to provide any documentation, nor were any specific questions asked.

 

[MissSha]

Years ago Disney would really go out of they way to help those with disabilities to have a Disney experience. That’s really not the case anyone. Why? My theory is there are so many people abusing the system.

You need look no further that the “handicap” parking lot. It’s quite common to see families park in a handicap spot, hop out and jog up to the gate. Obviously using someone else’s placard.

Folks slap a “Emotional Support Animal” vest on the family pet and poof: Service animal!

Probably the worst is when people get a scooter or wheelchair just to get some type of advantage. Our last we actually came across a family that was arguing on who turn it was to ride in the wheelchair.

Our son has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair full time and the slight advantages that Disney used to provide helped a bit but there are so many things we can’t do.

We’ve spoken to cast members on this issue and they basically told us they are not allowed to question guests and the fact that so many guests are abusing the system they cut back on the assistance. Somewhere along the lines the term “handicap” got lost.

Of course there are people with disabilities that may not be obvious to the untrained eye. My issue is with People that abuse the system. They should be ashamed, its embarrassing.

Perhaps this would not happen as often if people with scooters and their families were not put in the front of the line for attractions? Maybe if they waited in the same line as everyone else people wouldn't be as eager to "get some type of advantage"?

 

[Branderson610]

We live less than 30 minutes from Cedar Point, and have not had to "verify" anything. The process for approval was virtually identical to Disney's, but we didn't have to, nor were we asked, to provide any documentation, nor were any specific questions asked.

Okay, I thought I saw they needed documentation when I was researching that park, guess I was wrong. However, I have done six flags many times and you do need documentation.

 

[lanejudy]

Perhaps this would not happen as often if people with scooters and their families were not put in the front of the line for attractions? Maybe if they waited in the same line as everyone else people wouldn't be as eager to "get some type of advantage"?

Scooters, wheelchairs, mobility devices do NOT get front-of-the-line access to attractions. The vast majority go through the regular mainstream queue, while some use DAS which requires an equivalent waiting period outside of the queue.

 

[DisSurfer878]

Perhaps this would not happen as often if people with scooters and their families were not put in the front of the line for attractions? Maybe if they waited in the same line as everyone else people wouldn't be as eager to "get some type of advantage"?

I don't understand where the idea that this is a thing comes from, because it's not, and if you did two seconds of research, you'd know that.

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks for your question! Our epic DAS fail was having to wait over 25 minutes to check back in for our DAS for Splash Mountain. We already had our return time; and the check in line was super crowded, and 100% in the sun with a heat index of over 100 degrees. Our total wait time ended up being over 45 minutes, with my daughter experiencing a medical crisis during the ride. Totally avoidable, had the DAS signage (there wasn't any, resulting in load of people in the DAS line that didn't even have DAS) and Cast Member (untrained, one poor guy) been appropriate. We wont' be back for awhile, at least until Disney gets their act together.

I will verify that this situation was a problem for us as well in July, although I wouldn't call it a DAS failure but rather a staffing failure, which impacted DAS guests.

Splash was one of the worst locations. Normal times there are approx 3 CMs at the entrance but over two days there we experienced only 1. No one was working the entrance to the Standby Line. ONE CM was working the entrance to the FP+ line where he had to (1) Give out DAS times (2) Give out Child Swap times (3) "Debate" with guests asking for DAS time who didn't have DAS (4) "Debate" with guests trying to use their MagicBand to just enter the line because .... (5) Check back in Child Swap guests (6) Check back in DAS guests (7) Check back in Recovery FP guests. At times the line was longer than when FP+ is operating but it was understaffed.

 

[MissSha]

I don't understand where the idea that this is a thing comes from, because it's not, and if you did two seconds of research, you'd know that.

No need for me to do any seconds of research....not my post, merely a reply to one.

 

[MissSha]

Scooters, wheelchairs, mobility devices do NOT get front-of-the-line access to attractions. The vast majority go through the regular mainstream queue, while some use DAS which requires an equivalent waiting period outside of the queue.

Not according to a vlog posted on youtube just last night when that clearly happened. I have no problem with people using scooters...it may make the difference about whether they can handle the physical toll of a disney trip. But to say they do not get front of the line access is not always the case.....let's face it, we've all seen it done.

 

[notatallmagic]

Okay, I thought I saw they needed documentation when I was researching that park, guess I was wrong. However, I have done six flags many times and you do need documentation.

I can only speak to our experience; but we didn't need anything for Cedar Point. I certainly would be prepared though, especially if you are driving in from a distance.

 

[notatallmagic]

I will verify that this situation was a problem for us as well in July, although I wouldn't call it a DAS failure but rather a staffing failure, which impacted DAS guests.

Splash was one of the worst locations. Normal times there are approx 3 CMs at the entrance but over two days there we experienced only 1. No one was working the entrance to the Standby Line. ONE CM was working the entrance to the FP+ line where he had to (1) Give out DAS times (2) Give out Child Swap times (3) "Debate" with guests asking for DAS time who didn't have DAS (4) "Debate" with guest trying to use their MagicBand to just enter the line because .... (5) Check back in Child Swap guests (6) Check back in DAS guests (7) Check back in Recovery FP guests. At times the line was longer than when FP+ is operating but it was understaffed.

I agree; I think proper staffing (most rides had at least 3 people working DAS) would have helped. However, the line was more a mass of people, many/most of which weren't using DAS at all. I think signage and additional Cast Members further out to direc traffic would have helped too. Nobody in the mass near us was using DAS; lots of wheelchairs without DAS, Recovery FastPasses (group of 12 in front of us), and other circumstances. And having an "earning my ears" Cast Member by himself was a trainwreck.

 

[Lilsia]

Perhaps this would not happen as often if people with scooters and their families were not put in the front of the line for attractions? Maybe if they waited in the same line as everyone else people wouldn't be as eager to "get some type of advantage"?

Now I see what your issue is. You are thinking that things are still as they used to be. GAC changed to DAS in 2013. So not since then has a wheelchair or ECV been sent to the front of the line. And yes, this did pretty much cut off most of the abuse. I remember it well, because there was a very significant, very noticeable drop in the number of rented wheelchairs and ECVs after that. I also remember all of the people arguing with cast members about it. When was the last time that you were actually at WDW?

 

[lanejudy]

Not according to a vlog posted on youtube just last night when that clearly happened. I have no problem with people using scooters...it may make the difference about whether they can handle the physical toll of a disney trip. But to say they do not get front of the line access is not always the case.....let's face it, we've all seen it done.

I did not see the Vlog post you mention, and I don't know if there is some misunderstanding of the situation, but I can assure you that mobility devices do not receive front-of-the-line access. Only children on Make-A-Wish trips receive that. To others in a standby queue it may seem as though DAS is getting to go through quickly, but what they don't see is that the party arrived earlier to get a DAS return time and then went elsewhere to wait. When they return they use the FP queue. Others who may be using the FP queue at this time include people on VIP tours, Club 33 members, and guests with recovery FPs (which may be issued due to a ride breakdown or some problem during their visit).