DAS changes coming WDW May 20/ DL June 18, 2024

[OurBigTrip]

It doesn’t meet his needs. So Disney has to provide something else.

We’ll see.

 

[mercuryvenus]

We can all see your posts where you compared work accommodations to public accommodations and said the two sections of the ADA were the same.

I never said the two sections were the same. I said theme parks fall under ADA.

 

[audrey2580]

On the main thread I saw someone comment about video chats being back to multi hour waits bc people are going on there to ask questions. Hopefully that calms down... But honestly what did they expect? They didn't even bother formally announcing this, just quietly updating the website.

Right? I was wondering this: if, for whatever personal reason, you had to apply in person after 5/20 they said it's going to be on a provided ipad at WDW. Are they going to take you right away in the chat or will you be standing and waiting in guest services for 3-4 hours like we all do online at home?
I'm hoping Disney takes this opportunity to really ramp up that DAS call center to cut down on waits.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I never said the two sections were the same. I said theme parks fall under ADA.

Yeah, ok

 

[disneyholic family]

The problem with genie+ is the return time is specified. If it's from 10:30 to 11:30, you have to be there within that time.
With DAS you can return any time until that attraction closes for the day.
This is a major difference.

 

[mercuryvenus]

Yeah, ok

I don’t know why you’re being so rude.

 

[ryang25]

Does anyone have any knowledge that could perhaps explain why Disney decided developmental disabilities such as autism would be the qualifying DAS disabilities that could progress to an assessment? I am just genuinely curious. I know ASD falls on a spectrum and not all may qualify, but that is the case with other conditions too. I am not for one second suggesting that this group should not be eligible for DAS. Just trying to understand why this is the group that are eligible to proceed to an assessment. Would the leave-the-line solution not be appropriate?

I suspect I will be told that for some, leave-the-line would work. For others, it wouldn’t. Why is it that other conditions appear to be simply excluded from DAS entirely if that is the case?

 

[Becky Mouse]

I don't have "bathroom issues" but absolutely agree with you! In my case and challenges with T1 diabetes, the leave-the-line will not work for me. This poster needs to stop with the repeated leave-the-line will fix all the non-physical disabilities with the only solution of "buy G+", ignoring the fact over and over that this paid service does not accommodate that, which has been state numerous time, which DAS currently does.

The poster you're referring to, I believe, is me. But, once again, I think people are taking their anger at Disney out on me for simply repeating what Disney said. Disney said that DAS is meant for a small percentage of people with severe developmental disabilities and autism.

Diabetes is not a developmental disability. So, I believe Disney will accommodate your needs, but in a different way that is not DAS. Please don't respond at anger directed at me for that ("don't shoot the messenger" and whatnot). I mentioned their new accommodations that they're rolling out as one possibility, such as a Return to Line pass. That doesn't mean that is what they will offer you specifically. All you can be fairly certain of is that you won't be offered DAS. I'm not sure what they will offer you instead. At my school, I have a student with Type I diabetes. She has medical exceptions to have a phone out to track her sugar, she can be escorted to the nurse whenever it's needed, and she has liberal food, water, and bathroom privileges. So, if Disney is allowing you to track your sugar, eat and drink when you need to, test your sugar & administer your insulin, and leave the line to take care of your medical needs and return, that sounds pretty good. If you need something else specifically (such as a cold place to store your medicine or a place to deposit needles if you require injections or a private area to administer your injections), I'm sure they will try to accommodate that as well.

 

[LuvinTheWorld]

2) Don’t allow DAS holders to ride other rides while they are waiting. So for example if they tap for Space Mountain and it is a 50 minute wait then they can come back in 50 minutes but they can’t use the time to do other rides. You can shop, eat, rest but then you take away the advantage of being able to wait and ride more rides at the same time

This seems impossible to police. Since you don't tap into the regular line, then what would you do? Hire people to comb through MB data? Even then, you'd have to make sure they weren't riding anything else in the EXACT time window, as you can't penalize them for riding Little Mermaid on their way back to Space Mountain if they're 50 minute wait is up but they haven't tapped into Space Mountain yet. Seems like it would take more time/money than it is worth.

 

[ryang25]

The poster you're referring to, I believe, is me. But, once again, I think people are taking their anger at Disney out on me for simply repeating what Disney said. Disney said that DAS is meant for a small percentage of people with severe developmental disabilities and autism. Diabetes is not a developmental disability. So, I believe Disney will accommodate your needs, but in a different way that is not DAS. I mentioned their new accommodations that they're rolling out as one possibility, such as a Return to Line pass. That doesn't mean that is what they will offer you specifically. All you can be fairly certain of is that you won't be offered DAS. I'm not sure what they will offer you instead. At my school, I have a student with Type I diabetes. She has medical exceptions to have a phone out to track her sugar, she can be escorted to the nurse whenever it's needed, and she has liberal food, water, and bathroom privileges. So, if Disney is allowing you to track your sugar, eat and drink when you need to, and leave the line to take care of your medical needs and return, that sounds pretty good. If you need something else specifically (such as a cold place to store your medicine or a place to deposit needles if you require injections), I'm sure they will try to accommodate that as well.

What’s your opinion on (seemingly) Disney’s rationale to make DAS a potential option for only those with developmental disabilities? You seem to agree that’s appropriate, so I am just genuinely interested as to why you think it’s the right decision. I say seemingly as it could turn out they expand the definition of who is eligible. If that happens, would you then disagree with Disney?

 

[OurBigTrip]

Does anyone have any knowledge that could perhaps explain why Disney decided developmental disabilities such as autism would be the qualifying DAS disabilities that could progress to an assessment? I am just genuinely curious. I know ASD falls on a spectrum and not all may qualify, but that is the case with other conditions too. I am not for one second suggesting that this group should not be eligible for DAS. Just trying to understand why this is the group that are eligible to proceed to an assessment. Would the leave-the-line solution not be appropriate?

I suspect I will be told that for some, leave-the-line would work. For others, it wouldn’t. Why is it that other conditions appear to be simply excluded from DAS entirely if that is the case?

Totally personal opinion here, so take it for what it’s worth…

I think it’s because in the federal court case that Disney won over ending the GAC, the court ruled that DAS was a reasonable accommodation for autism. As such, I think Disney felt that they had to include that language in the initial release so as not to be seen as potentially taking away an accommodation that a court ruled was adequate for a specific group.

 

[traveler9]

This seems impossible to police. Since you don't tap into the regular line, then what would you do? Hire people to comb through MB data? Even then, you'd have to make sure they weren't riding anything else in the EXACT time window, as you can't penalize them for riding Little Mermaid on their way back to Space Mountain if they're 50 minute wait is up but they haven't tapped into Space Mountain yet. Seems like it would take more time/money than it is worth.

They should add tap points at the standby lines. Remy, Guardians, and TRON already have them.

 

[Ash10]

Disney is required to provide reasonable accommodations for access to attractions. It's not required to accommodate unreasonable expectations. I don't see why a theme park located in a humid, subtropical climate should provide an environment where guests aren't exposed to heat. Guests voluntarily make the choice to visit a theme park located in Florida. If someone has a condition where they can't be exposed to cold, should they expect a ski resort to accommodate that?

Something I have noticed while reading this thread is that many travel parties have multiple individuals with a condition/disability (e.g. I won't qualify anymore but 2 other people in my travel party will qualify). I think this highlights the issue of how prevalent disabilities/conditions are. What is the answer then? There is no physical/financial way for Disney to provide reduced waits for every single party that identifies as having an issue.

I think the often parroted claim that DAS users are waiting the same amount of time (or more) than non-DAS users needs to be toned down. Non-DAS users are not waiting in line as soon as they enter the park and while walking to the attraction. Non-DAS users aren't waiting in line while eating or meeting a character. Non-DAS users aren't waiting in line for Slinky Dog Dash while they ride Rise of the Resistance. Non-DAS users aren't waiting in line while they return to the resort for a nap or a swim break. I'm not saying this shouldn't be in place, but I don't think it's honest to say the "waits" are equivalent.

You may be viewing this as someone without a disability which is greatly impacted by long wait lines. And from a cheat perspective, which I get. But all I know who use DAS are not riding 10 das rides a day plus other rides. It is typically a handful of DAS, if that, and even less prior to Genie+ rollout. Waits for das may include 30min to 1 hr in the bathrooms or in a corner of a store trying to cool off enough to regulate your blood sugar/body temp, neuropathy, or overstimulation to continue to the next location. Many times, the das is not even used bc the das holder had to leave for the day. I work with special needs and cannot imagine my families riding das plus others all day. With DAS, they are able to experience the parks in a similar way, even though it will never be the same exact experience or even ride the same amount. But can enjoy enough of the park experience and magic through the disabling ailment. The same goes with many other “non-developmental” disabilities. So when people refer to wait times, they are reminding others that it is not just skipping the lines, and it does not mean they are riding twice the amount as others. Those out of line waits are to ensure the ability to continue their day as “normal” as possible.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You may be viewing this as someone without a disability which is greatly impacted by long wait lines. And from a cheat perspective, which I get. But all I know who use DAS are not riding 10 das rides a day plus other rides. It is typically a handful of DAS, if that, and even less prior to Genie+ rollout. Waits for das may include 30min to 1 hr in the bathrooms or in a corner of a store trying to cool off enough to regulate your blood sugar/body temp, neuropathy, or overstimulation to continue to the next location. Many times, the das is not even used bc the das holder had to leave for the day. I work with special needs and cannot imagine my families riding das plus others all day. With DAS, they are able to experience the parks in a similar way, even though it will never be the same exact experience or even ride the same amount. But can enjoy enough of the park experience and magic through the disabling ailment. The same goes with many other “non-developmental” disabilities. So when people refer to wait times, they are reminding others that it is not just skipping the lines, and it does not mean they are riding twice the amount as others. Those out of line waits are to ensure the ability to continue their day as “normal” as possible.

Disney data disagrees with the idea that DAS holders don’t ride more than non-DAS holders. Not every single one of course, but on average.

 

[Becky Mouse]

They should add tap points at the standby lines. Remy, Guardians, and TRON already have them.

Yesssss! I agree! That would also help with the Return to Line accommodation. Let's say a person scans into a standby line at Pirates. After about 20 minutes, they need to leave for a medical reason (ie., they have Crohn's symptoms flare up and need to use the bathroom). They might not be able to stop and wait for a cast member. They could go straight to where they need to go, and then when they return later (even if it is an hour later), the cast member could confirm they had tapped into the line and then allow them to enter the LL to finish their wait and ride Pirates.

Adding the tap points would be such a good idea, but I'm guessing it would take a lot to add them to all the attractions throughout WDW. It would probably make sense to add them first to the attractions with the longest wait times. Then, like you said, if someone with DAS is waiting virtually for one ride, they can't go physically stand in a queue for another ride and game the system.

 

[ryang25]

Totally personal opinion here, so take it for what it’s worth…

I think it’s because in the federal court case that Disney won over ending the GAC, the court ruled that DAS was a reasonable accommodation for autism. As such, I think Disney felt that they had to include that language in the initial release so as not to be seen as potentially taking away an accommodation that a court ruled was adequate for a specific group.

That’s interesting. It makes sense, though on the official page they state it’s intended ‘only’ for those conditions. Doesn’t seem moral to only keep DAS for the conditions where a federal case was involved. That federal case didn’t consider other conditions.

I think that shows that the selection of conditions to include really isn’t based on guests’ needs which is what I have a massive problem with. If they just open up the CM calls to all possible accommodations, and assign based on user need, that is a lot fairer.

 

[Unity]

I don’t know why you’re being so rude.

Better to ignore them at this point. You're not gonna change their mind and they are deadset on their opinion.

On a slightly related point, I've seen several people point out 'well, Disney doesn't have to provide DAS. They don't for wheelchairs and other items.' And I mean... yeah?

They don't. But they do, and I'm grateful they do. But we can say 'hey this doesn't help deter the cheats and actually setback people.'

And comparing DAS to EVC and wheelchairs that Disney rents out and other necessary items are a bit silly as one could own those and bring them in. You can't own DAS, and multiple people have pointed out how Genie + would not work for a lot of DAS users, and it is limited [bringing in your own device is not.]

We'll see what happens, but it is saddening a lack of empathy a lot of people have shown in this thread. It is what it is, but I'll probably be checking out of it until we get some real news.

 

[OurBigTrip]

That’s interesting. It makes sense, though on the official page they state it’s intended ‘only’ for those conditions. Doesn’t seem moral to only keep DAS for the conditions where a federal case was involved. That federal case didn’t consider other conditions.

I think that shows that the selection of conditions to include really isn’t based on guests’ needs which is what I have a massive problem with. If they just open up the CM calls to all possible accommodations, and assign based on user need, that is a lot fairer.

First, they aren’t keeping it only for the federal case - the federal case involved autism, and the Disney site also mentions developmental disabilities.

And it could be that Disney is priming for another set of lawsuits for people who are now going to seemingly be excluded from the DAS.

It’s not cheap, but Disney may feel that from an operational impact and guest satisfaction impact (both of which cost lists of money over the long haul), it may be that they feel they are in firm enough ground to win again and have the issue settled for another group of disabilities.

Again, all conjecture on my part .

 

[LuvinTheWorld]

They should add tap points at the standby lines. Remy, Guardians, and TRON already have them.

They could, but it would cost them money. IDK if it is worth it to them to spend the money to police whether DAS holders go on other rides. Cost might outweigh the benefits for them.

 

[elvispursley]

I don’t think that requiring documentation is going to solve the abuse problem. Those that want to “cheat” are going to find away around it.

I recently had an experience with 2 people and a German Shepherd in a public waiting room. I was trying to get to a seat and a guy had the dog drinking water from the public water fountain and slobbering all over. I had to risk falling (using crutches from a week old total knee replacement) walking in slobber and water on a tile floor just so I could sit down. I did ask, “Is that slobber?” The guy responded with, “It won’t kill you.” To me, fine give your dog some water, but clean up your mess but I didn’t say it. The guy left and the woman came back with the dog, took a cup and walked over to where I was sitting and said to the dog, “Here, you can slobber all you want.” I totally ignored her. Both of them became very obnoxious with the dog and making sure it slobbered everywhere. A gentleman mentioned something to the woman. She responded with, “He is a service dog!” Now, knowing and having been around real and true service dogs, I asked, “Where is his vest?” “He doesn’t need one!” was her response. She further went on, “But I have papers saying he is a service dog.” Because I had seen the dog with both people, I asked, “Oh! What service does your dog provide?” She responded with, “That is against HIPAA!” I said, “You can tell what service the dog provides without disclosing any PHI and HIPAA doesn’t apply in this situation.” They both continued to be very obnoxious with the dog who was clearly not trained at all. They loudly called me a B over 12 times to each other and to others. The manager of the establishment arrived and come to find out it was an “emotional support” dog but not for a particular person in the party. The manager was nice, looked at their “papers” and basically kicked them out. Later the manager came over and apologized to me and the gentleman sitting there. He commented that the “papers” were definitely “produced.” He knew the woman as she “used to work” for them. It angers me when people game the system to basically get what they want.

As someone with a service dog, this is absolutely disgusting behavior on the part of the owners of the dog. I have NEVER seen a service dog drink from a fountain. I always carry a collapsible bowl and bottle of water for my girl. While it is true that a service dog doesn't require a vest (I tend to always have one on my dog to avoid unnecessary confrontations), there are no credentials that service dogs are required to have/produce (case in point, my dog is owner-trained and does not have any "papers"). But I am absolutely required to explain what services my dog provides for me. So disappointing that this dog was a poor representation of what service dogs (or even emotion support animals) are. Even service animals, if causing a disruption, can be asked to leave.