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

[audrey2580]

Odd question, but if I’m doing the interview on behalf of my adult son, (he will be in room and available for photo) do I need to be logged into his MDE account? (We are obviously connected as friends and family and will be traveling as a duo.

Yes. My son is an adult and he had to accept the terms and conditions and we were logged into his account.

 

[rdominy]

I know someone else asked this on a previous page, but it is a great question that I would love to know the answer to as well.

Are the dates Disney announced (May 20) the starting date for the interviews or the starting date for park entry?
It is unclear if the dates indicate the start of the trip or that's when the rules will start for the determination.

 

[lanejudy]

I know someone else asked this on a previous page, but it is a great question that I would love to know the answer to as well.

Are the dates Disney announced (May 20) the starting date for the interviews or the starting date for park entry?
It is unclear if the dates indicate the start of the trip or that's when the rules will start for the determination.

I believe there will be some overlap of dates between “old” rules, “interim changes” (like now), and fully under “new” rules. Some changes are already in effect. New rules for qualification will start with video chats taking place on May 20th or after.

 

[brockash]

Just finished with the chat.
Logged on at 6:00a PST / 9:00a EST
Waited about 30 mins for the chat
See below for details.

Take aways: we were able to still reserve 2 advance rides for the length of the trip. The DAS expires when the tickets do.
She informed us that the new 10 min rules will be in effect while we are there.

• Does your trip start before or after the 'new rules' date? If before, are all the days of your trip before?
• 5/21-5/24 (new rules)
• What kind of tickets? Did your ticket type require park reservations? Only date based tickets don't require reservations
• Date based tickets
• Does the person you did registration for fit into the category of developmental disability (autism or similar) that is listed on the website or some other issues/concerns with waiting in the regular lines? REMINDER: don't post specific diagnosis, symptoms or conditions, just 'yes' or 'other'
• Not a developmental disability.
• Did the person end up registered for DAS or other accommodations? If other accommodations, do they sound like they will meet the needs?
• Standard das

So you were able to prebook 2 per day...do you mind sharing of the number of ppl. allowed had changed? We have 5 in our family (was your impression you were still under. the "old" rules so to speak?) Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

 

[greeneyedchick]

Hi, I thought I would share my concerns. I am from the Uk. Last year I travelled to WDW I was a little worried purely because I have a disability that massively impacts every single day. I suffer fro many different symptoms one being that I have very limited energy. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do full on park days. I qualified and used DAS and for the short time I was in the park I could only manage a couple of hours at a time DAS worked so well as it let me go and rest while waiting for the ride time. I actually used the phrase Disney made the impossible possible. I had such a great trip and mostly managed to get the balance of activity and rest about right. (we even booked Caribbean Beach so it was easy to get from 2 of the parks back to the resort for me to rest) When I got home last May there was an offer on for Uk guests and if we booked last summer it made the holiday very attractive(I got dining credits and merch credits). I decided to book a solo trip for September this year (I had travelled with my mum last year who is in her 70s) I am meeting up with friends but will be solo for most of the trip. I booked the trip with the assumption that since I qualified for DAS last year I would qualify again this year. I have paid for most of the holiday as I booked the flights from Scotland to Orlando in November. Had I known there was a good chance I wouldn't get DAS on this years trip I would never have booked. I can't get a refund for the money I have spent so for which is well over $1000 dollars. I am so worried that I will have wasted my money. My life is very limited in terms of what I am able to physically do but nothing makes me more excited and happy than a trip to Orlando. I know nobody really knows what sort of assistance will be available but a wheel chair wouldn't help me if I am on my own and I suffer from concentration issues as well so I don't think it would be safe for me to hire and drive an ECV around the parks. I emailed Disney and explained all of the above and basically got the standard reply. I wish they would just accept documentation that confirms a disability. I understand why they can't. I just think Disney could have handled this so much better. I suspect this will be my last trip to Disney World on a very long time. Other Disney parks around the world ask for evidence and grant me the help for the very same disability so it's very disappointing.

Since you are travelling solo, they may make an exception since rider swap wouldn't work for you.

 

[keishashadow]

At the risk of appearing dense (be kind), have never used rider swap. Thot I did understand its intent. Maybe not

Missing the boat on how it would possibly be a viable solution for a party of two in place of DAS???

Especially, if there is a chance the DAS holder shouldn’t be sitting alone in the park while their companion stands in the queue

 

[audrey2580]

So you were able to prebook 2 per day...do you mind sharing of the number of ppl. allowed had changed? We have 5 in our family (was your impression you were still under. the "old" rules so to speak?) Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

We are a party of 2. Yes, I think I was 100% under the old rules and probably will be offered another accommodation next time we go (like a return to queue pass). Although not sure how that works with a party of 2 when one needs medical help.

 

[SueM in MN]

Odd question, but if I’m doing the interview on behalf of my adult son, (he will be in room and available for photo) do I need to be logged into his MDE account? (We are obviously connected as friends and family and will be traveling as a duo.

You need to be logged into the account that manages his plans.
When you look at the Friends & Family list, each person will either say 'Plans managed by me' or 'Plans managed by someone else'. The words might not be exactly like that, but close.

Be logged into the account that says 'plans managed by me'. I always tell the CM at the beginning of the chat that I am my daughter's mom and legal guardian. If he's able to speak for himself, he can say he wants you to help; he doesn't need to do the speaking completely by himself

 

[lanejudy]

So you were able to prebook 2 per day...do you mind sharing of the number of ppl. allowed had changed? We have 5 in our family (was your impression you were still under. the "old" rules so to speak?) Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

The new limit is 4, presumably with an exception for larger parties of parents plus minor children.

 

[audrey2580]

Thanks for your report!
From email replies I've seen that people got from Disability Services, it appears guests won't actually be registering under ALL the new rules until all the new procedures are in place.

The things I've seen have been that the number of guests limit and 10 minute wait after scanning into the LL entrance are in effect now for people registering. But, some of the procedures, like line re-entry and Rider Switch will not be fully in effect until May 20 for WDW and June 18 for DL

I’m really glad they did for a variety of reasons. One being, it’s really hard to offer someone an accommodation, like a bathroom pass or return to queue, that doesn’t even exist yet. I’m glad Disney is taking the time to figure out the logistics and train the front line CMs before they promise people accommodations that are theory right now.

 

[RamblinWreck]

Has anyone with an AP posted on here about registering yet? Are they doing the 120 day renewal thing now as well?

 

[lanejudy]

Has anyone with an AP posted on here about registering yet? Are they doing the 120 day renewal thing now as well?

I think of you are register under the old rules it is valid for 30 days, but I have not seen an AP confirm that.

 

[Kgrace1989]

Thank you so much. You have actually made me feel so much better. I definitely going to do the interview. I do trust Disney. They have always been amazing in relation to customer service. They were absolutely outstanding last year and thats what encouraged me to book this trip. I absolutely loved it when they said hi Claire as I entered an attraction. Such a small gesture but tis these types of wee things that make the experience that little bit more special.

There are so many negative stories at the moment and I guess I shouldn't read and believe all that I read online. I have been looking forward and getting so excited for this trip but naturally because of my condition this news has been a worry. I am just waiting on a doctor's letter coming through from my specialist so I can upload and get the Universal Disability thing in place! I am spending time at Universal as well!

I am glad my trip is not till September so it gives Disney time to get the new system if you like up and running and iron out issues which they are bound to have.

Thank you again. Claire

Wow, thank you for sharing! that really made me smile knowing that you feel a little more confident about your trip!

And, I agree there are lots of negative things floating around online right now, but I think it might be because people are just so uncertain of where this is headed and what will be available….

Especially after having figured out a way to navigate the parks with DAS, the thought of the unknown is scary.

But I think when it’s all done, we will see that Disney still accommodates those who need help… and hopefully we will see more manageable waits in both the standby lines and LLs (I mean, it’s really not helpful if you show up to a LL and you need to be able to line up in a shorter, less crowded area… and then your still stuck in a 30 minute line).

Because of the unending return time… DAS a wild card for Disney. Where the Genie times have a set return window to allow better flow of both lines.. several large parties with a DAS all showing up at once to ride can really set things back. Once they have more of a handle on how many have the opportunity to show up spontaneously I think it will be a more pleasant experience for everyone

I hope you have an amazing trip

 

[kerrij990]

So it looks like if your trip falls after May 20 (we are May 27-June 4) we still register at 30 days out? Sorry, trying to catch up. And what is the 10 minute rule?

 

[brockash]

The new limit is 4, presumably with an exception for larger parties of parents plus minor children.

Correct, that's not what I was asking though. I quoted the person that called today (had real time first hand experience). We too, are part of the in between crowd where our trip falls after 5/20 but our 30 day window is prior to that. The pp I quoted seemed to understand and while they stated they only had 2 ppl. it seemed they were still under the "old" rules and therefore a party of 5 probably wouldn't have been questioned. - I'm just trying to find real experience info. regarding that type of specific situation so we have a better idea as to what to expect when we call next week.

 

[SarahC97]

So it looks like if your trip falls after May 20 (we are May 27-June 4) we still register at 30 days out? Sorry, trying to catch up. And what is the 10 minute rule?

Looks like it. And the 10 minute rule is that you cannot get another das return time until 10 minutes after you've redeemed your previous one.

 

[diablodancer]

Has this article from People magazine yesterday been shared yet? https://apple.news/Alcz5jGVHS46bZW7rNK6CTw
They mention the autism line that we’re all aware of by now but then there’s this which is new:
“The new guidelines mean people with other disabilities' eligibility for DAS will be determined on a case by case basis by Disney's accessibility team. Caudill says she has not yet taken this step”

 

[zemmer]

Correct, that's not what I was asking though. I quoted the person that called today (had real time first hand experience). We too, are part of the in between crowd where our trip falls after 5/20 but our 30 day window is prior to that. The pp I quoted seemed to understand and while they stated they only had 2 ppl. it seemed they were still under the "old" rules and therefore a party of 5 probably wouldn't have been questioned. - I'm just trying to find real experience info. regarding that type of specific situation so we have a better idea as to what to expect when we call next week.

Mine is a pretty specific circumstance, so I don’t know if it will be much help, but here’s what I wrote to the DAS cast member in chat a couple of days ago.

Hello. I was approved for a DAS on April 7, before the changes were announced. I have a solo trip May x-z so I am the only one registered on the pass. I also have a family trip June x-z (using the rest of the same Military Salute ticket). I had planned to add the rest of my party at the park in June (as I’ve done in the past), but I’m confused if that will be possible with the changes.

Here is her response:
Thank you for your patience. Since you had registered for DAS recently before the party size change and such, you would be able to plan with you up to 5 other guests!

She added my other family members - 2 kids, spouse, 2 grandparents. If it makes a difference, both trips are within 30 days of each other.

 

[lanejudy]

while they stated they only had 2 ppl. it seemed they were still under the "old" rules and therefore a party of 5 probably wouldn't have been questioned.

Right. There is a bit of a mish-mash of old and new right now. To my knowledge the new limit of 4 is now in place, despite the old rules of DAS eligibility and Advanced Selections. But if you are a family of 2 parents + 3 minor children, I do believe that will be accepted even under the new limited.

 

[lanejudy]

both trips are within 30 days of each other.

Are both within 60 days of the April trip? The May trip should be fine but if the June trip is further out you still would have needed to re-register even under the old rules.