Hassling DAS folks in FP lines?

[just stella]

Just to clarify a previous comment. If you have a legitimate, but, invisible disability that prevents you from standing in line for any length of time then that's fair enough. But, if you suffer from anxiety and stressful situations can bring on an attack then avoid that situation, that's what I try and do. I'm sorry, but standing in line isn't one of them as we have to do that in daily life.
I had to learn to deal with my anxiety attacks on my own as it is only recently it has been recognised as a condition and I did that because I knew I couldn't expect any concessions.
I see far too many people, adults and children, with life restricting or life limiting issues to feel sorry for myself and talking myself out of my anxiety attacks really helps and I am certainly not going to seek a DAS when I am physically perfectly capable of doing things.

n/m

 

[ToyStoryManiaMouse]

I developed anxiety as a young teen and still have bouts linked to having been through some terrible events in my life. I don't mean to offend, but, I travel to WDW on my own from the UK and I don't expect special treatment like asking for a DAS. I see children and adults who have physical and mental disabilities that restrict their lives 24/7 and, of course the Make A Wish children and while anxiety and the mild PTSD I am prone to is unpleasant I keep it in perspective in relation to these guests and how fortunate I am not to dependant on a wheelchair, ECV, equipment or on other people to live my everyday life. I find WDW even at its busiest is one of the happiest and relaxing places to be, even if I feel an attack coming on I find a quiet place to ride it out. Let's keep DAS for those who really need it.

There are so many issues here.

1. The idea that you are more fortunate than someone else because you view yourself as less disabled is horribly offensive. Disabled people can live happy and full lives. Their life is not automatically less fortuitous because they are disabled. When we point to a disabled person and think, "Well, at least I am better off than them" we are using them to benefit ourselves. There is an excellent TedTalk about this "inspiration porn".

2. DAS is not asking for special treatment. It is asking for accessibility. If someone needs a wheelchair to move around the park, it is not special treatment for them to be allowed to use this. If someone needs DAS to navigate the park, it is not special treatment. It is just accessibility.

3. If you have to start a sentence saying that you don't mean to offend, it is probably offensive. Saying you don't mean it and the saying it doesn't make it less offensive.

4. Anxiety impacts people in different ways, and the OP was not asking about DAS for anxiety. There are some people who do not need DAS for anxiety and some that do.

5. Just because you can ride out your anxiety doesn't mean someone else can. If you can and they can't, it doesn't mean that they are not trying or just don't want to. No one wants to be so anxious that they can't wait in a line. Everyone is doing the best with their body and their brain that they can. Do your thing, and let others do theirs. But please don't look at me when you see me in the parks with my DAS and noise-cancling headphones and think at least you are not Autistic. There's so many things, including Autism, that make my life absolutely wonderful. You cannot measure the quality of someone's life by how you judge their disability.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

There's so many things, including Autism, that make my life absolutely wonderful. You cannot measure the quality of someone's life by how you judge their disability.

This.
Please don't look at autistic people (or any disability) as something to be thankful you don't have.

That just perpetuates the concept that being different is less.
I have two autistic children, one is an adult, one is a preschooler. I wish I knew that when my oldest was young. I spent so much time trying to make them "normal." I have vowed not to do that with my preschooler.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

I will also add that when we were there in December, we *did* get one really nasty person at the bus stop, of all places!!
(For context, my DS is autistic, but also has some physical struggles and so has a custom wheelchair that looks like a hybrid between a stroller and a wheelchair. I guess he "looks normal," .
They were mad that we got to board first and didn't have to collapse the chair because it's transit ready. They made a "fake disability" comment, and since we were about to be stuck on the bus with them, I did say something. I told them yes, I absolutely spent $4k on a custom chair for a fake disability just so I didn't have to fold it up.
Their wife spent the whole ride giving them the death stare.

 

[Lilsia]

This.
Please don't look at autistic people (or any disability) as something to be thankful you don't have.

That just perpetuates the concept that being different is less.
I have two autistic children, one is an adult, one is a preschooler. I wish I knew that when my oldest was young. I spent so much time trying to make them "normal." I have vowed not to do that with my preschooler.

There is a big difference in accepting a person for who they are and making sure to raise a child to be able to function in society. My niece is autistic and we just see her as "Maddie", not autistic Maddie, but that does not mean that her parents did not do everything possible to help her become someone who can function in today's society. If you see that as trying to make them "normal", then you are missing the point.

 

[Ninjagrrl]

There is a big difference in accepting a person for who they are and making sure to raise a child to be able to function in society. My niece is autistic and we just see her as "Maddie", not autistic Maddie, but that does not mean that her parents did not do everything possible to help her become someone who can function in today's society. If you see that as trying to make them "normal", then you are missing the point.

I'm not going to argue with you, but there is a huge difference in teaching life skills and teaching conformity. Why is it that we teach autistic kids to fit in but we don't teach non autistic kids to be accepting of others with differences?
It's one thing to teach kids they can't bite or hit others. I will not teach them to suppress things that harm no one and make them happy, or help them to process or cope, like flapping or rocking or scripting.

 

[Lilsia]

I'm not going to argue with you, but there is a huge difference in teaching life skills and teaching conformity. Why is it that we teach autistic kids to fit in but we don't teach non autistic kids to be accepting of others with differences?
It's one thing to teach kids they can't bite or hit others. I will not teach them to suppress things that harm no one and make them happy, or help them to process or cope, like flapping or rocking or scripting.

That is the reality that we live in. I am talking about being able to get a job to support and take care of yourself as an adult. It has nothing to do with acceptance and we ALL have to conform in one way or another. Life isn't fair for anyone and that is something that you teach all children, not just those with special needs.

 

[lanejudy]

Let's get back on track -- the thread topic is about any hassles or problems using DAS at WDW now with no FP+ also using that queue.

 

[Mom2Kids2003]

We recently returned from Disney as a first-time DAS user. I have a recently diagnosed "invisibility disability" and was also a bit anxious as to the looks people might give us like you are. We didn't encounter that at all. There was only one lady I remember that shot my family a dirty look, but we let it roll off of our shoulders. All of the CMs were very accommodating and helpful, since I was clueless as to how to get a return time and where to go when we came back to rides. Don't worry about it; enjoy your trip!!

 

[Evita_W]

An easy way to deflect some of this is to point out the the FP queues are also being used for guest recovery when a ride breaks down, Club 33 and other unique circumstances. It isn't perfect, but is shows there may be other reasons people aren't aware of.