New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[DryerLintFan]

When you say “broke down.” Do you mean the show stopped in the middle and they made everyone exit?

No the one time it repeated one room seven times. The second time we went on it it repeated the first room twice and the third room just stopped completely for about 7 minutes

 

[DryerLintFan]

I know this is way down on this particular thread but has anyone noticed that some of these low wait rides are "you must be ambulatory" to experience. Some people are unable to enjoy Tom Sawyer Island, Swiss Family Tree house, People mover and Peter Pans fight. Okay I know the last one is not a low wait ride it just was on my list.

Ambulatory, yes. But you can be slow. I think that’s what we love the most about TSI, besides the benches and shade. You can be as slow as you need to and you aren’t in anybody’s way.

Although you added PP to the list and you cannot be slow on that, at least getting On and off.

 

[Happyday]

Ambulatory, yes. But you can be slow. I think that’s what we love the most about TSI, besides the benches and shade. You can be as slow as you need to and you aren’t in anybody’s way.

Although you added PP to the list and you cannot be slow on that, at least getting On and off.

I totally agree but unfortunately we travel with someone that is unable to get out of a wheelchair without help so even PP is a no go for us that is a rider swap ride for us if we decide to ride. This individual would also benefit from TSI because of how relaxing it is but you learn to live with and adapt to your abilities.

 

[peter11435]

No the one time it repeated one room seven times. The second time we went on it it repeated the first room twice and the third room just stopped completely for about 7 minutes

Ah.. repeating rooms is actually not the attraction breaking down but rather guests not following instructions. If anyone exits the theater in the middle of the show it causes the rotation to be stopped for safety and guests repeat a scene.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Ah.. repeating rooms is actually not the attraction breaking down but rather guests not following instructions. If anyone exits the theater in the middle of the show it causes the rotation to be stopped for safety and guests repeat a scene.

Man i wish i knew that then honestly we considered leaving the theater ourselves and now im glad i didn’t because the others would have had to go 8 times

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

We never had a DAS but have been in Das groups, mainly in the last 10 years
It seems to me that when they switched to LL "out of GREED no other reason" the lines were moving and the DAS groups were few and didn't have a long wait , compared to what they can have now in the LL .
Having a DAS now means you will still be in the LL with some serious wait times.
The Excessive cost and lines in both LL and standby have driven people to take advantage of all the loopholes to get a DAS.
Their GREED has caused this change not more need for DAS just some people abusing the system because of the long waits.

The Red Herring in all this is saying there's plenty of other rides that you don't have as long of a wait when we all know this about getting the hard to get on rides with the expensive LL's, which has been our experience with a DAS group...

Genie+ has also created long lines that never existed before, using DCA as an example the Little Mermaid and Monsters rarely ever got over 15 minutes before, no need to use DAS for them, now that they have Genie they’re frequently over 30 minutes and the LL/DAS line is as long as the standby line. That’s 2 more DAS uses for every DAS guest that didn’t exist before.

Genie+ itself encourages abuse because there’s nothing with a short line to do between the long line rides.

 

[peter11435]

Man i wish i knew that then honestly we considered leaving the theater ourselves and now im glad i didn’t because the others would have had to go 8 times

Yeah, and that’s why it becomes a bigger problem. Once it happens once others are inclined to do the same which causes it to happen again and again and encourages more and more guests to exit.

 

[KDM31091]

Personally, I thought the 2020/2021 version of WDW was ideal, other than the global pandemic part. No Genie, no Fastpass, no nothing. Everyone stands in the same line, it moves quickly. Of course, now that they have monetized it, there's no going back.

 

[peter11435]

Personally, I thought the 2020/2021 version of WDW was ideal, other than the global pandemic part. No Genie, no Fastpass, no nothing. Everyone stands in the same line, it moves quickly. Of course, now that they have monetized it, there's no going back.

DAS still existed during that time period though… and it in many ways is what led to the current problem.

 

[Trauma]

I’m not dividing anyone - Disney has. Severity doesn’t factor into that. By not factoring severity for, say, developmental disabilities it avoids uncomfortable and inappropriate discussions. Frankly, it’s offensive, like people who discredit how severe a type of form of autism is, or those who weigh in on how debilitating a form of Down Syndrome may be. If it’s a developmental disability, I have no objection to DAS eligibility.

I’m confused by your “medical documentation showing they need DAS” suggestion. Is there a “I need DAS” form that the AMA or the AAP has promulgated? What I or you or anyone else feels is necessary is irrelevant. Only Disney gets to decide who, or what categories, suffice for DAS eligibility. “_____ needs it” is subjective and may not be reasonable under the law. If Disney chooses to make exceptions for various physical disabilities to the point their existing accommodations are insufficient, that’s on them.

Is there an I need DAS form?



A person with a severe disability goes to their primary care doctor and provides the information about what accommodations Disney is providing.

Primary care doctor, being intimately familiar with the disabled persons needs, determines those accommodations would not be sufficient for them to partake in the parks.

What Disney has decided, is irregardless of that fact, the guest will only receive what accommodations are available for their “group” of disability.

Just to be clear this is what you’re in favor of ?

 

[flynnibus]

Like I said, the cast member may be requesting DAS for a child, spouse, or other relative or acquaintance.

The majority of cast members do not work attractions.

Whatever medical diagnosis Disneys health services department may be aware of for a particular cast member.. that Information would not and should not be available to other employees in the company.

1) the user who is getting the DAS vs who is simply in the party is known
2) attractions was just an example - but it doesn't minimize the example of how potential conflicts can be flagged
3) Hence why I said "and escalate to the proper department to look further if desired." -- This can be done w/o revealing information by simply flagging people's names and having the relevant people involved and follow-up.

The difference is they are employees using their company provided benefit, so the fact they are registering for a DAS isn't going to be 'hidden' from the employer side of the company.

 

[natatomic]

Yeah, but if someone who say... works attractions and therefore is out standing in lines and crowds for hours at a time... and then tries to claim they can't stand in lines or enclosed spaces for developmental issues... I think it would be kinda easy to flag such an intersection for further scrutiny.

Unlike regular customers, CMs are also using a company provided privilege when accessing the park. They are employees using an employer provided benefit. I would wager in those conditions the company would be allowed to cross-reference the information they have about the employee and their requests for DAS accommodations... and escalate to the proper department to look further if desired.

When I worked at KRR, I worked with a 30yo man who was known for picking up as many shifts as possible, worked 6-7 days a week, and often worked 10-12 hour a day when park hours allowed for it.

A majority of a CM’s day at KRR is spent walking on that turn table. Or if not walking there, standing in a stationary position. And let’s not forget the half mile walk from the parking lot all the way to the back of the park.

He also frequently trained for marathons, and was very vocal about it.

He had a GAC for his “bad knee” from a football injury in college.

Could managers got him in trouble for “faking?” Maybe. But…he also had a government-issued handicap placard for his car. Did he have a “bad” knee? Probably. Did it actually stop him from being able to do anything physical? Clearly not. Does he have proof of a doctor that he “can’t wait in line?” Apparently.

And yes, I know nowadays, mobility issues don’t qualify, but that’s not my point.

The point is Disney could easily try to accuse CMs of faking whatever issue they have. But…I guarantee you there are a not-small number of them that do have some small documented issue that technically falls under the DAS umbrella, but while they actually don’t NEED the DAS, they say they do because, well, they can. And Disney would risk a very hefty lawsuit if they accused a person of lying when they in fact, on paper, have some sort of disability Disney allows DAS access for.

Maybe these changes are gonna fix a lot of that abuse. But I really don’t think Disney ever is going to go after their own CM disability cheaters.

 

[Tha Realest]

Primary care doctor, being intimately familiar with the disabled persons needs, determines those accommodations would not be sufficient for them to partake in the parks.

This is not for a doctor to decide. It’s up to Disney, and perhaps if challenged, the courts. Of course a prospective guest and their doctor are going to have a certain view. Disney can consider that, but it’s a factor, not something they have to go along with.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

there’s definitely cast members who are on the spectrum - if Autism grants DAS then why shouldn’t they be able to use it?

 

[shambolicdefending]

A few well-respected and connected posters have hinted that Disney has a very clear idea - probably more detailed and specific than we think - about the whos, whats, and wheres of current DAS abuse.

I get the feeling the company is being intentionally vague in its language, but behind the curtain they're putting tripwires in place to target some very specific things. And, I would guess those are things virtually all of us would agree should be targeted and eliminated.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

1 - because they want to experience Disney World.

No…they pay a price to consume products. Expensive hotel rooms, amusement park rides, breakfast with chipmunks stealing your silverware

Why can’t we fall back on the “experience” nonsense? Because everyone pays for these things…so it’s equal.

However if DAS is being gamed to create more access…say coupled with genie?…then it’s it no longer equal. One person paying the same price as others has more access.

It’s really not that hard to see. We’re parsing it.

For Disney it’s about selling more genie. Make no mistake…money. For the customer it’s about not having less access because not requiring access in the SAME finite time Periods.

2 - spending time in the shade, or at an indoor location.

Have you ever actually been to Orlando when it’s hot?

Shade…that’s cute

 

[flynnibus]

The point is Disney could easily try to accuse CMs of faking whatever issue they have. But…I guarantee you there are a not-small number of them that do have some small documented issue that technically falls under the DAS umbrella, but while they actually don’t NEED the DAS, they say they do because, well, they can. And Disney would risk a very hefty lawsuit if they accused a person of lying when they in fact, on paper, have some sort of disability Disney allows DAS access for.

The knowledge that you know you can easily be caught and face consequences is usually deterrent enough for most to shy away from grey areas.

And what we are talking about here is Disney limiting DAS to a very narrow field.. not the days of old. It boils down to someone likely having to very much explicitly lying to qualify. And most job interviews include performance requirement questions intended to establish an agreement on what activities the employee is capable of. If the person doesn't disclosure such disabilities, but chooses to later in defense of a DAS lie... they are really starting to dig themselves a hole.

Who wants to risk their bread winner job to skip some lines when they can come to the park nearly anytime they want? And knowing the company can and will cross-reference information can be all the scare enforcement they need.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Have you ever actually been to Orlando when it’s hot?

Oh it can be brutal - no doubt! I was talking about shade on a cool day in December! Haha.

 

[Trauma]

This is not for a doctor to decide. It’s up to Disney, and perhaps if challenged, the courts. Of course a prospective guest and their doctor are going to have a certain view. Disney can consider that, but it’s a factor, not something they have to go along with.

Well that tells you all you need to know about the Walt Disney Company.

Hopefully when they are challenged and lose in court, we can get some laws that help better protect disabled people.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well that tells you all you need to know about the Walt Disney Company.

Hopefully when they are challenged and lose in court, we can get some laws that help better protect disabled people.

Are you suggesting Disney doesn’t have a history of providing accommodations?

Is this the 4th dimension?