News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Tigger&Pooh]

puts pressure on front line cast members who aren't trained to make these assessments.

The front line cast members are absolutely the ones trained on attraction operations. The only "assessment" necessary at that point is how to access the queue. Nobody is assessing disabilities.

Selfishly, I'd also prefer a reversion back to the 6 guest cap from the 4 guest cap

There will always be a some families who hit that "cut" no matter where it's made. 6 was overly generous; 4 seems adequate for most. There's really no logical reason why extended families living in multiple households need to be accommodated together just because they are related. At many places only 1 companion may accompany the person with a disability.

 

[jaklgreen]

You can buy access to the LLs. That’s a guarantee but it’s expensive. There is an article in another thread about how many people now find WDW too expensive to visit.

That is an option for some, but not everyone. Even with DAS, there were plenty of rides that I could not do and so I stick to the same few rides. With the LL, you can only go on a ride once per day, so that would be a waste for me. Not everyone fits into a cookie cutter.

 

[jennab55]

That is my WHOLE POINT. Why should anyone book an expensive trip when they have no clue on what or even if they will get any accommodations for their disability? Not sure why you can't understand what I am saying. Just think about it for a bit. Think about how people have to go through the hassle of planning a trip, taking time off of work, booking plane tickets, etc and then having to wait to see if they will get approved for DAS and if they don't, not knowing what or if they will get accommodations that will work for them.

Because they will be accommodated in some way. If they don’t like the accommodation and believe they need more, there are purchase options just as there are for non disabled guests who want to have an elevated experience.

My personal experience, I’m going into it assuming my son won’t be eligible for DAS and planning accordingly. I know they will offer other accommodations if he isn’t, which won’t work for our travel party, so I will buy LLMP like a non disabled party who doesn’t like their option. This means we may have to do less than I’d like, but I planned a longer trip over a not super busy time to accommodate for that too.

There will be people who refuse to do that, and I understand. It is expensive and that is definitely their choice. I think most will make it work with other accommodations or pay for LLMP.

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

The things that I think should change is for people to have a way to contact Disney with their questions, and have them answered, BEFORE someone books a trip.

You don't have to book a trip to ask some questions about accommodations. They won't qualify you for DAS but they will answer questions. A PP has mentioned several times that he used chat and emails.

 

[jennab55]

You don't have to book a trip to ask some questions about accommodations. They won't qualify you for DAS but they will answer questions. A PP has mentioned several times that he used chat and emails.

I also posted the website that has a link at the bottom to email with questions, but the person seems to be ignoring that there IS an option to contact Disney with questions about disability services.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yup, you can reach out beforehand, and they moved the DAS application from 30 days to 60 so easier to cancel you Disney package if you don't get approved and don't think the alternate accommodations will be sufficient

It is tough as I understand the anxiety of moving from something you know worked for you (even if was more than needed in some cases) to a new reality where it may or may not be sufficient

And it is a lot of $ to go in with that unknown

And I think for some they just don't want to have to have a "lesser" experience even if the accomodations are sufficient it still will provide a reduced level of enjoyment. (And this isn't exclusive to people that had DAS before, lots of visitors have to come to grips with the fact you can't do Disney how you did it in the past without paying for some extras)

 

[Angel Ariel]

I have not because I just can't afford to plan a trip, take time off of work, and then find out that they aren't going to do anything for me. I go on so little as it is even with DAS. I have yet to hear any first hand accounts or something from Disney on how they handle solo travelers. I don't think that it is reasonable to plan a trip without knowing what they offer. NO other theme park goes about it this way.

There have been firsthand reports of solo travelers on other boards.

 

[Purduevian]

I am still waiting to hear what they do with solo guests or those with 1 adult and young children.

Again i was asked not to go public with what was told to me on how it works all ill say is that as explained it is way more than acceptable as an alternative and if people dont feel that way then they are simply not being realistic (full disclosure there are multiple reasons they will do their best to keep this info from the public and im actually shocked noone has publicly posted specifics).

Yeah, no. The whole "call and we might help you" is BS. Every other park, in the world, has a clear cut list of what is and is not accommodated. And then people saying "I talked to Disney and have been sworn to secrecy" is weird.

Reading between the lines. For those that do not qualify for DAS but are either traveling solo or an Adult with 1 child (AKA RTQ doesn't work). There is a specific set of things you can say/ask for that gains you an advantage for getting on the ride easier or faster than those in standby (I'm not going to speculate on what the advantage is).

The reason Splash4eva isn't openly talking about it is because it would be very easy for a family for 4 to split up and use the advantage claiming they are a single parent with 1 kid (or a couple splitting up an saying they are each solo, ect).

 

[Splash4eva]

Reading between the lines. For those that do not qualify for DAS but are either traveling solo or an Adult with 1 child (AKA RTQ doesn't work). There is a specific set of things you can say/ask for that gains you an advantage for getting on the ride easier or faster than those in standby (I'm not going to speculate on what the advantage is).

The reason Splash4eva isn't openly talking about it is because it would be very easy for a family for 4 to split up and use the advantage claiming they are a single parent with 1 kid (or a couple splitting up an saying they are each solo, ect).

Bingo…

 

[ToTBellHop]

Bingo…

And what sucks is that it WILL get out eventually, people will take advantage, and there will be further restrictions.

 

[Splash4eva]

And what sucks is that it WILL get out eventually, people will take advantage, and there will be further restrictions.

Sadly you are most likely correct. Im actually shocked some of what i found out is literally not plastered everywhere on every underground site/chat/forum regarding this.

 

[DoubleSwitchback]

(And this isn't exclusive to people that had DAS before, lots of visitors have to come to grips with the fact you can't do Disney how you did it in the past without paying for some extras)

Very well put... incredibe how often the loss of e.g. Magical Express still comes up

Sadly you are most likely correct. Im actually shocked some of what i found out is literally not plastered everywhere on every underground site/chat/forum regarding this.

Oh, it's out. DAS Defenders has a video on exactly the magic words for Unique Party Size. It's shameful

 

[jennab55]

Very well put... incredibe how often the loss of e.g. Magical Express still comes up

Oh, it's out. DAS Defenders has a video on exactly the magic words for Unique Party Size. It's shameful

Ugh, that group is despicable. Would be nice if they got shut down for essentially telling people how to lie to get what they want.

 

[Jrb1979]

Ugh, that group is despicable. Would be nice if they got shut down for essentially telling people how to lie to get what they want.

IMO DAS should have scrapped altogether and rebuilt under a different name and with different rules.

 

[jennab55]

IMO DAS should have scrapped altogether and rebuilt under a different name and with different rules.

Agreed, but that doesn’t give the right to that group to tell people how to get around the rules Disney created. It’s gross. I’d say the same as the people who tell others to pretend their 3yr old is 2yrs old.

 

[Jrb1979]

Agreed, but that doesn’t give the right to that group to tell people how to get around the rules Disney created. It’s gross. I’d say the same as the people who tell others to pretend their 3yr old is 2yrs old.

I agree. At the same time Disney does this to themselves by making these benefits have too much of a benefit to use them.

 

[jennab55]

I agree. At the same time Disney does this to themselves by making these benefits have too much of a benefit to use them.

Absolutely not. People are responsible for their unethical behavior, not Disney. People are choosing to lie and cheat.

 

[Jrb1979]

Absolutely not. People are responsible for their unethical behavior, not Disney. People are choosing to lie and cheat.

That's not what I said at all. I said people lie and cheat mainly cause the system is set up in a way that makes it better that LLMP.

 

[jennab55]

That's not what I said at all. I said people lie and cheat mainly cause the system is set up in a way that makes it better that LLMP.

Ahh got it. I misunderstood your intent. Still though, people should just abide by the rules and stop cheating the system. The alternative is to get rid of DAS completely, which I’m sure many would be happy with.

 

[Jrb1979]

Ahh got it. I misunderstood your intent. Still though, people should just abide by the rules and stop cheating the system. The alternative is to get rid of DAS completely, which I’m sure many would be happy with.

I agree they should abide by the rules but we all know it will never happen. DAS itself is fine since the change. It's the alternative options that seem to be the problem now.