News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[jennab55]

Said in a jocular tone, DAS is meant to be a disability accommodation, not the most pure form of communism that ever existed. It's not meant to equalize all human differences.

I don’t have an issue with DAS. I do believe it gives a slightly better experience, but I’m ok with that as there is still a waiting component (just outside of the queue).

What I had an issue with was PP stating that her front of the line pass was necessary because it gave her party the ability to enjoy the parks the same as a non disabled family. I disagreed that it gave a similar experience to a non disabled party.

ETA - also I don’t think people should get DAS just because they can only be in the parks 4hrs per day (if they don’t meet the qualifications otherwise).

 

[DisneyHead123]

I don’t have an issue with DAS. I do believe it gives a slightly better experience, but I’m ok with that as there is still a waiting component (just outside of the queue).

What I had an issue with was PP stating that her front of the line pass was necessary because it gave her party the ability to enjoy the parks the same as a non disabled family. I disagreed that it gave a similar experience to a non disabled party.

ETA - also I don’t think people should get DAS just because they can only be in the parks 4hrs per day (if they don’t meet the qualifications otherwise).

Disagree on the idea that people with disabilities (if they really, truthfully have them) are having a "slightly better experience" with DAS. Maybe some are, I of course can't speak for everyone, but for many people being disabled is not something that can be equalized by any form of accommodation.

That said, my comment was about the idea that people can't go to the park for long days due to "other factors". Once you go down that road, you could say that Disney should be paying for people who can't afford longer trips, or offer babysitting to single moms with kids, and on an on. My point being that the whole idea of DAS centers around disabilities, specifically, so saying that other people have difficulties in life too is noteworthy in a personal sense but beside the point when it comes to DAS.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

There are many ways to look at these situations. For many guests with disabilities, they are not going to be able to stay in the park for long periods of time, so the desire is to maximize the time in the park.

It honestly makes my brain hurt that people seem to lack the compassion to understand this.

I don’t think it’s a lack of compassion, I think it’s just understanding this is not what Disney’s accessibility programs are intending to correct, and that it’s a massive can of worms for them to open. Nobody’s big picture experience is ever equal at WDW, for a multitude of reasons and limitations that have absolutely nothing to do with disabilities. The most obvious factor that determines how much you overall can experience at Disney is time spent in the parks, so do they then start accounting for ticket length, past visit history, ticket type (ie are you an AP), how far you’re traveling from, etc?

There’s a reason that for all but very exceptional circumstances (like Make a Wish kids), they are offering as close to equal access as they can on an attraction by attraction basis.

 

[Jenn Finan]

I personally just done like the argument of “well our party can only go for a few hours due to a disability, so we should get access to everything in those few hours”. As you stated, many people cannot do full park days due to other factors as well.

I totally agree with that sentiment as well. The DAS and other changes were made in an attempt to reduce fraud and provide accommodation for those who needed them. I applaud the attempt and am pleased with the couple of tweaks that I have heard of but I think that there are likely more adjustments that would make the program better. Disney is probably still continuing to evaluate and will, I assume, make further changes as they feel warranted. I simply did not find value when we went in October, as well as experiencing a less courteous/welcoming environment. Will this change in 5 years? I hope so, as I truly love Disney and have been going for over 40 years. I want to return at some point but that point for me and my family is not now and that's fine. I did not mean to stir up such a hornet's nest. I just relayed my experience and decision that WDW was not the place for us at this time. No worries. Everybody makes their own decisions based on their individual circumstances.

 

[Jenn Finan]

I don’t have an issue with DAS. I do believe it gives a slightly better experience, but I’m ok with that as there is still a waiting component (just outside of the queue).

What I had an issue with was PP stating that her front of the line pass was necessary because it gave her party the ability to enjoy the parks the same as a non disabled family. I disagreed that it gave a similar experience to a non disabled party.

ETA - also I don’t think people should get DAS just because they can only be in the parks 4hrs per day (if they don’t meet the qualifications otherwise).

For what it is worth, I never asked for a "front of the line" pass, nor was that what my party had/what we needed. I'm not sure where that idea even came from! We had the ability to join a LL standby queue for a small number of rides without having to book it prior...FULL STOP. We still waited 15, 20, 30, even 40 minutes for a particular ride once we were in line. I never walked onto ANY ride with the possible exception of Stitch's Great Escape, and that was because it was a walk on for everyone!

Edit** and before anyone jumps on my "waiting time" comment, my nephew was much better about lines when he was 2 than he is now at 12. Naps were a wonderful thing! DAS may work for us sometime in the future, it just didn't this past time.

 

[jennab55]

I totally agree with that sentiment as well. The DAS and other changes were made in an attempt to reduce fraud and provide accommodation for those who needed them. I applaud the attempt and am pleased with the couple of tweaks that I have heard of but I think that there are likely more adjustments that would make the program better. Disney is probably still continuing to evaluate and will, I assume, make further changes as they feel warranted. I simply did not find value when we went in October, as well as experiencing a less courteous/welcoming environment. Will this change in 5 years? I hope so, as I truly love Disney and have been going for over 40 years. I want to return at some point but that point for me and my family is not now and that's fine. I did not mean to stir up such a hornet's nest. I just relayed my experience and decision that WDW was not the place for us at this time. No worries. Everybody makes their own decisions based on their individual circumstances.

I hear you on some of the changes. Our last trip was summer 2022 and at that time the level of customer service we received was not what I expected. We had quite a few other issues as well. So like you, we decided to take a break. We are planning to return this year and hoping things have gotten better. We will see!

 

[Jenn Finan]

I hear you on some of the changes. Our last trip was summer 2022 and at that time the level of customer service we received was not what I expected. We had quite a few other issues as well. So like you, we decided to take a break. We are planning to return this year and hoping things have gotten better. We will see!

I hope for only wonderful things for you and your family on your next trip. Many magical wishes!

 

[jennab55]

I hope for only wonderful things for you and your family on your next trip. Many magical wishes!

Thanks! You as well, wherever you decide to vacation next!