Rumor New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm not up on which sites are linkable here and which aren't these days, so I'm not posting any (don't want to give them clicks anyhow) - but it looks like the rumor is already spreading like wildfire that like some other theme parks, Disney is moving from their current DAS system to one that includes a third party company that will handle verification, and will require documentation (doctors note, etc.).

UPDATE - April 9, 2024

Disney World announces new measures to address abuse of Disability Access Service​

www.wdwmagic.com

Disney World announces new measures to address abuse of Disability Access Service

Disney World announces new measures to address abuse of Disability Access Service
www.wdwmagic.com www.wdwmagic.com
 
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Brian

Brian

Well-Known Member
This is being discussed in the Genie+ thread, though it might warrant its own thread at this point.

Disney Genie and Genie+ at Walt Disney World

For previous discussion about Disney Genie, see the original thread - Disney Genie digital assistant app coming to Walt Disney World and FastPass+ Most Certainly Not Coming Back As It Was This is the new thread as of August 18 with confirmed details. Disney Genie launch announcement...
forums.wdwmagic.com forums.wdwmagic.com
 
C

Comped

Well-Known Member
Surely if it was true literally any other news outlets, or this website, would have mentioned something by now.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Ayla said:
Great news, if true.
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I agree. It's about time.

I've been saying for over a decade that this was the only real solution - and I say that as someone who has a member of my family that when we bring them needs a DAS.

I'm absolutely sure that some are going to be very defensive about this, but the fact is - anyone that has a disability - especially what we call an "invisible disability" - already has this documentation, or can easily get it.

For example, if you child has a diagnosis of some form of autism, you already have piles of documents that you have to update and provide yearly to schools in order to get accommodations, ones that go way more in detail than it sounds these programs require. It can be dozens or even hundreds of pages of reports from specialists, etc. detailing what your child needs. This is nothing compared to that.

And harsh as it may sound, if you don't already need to have this type of documentation for anything, that your child is able to make it through school, etc. without any accommodations/special needs at home, and/or are receiving no type of medical treatment whatsoever, then a vacation at Disney should be no different. Same for adults, many of whom are self-diagnosed, etc. - if your disability requires no medical or other support care, then claiming you only need assistance at Disney is just not realistic.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Comped said:
Surely if it was true literally any other news outlets, or this website, would have mentioned something by now.
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That's why I have labeled it as rumor, for now - but it is spreading like crazy this afternoon, and it seems more and more outlets are starting to pick it up. While I don't think the site it originated on is very respectable, this actually seems very plausible (and apparently, Universal has already done it), and even the crappiest of bloggers/websites that cover Disney do hit the truth once in awhile, because of the sheer amount of crap they throw out there - eventually, something is going to stick.
 
C

Comped

Well-Known Member
AEfx said:
That's why I have labeled it as rumor, for now - but it is spreading like crazy this afternoon, and it seems more and more outlets are starting to pick it up. While I don't think the site it originated on is very respectable, this actually seems very plausible (and apparently, Universal has already done it), and even the crappiest of bloggers/websites that cover Disney do hit the truth once in awhile, because of the sheer amount of crap they throw out there - eventually, something is going to stick.
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I tend to give the first outlet that reported this rumour the benefit of the doubt because they have been right on quite a bit in the past. But the fact that they labeled it as a rumor makes me hopeful that it's likely not actually going to happen. Even though it's a Sunday you would definitely see Channel 9 or Fox 35 report on it, maybe even News 13 because they still have a specified entertainment and theme park reporter... And I haven't seen them even retweet the rumour or any local reporters even give a hint that this is credible.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
SaucyBoy said:
At least we made it "nb4 the lock" 😂
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Eh, honestly - it shouldn't be that controversial, except to people who can no longer abuse the system, who will just be outing themselves as the reason for this.

First, I think most people who don't have to use DAS, seeing the abuse curtailed is a good thing.

And as I said above, if you do need a DAS, you already have this or can easily get it. If you need accommodations at Disney, then you need them in regular life, Disney is practically the only place that just goes on the "honor system". To get any benefits anywhere - public or private school, government, etc., you need such extensive documentation that a basic doctors note is almost laughable in ease to get, if by some extreme oddity you don't already have one.

So out of the people who use this, the only ones this affects are those who are self-diagnosed, somehow manage to get through everything else in life without any accommodation, or the people who exaggerate or outright lie to get them.

I'm sure that we will see some folks say otherwise, but that's going to take some severe mental gymnastics to explain how you don't get any accommodations anywhere else in life, are under no form of medical care for the disability whatsoever, but somehow your disability only affects you waiting in line at a theme park.
 
Castle Cake Apologist

Castle Cake Apologist

Well-Known Member
Comped said:
I tend to give the first outlet that reported this rumour the benefit of the doubt because they have been right on quite a bit in the past. But the fact that they labeled it as a rumor makes me hopeful that it's likely not actually going to happen. Even though it's a Sunday you would definitely see Channel 9 or Fox 35 report on it, maybe even News 13 because they still have a specified entertainment and theme park reporter... And I haven't seen them even retweet the rumour or any local reporters even give a hint that this is credible.
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Why would you be hopeful that it doesn't happen? This is one of the first things in years that I've seen the members of this site united on.
 
C

Comped

Well-Known Member
Castle Cake Apologist said:
Why would you be hopeful that it doesn't happen? This is one of the first things in years that I've seen the members of this site united on.
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As a disabled person, I honestly don't trust the third party in question to keep my data safe, or that they'd would deny my longstanding accomodations before Disney could approve it (as Disney has for almost 20 years at this point). It's been a problem with Universal for some apparently. I can get the letters fine. Not an issue. But the possible change in standards may be!
 
CJR

CJR

Well-Known Member
As a guest, I have mixed feelings. I like the idea of limiting abuse of the system, but I do see how it will make trip planning even more hectic for people who legitimately need DAS, as if it's easy today (planning a WDW vacation, in general).

From Disney's perspective, I'm surprised they would pay for a third party to do this. It might boost Genie+ sales, maybe, but that's a risk and at best would offset the money they are paying for a third party service. They'll still need guest services to argue with the entitled, so it's not a long term win from a business point of view and could just be an added expense for the company.

It might make the lines move a little better, maybe, but as others have said, it's not hard to get a doctor's signature and especially for AP's, anyone abusing it is likely to continue doing so. It might only discourage that family visiting for a week from doing the work, and they still might. So, I wouldn't expect any meaningful reduction in wait times, although I would love to be wrong.
 
Tha Realest

Tha Realest

Well-Known Member
Hopefully with the move to a third-party service Disney also does the following:

1) Do away with unlimited rides, and cap it like Genie+ does
2) Cap ability to experience an ILL attraction to once or twice a day; no reason DAS should get preferential access above other guests
3) Cap how many individuals can be part of the party, or how often they can cycle “family” members in and out of a party
4) DAS holder must experience attraction with the rest of the group
 
Brian

Brian

Well-Known Member
Comped said:
I tend to give the first outlet that reported this rumour the benefit of the doubt because they have been right on quite a bit in the past. But the fact that they labeled it as a rumor makes me hopeful that it's likely not actually going to happen. Even though it's a Sunday you would definitely see Channel 9 or Fox 35 report on it, maybe even News 13 because they still have a specified entertainment and theme park reporter... And I haven't seen them even retweet the rumour or any local reporters even give a hint that this is credible.
Click to expand...
It's happening. It's only a matter of when and how the message is delivered.
 

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