This is 100% a problem of Disney's own creation.
Back with paper FPs, GACs were an equal trouble as the current DAS because GACs acted like an unlimited FP. Back then, I was just a wee little front-line CM on multiple E-ticket attractions trying to tell management how bad the issue was. But since nothing was electronically recorded, I had no proof beyond my own observation; and a little nobody like me wasn't going to be listened to. And even the managers who knew it was an issue weren't going to speak up, because no one wants to accuse anyone of faking disabilities. Which is understandable. But as an example, I once had a lady come up to me with her brand new GAC, looked me in the eyes and said, "My husband sometimes wobbles if he stands, so they gave us this. It's a fastpass, right?" Yeah. They were giving them out for WOBBLING.
Anyway, fast-forward to FP+ and the DAS...I think that was the smartest FP-related move they ever made at the time. The new DAS was no longer an unlimited FP+. The appeal to abuse it was diminished. I'm sure it was still abused by the same people that abused the GAC, but I never again saw the same families running through the FP line a dozen times or more on their favorite E-tickets because...they couldn't. It automatically cut down abuse just by it's very nature.
I've been gone from the company since covid, so I can't speak to their current issues from a first-hand experience. Apparently FP+ didn't "work," whatever that meant. It always worked for me as a frequent visitor with my kids - and I was often a day-of planner. But whatever. Disney decided to go to Genie+. Now, what once was free is now an additional fee. Per person. Per day. Access to a line that guests were used to using for free for 2 decades was now going to cost hundreds of dollars more for their family to use.
But wait, some people still get to access that line? With no money involved at all? Listen, it's despicable that there are people who would lie about disabilities. But honestly? I get it. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it! But I get it. You can argue until you're blue in the face that DAS doesn't offer any advantage. But obviously it does, otherwise we wouldn't have people willing to lie about not being able to control their bowels in order to use it. Even if people use it and can only access the lightning lane 3 times a day, well...that's the same number of FP+ people were able to use with that system for free. And I think more people are abusing it now than ever abused the GAC because - again, some people essentially get it for free. The accommodations are perceived to be better than what is offered to able-bodied guests, since there's no free FP anymore. I'm not saying it's true. But it's the perception. And again...it's FREE. Not to mention, you can use it for rides that have “sold out” their LL.
So between Disney not having enough capacity for FP system that works well on top of charging for the LL, they screwed themselves, and in turn, guests - both able-bodied and not.
Back with paper FPs, GACs were an equal trouble as the current DAS because GACs acted like an unlimited FP. Back then, I was just a wee little front-line CM on multiple E-ticket attractions trying to tell management how bad the issue was. But since nothing was electronically recorded, I had no proof beyond my own observation; and a little nobody like me wasn't going to be listened to. And even the managers who knew it was an issue weren't going to speak up, because no one wants to accuse anyone of faking disabilities. Which is understandable. But as an example, I once had a lady come up to me with her brand new GAC, looked me in the eyes and said, "My husband sometimes wobbles if he stands, so they gave us this. It's a fastpass, right?" Yeah. They were giving them out for WOBBLING.
Anyway, fast-forward to FP+ and the DAS...I think that was the smartest FP-related move they ever made at the time. The new DAS was no longer an unlimited FP+. The appeal to abuse it was diminished. I'm sure it was still abused by the same people that abused the GAC, but I never again saw the same families running through the FP line a dozen times or more on their favorite E-tickets because...they couldn't. It automatically cut down abuse just by it's very nature.
I've been gone from the company since covid, so I can't speak to their current issues from a first-hand experience. Apparently FP+ didn't "work," whatever that meant. It always worked for me as a frequent visitor with my kids - and I was often a day-of planner. But whatever. Disney decided to go to Genie+. Now, what once was free is now an additional fee. Per person. Per day. Access to a line that guests were used to using for free for 2 decades was now going to cost hundreds of dollars more for their family to use.
But wait, some people still get to access that line? With no money involved at all? Listen, it's despicable that there are people who would lie about disabilities. But honestly? I get it. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it! But I get it. You can argue until you're blue in the face that DAS doesn't offer any advantage. But obviously it does, otherwise we wouldn't have people willing to lie about not being able to control their bowels in order to use it. Even if people use it and can only access the lightning lane 3 times a day, well...that's the same number of FP+ people were able to use with that system for free. And I think more people are abusing it now than ever abused the GAC because - again, some people essentially get it for free. The accommodations are perceived to be better than what is offered to able-bodied guests, since there's no free FP anymore. I'm not saying it's true. But it's the perception. And again...it's FREE. Not to mention, you can use it for rides that have “sold out” their LL.
So between Disney not having enough capacity for FP system that works well on top of charging for the LL, they screwed themselves, and in turn, guests - both able-bodied and not.
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