New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Brian]

The math will always work out to granting access and allowing a few cheaters in than denying someone who really needs it

It's not a "few cheaters."

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Fine. I'm just gonna build my own. Then I can make the rules.

Just started reading it..........

 

[DryerLintFan]

And that's Disney's risk to take. I think that their army of lawyers are prepared.

FYI amputation is a mobility issue. IMO the only reason they gave the woman in the video a DAS was so that she would stop making a scene. Probably one of the reasons there are so many guests using DAS that don't need it.

She told the video chat people she needed it because she couldn’t stand a long time. Then when she was upset she called the News and told them it was preposterous because she also couldn’t sit for long.

I would guess that GS gave it to her in the park because she shared both bits with them. Not because she caused a scene and they caved

 

[Splash4eva]

I don't think the return to line feature will work very well at all.

But the rider switch feature will, and it will accommodate people very well.

May i ask what the rider switch feature is?

 

[DryerLintFan]

Fine. I'm just gonna build my own. Then I can make the rules.

View attachment 780137

Just started reading it..........

I used to love Roller Coaster Tycoon

 

[Disstevefan1]

We shall see if Disney proves you right or wrong.

Very happy to be wrong on this. Lets see what happens.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I don't think the return to line feature will work very well at all.

But the rider switch feature will, and it will accommodate people very well.

I agree on both points as they had rider switch (for babies) for a long time.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Lets see what happens in reality.

My guess there will be no significant change in queues.

It doesn't matter, Disney is changing the system, like it or not, and YES because MONEY.

As you say its not rocket science, but this silly return to line sounds like its gonna be a trainwreck.

I think there will be a change in queues that we can actually see because like you said, MONEY.

I think it’s no coincidence it’s been radio silence on these supposed Genie+ changes, I thought it was pretty well assumed that they needed to get DAS under better control in order to make changes to Genie+. We might not always like what they’re doing as fans and guests but to think they do these things blindly and for nothing is I think incorrect. I think they know what they’re doing will free up LL capacity, and in turn will make space for them to (hopefully) make Genie+ a more tolerable product, as well as decrease the amount of time DAS users spend in LL lines as well.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

The problem here needs to be addressed analytically; feeling bad isn't going to solve anything. I'm frustrated because much of what has been said here about the ADA requirements is not true - it's nothing more than wishful thinking which helps nothing. Maybe it's the frustration that sounds harsh. People often believe the law protects them to a much greater degree than it actually does.

Disney simply cannot continue with its current policies. As noted earlier, the ADA does not address line accommodations. Disney tried GAC and then DAS and both were unsustainable, not only because of abuse, but also because of an aging population and more persons coming within the ADA definition of disabled.

Disney's between a rock and a hard place. If the statistics set out earlier in this thread are even close to accurate (and I believe they are because they are in line with the type of evidence presented in A.L. v. Walt Disney World Resorts), Disney's going to lose not only its disabled guests but everyone else as well if it doesn't handle this problem.

It seems that Disney is trying to get many of the people who had DAS back into lines with another, lesser accommodation that - even if it's not DAS - might work for them. We don't know, and it's possible Disney doesn't want to say too much too soon to avoid tipping off potential abusers.

Emotions can run high in a thread like this one and one thoughtless response (of which I am guilty) can lead to more of the same.

What I am reading- in this thread is the partly the justifiable frustration we all feel when we have to wait in a long line.

@goofeynmost long ago made an observation that has stuck with me. He got flack for it at the time, but he stated he didn't mind waiting in a queue as long as it moved. He also observed that a two line system of haves (LL) and havenots (Standby) is almost certain to create tension. This was before G+. but he loved the idea of one line for everyone.

As I recall, you posted back to describe how FP helped your family. You made some excellent points.

When we are stuck in a line that does not move, it is frustrating. The problem, as I see it, is the two line system itself. It is 100% guaranteed to cause frustration. G+ has only made the division worse.

Alas, the genie is out of the bottle. If WDW goes back to a one-line system that's also going to make parkgoers unhappy.

There's no easy fix.

 

[StarBright]

She told the video chat people she needed it because she couldn’t stand a long time. Then when she was upset she called the News and told them it was preposterous because she also couldn’t sit for long.

I would guess that GS gave it to her in the park because she shared both bits with them. Not because she caused a scene and they caved

She told the news people and then went and recorded how she was asking them in GS again....

I'm not gonna debate the sit/stand part cause I'm not sure what would stop her from being able to stand up from the wheelchair when she needed it and we will probably never agree (and can't know for sure).

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

May i ask what the rider switch feature is?

It used a lot by families with small children. Let’s say the parents go on a rollercoaster. There’s an area that one parent waits with the child while other parent rides. Then they swap. The parent waiting now rides while the other parent waits.

 

[Disstevefan1]

You know this "Disney is always right thing" is pretty clever. I think I'm going to have to remember that for later...




Of course it's about money... what's funny though is thinking that some additional G+ sales are somehow worth risking multi-million dollar class action lawsuits. The math will always work out to granting access and allowing a few cheaters in than denying someone who really needs it. It's not just the easy thing to do, but based on how the ADA was written it's the legally right thing to do. It's why stories like this exist:

I have always said Disney wins again, but in this case I think I am wrong.

I hope Disney is making enough from the additional Genie+ sales to pay THE LAWYERS!

The LAWYERS ALWAYS WIN!!!!

 

[Touchdown]

The level of cognitive dissonance in this thread lately is just really impressive. You go into any other thread on this website and everyone agrees that modern Disney queuing is broken. This thread has a bunch of well trusted insiders breaking down the cause it’s not working. Disney, a company that values its public perception only second to making money has come out and told the public what the problem is. Yet there is a very vocal subset on this thread that refuses to accept reality. Here it is in summary:

1. Disabled people are entitled to an equitable accommodation from businesses.
2. An equitable accommodation is an accommodation that is not overtly burdensome to a business, one that does drastically negatively affect other patrons in such a way that the business can not fairly serve everyone, and one where the outcome is that the disabled person experiences roughly the same level of service as an able body guest.
3. DAS is a premium experience that is superior to what an average guest, and a guest who purchases G+ gets to experience. Only guests who purchase VIP tours or Club 33 members have a superior experience.
4. DAS is overused and negatively affecting regular guests to a point that they are shunning Disney and Disney is losing attendance and profits.
5. A large percentage of people using DAS can be accommodated in a far less premium way and still fufill point 1, and Disney, in an effort to save their business is doing that.

I’m sorry that you have difficulties in your life and that you are losing a major perk but what Disney was doing was a charity offer and one that they can no longer afford to do. It’s over.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

I used to love Roller Coaster Tycoon

My extensive RCT career is how I know the proposed ‘just make everything a virtual queue for everyone!’ could never work. Gotta hold those little guys in queues and keep them happy within the confines of the line, or else everyone’s mad “it’s too crowded here”. Familiar lol?

 

[Splash4eva]

It used a lot by families with small children. Let’s say the parents go on a rollercoaster. There’s an area that one parent waits with the child while other parent rides. Then they swap. The parent waiting now rides while the other parent waits.

Oh yes ok. Thank you. Thought this was something new with the DAS rule changes…

 

[jinx8402]

I agree on both points as they had rider switch (for babies) for a long time.

I disagree, especially with a family that can ride all the rides. Rider switch works for rides where there are children too small to ride. I know there are other use cases, but this is the biggest reason. Otherwise, families would not be able to ride the ride at all. It is a choice to separate for the time required to do the standby for the several rides that might require it.

It is unreasonable for families to spend a good portion of the day away from the whole family because that is the only accommodation available.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think there will be a change in queues that we can actually see because like you said, MONEY.

I think it’s no coincidence it’s been radio silence on these supposed Genie+ changes, I thought it was pretty well assumed that they needed to get DAS under better control in order to make changes to Genie+. We might not always like what they’re doing as fans and guests but to think they do these things blindly and for nothing is I think incorrect. I think they know what they’re doing will free up LL capacity, and in turn will make space for them to (hopefully) make Genie+ a more tolerable product, as well as decrease the amount of time DAS users spend in LL lines as well.

In my opinion, there will be little change in queues because the folks who previously got DAS will now simply purchase Genie+ as it the next best thing.

Yes, they may completely lose a small fraction of folks who will completely give up, but I think the SAME folks will get into the SAME queues, but the difference is, they are paying.

Having said that, I was thinking, under the new system, A LOT more folks will be purchasing Genie+ Disney claims there is a set number of Genie+ sold, so if there is a set number sold, they should be selling out everyday under the new system, and in theory, there would be less folks in the lighting lane.

The question is, will Disney increase the number of Genie+ sold "in response to guest demand"

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

I disagree, especially with a family that can ride all the rides. Rider switch works for rides where there are children too small to ride. I know there are other use cases, but this is the biggest reason. Otherwise, families would not be able to ride the ride at all. It is a choice to separate for the time required to do the standby for the several rides that might require it.

It is unreasonable for families to spend a good portion of the day away from the whole family because that is the only accommodation available.

With the disclaimer that none of us know anything with certainty yet, it sounds like a rider switch accommodation would be for people who need to leave lines sometimes and isn’t meant to be used by people who can never wait in standard queues every single time.

Sounds like it’s for the people who get DAS just incase something occurs, vs those for whom the line itself is a non starter.

 

[el_super]

It's not a "few cheaters."

How many exactly is it?

 

[Touchdown]

In my opinion, there will be little change in queues because the folks who previously got DAS will now simply purchase Genie+ as it the next best thing.

Yes, they may completely lose a small fraction of folks who will completely give up, but I think the SAME folks will get into the SAME queues, but the difference is, they are paying.

Having said that, I was thinking, under the new system, A LOT more folks will be purchasing Genie+ Disney claims there is a set number of Genie+ sold, so if there is a set number sold, they should be selling out everyday under the new system, and in theory, there would be less folks in the lighting lane.

The question is, will Disney increase the number of Genie+ sold "in response to guest demand"

Again I have no doubt Disney will sell more G+, but not to the extent of the decrease in DAS. G+ lines, outside of mechanical issues, will come in at a fixed rate and stay 10-20 min in wait. I also suspect that G+ users will get 5-7 attractions per day instead of 2-3. Standby Lines will probably only have slight decrease in size (15 min) but move more regularly and be much easier to predict how long you will be waiting.