New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Touchdown]

If you can link the post you’re referencing that would be great, if not, no worries. I know it’s a long thread and posts can be hard to locate.

I believe Len Tesla stated somewhere it was HM but I can’t find the post.

 

[Chi84]

Could be Disney are waiting for the outcome of the current lawsuits and may move to requiring proof in the future

Anything is possible. I think Disney wanted to go beyond just requiring documentation and restricting who would get DAS as opposed to a different accommodation.

 

[DisneyCane]

If it's not abuse and it's legally mandated, it doesn't matter at all that it's "too much." Waiting in a short line is not a right. Disability accommodation is.

The wording of the ADA is that a public accommodation (Disney Parks in this case) can not discriminate against somebody due to their disability. It is clear that if Disney decided to make it so a person in a wheelchair could not access an attraction that it would be considered discriminating.

It is not clear that somebody claiming that they or their child "can't" wait in a long line has the right to use LL for free. In the case of my nephew who is towards the more severe end of the autistic spectrum, it is likely that in a long line he will act out, throw a tantrum and possibly start hitting people. However, he "can" wait in line. It would just be miserable for everybody around him. I don't think it would be found to be discrimination if he couldn't use DAS.

There are limits to the right to accommodations as well. If somebody can't transfer from a wheelchair there are rides which they can not experience because it wouldn't be safe to have a wheelchair strapped into a car on EE.

 

[DryerLintFan]

I feel bad for the woman, but her argument really doesn't make sense. She's not required to sit in the chair all day. It is an available option that she can get in and out of as needed if a queue is longer than she can stand or sit. What length of time does her doctor consider an "extended period" to be sitting? To me, her case is one that could be accommodated without using DAS to obtain return times, based on what information was shared.

I have no argument with that.

I guess this is one thing that makes me happy GS will no longer have to make these decisions.

 

[DCBaker]

If you can link the post you’re referencing that would be great, if not, no worries. I know it’s a long thread and posts can be hard to locate.

I believe Len Tesla stated somewhere it was HM but I can’t find the post.

Was it this post?

We've been counting the number of guests entering both the standby line and the Lightning Lane, per hour, at key attractions.

We've seen instances where the number of guests entering the LL is:

• Equal to or greater than the number entering the standby line
• More than half of the attraction's hourly capacity

For example, at Haunted Mansion we counted roughly 1,750 guests entering the LL line in one hour, and slightly less than that entering the standby line. None of them - zero - appeared to be VIP tours.

We also think that the number of G+ reservations sold by Disney for HM is not more than 300 per hour.

So there's ~1,450 guests that are somehow using the LL line. None of them were VIP tours.

Some of them could reasonably be rider swap. But HM isn't a roller coaster and there's no height limit, so I'd expect that rider swap number to be super low.

 

[RamblinWreck]

But Disney assessed the situation and issued her a DAS anyway. And since Disney is in the best position to know what's right... we have to respect that ..... right?

Well, "Disney" didn't assess the situation. Some college kid with no training did.

 

[RamblinWreck]

If it's not abuse and it's legally mandated, it doesn't matter at all that it's "too much." Waiting in a short line is not a right. Disability accommodation is.

Well it's not legally mandated, so there's no issue.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Was it this post?

Thank you - I kept looking in this thread, didn’t think to look as early as 2023. Those numbers are surprisingly high!

 

[el_super]

Well, "Disney" didn't assess the situation. Some college kid with no training did.

You mean the people that said no until it went to a manager who said yes?

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

I feel bad for the woman, but her argument really doesn't make sense. She's not required to sit in the chair all day. It is an available option that she can get in and out of as needed if a queue is longer than she can stand or sit. What length of time does her doctor consider an "extended period" to be sitting? To me, her case is one that could be accommodated without using DAS to obtain return times, based on what information was shared.

That is a prime example of a reasonable accommodation offering a mobility device to sit when needed, or stand when needed. Not DAS skip the line access.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

If there’s one thing they’re not doing here in my opinion, it’s blindly making changes that are going to have massive legal consequences. Their actions point to knowing there’s a significant amount of abuse or overuse.

Hopefully, what they are doing is coming up with reasonable accommodations that are not DAS.

In the 2010's and beyond, my soft rule for WDW was to not get in any standby queue that was over 25minutes, booked my 3 FP, and then booked additional FP if they were available. (We got on just about all the rides, or at least felt satisfied with all we rode.)

As of 2023, standby waits were more often 60+.

What % of the general population can comfortably wait 90 minutes in the heat, without needing a restroom, water, or a chance to sit?

Still, if WDW made it easier for everyone to take a break from the queue, that in itself would make park touring easier for a great many park goers. It would be great if more queues had imbedded restrooms, water fountains/bottle refill stations, shade/AC.

I do like the new seating area in Epcot by Connections. It has tables and charging stations. Not only can parkgoers charge their phones in that area, but there's also electric outlets for ECV's. It is nicer than the traditional park benches. If WDW added more areas like that, I think they would be welcome by everyone.

 

[lentesta]

Was it this post?

I'm going to add to this that I was told something along the lines of "you got the right answer, but I would have done it differently."

 

[Jenny72]

There is quite a range of abilities among the "able-bodied/neurotypical" as well. There is no way our group could wait for an hour outside in the heat of summer (for SDD for instance). With certain people along, even 15 minutes is pushing it. But we're all "able bodied" by most definitions. This all points to the fact that this is a systemic issue that needs a nuanced solution. Now, who knows what we'll actually get, of course, but I can see why a remedy includes a number of different possible routes for those needing accommodations.

 

[Unbanshee]

I'm going to add to this that I was told something along the lines of "you got the right answer, but I would have done it differently."

Could you get a more accurate number by counting the number of people who enter as part of a group after an initial blue tap? Is a blue tap (and approval by CM) exclusively for DAS?

 

[phillip9698]

That is a prime example of a reasonable accommodation offering a mobility device to sit when needed, or stand when needed. Not DAS skip the line access.

Patron - I have a handicap where I cannot stand for extended periods of time.

CM - Well let me offer you a chair so you can sit down.

Patron - I cannot sit for extended periods of time.

CM - You can sit or stand when it’s most comfortable for you and we can handle the chair while you are on the attractions.

Patron - Sitting or standing isn’t relevant, what I need is to skip to the front of all attractions.

Absurd!

 

[flynnibus]

CM - You can sit or stand when it’s most comfortable for you and we can handle the chair while you are on the attractions.

Patron - Sitting or standing isn’t relevant, what I need is to skip to the front of all attractions.

Absurd!

Or put another way...

Here's a ball and chain you need to drag around all day long... instead of being able to use these chairs we have provided around the park for sitting.

The answer to me wanting a bench to sit on a few times an hour is not "you should use a wheelchair" when you could simply let me sit on a bench!

 

[flynnibus]

If this ride swapping idea is suitable for people with physical disabilities preventing them from waiting in line, why is it not suitable for autism?

Because the issues with many people inflicted with this is they can have triggers around patterns and wants.. many can not handle 'change' very well. So their schedule and patterns are very key. Unlike a physical handicap where you are simply trying to avoid a physical constraint... in many of these cases you are dealing with mental and psychological issues that you can't simply rationalize with like you could another person.

 

[StarBright]

Before someone jumps down my throat I’m starting this post by admitting my ignorance.

I am blessed not to have someone in my immediate family with autism.

If this ride swapping idea is suitable for people with physical disabilities preventing them from waiting in line, why is it not suitable for autism?

A member of the autistic guests family waits in standby, when they reach the front they join up.

Why shouldn’t this be the policy ?

It might be, depends on the individual. Some folks with autism will have issues if the party separates, some won't.

 

[Drdcm]

Then the Family of 4 with DAS leaves the park at 12:45 for the day because the disabled person cannot last more than a few hours in the parks.

Family of 4 without DAS
Continues making Genie reservations and enjoying rides. Watches the 3 o'clock parade. Has dinner at CRT - only later reservations are available. After dinner, the family watches the Happily Ever After fireworks show.
The Family of 4 with DAS paid +/- $436 for for 5 hours in the parks.
The Family of 4 without DAS paid +/- $436 for 14 hours in the

Just saying what could happen… hence why there is a big concern for abuse.

I won’t respond to your questions anymore

 

[DisneyHead123]

Before someone jumps down my throat I’m starting this post by admitting my ignorance.

I am blessed not to have someone in my immediate family with autism.

If this ride swapping idea is suitable for people with physical disabilities preventing them from waiting in line, why is it not suitable for autism?

A member of the autistic guests family waits in standby, when they reach the front they join up.

Why shouldn’t this be the policy ?

Aside from other possible issues, I don't think they can make any accommodation dependent upon group size / configuration. This would mean offering one thing to groups with two adults, and another thing to groups with a mom and two young kids. I've never heard of accommodations being contingent on the party you are traveling with and assume that's not allowed.