Important to note that the pre-Genie DAS system required physically going to the attraction and speaking to a CM to get a return time, and did not include pre-selects. The system necessarily started using more capacity when they switched to electronic DAS pulls & started giving pre-selects, regardless of total number of users (which also increased). It’s actually an interesting parallel to what happened when they switched from paper fastpasses to FP+.
Wow! Not quite understanding how there were more users accessing these popular rides than the percentage of those guests in the park who held a GAC pass. Something is not right here. In any case switching to DAS did not reduce the abuse. Once again these new changes will not reduce the abuse. It does make sense that Toy Story Mania was popular and had a higher percentage of GAC users since it was the newest attraction with a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). It was one of the very few attractions with a WAV at Hollywood Studios. Both wheelchair and scooter users wait in the same line and then before the stairs veer off into their own line waiting longer most times than even those in the standby line. I can only imagine what percentage that attraction would be today since it is the only attraction in Hollywood Studios with a WAV.
Although our situation is a bit different I also noted a few of the concerns you have. This is definitely a difficult situation and unfortunately (or fortunately) not everyone understands what it is like having to deal with this on a daily basis and how everything has to be seen in the light of 'can it be done'. Just know that there are people in this forum that understand.
Way back when during the EMH say late 90s/2000 i vividly recall staying in Splash and Big Thunder w/o even getting off i dont know if thats a fair comparison but an example at least.
Not necessarily, because that is also assuming that 'going on other rides' = timing things perfectly.
If someone was maximizing their waits, they wouldn't choose a shorter line and queue for something longer. So in the case DAS is used for pooh, people could go get a snack, go to the bathroom, watch a parade, or quite possibly do IASW. For anybody who really likes 7DMT, they could just get a pass for that and then do Pooh and VOTLM while waiting for that time to come back up. Also remember if for some reason the guest got a pass for something that is 25 minutes and then came back 35 minutes later due to any number of reasons, they still get to go in the LL. So you can't immediately discount other lines that are similar in length from people possible targets.
There is a natural limit to what can be done just based on what is available, the attraction duration, and the time it takes to get between queues. Epcot doesn't have a lot of rides around WSL but has lots to see and do while you're waiting. And if you used return times for Remy, Frozen, and TT, that allows you to knock out all the other rides during those wait times and then can relax more beyond that. As you said, many times people could return to the LL a bit later in the window if they were off doing other stuff. And you are also correct that there are less attractions here to double up on than MK. But the net effect if there are people using the service for return times who don't truly need to is that those E-Ticket line waits get unmanageable for a lot of other guests and they flood the shorter wait rides. Ultimately the length of wait goes up for everybody, everywhere.
Agreed. In many cases those who can't wait in long queues also can't crisscross the parks and maximize usage. I hope the new process reserves DAS for those who need it and ultimately lowers SB waits across the board, which helps everybody.
Based on what I am reading on a Facebook DAS group that was recommended to me (thanks algorithms
), it seems the "new" approval process is basically worthless and everyone that asks for DAS is getting it.
Given the short rollout time I imagine there will be a long grace period for people who booked in reliance on the old rules.Based on what I am reading on a Facebook DAS group that was recommended to me (thanks algorithms
Very, very true. I have visited the park with my young nephew who has both autism and cerebral palsy and on our BEST day, we are able to do about 5 hours in a park. I don't know anyone with a disability who is able to maximize their visits to the parks like an able bodied person. Our party needs to rest more, can't walk as far and often need to accommodate more meltdowns or potential meltdowns so no.... our parties are not really comparable to able bodied parties except towards the low end of the bell curve. Simply walking across the park to get to another ride while we are waiting is a non-starter for a number of reasons when dealing with a child with autism. Most DAS parties are much slower and able to accomplish much less. For me, a typical day in the park involves 2, possible 3 rides and maybe a little food/shopping if we are lucky. Guest Services has told us that the mean is for us to be able to experience 5 rides or experiences in a day which is what the average guest is able to do. Some may be able to reach that level but I believe that they are the outliers, not the norm.
Interesting. Are they mostly saying that the accommodations are for developmental disabilities, or are you noticing broad approval for many conditions?Based on what I am reading on a Facebook DAS group that was recommended to me (thanks algorithms
The thing you are forgetting is (at least for those who genuinely need DAS) is that those things such as restrooms/eating can take MUCH longer than abled bodied persons.
but this is assuming the person getting the DAS REALLY doesn't need it, and also well, if they can get DAS, why would they want to wait in a 40min queue?
Absolutely. Looking at the wide middle of both bell curves addresses that.
