New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Fido Chuckwagon]

What if were already in a LL and have to leave?

I mean, that can happen right now, under current DAS. I'm sure they'd just be let back into the lightning lane again, or possibly let back to the merge if that's where it happens.

 

[Disstevefan1]

That is a very sensible suggestion. But I think many of the people who are denied will choose to keep the Disney vacation and just add another Genie+ to the cost (provided they don’t need more than that, such as multiple rides).

It seems to me for folks that previously qualified for DAS and now do not (my family is in that situation) WILL suck it up and buy Genie+. The 5K and 10K vacations will simply cost more.

Paper fast pass and Fastpass+ and the old DAS were good while they lasted.

The party is over, as Tim Tracker says, "Now its time to pay the price"

Is it a money grab? Absolutely.

But hasn't all our WDW vacations always been a money grab in one way or another?

 

[Chi84]

It seems to me for folks that previously qualified for DAS and now do not (my family is in that situation) WILL suck it up and buy Genie+. The 5K and 10K vacations will simply cost more.

Paper fast pass and Fastpass+ and the old DAS were good while they lasted.

The party is over, as Tim Tracker says, "Now its time to pay the price"

Is it a money grab? Absolutely.

But hasn't all our WDW vacations always been a money grab in one way or another?

Until the last few years, we perceived the vacations as expensive but not necessarily a money grab. Genie+ changed that perception.

 

[hopemax]

That is a very sensible suggestion. But I think many of the people who are denied will choose to keep the Disney vacation and just add another Genie+ to the cost (provided they don’t need more than that, such as multiple rides).

People with legitimate disabilities will understand that going through the normal LL purchasing experience will not be enough to guarantee access. It doesn't for regular folks, rides sell out, and during busier times we hear a lot of stories about how useless Genie+ is, already. On the DIS, someone talked about how given the unpredictability of their family member's condition, spending that money comes with the risk that when their LL window opens they may not be in a condition to actually experience the attraction. That's different than skipping a DAS return time because they needed to leave the park early. It adds up to a lot more risk on a $5K - $10K vacation.

 

[Happyday]

These were people with legitimate issues noting what qualified based on their own experiences under the new system. Personally I'm happy because it's giving me the odd idea or two about what I really should note about my own conditions, because it's qualified others with a similar or completely different condition. For example, someone with PTSD noted that they had an issue with cramped and dark lines and qualified based off of that, well I do too but for a different reason (vision related), as it's worked for me in the past maybe that's something to bring up.

I tend to see the good in people and take them at their value with these kinds of things.

I understand however when you give specifics of how it effects you, you are giving others information they don't need because they could use it to abuse the system. This is why I have not and will not give how it effects our individual.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Until the last few years, we perceived the vacations as expensive but not necessarily a money grab. Genie+ changed that perception.

Genie+ was a money grab. I still don't think the DAS changes are. The system was on an unsustainable trajectory. Left unchanged, DAS users would have eventually started using up all park capacity defeating the entire system as lightning lanes themselves simply became the new standby lines.

 

[Chi84]

People with legitimate disabilities will understand that going through the normal LL purchasing experience will not be enough to guarantee access. It doesn't for regular folks, rides sell out, and during busier times we hear a lot of stories about how useless Genie+ is, already. On the DIS, someone talked about how given the unpredictability of their family member's condition, spending that money comes with the risk that when their LL window opens they may not be in a condition to actually experience the attraction. That's different than skipping a DAS return time because they needed to leave the park early. It adds up to a lot more risk on a $5K - $10K vacation.

This is yet another reason that the kind of line accommodations some people need may be impossible to reconcile with Disney’s business model (which as you pointed out doesn’t even work for non disabled people).

 

[Disstevefan1]

Until the last few years, we perceived the vacations as expensive but not necessarily a money grab. Genie+ changed that perception.

Our family always knew we are paying too much for everything and it especially hurt when an offering was removed or lessened at the same time the prices keep going up, but that's the nature of the beast and we accept that.

 

[Happyday]

It isn’t diagnosis based.
Just as not everyone with Autism will get it, not everyone with PTSD will get it either.

Exactly! The follow up questions are important and people need to stop advertising what was asked and the answer to those questions!

 

[Comped]

I understand however when you give specifics of how it effects you, you are giving others information they don't need because they could use it to abuse the system. This is why I have not and will not give how it effects our individual.

I tend to believe that the number of people who will abuse the system using that information is less than the number who would be helped. That's just my personal opinion.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Genie+ was a money grab. I still don't think the DAS changes are. The system was on an unsustainable trajectory. Left unchanged, DAS users would have eventually started using up all park capacity defeating the entire system as lightning lanes themselves simply became the new standby lines.

I think it’s only a money grab in the sense that it’s a roundabout attempt to make touring for everybody more pleasant (happy guests = money) and make Genie+ a more appealing product across the board to encourage sales of it and increase guest satisfaction when it comes to the purchase of it. And I don’t know that I’d really frame that as a money grab, more like a decision motivated by money.

I don’t think it’s a money grab in the way it has been framed throughout these conversation, that Disney is trying to push former DAS users to buy Genie+.

 

[BalooChicago]

It seems to me for folks that previously qualified for DAS and now do not (my family is in that situation) WILL suck it up and buy Genie+. The 5K and 10K vacations will simply cost more.

My son had DAS and presumably will not in the new system. He’s been to a Disney park 13 of his 15 years (we alternate WDW and DLR - we hit DLP, DLR, and WDW in the last twelve months. We’ve always* gotten Genie+ as well. Wish I knew about these changes before our WDW trip in February, as it was a shorter trip than we’d normally do. Had I known it would be our last trip, I’d have extended it. We will not be back to Disney unless they eventually come back to something that will work for my son.

*when available.

 

[StillMakingMagic]

My child was just approved, and we were allowed to have a group that exceeded the four-person limit, due to the group being limited to the recipient, his parents, and his siblings (who are all young children).

The process was very easy, we were not asked followup questions. The CM was helpful, kind, and clearly having a hard day. I was able to clearly articulate what the child's needs are, and he was on camera which made it very clear that what I was saying about his capabilities and disabilities was accurate.

 

[hopemax]

I think it’s only a money grab in the sense that it’s a roundabout attempt to make touring for everybody more pleasant (happy guests = money) and make Genie+ a more appealing product across the board to encourage sales of it and increase guest satisfaction when it comes to the purchase of it. And I don’t know that I’d really frame that as a money grab, more like a decision motivated by money.

I don’t think it’s a money grab in the way it has been framed throughout these conversation, that Disney is trying to push former DAS users to buy Genie+.

For the first part, it's also a money grab in that it is revenue / profit positive, and that makes it better than adding new high capacity attractions with significant construction costs and increases daily operational costs.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Genie+ was a money grab. I still don't think the DAS changes are.

Genie+ is a money grab we agree.

The DAS changes forces folks to use Genie+

That is extortion in my opinion.

 

[Chi84]

Genie+ is a money grab we agree.

The DAS changes forces folks to use Genie+

That is extortion in my opinion.

I don’t understand in what possible way that can be extortion. That kind of hyperbole does not help further discussion.

 

[Minnie1986]

Until the last few years, we perceived the vacations as expensive but not necessarily a money grab. Genie+ changed that perception.

Couldn't agree more

 

[Minnie1986]

Exactly! The follow up questions are important and people need to stop advertising what was asked and the answer to those questions!

This is such a big part of it. I legit saw a youtube video of a guy telling people how to get DAS.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Sort of like rider switch.

No. Das user never comes to guest services unless absolutely necessary. She rides almost every ride

 

[Minnie1986]

I don’t think it’s a money grab in the way it has been framed throughout these conversation, that Disney is trying to push former DAS users to buy Genie+.

I'd be lying if I said it didn't at least somewhat feel that way