New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[KDM31091]

I'm curious what the "right" answer really is here. With almost 50,000 visitors per day at MK, if even 10% of them request DAS, that's 5,000 people expecting to not wait for popular attractions. Then you have actual Genie+ purchasers. Then you have standby guests. How is Disney to make it all work? Someone is going to be unhappy. There's too many people and not enough capacity. That is an issue getting worse and worse as Disney keeps adding more hotel capacity and not many brand new capacity attractions. DAS is only a piece of this puzzle but what I'm saying is that I don't see how they could realistically make everyone happy with the sheer volume they do each day. 5,000 people cannot all skip the line without decimating the experience for other guests, until/unless the parks have significantly more capacity to handle it.

I sympathize and agree that it's a shame if they lose that "accessible for all families" type of feeling but I kind of think that at the end of the day it's just not realistic with the volume they do.

All I can think of is maybe hosting special off-hours for DAS users, similar to sensory days at other locations. This way, there's far fewer people to begin with.

And of course, Disney does not want the RTQ feature used heavily as that is essentially free Genie+, which is part of why this whole thing blew up to begin with.

 

[ditzee]

Not entirely no, but my point is that they’ve done this across the board in recent years. They’ve forced all of us to accept what can feel like a lesser experience for more money, or opt out of visiting.

This isn’t a unique concept they’re reserving for guests with disabilities, they are not just ‘taking their chair’ while everybody else is running around with the promised beautiful ones.

We're choosing to opt out after next week.
One positive about getting older is the ability to not care what people think about me and also the ability to say, “I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!” and mean it.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I'm curious what the "right" answer really is here. With almost 50,000 visitors per day at MK, if even 10% of them request DAS, that's 5,000 people expecting to not wait for popular attractions. Then you have actual Genie+ purchasers. Then you have standby guests. How is Disney to make it all work? Someone is going to be unhappy. There's too many people and not enough capacity. That is an issue getting worse and worse as Disney keeps adding more hotel capacity and not many brand new capacity attractions. DAS is only a piece of this puzzle but what I'm saying is that I don't see how they could realistically make everyone happy with the sheer volume they do each day. 5,000 people cannot all skip the line without decimating the experience for other guests, until/unless the parks have significantly more capacity to handle it.

I sympathize and agree that it's a shame if they lose that "accessible for all families" type of feeling but I kind of think that at the end of the day it's just not realistic with the volume they do.

All I can think of is maybe hosting special off-hours for DAS users, similar to sensory days at other locations. This way, there's far fewer people to begin with.

And of course, Disney does not want the RTQ feature used heavily as that is essentially free Genie+, which is part of why this whole thing blew up to begin with.

I think everyone agrees something had to change, we’re just debating whether or not this change will actually work.

This is a self inflicted wound, Disney has been increasing attendance for years without increasing capacity, all while trying to control the imbalance with line schemes, this was the inevitable outcome.

 

[KrzyKtty]

I think everyone agrees something had to change, we’re just debating whether or not this change will actually work.

This is a self inflicted wound, Disney has been increasing attendance for years without increasing capacity, all while trying to control the imbalance with line schemes, this was the inevitable outcome.

It's ok. When Epic Universe opens next year, I think Universal will solve Disney's attendance problem for them ROFL

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It's ok. When Epic Universe opens next year, I think Universal will solve Disney's attendance problem for them ROFL

I hope you are right but I think it’s just going to draw more people to Orlando. HS, AK, and maybe even Epcot will probably see a drop but I think MK is just going to be worse, everyone that comes to Orlando will still want to spend a day at the castle park.

 

[ditzee]

It's ok. When Epic Universe opens next year, I think Universal will solve Disney's attendance problem for them ROFL

But Iger isn't worried.

 

[KrzyKtty]

But Iger isn't worried.

This summer was the first time my family had a serious conversation about what trip to pick for Next Summer. A Disney Cruise, or Universal Trip. The only reason why the Universal Trip didn't win is because we aren't sure if Epic Universe will be open by then anyway. It was our first time that WDW wasn't even part of the conversation.

 

[KrzyKtty]

And to clarify, that wasn't because we have large issues with Disney, but Epic Universe looks just that... for a lack of a better work, EPIC.

 

[ditzee]

This summer was the first time my family had a serious conversation about what trip to pick for Next Summer. A Disney Cruise, or Universal Trip. The only reason why the Universal Trip didn't win is because we aren't sure if Epic Universe will be open by then anyway. It was our first time that WDW wasn't even part of the conversation.

A couple of the onsite Epic Universe hotels are opening in January and February and are open for reservations!

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

This summer was the first time my family had a serious conversation about what trip to pick for Next Summer. A Disney Cruise, or Universal Trip. The only reason why the Universal Trip didn't win is because we aren't sure if Epic Universe will be open by then anyway. It was our first time that WDW wasn't even part of the conversation.

We did a Disney cruise to Norway instead of WDW last year and didn’t regret that decision for a second. This year it’s probably going to be a Princess cruise to Alaska instead of a WDW trip. Disney is making the decision to skip the parks easier every year.

 

[Grantwil93]

To be clear though, you’re talking about the passes that essentially give you a return time, not the situation where someone leaves a standby queue (with the rest of their party still in it) for an emergency, and then is permitted to enter the LL to meet their party at the merge, right?

Yes. The other one doesn't have a restriction on amount of use. But at least I was said only the person who needs to exit or wait outside +1 caregiver will get to do so(with an exception for 2 caregivers in a judgement based situation). The rest of the party, whether it 2 ppl or 10, will have to wait in standby and once the section of the party in standby gets to merge; they call the members of their party outside and those 2-3 ppl wait in the LL to meet up. That's the system given to CM's that can be offered by the greeter. It's 100% a longer wait than just going in standby, so it's designed to be used only for those who actually need it.

Rider swap is still there but is now for everyone to use if they want.

Exiting the attraction and getting to come back is not as well defined and aren't new systems. It's more just that you will have to come back in through the LL or just wait back in standby depending on how far into the line you were. Your party can wait before getting loaded or at merge for you. Or if yoy needto exit right before loading, you probably get to comeback through the exit if you communicate. Very similar to what already happens informally. Barely anyone does this option right now. It really is only when you need too. And they are betting that the number leaving and claiming emergency won't spike to a huge degree because it's wildly inconvenient. I.e, only for when you actually need to.

Thats what CM's were essentially told. And to be as helpful as possible. They were also assured that managers and leaders would be at their beck and call for the first few months to resolve complex situations.

 

[Grantwil93]

There are two separate things and people are conflating them. One is the return time, whic h should be given out sparingly, the other is the emergency leave the queue and then meet your party at the merge by re-entering the lightning lane. At least that’s what’s being posted by insiders/cast members on several different forums.

Yes. This

And Disney wants you to learn about these things by asking CM's in person. Not in a formal list with greater detail online or a video. To curtail the spread of strategies to abuse

 

[KrzyKtty]

We did a Disney cruise to Norway instead of WDW last year and didn’t regret that decision for a second. This year it’s probably going to be a Princess cruise to Alaska instead of a WDW trip. Disney is making the decision to skip the parks easier every year.

I really wanted to do the Alaska cruise, but it was soo much (I only looked at Disney, which was probably dumb.) I am still really new to that world. Looks so beautiful. Figured we will try in a few years when the kids go off to college.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

But if another employee with a disability was upgraded to premium select based on a quick video interview I think the employee given the exit row would be considering hiring an ADA lawyer.

Well, exit row seats require the people sitting in them to be physically capable of performing certain tasks if there's an emergency landing. If the employee only needs the leg room due to circulation issues, then the exit row is adequate. If another employee needs leg room for a physical disability that prevents them from assisting as required for an exit row seat then the exit row seat is not adequate because the airline will prevent them from sitting there.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I really wanted to do the Alaska cruise, but it was soo much (I only looked at Disney, which was probably dumb.) I am still really new to that works. Looks so beautiful. Figured we will try in a few years when the kids go off to college.

Off topic but real quick - the last 2 summers I’ve don’t Alaska cruises with Celebrity and loved them. I’m sure the other cruise lines are great too - Alaska cruise is an incredible experience - pretty much non-stop scenery.

 

[DCBaker]

Here's what MickeyBlog reported after talking with Attraction Cast Members about the Attraction Queue Re-Entry process.

During a recent Disney World visit, we asked several Cast Members how this process works, and as Disney noted, we received a different answer at every attraction location.

At one attraction, the Cast Member told us that if you do not have DAS and you are with a guest unable to wait in line, the CM would instruct the majority of the guest’s party to enter the standby line, while the other guest(s) would stay behind near the front entrance.

Once their party reached the point in line where the standby line merges with the Lightning Lane, the party would need to contact a Cast Member in line who would then contact the Cast Member at the front of the attraction and escort the waiting guest(s) to the rest of their party.

At another attraction, the Cast Member reiterated that as long as the majority of your party remains in the line, they will do their best to escort the guest(s) who had to leave the queue back to their party in line.

At a different attraction, a Cast Member told us that guests who needed to leave the line were generally being issued Lightning Lane return times based on how long they were waiting and how far they made it in line.

Another attraction Cast Member emphasized that only a minority of your group will be allowed to leave the line to use this new policy.

For example, if you are in a group of six, four group members would not be allowed to leave. The majority of your party must remain in line.

If you’re a solo traveler, you may be wondering how this works without a party involved.

A Cast Member at one attraction said that if you are alone and do not have DAS and need to leave the line for a bathroom issue or a disability-related reason, they will do their best to accommodate you by holding your place in line.

At another attraction that offered a Single Rider line option, the Cast Member encouraged solo travelers to use that line and also informed us that if we had to leave the Single Rider line for whatever reason, we would need to return to the back of the line.

How Disney World's New "Return to Queue" Feature Works

Disney has recently rolled out a new "return to queue" feature for guests who need to step out of a standby line. Here's what we know.

mickeyblog.com

 

[Trauma]

I told myself I won’t jump back into this discussion because I’m still very upset about the backwards direction Disney is heading, but here we go.

I feel like the core problem at the heart of this is capacity.

Disney could increase ride capacity at the parks by 30% without increasing attendance capacity.

They could also add more shows, parades and other activities that don’t involve queuing for a ride.

I understand that theme parks have lines but WDW is at the highest price point of anywhere, by a wide margin.

I don’t spend 10k+ to go to Ceder Point or Dollywood.

Disney sets the expectation with their pricing.

People are expecting a WORLD CLASS vacation and waiting 120 minutes to spend 3 minutes riding SDMT isn’t it.

If Disney had the appropriate capacity for what they charge we would not be having these discussions.

They could have continued to accommodate everyone and people would care less because they are only in line 30 minutes.

 

[KrzyKtty]

At the end of the day, I am really sympathetic to those with disabilities that are having to navigate this with still so little information. Often times they are already having to deal with so much in the world around them when things are not as equally accessible to them as others. It must be so frustrating to have to work so hard to have what others do so easily and take for granted.

It is well known that Disney was the one place that was more equitable than most. It was marketed as a place where they could take a family vacation, and be taken care of and safe. And now that Disney has pulled the rug out from under them, they act like it is due to widespread "abuse of the system," and not like Disney's own policy changes that are probably just as much at fault.

Either way, those with disabilities are once again handed the sort end of the stick, and basically told, sorry the world isn't fair, and while we have gone above and beyond what was legally required before, we don't have to now. So good luck.

This would be so much better and less anxiety inducing if Disney would release clearer information about everything.

 

[flynnibus]

I can confirm I was told directly that Disney was tracking how many of these new passes greeter CM's are giving out(CM'S have to sign in to use the podiums and ipads) and you should almost never be giving them out. If they are giving out some every couple minutes, they will get pulled into an investigation about how many they are issuing. Disney is not encouraging the widespread distribution of these passes

And I didn’t say anything counter to that.. as the situation you described was only one such scenario. I appreciate the info you shared… but still seems incomplete. The rtq pass as you described just seems like a das return time… where what i am describing is the leave the queue and return at merge scenario.

Disney isn’t going to turn around and start trusting front line CMs to deny what could be considered accommodations or create conflicts.

 

[flynnibus]

The other one doesn't have a restriction on amount of use. But at least I was said only the person who needs to exit or wait outside +1 caregiver will get to do so(with an exception for 2 caregivers in a judgement based situation). The rest of the party, whether it 2 ppl or 10, will have to wait in standby and once the section of the party in standby gets to merge

How so you think the greeter CM is gonna know who is in their party or not? How will they know the difference between multiple groups of peoole being together or not?