New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Basil of Baker Street]

I’m not sure how much good comes from assigning blame. The only true bad guys here are people who lie to get DAS. Everyone else is trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

The ADA requires businesses to accommodate people who fall under the ADA definition of disabled, but the DOJ advises them not to inquire into the nature and extent of the disability and sometimes prohibits asking for proof. So you get companies asking for proof of the need to skip the line because of a disability without inquiring into or asking for proof that it’s a disability under the ADA. Six Flags is being sued for using that system, so maybe at least some aspect will be clarified.

Under the above circumstances I don’t know how any business can come up with a line-skip system that benefits those who need it because of an ADA-defined disability while preventing it from being abused.

Oh I agree. Just saying it's on Disney to create a system to deter the cheats instead of trying to reprogram 10,000 years of evolution in humans.

 

[maemae74]

It's up to the parent to best describe the need to the Disney CM. (As it always has been).

But unfortunately there are lots of shady parents out their willing to lie to get what they think they or their children deserve. I see it every single day in the schools.

 

[jaklgreen]

You're the one questioning how Disney determines if someone is "autistic enough" to get DAS and are selectively parsing their statement about who DAS is intended for. The full wording is, "DAS is one of the programs offered at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks intended to accommodate those Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time." So it's not a matter of simply having autism or similar disorder - it's autism or a similar disorder that prevents you from waiting in line, which brings us back to my point that not everyone with autism is incapable of waiting in line and the interviews are designed to determine what difficulties a guest has and which of the available accommodations is sufficient based on the answers the guests provide during the interview.

And I am saying how does Disney know through a video chat if someone can wait in line or not? You can't tell by looking at someone if they can wait in line. You think that this will actually cut down on fakers? LOL They will just learn what they need to say to keep getting DAS.

 

[jaklgreen]

It's not the same as "I want DAS because I need DAS" - but whatever.

Regardless, the point is there is responsibility on Disney for this too. Yes cheaters are responsible for cheating. Disney is also responsible for the inconsistent application of their own training.

This is my concern, that they have swung the pendulum completely to the other end and will be denying people that absolutely need it.

 

[jaklgreen]

But unfortunately there are lots of shady parents out their willing to lie to get what they think they or their children deserve. I see it every single day in the schools.

What benefit does it give the kids to lie about them having a disability in the school setting?

 

[Angel Ariel]

But unfortunately there are lots of shady parents out there willing to lie to get what they think they or their children deserve. I see it every single day in the schools.

My comment was specifically in response to a comment about Disney deciding whether a person is autistic enough. Disney isn't making that determination. They're deciding whether the needs the parents share meet the qualifications for DAS.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

And I am saying how does Disney know through a video chat if someone can wait in line or not? You can't tell by looking at someone if they can wait in line. You think that this will actually cut down on fakers? LOL They will just learn what they need to say to keep getting DAS.

They’re listening to people’s (or their caregivers) explanation of their needs and challenges via chat. They aren’t evaluating them there’s no need to “tell by looking at someone”. I’m sure they’ve been trained with key phrases and words that either approve people for DAS, or trigger further pointed questions to determine if it’s the right fit.

The motivated liars will always adapt. This is why I think the liars are a convenient scapegoat and Disney is more concerned with legitimate users who can be accommodated in some less intrusive way, as well as making the liars have to tell more ‘uncomfortable’ lies (gone are the days of just telling them you have anxiety, ADHD, whatever, or need to visit the bathroom often without further explanation).

 

[jaklgreen]

They’re listening to people’s (or their caregivers) explanation of their needs and challenges via chat. They aren’t evaluating them there’s no need to “tell by looking at someone”. I’m sure they’ve been trained with key phrases and words that either approve people for DAS, or trigger further pointed questions to determine if it’s the right fit.

The motivated liars will always adapt. This is why I think the liars are a convenient scapegoat and Disney is more concerned with legitimate users who can be accommodated in some less intrusive way, as well as making the liars have to tell more ‘uncomfortable’ lies (gone are the days of just telling them you have anxiety, ADHD, whatever, or need to visit the bathroom often without further explanation).

And so it does come down to a person being able to articulate correctly. Too bad for the kid that has a parent that can't do that.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

And I am saying how does Disney know through a video chat if someone can wait in line or not? You can't tell by looking at someone if they can wait in line. You think that this will actually cut down on fakers? LOL They will just learn what they need to say to keep getting DAS.

They ask specific questions. If you can't provide an answer that demonstrates why DAS is the only option that works, then you have to use the other options. It really isn't as complicated as you're trying to make it out to be.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Literally know at least six people who have done this. The other common one was "I am on some medicine so I have to pee a lot." DAS granted every time. It was embarrassing the level of abuse out there.

Absolutely. Anytime you raise any questions or criticisms you get a diatribe of how someone is literally going to die if they don’t get a DAS since they can’t wait…only to wait in the lightning lane

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

And so it does come down to a person being able to articulate correctly. Too bad for the kid that has a parent that can't do that.

Is this not how it’s always been though? The qualifying needs have changed but you have always needed to be able to express your needs or have someone express your needs on your behalf.

I dunno I think it’s being framed like there’s a secret code people need to be aware of in order to qualify, but the real issue at hand is that people may be feeling like they need the “code” to say because their needs no longer qualify them for DAS.

 

[Figgy1]

I’m not sure how much good comes from assigning blame. The only true bad guys here are people who lie to get DAS. Everyone else is trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

The ADA requires businesses to accommodate people who fall under the ADA definition of disabled, but the DOJ advises them not to inquire into the nature and extent of the disability and sometimes prohibits asking for proof. So you get companies asking for proof of the need to skip the line because of a disability without inquiring into or asking for proof that it’s a disability under the ADA. Six Flags is being sued for using that system, so maybe at least some aspect will be clarified.

Under the above circumstances I don’t know how any business can come up with a line-skip system that benefits those who need it because of an ADA-defined disability while preventing it from being abused.

I really wish people wouldn't call it a line skip system because the wait time to ride is equal or greater than the actual line

 

[natatomic]

Given the GAC change and lawsuit change to DAS had already occurred, so Disney had prior experience with people doing worse things to game the system, it's going quite easy on them to chalk it up to underestimating.

Especially once they started charging for fast passes.

I know of two people in my circle of acquaintances who never got a GAC or a DAS in the days of free FPs, even though they knew how to get them. But once Disney started charging for line skip access, they were both like, “screw it.” Not saying I condone their actions, but how Disney didn’t see abuse increasing after monetizing FP is beyond me. Anyone could have predicted that.

 

[Chi84]

I really wish people wouldn't call it a line skip system because the wait time to ride is equal or greater than the actual line

It seems everyone knows that and is on the same page. No one thinks it’s a wait-skip system; just a way to skip the physical line.

 

[Chi84]

Especially once they started charging for fast passes.

I know of two people in my circle of acquaintances who never got a GAC or a DAS in the days of free FPs, even though they knew how to get them. But once Disney started charging for line skip access, they were both like, “screw it.” Not saying I condone their actions, but how Disney didn’t see abuse increasing after monetizing FP is beyond me. Anyone could have predicted that.

I think they knew.

 

[Figgy1]

It seems everyone knows that and is on the same page. No one thinks it’s a wait-skip system; just a way to skip the physical line.

with most of the time spent tending to the needs of the person who has the DAS

 

[natatomic]

with most of the time spent tending to the needs of the person who has the DAS

Well, then that might make them even dumber…knowing it would be an issue and letting it boil and fester and grow all these years. They could have nipped this in the bud ages ago.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I dunno I think it’s being framed like there’s a secret code people need to be aware of in order to qualify, but the real issue at hand is that people may be feeling like they need the “code” to say because their needs no longer qualify them for DAS.

I do hear this, and.

When people are sharing why they/their child struggles with waiting in lines at Disney, and the response from the CM is to be denied DAS and told some variety of "practice waiting in lines at home", (which I've seen reported in multiple places), then it does feel dismissive. Many families with these needs have worked on such skills for years to get where they are now. When you're dealing with developmental disabilities, it's not like this is linear skill development like a neurotypical person training for a run. It's constant steps forward, steps back, steps to the side, steps forward, steps back, over the course of years.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

with most of the time spent tending to the needs of the person who has the DAS

Over the course of these discussions (on multiple platforms) I have seen people who did and do qualify for the DAS take issue with this type of generalization and painting every disabled person with the same brush. Some are more than capable of pretty standard park days and are spending their wait times doing other park related things, just needed to avoid the queues for whatever reason.

 

[maemae74]

What benefit does it give the kids to lie about them having a disability in the school setting?

It is really more about the severity of their disability or health issues. It can affect how behavior issues are dealt with, modifications for work and/or test etc. Like I recently had one that lied about the severity of bathroom issues which led to the student being granted the ability to leave whenever. Took total advantage and would leave 2-3 times per hour. Was eventually got caught by camera maybe going into the bathroom 3 out of the 15 times he left that day. Spent the rest of the so called bathroom visits wandering the hall ways.