New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[TrojanUSC]

My take is that there are:

1. Genuine rises in the rates of disabilities

2. Big increases in disability awareness with the advent of the internet (I frequent parent support boards sometimes and a very common theme is that parents get diagnosed as neurodiverse after their child is, because they simply didn't recognize the symptoms. Many people have a big "Aha!" moment about quirky behavior that has been in their family for a long time.)

3. A different attitude about disabilities. I grew up in the 80s where it wasn't that uncommon for broken bones to get missed because parents told kids to stop whining, they weren't taking them to the doctor for "every little thing". Kids with milder issues were often just labeled problem children and left to languish. Now support is much more plentiful.

Having said that - I do think that cheating is probably going on as well. I was at a local festival recently and paid for a wristband (for certain paid attractions) for my son, who was walking around with his dad. I was exasperated because they wouldn't just hand me the wristband, they made me go locate my son and bring him back so they could personally put it on. The woman was apologetic and explained it's because people will try to make the wristbands big so they can slip them on and off and use them for multiple people. That never would have occurred to me but it just reminded me that yeah, that kind of thing is everywhere. It's why Target only lets you use self-checkout at certain times now.

Just because there’s a rise in disability awareness doesn’t mean there is a rise 3-fold in the last three years of people who simply can’t wait in queues.

Cheating was going on and was the probably at least 50% of the DAS passes issued. That’s not to say all of these people lied about having illnesses but many were lying about their anxiety or IBS being so crippling they couldn’t still wait in line.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

We just got back from a 3 day trip to Disneyland and have decided we’re not renewing our keys. We decided not to use DAS and it was miserable, we didn’t get to the parks until 1pm Wed and only managed 3 rides, 1 in the afternoon and 2 more after sundown. We caved and renewed DAS Thursday morning and we still only managed 5 rides before the heat sent us back to the hotel and 2 more rides after returning after sundown, we did rope drop again this morning and managed 5 rides before we left at noon again.

There’s just no way we can justify the cost of the Disney parks without DAS, it sucks but it is what it is, looks like cruises, Europe, and road trips will get our vacation dollars from now on.

 

[Chi84]

We just got back from a 3 day trip to Disneyland and have decided we’re not renewing our keys. We decided not to use DAS and it was miserable, we didn’t get to the parks until 1pm Wed and only managed 3 rides, 1 in the afternoon and 2 more after sundown. We caved and renewed DAS Thursday morning and we still only managed 5 rides before the heat sent us back to the hotel and 2 more rides after returning after sundown, we did rope drop again this morning and managed 5 rides before we left at noon again.

There’s just no way we can justify the cost of the Disney parks without DAS, it sucks but it is what it is, looks like cruises, Europe, and road trips will get our vacation dollars from now on.

I can tell you for a fact our family wouldn’t visit without Genie+/ILLs. And that adds so much to the cost.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Just because there’s a rise in disability awareness doesn’t mean there is a rise 3-fold in the last three years of people who simply can’t wait in queues.

Nobody said there was. Not sure why I keep getting this comment, if people only skim the first part of my comment or what.

 

[hopemax]

Surprised this wasn’t posted yet.

Disney fans say changes to Disability Access Service exclude many

Disney World, and soon Disneyland, will limit what kinds of disabilities are covered under its Disability Access Service.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Chi84]

Surprised this wasn’t posted yet.

Disney fans say changes to Disability Access Service exclude many

Disney World, and soon Disneyland, will limit what kinds of disabilities are covered under its Disability Access Service.

www.nbcnews.com

I may have missed it, but did the article say anything about the ability to bypass lines by buying Genie+ or ILLs? It makes it sound as though it’s DAS or standing in ridiculously long lines, which is not the case.

 

[Angel Ariel]

We just got back from a 3 day trip to Disneyland and have decided we’re not renewing our keys. We decided not to use DAS and it was miserable, we didn’t get to the parks until 1pm Wed and only managed 3 rides, 1 in the afternoon and 2 more after sundown. We caved and renewed DAS Thursday morning and we still only managed 5 rides before the heat sent us back to the hotel and 2 more rides after returning after sundown, we did rope drop again this morning and managed 5 rides before we left at noon again.

There’s just no way we can justify the cost of the Disney parks without DAS, it sucks but it is what it is, looks like cruises, Europe, and road trips will get our vacation dollars from now on.

I'm truly sorry to hear that. with all sincerity, I hope you enjoy your trips to new locations in the future

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

“That kind of change actually goes against the ways that the disability community has worked to frame disability policy.” - President of American Association of People with Disabilities.

 

[Chi84]

“That kind of change actually goes against the ways that the disability community has worked to frame disability policy.” - President of American Association of People with Disabilities.

Right, and there’s a quote from Disney stating that they are providing disability accommodations.

It’s not DAS or nothing.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Right, and there’s a quote from Disney stating that they are providing disability accommodations.

It’s not DAS or nothing.

I guess I needed to post more of the quote -

““When I saw the changes, one of the things that was so concerning to me was the way that the new eligibility requirements really restrict the types of disabilities that can get this pass,” Town said. “That kind of change actually goes against the ways that the disability community has worked to frame disability policy.”

 

[Chi84]

I guess I needed to post more of the quote -

““When I saw the changes, one of the things that was so concerning to me was the way that the new eligibility requirements really restrict the types of disabilities that can get this pass,” Town said. “That kind of change actually goes against the ways that the disability community has worked to frame disability policy.”

The accommodations are not based on type of disability because the ADA prohibits Disney from asking about the nature and extent of a person’s disability. So the accommodation is based on questions about the need to avoid standing in conventional lines.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The accommodations are not based on type of disability because the ADA prohibits Disney from asking about the nature and extent of a person’s disability. So the accommodation is based on questions about the need to avoid standing in conventional lines.

Disney's shootings themselves in the foot with that perception with their wording re: autism and developmental disabilities. What the woman said is understandable given how they've chosen to frame DAS.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The accommodations are not based on type of disability because the ADA prohibits Disney from asking about the nature and extent of a person’s disability. So the accommodation is based on questions about the need to avoid standing in conventional lines.

Well, explain that to the president of American association of people with disabilities because she didn’t seem to see it that way. I’m guessing she is pretty knowledgeable about the ADA.

 

[Chi84]

Disney's shootings themselves in the foot with that perception with their wording re: autism and developmental disabilities. What the woman said is understandable given how they've chosen to frame DAS.

They’re trying to accommodate the type of cognitive disability that cannot be remedied by in-line accommodations.

If you want to see a definitive end to all line-skip accommodations, look for a lawsuit that alleges that Disney is violating the ADA by discriminating based on type of disability.

 

[Chi84]

Well, explain that to the president of American association of people with disabilities because she didn’t seem to see it that way. I’m guessing she is pretty knowledgeable about the ADA.

She’s an advocate, and is speaking as such.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

She’s an advocate, and is speaking as such.

Yes, indeed. And as an advocate she sees the concern.

 

[Angel Ariel]

They’re trying to accommodate the type of cognitive disability that cannot be remedied by in-line accommodations.

If you want to see a definitive end to all line-skip accommodations, look for a lawsuit that alleges that Disney is violating the ADA by discriminating based on type of disability.

As I've said repeatedly - I don't disagree with what Disney is doing. But I can see how someone who is likely not enmeshed in Disney-ness can read Disney's new statements about DAS re: autism and developmental disabilities and come out with the quote she did. The website quote is likely all she was given to comment on. Doesn't mean I think she's right - there's a lot that NBC article doesn't cover well. But that's not unusual outside of Disney-specific sites.

 

[Chi84]

Yes, indeed. And as an advocate she sees the concern.

I do too. But the solution is not something that will please those who want DAS continued or extended past what Disney is currently doing.

 

[Chi84]

As I've said repeatedly - I don't disagree with what Disney is doing. But I can see how someone who is likely not enmeshed in Disney-ness can read Disney's new statements about DAS re: autism and developmental disabilities and come out with the quote she did. The website quote is likely all she was given to comment on. Doesn't mean I think she's right - there's a lot that NBC article doesn't cover well. But that's not unusual outside of Disney-specific sites.

You have been exceptionally reasonable and articulate throughout this thread. It is much appreciated.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I do too. But the solution is not something that will please those who want DAS continued or extended past what Disney is currently doing.

That remains to be seen and is not a fact.

The current solution does not seem to be ideal for guests or CM’s so we shall see what ends up happening.

Getting publicity like that isn’t what disney needs either.