New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[SamusAranX]

I was surprised when I heard someone talking about using DAS and they were able to include all the members of their traveling party on it. 9 people total - immediately family of user, then aunts/uncles/cousins.
It does seem excessive that everyone in the party gets access and not just the guest who needs it and perhaps their immediate family. Although this person may have been explaining how it works to us incorrectly, was kind of just breezing through the story.

If it was 9 people, three of them couldn’t ride each redemption.

 

[senorpenguin]

Wild accusation to hurl at two people who actually blew a hole in your argument by making very valid points.

As a local AP that depends on DAS to experience any attraction, I would have no issue with this Third Party System if they schedule me a free virtual Dr. Appointment the day of the new system's implementation to confirm my obvious medical needs for DAS.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It's amazing what people can justify, though.

"Well, my kid HATES waiting in lines, and when they get overtired they get super bratty about it...once in awhile they do throw a tantrum...I mean, I'm just saving the other people in line from having to deal with it by saying it's a need...not a want to wait somewhere where we can all sit down and relax. Besides, Suzy Q said she did it when she went, because to heck with Disney - I'm paying $8 grand to be here for a week, who's it hurting?"

I do think it's a lot more common than you might realize.

Think about the massive increase in retail theft due to self-checkouts. It's not because suddenly a huge percentage of people became kleptos or lost their morals entirely. It's because it became very easy for some to casually justify - it makes me think of one of the early episodes of the Roseanne reboot, when she is at the grocery store self-checkout and her granddaughter says "you forgot to scan that bacon" and the joke was "well, a pound of bacon is the starting wage for checking out my own groceries..."

The people who used to put things under their clothes to steal, or would just walk out with a cart full of unpaid for groceries, didn't make that massive increase (in this context, although organized retail theft is a much different matter but that's a whole different topic). Self-checkout at most retail stores didn't really enable that any more than it did before.

The massive increase across the board directly due to self-checkout was the casual people who were actually paying for the majority of their groceries, but giving themselves a little bonus - "that was on sale last week, it's twice the price now...oops, if they ask, I'll say it was an accident I forgot to scan it" or "the store across the street has this half price, so I'm going to hold them together and only scan one...". People who wouldn't normally think of actually physically stealing something and just walking out of the store, or going through the regular checkout without paying for something.

The easier you make something to game, the more people find it acceptable to get around the system. It's the same thing here - because Disney legally can't ask the questions that a HIPPA-compliant third party can, you are able to bend the truth here to get a benefit, without outright breaking it. You and I might see that moral line crossed in both instances, and hopefully, the majority do - but we can name countless things at WDW that people have been willing to exploit because they feel entitled, and I do think a lot more folks are willing to casually justify things that "don't hurt anyone else" than we might want to believe.

Again, just my intuition, so I’m not going to claim this is right, but having to go out of your way to apply seems like something of a psychological deterrent to me. If they gave you a form at check-in and had you check “Yes, I or a member of my family require return times for rides”? Absolutely, I think a ton of people would fib. But to go out of your way to say that you or your child needs an accommodation, setting up an interview and everything? I feel like that’s a different level. I’m sure some people do knowingly abuse it but my guess is that’s offset by a greater number of people who are on the fence but aren’t comfortable talking about why they need accommodations, worry that they don’t “really” need it, etc.

 

[Comped]

As a local AP that depends on DAS to experience any attraction, I would have no issue with this Third Party System if they schedule me a free virtual Dr. Appointment the day of the new system's implementation to confirm my obvious medical needs for DAS.

I'm lucky, my specialists will happily sign a letter that could work - and wouldn't even charge me for the privilege. The wording is what I'd need to figure out though. Apparently some people have had varying experiences as to how detailed they need to be! (Although their calling either of them up to make sure they're telling the truth may not go over well haha.) Also an AP and local who generally visits at least 3x a month, sometimes more (would visit more, but I'm a ways away from the parks at the moment).

 

[KDM31091]

Nobody “cuts” the line with DAS.

Poor choice of words but the effect is the same. It is more people ahead of you, whether in person or virtually, and in the case of DAS not every single person who has it needs it. If it were never abused they wouldn't resort to new systems like this.

 

[nickys]

DLP's two tier system is odd, despite being disabled (although not visibly so), I only qualify for the priority pass (which essentially lets you on rides with little to no wait like they used to do domestically here in the US, at least according to some blogs I've read from people who've used it), and not the DLP equivalent to the current DAS with return times (which they call the early access pass). The one with the return time is somehow tougher to get... Don't ask me why.

TDR has only 1 system, and it uses return times. From the limited info in English I've seen (my Japanese isn't great when it comes to theme park stuff, just football), it seems like it's a breeze with a doctor's note though.

Whilst the 2 tier system is different, I’m not convinced that one is “tougher to get”. The conditions which qualify for each are totally different, and therefore require different types of proof.

Now it might be of course that it’s harder for you to get the required documentation. For us in the U.K., both types of pass are pretty easy to get because we’re used to having to provide proof of a disability.

The easy access card needs a letter or certificate from a medical professional. The priority card can be applied for in advance and you upload the required documentation, or have it with you. The specific documentation for either will vary depending on what country you are from.

 

[Comped]

Whilst the 2 tier system is different, I’m not convinced that one is “tougher to get”. The conditions which qualify for each are totally different, and therefore require different types of proof.

Now it might be of course that it’s harder for you to get the required documentation. For us in the U.K., both types of pass are pretty easy to get because we’re used to having to provide proof of a disability.

The easy access card needs a letter or certificate from a medical professional. The priority card can be applied for in advance and you upload the required documentation, or have it with you. The specific documentation for either will vary depending on what country you are from.

I meant the easy access card is harder to get in terms of what conditions qualify. The list recognized by the French government is a little strange, and doesn't include a lot of disabilities that are obviously life long... Like mine. It's weird.

 

[SaucyBoy]

Also, for all we know this may qualify more people for DAS than before, not fewer.

I don't think anyone here, hopefully, is against DAS as a program. Anyone who submits documentation to prove they have a legit need should be allowed access. But these families with "poor children who cant wait more than 30 mins in a standby line" don't count. The trash has to be taken out somehow, even if it means inconvenience for those who need it. Sorry but that is the real world.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Remember: Disney must only make reasonable accommodations.

Nothing about the current iteration is reasonable, and nothing about the move to a third-party verification service is unreasonable.

Making people go through multiple steps and screening processes at least a week prior to entry and then having a variety of different judgements on the same information that has been approved is absolutely unreasonable

You don’t have to ask in advance to use the elevator and risk being denied even if you must use a wheelchair.

 

[Indy_UK]

I don't think anyone here, hopefully, is against DAS as a program. Anyone who submits documentation to prove they have a legit need should be allowed access. But these families with "poor children who cant wait more than 30 mins in a standby line" don't count. The trash has to be taken out somehow, even if it means inconvenience for those who need it. Sorry but that is the real world.

I think that’s where it’s been difficult in the past because there is a big difference between a child who just can’t cope waiting in line because they get bored and my son for example who will get overwhelmed with the lines, noise sensitivity and start hitting himself.

To a lot of people in line not paying attention they will appear the same

 

[Tha Realest]

Making people go through multiple steps and screening processes at least a week prior to entry and then having a variety of different judgements on the same information that has been approved is absolutely unreasonable

You don’t have to ask in advance to use the elevator and risk being denied even if you must use a wheelchair.

Agree to disagree. That’s not unreasonable. We don’t even know if all those steps would be required. There are far more “in advance” hoops the average guest has to jump through for a trip to WDW.

A business has a right to take general steps to verify a claimed disability as they assess the ability or reasonableness for the accommodation.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

A business has a right to take general steps to verify a claimed disability as they assess the ability or reasonableness for the accommodation.

Not necessarily.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Agree to disagree. That’s not unreasonable. We don’t even know if all those steps would be required. There are far more “in advance” hoops the average guest has to jump through for a trip to WDW.

A business has a right to take general steps to verify a claimed disability as they assess the ability or reasonableness for the accommodation.

Guests are able to join a stand-by line the day of without advanced permission. That is the baselines by which accommodation is to be measured. It doesn’t matter that other aspects of a visit may require advance planning.

There isn’t actually a wide market of different offerings with different systems nor is there much room for variety. There’s the ideal of what is supposed to be (a singular pass that offers access to multiple venues) and the reality (a bunch of extra steps that still have individual venues not looking at submitted documentation and at times deciding against it).

The whole point of accessibility legislation in the US has been to remove the burden of making people repeatedly and constantly verify their disability(ies). It’s supposed to just be there for anyone to use if and when they need it. So no, there is not a blanket right for businesses to be able to validate a disability.

 

[pdude81]

I wonder how this works in practice. There are many disabilities covered in the ADA which would not qualify you to alternately queue with DAS currently, and I assume it was the same way in universal. I know from some universal facebook groups that IBCCES approves your medical need for some accommodation, but there are conditions where people are still shut down when they get to the park. I have to assume that they pass along the accommodation needed rather than the condition itself, and then the employees on site determine whether that meets the mark.

However, they will need to also be able to verify on site for someone who didn't register before their trip. It could be that they allow those going through IBCCES to preschedule some rides like they were doing with DAS, which is an extra benefit beyond an accommodation. That would encourage people to do that rather than wait in line to hash it out on site each trip.

 

[osian]

Poor choice of words but the effect is the same. It is more people ahead of you, whether in person or virtually, and in the case of DAS not every single person who has it needs it. If it were never abused they wouldn't resort to new systems like this.

I'm unclear as to exactly how it works, but I gather it's more like a VQ than FP/ILL, so as you say it's not really cutting in front, as that person would have been in front of you anyway. However, like a VQ, I assume people are then free to queue in standby for another ride at the same time. So in that respect, it can be open to abuse. Even by people with documentation etc. Unless there are legitimate reasons why someone could use one queue but not another?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Unless there are legitimate reasons why someone could use one queue but not another?

A 10 minute wait for people mover is very different than a 90 minute wait for 7 dwarves mine train.

 

[PK2]

As a follow up… as disappointing as it was she doesn’t qualify anymore I can’t really argue their logic, she’s good in line for about 30 minutes and since most rides have a line shorter than that at certain times throughout the day (open, close, fireworks, etc) they didn’t feel she would be excluded from those rides without their DAS. Technically true, and we worked around it, but it really limited us in the afternoon when nearly everything had lines over 30 minutes.

Paris seem to have taken an absolute necessity approach whereas the US parks have more of an accommodation approach, if it does change here it’ll be interesting to see where the line is drawn.

The new DLP system is absolutely awful in some scenarios. For example, we visited with a party member under the old system who qualified (wheelchair user for mobility reasons, but with other conditions that make the accommodations a big help/peace of mind by making it easier to remove the risk of a ruined or significantly disrupted day) and used it and it was very helpful. Went back under the new system and didn't qualify. We figured, okay sure, it was a beneficial thing rather than something we couldn't possibly spend a day there without, we'll stick to a few smaller rides with less of a wait and enjoy the atmosphere, it's fine we get it. Went first to the Railroad and were told immediately that a wheelchair user isn't allowed to board the train (transferring) unless they also qualify for the access pass. Oh well, we went and had a wander and something to eat, and then the exact same was said at Storybook Land Canal Boats. Went to City Hall to ask for an explanation and/or a list of rides we were able to do, and they said, oh, those CMs were misinformed, but the only solution they could come up with was to just issue the card under an exception, because otherwise they couldn't guarantee us not getting turned away from other stuff. It was a mess. I genuinely think the DLP system has become more restrictive because of some insurance/liability cost, and it's really screwed up their ability to offer any assistance at all if you don't qualify for their criteria.

 

[Horizonsfan]

A 10 minute wait for people mover is very different than a 90 minute wait for 7 dwarves mine train.

True, but that person is then gaining an advantage over the non-DAS user by effectively turning the program into a free Genie+ rather than just a disability accommodation for 7DMT.

It’s not hard to see why that’s undesirable to Disney and non-DAS guests.

 

[Splash4eva]

There are so many people who have unjustly taken advantage of this system, to the detriment of those who truly need it, so, unfortunately this was an inevitable outcome.

Why is this unfortunate? As a DAS user and any for other DAS user this should beembraced and welcomed. GA did this years ago and honestly it is the best way to move forward if “abuse” is really happening.

 

[Ayla]

I think that’s where it’s been difficult in the past because there is a big difference between a child who just can’t cope waiting in line because they get bored and my son for example who will get overwhelmed with the lines, noise sensitivity and start hitting himself.

To a lot of people in line not paying attention they will appear the same

*Everyone* gets overwhelmed with the lines and noise at Disney.