New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[KrzyKtty]

I’ve seen reports of people being told their accommodation is having their 11yr old (or other aged) child wait in a standby queue alone and then the adult can meet them at the merge point. So the accommodation is the minor child waiting in line alone in this example. I think it is ok to offer that as an option, but it may not work for all families and I think people should be able to state that their minor child (or the parent) is uncomfortable with that. I don’t think that is unreasonable.

Yeah, When my son was eleven I could trust him with that. My current eleven year old daughter is a whole other story.

Not to mention I don't trust people to behave well enough around young children like that. If they're not in high school they are too young.

 

[jennab55]

Yeah, When my son was eleven I could trust him with that. My current eleven year old daughter is a whole other story.

Not to mention I don't trust people to behave well enough around young children like that. If they're not in high school they are too young.

I agreee. Some kids are more mature than others and can handle it. That’s why I think it will be an ok accommodation for some families but it won’t be for others. Depends on the child and parent.

 

[B O]

Does anyone know what disabilities they are allowing I've read autism

I spoke to Disney directly about this & was told Neurodivergent only. Not Epilepsy anymore like my family member has basically we travel with a service dog & were told we will need to go to the que to ask for a return time. Which is honestly fine with me . I don't want to plan my day ahead.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

18 is IMO the easiest cut off for this. Too bad they call 10 year olds adults via tickets lol.

 

[B O]

I believe the important part would be to identify the needs that would prevent her from being able to wait in a traditional line. The calls can be stressful so many people have recommended writing down those needs. It might also be helpful to write down any stories of what has happened when she was waiting in long lines.

I would not concentrate on the embarrassment aspect, though because that would probably not be a consideration for them.

Family member has Epilepsy & takes hands full of meds to no vail. He has seizures if he gets overheated & travels with a dog. Per some back & forth e mails with Disney he is no longer eligible.

 

[Figgy1]

18 is IMO the easiest cut off for this. Too bad they call 10 year olds adults via tickets lol.

Are you saying those over 18 that are neurodivergent shouldn't get DAS even though their situation doesn't change

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

Are you saying those over 18 that are neurodivergent shouldn't get DAS even though their situation doesn't change

No not at all. I should have quoted someone but I was just responding to the general “how old can a child be to hold a place in the line” conversation.

 

[Chi84]

I’ve seen reports of people being told their accommodation is having their 11yr old (or other aged) child wait in a standby queue alone and then the adult can meet them at the merge point. So the accommodation is the minor child waiting in line alone in this example. I think it is ok to offer that as an option, but it may not work for all families and I think people should be able to state that their minor child (or the parent) is uncomfortable with that. I don’t think that is unreasonable.

Is this what you saw? That’s why hypotheticals are unproductive.

On the other hand, I don't love some of the people on this forum dismissing concerns from people who find the seemingly different policies from ride to ride to be acceptable. Yes a few minor things will vary from attraction to attraction, but what shouldn't change is how a guest is accommodated. For example, a single mom with an 11 year old son being told that they can be given a return time at Big Thunder so the kid doesn't have to wait alone, while being told at Space Mountain the child should wait alone until merge is seemingly kind of an unnecessary layer of stress.

Is that an actual example or a hypothetical for the purposes of illustration? I thought their park policy was that children had to be 14 to be unattended in parks.

 

[KrzyKtty]

Family member has Epilepsy & takes hands full of meds to no vail. He has seizures if he gets overheated & travels with a dog. Per some back & forth e mails with Disney he is no longer eligible.

On another forum, there is a board about approvals/disapproval. Not everyone approved is neurodivergent. I think the best thing is for a person to try if they feel they have a real need.

 

[jennab55]

Is this what you saw? That’s why hypotheticals are unproductive.

Yes, I have seen reports of this on fb groups. I’ve seen this reported a few times with posters with children of different ages. But with everything reported online it could be exaggerated. However I’m also thinking possibly likely since Disney's policy to stand in line alone is 7yrs old. And again I’m talking about the adult being the disabled person and the child being neurotypical.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Yes, I have seen reports of this on fb groups. I’ve seen this reported a few times with posters with children of different ages. But with everything reported online it could be exaggerated. However I’m also thinking possibly likely since Disney's policy to stand in line alone is 7yrs old. And again I’m talking about the adult being the disabled person and the child being neurotypical.

I am joining this discussion late so forgive me. Is it Disney’s policy to allow 7 year olds to stand in line alone?

 

[jennab55]

I am joining this discussion late so forgive me. Is it Disney’s policy to allow 7 year olds to stand in line alone?

That is the minimum age for a child to wait in line and ride alone.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

So the accommodation is the minor child waiting in line alone in this example. I think it is ok to offer that as an option, but it may not work for all families and I think people should be able to state that their minor child (or the parent) is uncomfortable with that. I don’t think that is unreasonable.

While most of us likely agree with you I don’t think Disney cares, they’ve created an unsustainable condition in the parks where there’s not enough capacity for the number of guests in the parks, their solution appears to be a “take it or leave it” approach, if their accommodation doesn’t work then your (our) option is not to ride or not to go.

As others have stated Disney has shifted from accommodating wants to accommodating needs, they no longer care about going above what is necessary, that’s counterproductive to the Disney standards that drew most of us to Disney in the first place but they’ve created a situation where it’s their only choice.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I am joining this discussion late so forgive me. Is it Disney’s policy to allow 7 year olds to stand in line alone?

Not going to lie I read that and thought it was crazy talk.

From WDW help. Unaccompanied minors need to be at least 14 to be on Disney Property.

Disney Theme Parks & Water Parks – Frequently Asked Questions​

Q:
What is the minimum age requirement for unaccompanied children to enter Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and other locations?
A:
Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations:

Now that is entering the parks, not just standing in line.

From the property rules page it says:

"Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a theme park or water park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older."

I always took this as they have to be 7 to ride the ride alone, like in the ride vehicle, not that once they get into the park they could just run around the park all day, wait in lines by themselves ect.

 

[jennab55]

Not going to lie I read that and thought it was crazy talk.

From WDW help. Unaccompanied minors need to be at least 14 to be on Disney Property.

Disney Theme Parks & Water Parks – Frequently Asked Questions​

Q:
What is the minimum age requirement for unaccompanied children to enter Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and other locations?
A:
Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter the following Walt Disney World parks and locations:

Now that is entering the parks, not just standing in line.

From the property rules page it says:

"Children should be supervised. Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by a Guest age 14 or older to enter a theme park or water park. To board an attraction, children under age 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older."

I always took this as they have to be 7 to ride the ride alone, like in the ride vehicle, not that once they get into the park they could just run around the park all day, wait in lines by themselves ect.

Yes I don’t believe a 7yr old should be running around the parks all day alone, but I guess if they can enter a ride vehicle on their own then they must be able to stand in line alone? Maybe I’m wrong?

A few years ago there were twin 8yr olds next to us in line for Kali. I remember thinking wow they are young and all alone, but they did a great job and had a grand time on the ride with us. So I suppose this policy would work for some families, but not all.

 

[Chi84]

Yes, I have seen reports of this on fb groups. I’ve seen this reported a few times with posters with children of different ages. But with everything reported online it could be exaggerated. However I’m also thinking possibly likely since Disney's policy to stand in line alone is 7yrs old. And again I’m talking about the adult being the disabled person and the child being neurotypical.

The problem with second or third-hand reports is that they often get mangled in the re-telling and there is no way to ask questions or clarify circumstances. Then people make up facts to fill in the blanks and argue over things that never happened.

 

[Vacationeer]

Depends on the child and parent.

Agreed.

Not only maturity, it’s also life experience. Plus the comfort/tolerance of caregivers.

From wording on WDW’s site it seems these are the limits to what is allowed:

• To get into a park anybody under 14yo must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.
• Once inside the park anybody 7yo and up may go off on their own or with others under 14yo (as long as someone in their party 14yo or more stays in the park during that time? That’s not clearly written out but I think the intent of gate entry rule)
• It’s only 6yo and under that WDW requires constant supervision by someone 14 or older.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I always took this as they have to be 7 to ride the ride alone, like in the ride vehicle, not that once they get into the park they could just run around the park all day, wait in lines by themselves ect.

Children are allowed to use the Single Rider queue starting at age 7, so yes, according to Disney, they can wait in a queue by themselves.

 

[jennab55]

The problem with second or third-hand reports is that they often get mangled in the re-telling and there is no way to ask questions or clarify circumstances. Then people make up facts to fill in the blanks and argue over things that never happened.

Right, but that’s really the ONLY way for us to get information right now, from someone positing their experience in a group like this or FB. I agree though, take these reports as not 100% truths. Although in this situation it could make sense with Disney's policy of how old children need to be to ride/wait alone.

 

[Patcheslee]

On one hand I think the DAS accommodations were too generous and had become too cumbersome in numbers to continue without changes like this. So many of the people whining just don't like the accommodation being offered - yet it will work for their needs, even if they don't like it.

On the other hand, I don't love some of the people on this forum dismissing concerns from people who find the seemingly different policies from ride to ride to be acceptable. Yes a few minor things will vary from attraction to attraction, but what shouldn't change is how a guest is accommodated. For example, a single mom with an 11 year old son being told that they can be given a return time at Big Thunder so the kid doesn't have to wait alone, while being told at Space Mountain the child should wait alone until merge is seemingly kind of an unnecessary layer of stress. The policy should be more consistent and trained to a "t" with front line CMs. Instead it just seems like it's been a game of telephone from park ops execs to front line managers to the front line CMs.

I sent an email to disability services asking where CMs are usually located on Remy & Guardians to exit/reenter for restroom use since I'm not familiar with nor seen many in queue videos. The response was to speak with front line CMs. A bit disappointed as I just wanted to have some idea of where to find them if needed.
Surprisingly they also couldn't tell me if park EMS is aware of and able to use MyID medical info if I were to have an issue without my family around.