New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

pixiedust101

New Member
I apologize if this has been posted before. There are 404 pages of posts. I have read many of them, but I admit I have not read them all.

I have discussed the following idea with several people who have DAS. Although my sample size is small, they all agree that the following idea is fair and it would work.

We already have the reservation system on both coasts. That's here to stay. Yes, APs in FL don't have to make reservations on certain days, but the reservation framework is still in place.

Disney should make the following changes:

1. Disney should remove itself from deciding who qualifies for DAS. They should do what Universal and Six Flags do, which is to have a third party verify disabilities (IBBCES). If a disability is not solely mobility-related, Disney should provide the DAS service as it existed prior to the recent changes. No changes should be made other than letting a third party verify a disability. This will eliminate some fraud. It won't eliminate all of it, but it will have an effect.

2. Disney should create a new reservation bucket that includes DAS. For example, there would be a certain number of DAS reservations for one park per day tickets, park hopper tickets, and AP tickets. People staying at hotels would be guaranteed DAS access during their visit. This would be a
Sorry, not sure that someone hasn't already said this. I think people must be mistaken about some things about Universal and the comparison to Disney's ways to get DAS. There are actually 2 big differences, yet one people seem to overlook. Universal actually now has 2 steps to get the same form of a pass as DAS guests can get (I am directly referring to the complete DAS, not the other options). You first have to go through the IBBCES app to prove the disability with documentation, then wait to find out if approved. Then you will hear from a cast member from Universal about arranging a time to talk. Then speaking with them is the actual interview, such as the one step of the Disney interview. You then need to explain what you need and why you need it and all the same steps as Disney. That cast member decides if you get a pass or not, as well as what accommodation you will receive. I will tell you personally that it is a much longer drawn-out process than waiting online and getting a one-on-one interview with a Disney cast member that day.

I feel as though many people also forget, that while it is true that Disney did help a lot more of disability needs than they legally needed to, ADA wise they didn't have to. I get that. It bothers each of us in a different way depending on what our situation is. However, your point of it being legal to require a handicapped person to need to make a reservation when not every single other person that comes to the park needs to, makes me wonder how you believe this is legal. I'm not attacking with this question! I am all about knowledge on knowing. After all, life wouldn't seem the same if everyone simply stopped learning. As I said above, Disney did not have to grant all the accommodations as before, but the rule I personally believed (still do, until I now question it with your response) is the one thing that is required to be done is a company needs to provide the accommodations of allowing disabled guest to be at the same standards as those who aren't disabled. Therefore, just APs sometimes requiring a reservation isn't the same as all required to make one. I guarantee if Disney were to try this (which I honestly cannot see them doing), there would be a lot more people suing them with a lot of luck on their side.
 

Comped

Well-Known Member
Ummm, how would the CM know there is someone capable of doing that for them? Does the visually impaired guest have to explain the physical limitations of their travel party too now?
I certainly couldn’t push someone around in a wheelchair all day.
Yeah, if I have to suddenly start explaining that I don't think any of my circle of family or friends would be willing or able to push me around for potentially up to 8 hours a day, in addition to the fact that I couldn't push myself, that's a little annoying. I'll happily explain it if that's the difference between getting DAS and not, but I would rather let my argument (and myself) stand on my own two feet.
I just think it’s a very strange suggestion to make to someone who is visually impaired.
It's an incredibly strange suggestion. If I went to my eye specialists and told them about a CM suggesting that as a reasonable accommodation, I think they'd probably laugh for 10 minutes before crying from laughing...
 

C33Mom

Well-Known Member
Oh I believe the rides were closed - i just don’t think that alone would send midway to 120. I’m guessing a track was down as well.
We almost never do Midway Mania at WDW, but assuming it works like DCA, having a lot of wheelchair users who can’t transfer (or tell ride attendants that they can’t transfer for the final 5-15m wait) can really slow down the loading and unloading process, pausing the ride. I have been wondering how pushing some groups of DAS users from DAS to all day in ECVs will impact park operations on the rides where ECV transfers slow things down.

I can’t imagine it’s the primary cause of TSMM at 2 hours today, but I am wondering which lines will routinely get longer going forward. I assume it’s more of an issue at DL (and perhaps MK) than any of the newer parks.
 

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
having a lot of wheelchair users who can’t transfer (or tell ride attendants that they can’t transfer for the final 5-15m wait) can really slow down the loading and unloading process, pausing the ride.
Midway has a dedicated space for loading wheelchairs - those cars are out of the line when at the station - it shouldn’t slow the ride down at all.
 

C33Mom

Well-Known Member
Midway has a dedicated space for loading wheelchairs - those cars are out of the line when at the station - it shouldn’t slow the ride down at all.
Yes, I understand that in theory (and I could be confusing causation with correlation there—but I think it might be an issue when a backlog prevents the cars from returning to their dedicated loading area until the next party is ready to depart it?). On the other hand, I know this is definitely true for some of the attractions—for example IASW at DL, where loading slows down when ECV users exit back towards the entrance.
 

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
On the other hand, I know this is definitely true for some of the attractions—for example IASW at DL, where loading slows down when ECV users exit back towards the entrance.
Yes! At small world they can at least send boats to one side and continue to dispatch them, but where it’s a big problem is Pirates, Mermaid and Haunted Mansion.

I think some of the work at the mansion this summer will help but my understanding is when the wheelchair line was long they would simply stop the attraction, load 4 buggies and then when those 4 came back they would stop, unload and load.
 

C33Mom

Well-Known Member
Yes! At small world they can at least send boats to one side and continue to dispatch them, but where it’s a big problem is Pirates, Mermaid and Haunted Mansion.

I think some of the work at the mansion this summer will help but my understanding is when the wheelchair line was long they would simply stop the attraction, load 4 buggies and then when those 4 came back they would stop, unload and load.
And just to be extremely clear, I am not in any way suggesting Disney should cut back on accommodations for physically disabled and those who need ECVs or wheelchairs (if anything I believe the opposite)—simply that there may be unintended consequences of pushing more marginal users into needing them more of the time.
 

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
Totally different title under the ADA than what Disney is subject to.
I never said anything different - that’s why I’m interested in discussing and learning the differences.

And of course Disney is subject to the same laws for transportation like the bus, skyliner, monorail, etc.
 

TrainsOfDisney

Well-Known Member
Which, of course, have nothing whatsoever to do with DAS.
well, ADA laws do apply. Are there any laws for transportation that don’t apply to a theme park attraction?

There are attractions where guests must transfer, and still others that require certain physical functions in order to safely experience a thrilling attraction - but other than that?
 

NotTheOne

Well-Known Member
well, ADA laws do apply. Are there any laws for transportation that don’t apply to a theme park attraction?

There are attractions where guests must transfer, and still others that require certain physical functions in order to safely experience a thrilling attraction - but other than that?
No one has said that ADA laws don't apply. I said that ADA Title II laws don't apply to Disney, as they are not a government entity.

No idea what the rest of your question is supposed to be.
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
well, ADA laws do apply. Are there any laws for transportation that don’t apply to a theme park attraction?

Both Disney's theme parks and their private transportation network are covered under title III of the ADA as public accomodations. Title II doesn't apply as that's for government transportation networks.

While both are under the same portion of the ADA, of course existing accessibility standards for different types of venues/services/spaces apply.

Technically the same people complaining about waiting in lines for attractions could be asking for accommodations in the big bus depots.
 

Kingoglow

Well-Known Member
Midway has a dedicated space for loading wheelchairs - those cars are out of the line when at the station - it shouldn’t slow the ride down at all.

I think having more dedicated loading areas for individuals/groups that have trouble transferring to ride vehicles would be a HUGE quality of life improvement for ALL guests at the parks. Haunted Mansion, Little Mermaid, Pirates, Buzz and others constantly stop throughout the day to accommodate guest with various disabilities; which in turn affects the ride experiences of others.

I don't know how many guests are seated in Haunted Mansion at once, but assuming a full load, stoping the ride for even one guest impacts a lot of people.

Disney really should design a lot more dedicated loading areas for those guests as all omnimoveres and boat rides.
 

NotTheOne

Well-Known Member
Exactly. There are multiple accommodation options. People keep saying its DAS or nothing, but it doesn't really work like that.
Exactly.

And now that the "DAS Defenders" :rolleyes: are getting some media attention using this woman, they're all giddy that Disney is going to cave.

I think they've forgotten (or never knew) how much bad publicity Disney got when they eliminated GAC.

I think Disney would simply eliminate DAS for all but special cases (solo travelers, disabled guests with one other person in their party and can't wait alone, single adult with only minors in their party) before they would allow it to get back to the extreme levels it was before the changes.

The fact is, DAS is not the only way to wait outside the line.
 

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