Disney encourages you to spend money when using DAS. The only thing we ever did with DAS while waiting was walk, eat or shop if the shop was mostly empty to avoid issues. I don't see how those who still qualify could do much more if even that much
A lot of them learn coping mechanisms as they get older. Many in the neurodivergent group grow up to hold down full time jobs and have families, being able to live a mostly “normal” life with learned coping mechanisms, therapy, brain development, maturity, etc.
Those who still qualify? Maybe they can't do much more. But weren't you talking about the definition of overuse in the past that led to these changes? Go in DAS FB groups and look at posts from before April.. it was all about sharing touring plans, how to maximize rides with DAS, etc
Level one maybe but not so much level 2 or 3
Using it when you don’t actually need to use it, even if there are situations where you do need to use it.
That can be a very fine line with no way to fix
Unless we are talking about the severely developmentally disabled (which I agree, should still qualify, and do!), the difference is they have agency whereas children do not. Also WDW will still always be a place that caters to children even if it welcomes people of all ages. Their business model is still based around it.
I mean, 490 pages and we’re still going with this line? Ok….
I’m not talking just autism, but yes the most severe cases of neurodiversity may not outgrow their need and they should still be eligible as adults. They will most likely require a caregiver as well.
True! Which is why they had to cut users because it became unsustainable.
2 in parks for my ds
But on the flip side, some of neurodivergent people may need DAS as children but not as adults. I know there are some adults who have been denied and they are angry and feel they should qualify because they have a disability Disney lists right on the website. But some of those people also hold full time jobs, have families, are functioning members of society. So I can see how it is hard to justify giving it to all neurodivergent adults (some should still qualify though as you stated).
"Over use" in the sense of why Disney is changing the DAS qualifications refers simply to the fact that too many individuals were using DAS. There was over-usage of DAS within the parks. It's not referring any any individual/party specifically doing anything "wrong." It simply refers to the fact that too many people were qualifying.
They have also said the number was 8% they could have weeded the liars out & then limited party sizes even more & figured out re rides… we can agree to disagree but if you believe this was purely a lets make the guest experience better i am not buying it
Learning coping mechanisms doesn't mean you're no longer disabled. Holding a full-time job and a family doesn't mean you're no longer disabled. I didn't use DAS for the first few trips we took to WDW, and let me tell you, "coping" with the parks and being able to actually enjoy the parks are light-years apart. FastPass gave me the ability to ride any headliner I could get a slot for, but the 1-hour window constraint amped up my issues to overdrive anyway. I've had some luck in brigning sensory toys and fidgets with me, but that can only go so far. Same with anti-anxiety meds, and they put me to sleep as soon as the stressor is passed. I hope I'll qualify for DAS under the new system, and if I don't, hopefully the return-to-line will work OK and I'll be self-aware enough to catch myself starting to panic from the sensory overload with sufficient time to find a cast member and get out of the queue while I'm still able to act rationally. Trust me that nobody wants to be anywhere near a 6' 3", 285 lb AuDHD adult whose "coping" has reached its limit.
I had this whole thing written up and the page refreshed and erased it…. Here’s take two
Sometimes can. And sometimes my wife or daughter notices the external signs in time. OTOH, sometimes it goes from "0 to 60" so fast that there's no time to catch myself or for someone to intervene. So yes, there absolutely is a difference between children and adults, but I'm not convinced that categorically saying "well, adults can just cope with it" is reasonable either.
I didn’t mean it as a catch all, not ALL adult, but a lot of them have learned coping mechanisms (myself included). Of course there will still be those times where we may not notice them and react, but will that be in EVERY line or is it a “might happen” in line scenario? I feel like *most* adults it is not going to happen every single time in every line, but will happen on occasion.
Occasionally? You definitely got to do more than any standby guest.
