News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Chi84]

Besides, is the need technically being met? When we talk about accomodations, we talk about equal access. Separating someone from their family on vacation when that's not being asked if other guests is NOT equal access.

The equal access language comes from the ADA. The reasonableness of an accommodation is based on both the need of the disabled person and the ability of a business to provide the accommodation.

From reading these threads and some lawsuits filed under the ADA, I doubt Disney would be expected to allow entire groups.

Whether someone would be able to wait with the disabled person and help them join the line would likely be up to the discretion of the CM at the ride entrance.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Sure, go ahead and apply. I just feel that many are given false hope and then find out they are denied right before their trip. I think people should plan their trip assuming they won’t get DAS. Go ahead and still apply, but don’t assume you will get it and plan that way.

I agree with planning as though you won't get it - everyone should always have a plan for that. I don't think anyone here gave false hope though

 

[jennab55]

I agree with planning as though you won't get it - everyone should always have a plan for that. I don't think anyone here gave false hope though

I’ve seen some articles lately giving false hope because the word “only” was removed. I believe a poster also commented to apply as that wording change may have resulted in eligibility change as well. I personally think it’s a waste of time for both the guest and the CM to apply if one doesn’t meet the qualifications on the website (example, a physical disability). However, if someone is seeking information in general about accommodations offered and they just aren’t sure, then I think calling is a good idea.

 

[Trauma]

I appreciate your tone but that is an incorrect assumption. Although this is apparently an accommodation given to Make a Wish children, I was told at the time that this was an expanded accommodation that was offered to individuals for whom the existing program was not sufficient. If I had been told it was designed specifically for Make a Wish, I never would have accepted it. Last night was the first time that I heard any of that. I learned from this message board years ago that Disney would make further accommodations to their existing DAS program if there were good reasons, so we sought out Guest Services when we arrived on our first day at the parks. I did not lie or exaggerate. I simply provided details when asked why the existing program did not work for our party. We waited for an area manager for some time, I had a nice chat with him over a coffee and this was what he offered. I didn't demand or scream or yell. It's not my style. I'm basically a wallflower to be honest but I will stand for my family and in particular for my nephew. If it makes any difference, this was done on our first trip and we only went back each year because I could afford it , my nephew enjoyed it and we were able to experience the park in a similar way to parties without disabilities. We did not seek special treatment. I explained why the program did not work for us and when asked, offered a suggestion about what would work. We were then offered the accommodation that we got. Over the years, as I suspect a lot of other families with children with disabilities have likely experienced, going to the Parks has become more challenging, not easier but I am committed to trying to offer my nephew the fullest life experience that I can. There are many, many everyday things that he cannot do. Previously, this was one that he could and did enjoy. Since our last trip we now have other things that we can do in the Orlando area and we will be doing so. And again, this is about more than how many rides we can do.

Things have changed in other ways that made our trip to Disney less accommodating than previously. Most people would not notice them because they are not affected by them and that's fine. However, I would like to point out that, as others have noted, it seems that there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of persons with disabilities that you are aware of versus previous years. We may all draw our own conclusions as to why we may even be correct, or not. Each person has their own reason for no longer going. I can only speak for our experiences and I've said as much (and probably more) than I want to.

I don’t know why it’s taking you so long to get the memo. Disney does not care about you or your disabled child. AT ALL.

Please purchase some ILL or get the heck out of the way, so that someone else can.

Have a Magical Day !

Bob Iger

( probably )

 

[StarWarsGirl]

OK, but "it sucks having to wait alone" is not a disability to be accommodated, and there are plenty of reasons that non-disabled guests have to separate from their families.

Correct, but in other cases, that's the option of the guests.

Rider swap...parents are choosing to swap off so that they can each experience the attraction.

Separating for food, etc: choice of the guest

Being asked to wait by yourself while your family waits in line because of your disability: that's not a choice and not equal access. Equal access means that you have an equivalent experience to other guests.

When we talk about equal access, we want things to be as equivalent to the experience others have as possible. Just because an accomodation may "work" doesn't mean that it's equal access. And also, asking that your family stay with you on vacation is not unreasonable.

I'm still of the opinion that Disney swung too far the other direction when adjusting DAS. I think that they should go to a system more similar to Uni's with requiring medical documentation. Giant pain, but if it cuts down on the abuse, worth it.

 

[NotTheOne]

Correct, but in other cases, that's the option of the guests.

Rider swap...parents are choosing to swap off so that they can each experience the attraction.

Separating for food, etc: choice of the guest

Being asked to wait by yourself while your family waits in line because of your disability: that's not a choice and not equal access. Equal access means that you have an equivalent experience to other guests.

When we talk about equal access, we want things to be as equivalent to the experience others have as possible. Just because an accomodation may "work" doesn't mean that it's equal access. And also, asking that your family stay with you on vacation is not unreasonable.

I'm still of the opinion that Disney swung too far the other direction when adjusting DAS. I think that they should go to a system more similar to Uni's with requiring medical documentation. Giant pain, but if it cuts down on the abuse, worth it.

Really shouldn't matter whether separating is a choice or not, the point is that not everyone stays together as a group throughout a day at Disney.

As for providing documentation, that really does nothing more than show that someone has a disability. Ten people could all provide documentation showing that they have the same disability, but that doesn't mean they all need the same accommodation.

Accommodations are based on need, not disability, and I'm glad that Disney has finally realized that and clamped down.

 

[jennab55]

I'm still of the opinion that Disney swung too far the other direction when adjusting DAS. I think that they should go to a system more similar to Uni's with requiring medical documentation. Giant pain, but if it cuts down on the abuse, worth it.

This issue is that it wasn’t just fraud that was causing the DAS issues, it was overuse, many of whom have actual disabilities. So how would providing medical documentation help in this case? We’d be back in the same situation is was before with too many people being eligible for DAS. Decreasing the eligibility requirements seemed like the best move st the time. I’m not sure what a good happy medium would be, but letting everyone who has any sort of disability get DAS, isn’t it. Many disabled people have no problem waiting in queues.

 

[Chi84]

Correct, but in other cases, that's the option of the guests.

Rider swap...parents are choosing to swap off so that they can each experience the attraction.

Separating for food, etc: choice of the guest

Being asked to wait by yourself while your family waits in line because of your disability: that's not a choice and not equal access. Equal access means that you have an equivalent experience to other guests.

When we talk about equal access, we want things to be as equivalent to the experience others have as possible. Just because an accomodation may "work" doesn't mean that it's equal access. And also, asking that your family stay with you on vacation is not unreasonable.

I'm still of the opinion that Disney swung too far the other direction when adjusting DAS. I think that they should go to a system more similar to Uni's with requiring medical documentation. Giant pain, but if it cuts down on the abuse, worth it.

But you have to realize you’re talking only about one part of a two-part equation.

 

[NotTheOne]

But you have to realize you’re talking only about one part of a two-part equation.

Not to mention it's not always a choice for families with no disabilities to separate.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Not to mention it's not always a choice for families with no disabilities to separate.

So this line of thinking completely confused me when I first read it. By this logic, you could say we shouldn’t have Braille maps because often people lose their reading glasses and can’t see well. Or we shouldn’t have wheelchair ramps because often people’s kids melt down or they get tired, so they don’t get to travel to the parts of the park they wanted to see. I mean yes, if you search you will find situations with the same outcomes among people without a particular disability, but unless it’s common to almost everyone, that’s kind of beside the point. The fact that other people have other, non-disability related difficulties in life shouldn’t impact the existence of disability accommodations.

 

[jennab55]

So this line of thinking completely confused me when I first read it. By this logic, you could say we shouldn’t have Braille maps because often people lose their reading glasses and can’t see well. Or we shouldn’t have wheelchair ramps because often people’s kids melt down or they get tired, so they don’t get to travel to the parts of the park they wanted to see. I mean yes, if you search you will find situations with the same outcomes among people without a particular disability, but unless it’s common to almost everyone, that’s kind of beside the point. The fact that other people have other, non-disability related difficulties in life shouldn’t impact the existence of disability accommodations.

No one is saying accommodations shouldn’t exist, but the reason for someone saying the need DAS over another accommodation that would work, shouldn’t be just because they want to stay with their family.

 

[DisneyHead123]

No one is saying accommodations shouldn’t exist, but the reason for someone saying the need DAS over another accommodation that would work, shouldn’t be just because they want to stay with their family.

The logic being that “occasionally other people have to separate from their family too”. Again, by that specific logic, how is it different than saying “Most families can’t visit every part of the park they’d like to, so why have wheelchair accessibility everywhere?” Maybe I’m missing something, but using that specific rationale doesn’t make sense to me.