News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[NotTheOne]

I don't think that is what he meant at all. The way people on here are talking, ONLY DAS had an impact on ride wait times. But that is not true is it? It clearly does take time to load and unload those with mobility issues on most rides. The exceptions being ones like TSMM, which has a separate pull off. The omnimovers are the worst affected.
I have been on SSE that was stopped 5 times during the ride. And those stops are not short.
So you can't really claim that DAS is the only accommodation that affects ride operations. I think that is the point the other poster was making. He wasn't saying that Disney should not accommodate anything, quite the opposite in fact.

I haven't seen anyone (and I certainly never would) say that the previous overuse of DAS was the only thing slowing down lines for everyone, but there is little doubt that it had a demonstrable, negative impact on both LL and standby wait times.

 

[jennab55]

I for one would be curious to see how having to stop the omnimovers to load and unload has affected wait times. I think that we have all seen a dramatic increase in the amount of stops on rides like the Haunted Mansion these last few years. Those stop times DO add up to longer waits. One could argue that it has the same affect as DAS, making the wait longer for the average person.

I think most people at Disney who are using a wheelchair or ECV are able to get on those rides without them being stopped, they just cannot stand/walk for long periods. When we’ve ridden we rarely get stopped. Maybe once or twice if even.

 

[DoubleSwitchback]

I don't think that is what he meant at all. The way people on here are talking, ONLY DAS had an impact on ride wait times. But that is not true is it? It clearly does take time to load and unload those with mobility issues on most rides. The exceptions being ones like TSMM, which has a separate pull off. The omnimovers are the worst affected.
I have been on SSE that was stopped 5 times during the ride. And those stops are not short.
So you can't really claim that DAS is the only accommodation that affects ride operations. I think that is the point the other poster was making. He wasn't saying that Disney should not accommodate anything, quite the opposite in fact.

I definitely understood that he wasn't saying that Disney shouldn't accommodate anything. But you may be right that he wasn't implying that it's somehow inconsistent to support some accommodations but not every possible accommodation, and that he was simply saying DAS alone did not impact wait times; I may have misunderstood that.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I have been on SSE that was stopped 5 times during the ride. And those stops are not short.

The last time I rode SSE we stopped so much as I was worried I was gonna miss the fireworks. Buzz Lightyear too!

So you can't really claim that DAS is the only accommodation that affects ride operations. I think that is the point the other poster was making. He wasn't saying that Disney should not accommodate anything, quite the opposite in fact.

Yes, my point was that the efficiency of operations are negatively impacted by disabled guests. That’s a fact.

But we all accept that right? We want disabled guests to be able to experience Disney attractions if possible correct?

That was my point.

 

[NotTheOne]

The last time I rode SSE we stopped so much as I was worried I was gonna miss the fireworks. Buzz Lightyear too!

Yes, my point was that the efficiency of operations are negatively impacted by disabled guests. That’s a fact.

But we all accept that right? We want disabled guests to be able to experience Disney attractions if possible correct?

That was my point.

Impacts as a result of necessary accommodations is one thing...impacts as a result of unnecessary accommodations, such as DAS use when other, less disruptive accommodations are available, is something totally different.

Just because someone wants a particular accommodation doesn't mean they actually need it.

 

[jaklgreen]

I haven't seen anyone (and I certainly never would) say that the previous overuse of DAS was the only thing slowing down lines for everyone, but there is little doubt that it had a demonstrable, negative impact on both LL and standby wait times.

How do you know that it doesn't have any affect on wait times? Clearly it does on the omnimover rides. It is not a secret that people have been complaining about the amount of stops that rides are making now. You don't think that those stops add up? An argument can be made that physical accommodations do have an impact on guest experience.

 

[NotTheOne]

How do you know that it doesn't have any affect on wait times? Clearly it does on the omnimover rides. It is not a secret that people have been complaining about the amount of stops that rides are making now. You don't think that those stops add up? An argument can be made that physical accommodations do have an impact on guest experience.

I'm sorry, where did I say that wheelchairs don't have any effect on wait times or guest experience?

 

[jaklgreen]

The last time I rode SSE we stopped so much as I was worried I was gonna miss the fireworks. Buzz Lightyear too!

Yes, my point was that the efficiency of operations are negatively impacted by disabled guests. That’s a fact.

But we all accept that right? We want disabled guests to be able to experience Disney attractions if possible correct?

That was my point.

I understood your point. And I know that we have all seen the rise in complaints about the amount of times that rides come to a stop due to loading and unloading. We have noticed ourselves, especially those of us who have been going to the parks for a long time. Things are MUCH different than they used to be. And I agree with you, I think that the rides are being negatively impacted by those with physical conditions. I am in no way upset about it for the record, just pointing out that it DOES affect the whole experience of the ride.
I think that there could be an argument for saying that loading and unloading puts an undue burden on park operations. Not only does take away from the experience of the guest riding, it also puts strain on the equipment. Many of those rides were not made to stop and start frequently like they do now.

 

[jaklgreen]

I'm sorry, where did I say that wheelchairs don't have any effect on wait times or guest experience?

That is how I read your comment. It seemed that you said that DAS was the only accommodation that had a negative impact on wait times. And why do you say that only physical disabilities are "necessary" but not other disabilities that people used DAS for? I hope that you are not saying that those with disabilities other than mobility are faking it or not real. Can you clarify.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Not only does take away from the experience of the guest riding, it also puts strain on the equipment. Many of those rides were not made to stop and start frequently like they do now.

Yes -I was told by CM’s that haunted mansion in Disneyland had serious issues because of the amount of stops - resulting in breakdowns. But hey… it did get me an evac and a chance to walk through the graveyard! Haha

 

[jaklgreen]

Yes -I was told by CM’s that haunted mansion in Disneyland had serious issues because of the amount of stops - resulting in breakdowns. But hey… it did get me an evac and a chance to walk through the graveyard! Haha

Yeah, I think that the point we are making here is that this can be uses as a counter argument to the "it puts an undue burden on us and the guests" to give people DAS when clearly what they are doing for physical disabilities does in fact cause a burden. And heck, Disney taking away other entertainment, like the street performers also made a negative impact on the lines. The people that were watching the other entertainment were not in line, were they? They would have to show how one is more of a "undue burden" than the other.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Yeah, I think that the point we are making here is that this can be uses as a counter argument to the "it puts an undue burden on us and the guests" to give people DAS when clearly what they are doing for physical disabilities does in fact cause a burden. And heck, Disney taking away other entertainment, like the street performers also made a negative impact on the lines. The people that were watching the other entertainment were not in line, were they? They would have to show how one is more of a "undue burden" than the other.

All this type of argument will do is lessen the accommodations available for everyone.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

All this type of argument will do is lessen the accommodations available for everyone.

Which = better efficiency.

 

[RSoxNo1]

They have the argument that they do offer other accommodations.

The idea of the new system was to have a dedicated team of arbiters. The problem is that team of arbiters is telling people that they deny to ask cast members at the front of attractions. That's a step backwards and puts pressure on front line cast members who aren't trained to make these assessments. That's one of many problems with the changes.

As others have said, I'm not sure where the line is, but this is an over correction.

I'd also argue that the previous accommodation was absolutely too lenient and too beneficial. The advanced DAS reservations were just an odd choice all together. I maintain that they did that as a means of further justifying the Fastpass+ infrastructure and nothing more.

Personally, the Universal approach of third party doctor's note submission has been the simplest and least stressful. Selfishly, I'd also prefer a reversion back to the 6 guest cap from the 4 guest cap. It doesn't need to be a soft 6 guest cap as it was previously, but a switch from 4 to 6 would absolutely help. Honestly, if they want to put that two guest "buffer" behind some sort of LLMP paywall, I'd have zero issue with it.

 

[NotTheOne]

That is how I read your comment. It seemed that you said that DAS was the only accommodation that had a negative impact on wait times. And why do you say that only physical disabilities are "necessary" but not other disabilities that people used DAS for? I hope that you are not saying that those with disabilities other than mobility are faking it or not real. Can you clarify.

Odd you would read at that way, as I've neither said nor implied any such thing.

Stopping rides for people who can't get on the ride while it's moving is a necessary accommodation; it may slow the line down a bit, but it is necessary.

Clogging the LL with people who want DAS but don't really need it because they could utilize other accommodations is not a necessary.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I don't see this going anywhere positive for the disability community. One thing Disney does know how to do is dot Is and cross Ts, so I don't expect that there will be much to find/argue legally.

Not that this part of things would necessarily hold up in court, but one of the Terms and Conditions you must accept ahead of the DAS phone call is that you won't participate in any class action lawsuits. It's the Disney+ terms and conditions all over again.

 

[jaklgreen]

All this type of argument will do is lessen the accommodations available for everyone.

I mean, they pretty much took accommodations away from most people at this point. No offense, but you said that your child still qualifies. Think about how those who don't qualify or their child no longer qualifying feels. Playing devil's advocate here but if they are using the excuse that DAS has had a negative impact on guest experience and on park operations, why draw the line at only certain disabilities? Shouldn't they get rid of all undue burdens if guest experience is really the reason why they did this?
You don't think that all of those stops and starts for rides impacts people? Why are those impacts any less disruptive than what they say DAS did?
I am just throwing out possible arguments here. It is easy to have your mind set one way when it benefits you. It is not so easy to see the other side of things and truly be objective.

 

[jaklgreen]

Odd you would read at that way, as I've neither said nor implied any such thing.

Stopping rides for people who can't get on the ride while it's moving is a necessary accommodation; it may slow the line down a bit, but it is necessary.

Clogging the LL with people who want DAS but don't really need it because they could utilize other accommodations is not a necessary.

But who are we to say what other people need? How do you know that these people don't truly need to wait their time outside of the line? After all, isn't that pretty much the accommodations that they are given anyway, but away from their families? If someone is going to the hassle and stress of being separated from their family, their KIDS for a good chunk of their trip, then it is a safe bet that they actually NEEDED to be out of the line. Nobody is going to intentionally go through all of this when they don't actually need to.
Some of you keep insisting that everyone that is not autistic doesn't need DAS and that is simply not true.

 

[NotTheOne]

I mean, they pretty much took accommodations away from most people at this point. No offense, but you said that your child still qualifies. Think about how those who don't qualify or their child no longer qualifying feels. Playing devil's advocate here but if they are using the excuse that DAS has had a negative impact on guest experience and on park operations, why draw the line at only certain disabilities? Shouldn't they get rid of all undue burdens if guest experience is really the reason why they did this?
You don't think that all of those stops and starts for rides impacts people? Why are those impacts any less disruptive than what they say DAS did?
I am just throwing out possible arguments here. It is easy to have your mind set one way when it benefits you. It is not so easy to see the other side of things and truly be objective.

For some reason, you seem to believe that everyone who had a DAS before actually needed it - they obviously didn't.

 

[NotTheOne]

I find the bolded part of the filing interesting:

45. Finally, Disney’s Location Return Time accommodation is another inadequate and inequitable solution for guests with physical disabilities. Requiring guests to request this accommodation in crowded, public settings force them to disclose their disabilities, causing embarrassment and emotional distress, particularly for those with sensory or communication challenges. Moreover, limiting this accommodation to Disneyland Park, with no equivalent in Disney California Adventure Park, creates a stark disparity in access across the resort. Assigning return times comparable to the standby wait disregards the specific needs of individuals unable to endure prolonged waits due to pain, fatigue, or other health conditions.

With DAS the wait is "comparable to standby", so what's the difference?

Not to mention the fallacy that they have to explain their disability to the CM at the ride.