News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Angel Ariel]

Which = better efficiency.

If that's what you're going for. Personally I want to see people accommodated.

 

[Angel Ariel]

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.

I've literally argued repeatedly here for those who don't currently qualify but should. I've acknowledged more than once that the changes have cut out more than just those intended, so respectfully please take the bolded line and direct it elsewhere.

And no, they didn't take away accommodations from most everyone. They changed what those accommodations were, but they did not just take them away and tell people to go stand in standby all day.

 

[NotTheOne]

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.

As you note, they can get their accommodation (waiting outside the line), so they don't need the DAS. DAS was being way overused by people who *might* have to leave the line rather than what it was intended for, which was people for whom the line itself exacerbated their disability.

And I've not seen a single person even saying, let alone insisting, that anyone who is not autistic doesn't need a DAS.

Want doesn't equal need.

 

[networkpro]

Folks are dancing around the issue yet again, trotting out the exact same arguments. Its all about the impact the former DAS and GAC had on the other guests experiences with unplanned ride capacity utilization as well as documented abuse by the baser members of society. There were plenty of guides available on how to answer questions to "qualify" for the former DAS, rent the services of a disabled guide for GAC, and plenty of media savvy people ready to immediately assail any changes. There was nothing that the company could do legally except reduce the number of people that can qualify as the numbers for the previous iterations accounted for a large percentage of hourly capacity at many rides.

 

[jennab55]

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.

This has been discussed many times and would not help. Many of the people who had DAS before have legitimate disabilities. So we’d be back at square 1.

 

[NotTheOne]

This has been discussed many times and would not help. Many of the people who had DAS before have legitimate disabilities. So we’d be back at square 1.

Exactly. Having a disability doesn't mean that one needs a DAS.

 

[jennab55]

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.

But they still have accommodations, they are just different than DAS. People just want DAS because they had it before and know it’s easier and better.

 

[jennab55]

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.

I personally don’t think many people who had DAS needed it for every single ride all the time. They used it because it’s easier. People have admitted that even though they had it due to sun issues they still used it for queues that weren’t in the sun. I understand why it is meant for those who do not fully understand waiting in line. That will happen all the time in every line after a certain point of time. For most other disabilities there is an alternative. Sure, they could get rid of DAS completely and have those people wait outside the queue too, but I think part of the thought is most of those people are children who are unable to be alone.

 

[jaklgreen]

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

Absolutely not. We all know that there were liars and fakers out there. I never once claimed that there weren't. But some here seem to think that EVERYONE that asked for it, that wasn't autistic, doesn't actually need it. And that is patently false. Like I said, nobody is going to go through the hassle and stress to go through these hoops, talking to the cast members, being away from their family, trying to coordinate getting back in line at the right time, etc, if they don't absolutely need to do so because of their disability.
So to claim that DAS for these people is not necessary, is just wrong. I don't know how anyone with an ounce of decency and compassion would think that separating families on their family vacation is the right thing to do. It is not people's fault that they have a disability.

 

[NotTheOne]

Absolutely not. We all know that there were liars and fakers out there. I never once claimed that there weren't. But some here seem to think that EVERYONE that asked for it, that wasn't autistic, doesn't actually need it. And that is patently false. Like I said, nobody is going to go through the hassle and stress to go through these hoops, talking to the cast members, being away from their family, trying to coordinate getting back in line at the right time, etc, if they don't absolutely need to do so because of their disability.
So to claim that DAS for these people is not necessary, is just wrong. I don't know how anyone with an ounce of decency and compassion would think that separating families on their family vacation is the right thing to do. It is not people's fault that they have a disability.

But what you fail to acknowledge is that it wasn't just liars and fakers who didn't need it, it was all sorts of people with legitimate disabilities who can be accommodated by other means.

And can we please stop pretending that families without disabilities need to be separated from their parties for any number of reasons? Staying with your family or non-caregiving traveling companioins is NOT a requirement in order to accommodate a disability.

 

[jaklgreen]

I've literally argued repeatedly here for those who don't currently qualify but should. I've acknowledged more than once that the changes have cut out more than just those intended, so respectfully please take the bolded line and direct it elsewhere.

And no, they didn't take away accommodations from most everyone. They changed what those accommodations were, but they did not just take them away and tell people to go stand in standby all day.

Your argument is that no one should fight to have DAS back because it could "lesson accommodations for others". Why shouldn't people fight for what they think is right for them? That is why I said that a person can be biased if they are not on the side where their accommodations were cut. People should fight for what they believe in.

 

[jaklgreen]

But they still have accommodations, they are just different than DAS. People just want DAS because they had it before and know it’s easier and better.

We all know the differences and to pretend that it is not a crappy thing to do to people shows how little humanity people actually have now. Why not make that the accommodation for everyone then? Get rid of DAS altogether and have everyone go speak to the cast member about accommodation at the rides. Have ALL disabilities go through the same accommodation of splitting their families up and waiting to reunite with them at the merge? If you truly think that DAS is this huge benefit to whomever uses it, then why not get rid of it for everyone?

 

[jaklgreen]

I personally don’t think many people who had DAS needed it for every single ride all the time. They used it because it’s easier. People have admitted that even though they had it due to sun issues they still used it for queues that weren’t in the sun. I understand why it is meant for those who do not fully understand waiting in line. That will happen all the time in every line after a certain point of time. For most other disabilities there is an alternative. Sure, they could get rid of DAS completely and have those people wait outside the queue too, but I think part of the thought is most of those people are children who are unable to be alone.

Nobody is saying that kids should or would wait alone. Even now, you can have someone with you outside of the line. Isn't that what everyone is saying? That this accommodation is fair? So if it a great alternative to DAS, then again, get rid of DAS and have everyone go with this new accommodation system. Then no one would have cause to feel discriminated against.

 

[jennab55]

We all know the differences and to pretend that it is not a crappy thing to do to people shows how little humanity people actually have now. Why not make that the accommodation for everyone then? Get rid of DAS altogether and have everyone go speak to the cast member about accommodation at the rides. Have ALL disabilities go through the same accommodation of splitting their families up and waiting to reunite with them at the merge? If you truly think that DAS is this huge benefit to whomever uses it, then why not get rid of it for everyone?

I mean if that’s what you feel should happen. I personally am fine with a very small percentage having it because I believe their need is all the time, not just sometimes. The small percentage is also not impacting everyone else.

On another thing you brought up. DAS is not meant for just autistic people. Some who are autistic don’t need it and some who aren’t autistic, but have other developmental disabilities, will need it.

 

[Chi84]

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.

It’s not so much about what people need, who needs what or how much they need it. It's more about the impact on Disney's business model.

They are selling line access to both disabled and non-disabled people and need to keep that product worthwhile. If they give away that product or one that's even better to too many people, it negatively affects the people who are buying it.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Your argument is that no one should fight to have DAS back because it could "lesson accommodations for others".

I said no such thing. I said the specific argument you were using would not result in increased accommodations at all, but instead would reduce them for everyone. Not others. Everyone. I also explicitly said I want more accommodations for all not less. So please stop putting words in my mouth.

 

[jaklgreen]

But what you fail to acknowledge is that it wasn't just liars and fakers who didn't need it, it was all sorts of people with legitimate disabilities who can be accommodated by other means.

And can we please stop pretending that families without disabilities need to be separated from their parties for any number of reasons? Staying with your family or non-caregiving traveling companioins is NOT a requirement in order to accommodate a disability.

What other means? The only thing that they are doing is telling you to have your family go through and you meet up with them at the merge. So why isn't that the go to accommodation for everyone then? Only those with Autism should be allowed to spend their days with their whole family? You can't have it both ways, pick one type of disability and say that they can stick with this "better accommodation", while telling everyone else "too bad".

 

[jennab55]

Nobody is saying that kids should or would wait alone. Even now, you can have someone with you outside of the line. Isn't that what everyone is saying? That this accommodation is fair? So if it a great alternative to DAS, then again, get rid of DAS and have everyone go with this new accommodation system. Then no one would have cause to feel discriminated against.

But again, these are people who need it 100% of the time. Many others do not, they only need it sometimes. Thats where I see the main difference. Example, IBS isn’t going to cause problems in every line, it might and it might not.

 

[jennab55]

We are now in a time where people are looking to cut DEI. in reality the entire acronym is DEIA - diversity, equity, inclusion and *accessibility*. Arguments that highlight how any accessibility negatively impacts typical operations are going to result in accessibility being lessened for everyone. The Texas v Becerra lawsuit is a perfect example. They could be suing just to revert the recent changes that they're disagreeing with. But they aren't. They're suing to entirely dismantle Section 504, and 17 state AGs are supporting that call.

The disability community needs to be very aware and careful about what suits it's bringing right now so we don't enter "leopard eat my face" territory.

Some people think it they can’t get something that no one should…. Quite sad.

 

[Splash4eva]

I think that is what bothers me the most about this change. They are being so vague about accommodations. Saying "talk to the cast member at the ride" doesn't mean anything for someone wanting to plan a trip. No one wants to spend tens of thousands of dollars and use of their vacation time just to find out that whatever is offered isn't going to work for them.
A company like Disney should absolutely have a plan of action and have it spelled out clearly, like pretty much every other theme park does.

I totally agree and all i can say is that i ultimately was approved for DAS for my trip next week but i also was able to get a good amount of info from them before that in what was about a week long process from beginning to end. As i said i was asked not to discuss and for good reason but some friendly email ls and video chats can go a long way for anyone that has any concerns is how i will
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