News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Chi84]

To an extent that the people on the front lines of dealing with it have said it's "out of control". Going above and beyond to accommodate every allergy under the sun may not be much longer for this world than "DAS for everyone who asked for it" was.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. There are restaurants where I live that just say they are sorry but they cannot accommodate allergies.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

My mind works the same way. It’s odd that some members want to dictate what is a “valid” comparison.

Even with the food allergy comparison - I’m quite certain that a lot more guests ask to speak to a chef about allergy concerns than 10-20 years ago. So yes, it’s costing Disney more money and slowing things down. It’s a pretty valid comparison in my book.

I can tell you for a fact that there are limits to what Disney can accommodate for food allergies. Not every food location is accommodating due to their limited space. I have to eat gluten free and there are plenty of festival booths, snack carts, and even some QS locations that don't have options for me. Holiday party snacks? I'm lucky if there's any options for me. Mickey pretzel? Not a single snack cart has a gluten free option. So it's not like they are moving heaven and earth to accomodatw food allergies in a way that exceeds what they do for disabilities in the parks or elsewhere on property. They do what they can where they can within reason.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. There are restaurants where I live that just say they are sorry but they cannot accommodate allergies.

I honestly prefer that over the places that claim they can accommodate but don't actually take any precautions and/or have no clue what they're doing. If you can't/won't do it safely, don't do it at all.

 

[Joel]

I read the article - the out of control is not at all in relation to the number of people requesting allergy accommodations, but rather the lack of clear and consistent policy for CMs on how to respond. Nothing in the article or the letter indicates that the problem is too many people asking for accommodations.

They say it's out of control because the allergy process "puts too much time, work, and risk on tipped workers," and you don't think the increasing volume of allergy accommodations (which I'm fairly sure is beyond dispute) has anything to do with it? If the issue was merely a lack of clear and consistent policy, they would have complained about that a long time ago.

 

[Joel]

Also, no one who enjoys contemplating things taken to their logical extremes should have been remotely surprised by the necessity of the changes that were made to the DAS program. It was literally a system taken to its logical extreme.

 

[jaklgreen]

I think you totally missed my point. PP was trying to say people were making statements like “if you can’t handle it then stay home”. I’m trying to say there are other things out there that are hardships for people that they may need to miss out on. Not everything in the world is going to be accessible for everyone. It’s just not possible. No one is saying that people should just stay home, but sometimes people do have to miss out on things.

You don't think that people know that? You don't think that there are any number of places where many can't and don't go to because of their limitations?

 

[Angel Ariel]

They say it's out of control because the allergy process "puts too much time, work, and risk on tipped workers," and you don't think the increasing volume of allergy accommodations (which I'm fairly sure is beyond dispute) has anything to do with it? If the issue was merely a lack of clear and consistent policy, they would have complained about that a long time ago.

Did you read the full documents or just the article? The full context makes it clear that they're saying the overwhelm is directly because of a lack of clear and consistent policies. Like they use those exact words.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I can tell you for a fact that there are limits to what Disney can accommodate for food allergies. Not every food location is accommodating due to their limited space. I have to eat gluten free and there are plenty of festival booths, snack carts, and even some QS locations that don't have options for me. Holiday party snacks? I'm lucky if there's any options for me. Mickey pretzel? Not a single snack cart has a gluten free option. So it's not like they are moving heaven and earth to accomodatw food allergies in a way that exceeds what they do for disabilities in the parks or elsewhere on property. They do what they can where they can within reason.

The GF churros from Nomad Lounge tho.... Wish they had one place in each park to get those!

 

[Splash4eva]

Now i know the RTQ is not really defined on a ride by ride basis BUT if you are traveling with others the person who needs DAS and from what i understand another can meet you group up at any point of the ride… why is this a problem? If you are a single rider/solo parent the alternative is pretty much better for most part. Again why is this a problem. Disney found a way to eliminate the “cheats” gave them another way w/o outright using DAS yet people are still not happy? Again sans the fact that yes when in lines you may be broken from your family but lets face it. That is NOT uncommon at all when you travel to places like this especially with multiples kids and age groups.

 

[jennab55]

You don't think that people know that? You don't think that there are any number of places where many can't and don't go to because of their limitations?

So why is Disney, specifically with DAS held to an impossible standard?

 

[Chip Chipperson]

The GF churros from Nomad Lounge tho.... Wish they had one place in each park to get those!

I haven't had a chance to try them yet jist because we're usually with a group and teying to cram as much as we can into a half-day in that park before hopping to another, but they're definitely on my list of things to try. I think my next trip will have more time at Animal Kingdom, so this might be the time I finally get to try them. I've seen reviews by Gluten Free Dairy Free WDW and they look amazing. Even my wife wants to try them and she's not gluten free.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I haven't had a chance to try them yet jist because we're usually with a group and teying to cram as much as we can into a half-day in that park before hopping to another, but they're definitely on my list of things to try. I think my next trip will have more time at Animal Kingdom, so this might be the time I finally get to try them. I've seen reviews by Gluten Free Dairy Free WDW and they look amazing. Even my wife wants to try them and she's not gluten free.

They are seriously the best churros at WDW by far (and I was a churro lover before diagnosis requiring GF). These were better than most DLR churros too. DH isn't GF, and he also loved them. We ordered them take out from the lounge so we could keep exploring

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

Even with the food allergy comparison - I’m quite certain that a lot more guests ask to speak to a chef about allergy concerns than 10-20 years ago. So yes, it’s costing Disney more money and slowing things down. It’s a pretty valid comparison in my book.

Actually, Disney has adjusted their handling of allergy food requests over the years. It used to be you could call in advance and speak with a chef -- a chef from a specific restaurant. That is no longer the process. You used to be able to submit in advance some requests. That is no longer an option. Disney has created "allergy menus" for many/most food establishments, menus specifically safe for the 8 (?) most common allergens. Now one can't speak with a chef in advance of the trip nor even in advance of arriving at the restaurant. And as PP below notes, many QS locations cannot accommodate certain allergies.

I can tell you for a fact that there are limits to what Disney can accommodate for food allergies. Not every food location is accommodating due to their limited space.

Correct. While still considered very "allergy-friendly" it's not like every single food establishment readily accommodates every single allergy request.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Correct. While still considered very "allergy-friendly" it's not like every single food establishment readily accommodates every single allergy request.

This is especially true at Disneyland where there is less space for the allergy free kitchens. No GF churros at Disneyland at all

 

[flynnibus]

I just feel like this is the best approach to things and if your first principles aren’t solid then nothing holds up over the long term. I get that there are many detail oriented, inductive thinkers here who focus on individual facts and not overarching principles, and my way of thinking won’t make a lot of sense to them

Bu this isn’t a philosophical debate. It’s comparing topics defined by legal interpretation and laws. Contrasting things you think should be comparable by emotion- but are not under the law.

 

[flynnibus]

Meanwhile - allergic free menu options are not even a topic of public accessibility. It’s something the company does on its own accord to appeal to customers.

Labeling is regulated- required to offer alternatives? No

 

[DoubleSwitchback]

Meanwhile - allergic free menu options are not even a topic of public accessibility. It’s something the company does on its own accord to appeal to customers.

Labeling is regulated- required to offer alternatives? No

That's not very "extracting underlying axioms" of you, though

 

[Chip Chipperson]

They are seriously the best churros at WDW by far (and I was a churro lover before diagnosis requiring GF). These were better than most DLR churros too. DH isn't GF, and he also loved them. We ordered them take out from the lounge so we could keep exploring

I didn't know you could get them to go. That's awesome! Thanks for that info.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

And eventually if every table started asking for custom meals in a way that screwed up the whole system..

Wait, what?

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Even with the food allergy comparison - I’m quite certain that a lot more guests ask to speak to a chef about allergy concerns than 10-20 years ago. So yes, it’s costing Disney more money and slowing things down. It’s a pretty valid comparison in my book.

Huh?

Would it cost WDW less if they did NOT accommodate food allergies?