New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Angel Ariel]

This is probably where we disagree.

It's my view that those with a genuine need for accommodations at Disney parks will have inevitably needed them in other places such as school or work. That being the case, they would absolutely be "pros" in dealing with accommodation vetting processes. Even a very strict process by Disney standards would be a comparative breeze.

At the risk of being hypocritically judgemental, I would be quite suspicious of someone who claimed a need for accommodations, but was tripped up by what would be a relatively small amount of red tape compared to what they'd need nearly anywhere else.

I think part of what @flynnibus may have been getting at (but please correct me if I'm wrong, flynnibus) - is that every "pro" starts off having no clue what they're doing, what services/accommodations exist, get overwhelmed by navigating the system(s), etc.

Yeah, I'm a "pro" now. When DD was diagnosed with developmental delays at 9 months, we had no clue. We'd just done her first Disney trip at 8 months. We were still new when we took her at 15 months with the other set of grandparents (the only time we've done two trips within a year). DD obviously doesn't work, and was not yet in school and early intervention had just started and we had little clue of anything. As an infant it was not an issue, she didn't need accommodations at Disney, so we learned nothing of the system then.

Next time we took her was 3 y/o to Disneyland. She'd only been in the IEP system for a few months, and we were already overwhelmed with the fight we had to put up with the school district to get her services. It didn't dawn on us to think she may need accommodations at Disney, or what they might be. She didn't receive a diagnosis of anything specific until she was 4.

This was all years ago for us now. Now we are pros. Now we have years of paperwork to draw from, all organized in binders - some medical, most educational. That wasn't the case for a long time, though. It's very easy to get very overwhelmed, tongue tied and tripped up in explaining needs and such when you first start learning everything - whether you start when your child is a toddler (as we did), or whether you don't learn until they are in elementary school or older. Autism, for ex, is historically under diagnosed in girls. A friend of mine's daughter was just diagnosed as a high schooler. It's not like she just became autistic in high school. so it's really not equitable to judge people for being tripped up, esp when you have no idea where in this timeline of learning to navigate the disability world they are.

 

[shambolicdefending]

This is a circular argument. You're already taking in the new DAS scoping vs the topic being accommodations for people with disabilities.

You said before "I can assure you that this would not be a common issue for those that deal with genuine, serious disabilities. Working with guest services at Disney would not be their first rodeo."

I can assure you, that Colon and Prostate Cancers and the life altering consequences of the treatment for those diseases are quite "serious disabilities". I also have raised children that required an IEP through their entire schooling, so yes I'm also familiar with documentation, processes, evaluations, and the endless cycle of validating and proving need.

But know what... none of those experiences are things that directly map to "hey, lets goto WDW!".

I get it, you think people are seasoned warriors when it comes to dealing with their loved ones needs - but I'm saying your being exclusionary by assuming that only those who have walked in shoes like your own are the only ones that 'genuinely' need services.

I think we've probably just devolved into semantics at this point in the exchange.

I think I more or less understand your arguments and I appreciate you expressing them. I ultimately land at a different place on the spectrum of opinions on this, but big deal.

 

[flynnibus]

So, a lot of us are lucky to have a parent in their 80s who can still travel. They are old, can't walk as well, tire easily. That is where a wheelchair or ECV would become useful.

Is there something else that would qualify as a disability? Because I don't think aging is, or a LOT of visitors would qualify. Or is it? I honestly have no idea.

I didn't get into specifics of a particular disability - because it's not relevant to the point. The poster is building their case that everyone who has a serious issue that genuinely has a need for a special accommodation is already well versed and prepared to present and defend their need.

I'm saying that is an incredibly self-centered, narrow view of the world that doesn't take into account all the kinds of disabilities, levels of planning, and sheer differences WDW is very everything else people do in their life.

The hypothethical of bringing a grandparent was to illustrate something that means bringing people that may not be WDW-centric as you are... and maybe isn't planned out as far as your family vacation... and isn't someone you necessarily have championed for all the time like your own kids... and maybe needs accommodations at a place like WDW DIFFERENTLY than anywhere else they normally go.

AKA - your senior citizen you invite along on a visit may not be as readily armed to lobby and go through the process as a parent who is taking care of some severely developmentally impacted child.

Yet - both are as equally due the ability to visit the park.

 

[shambolicdefending]

I think part of what @flynnibus may have been getting at (but please correct me if I'm wrong, flynnibus) - is that every "pro" starts off having no clue what they're doing, what services/accommodations exist, get overwhelmed by navigating the system(s), etc.

Yeah, I'm a "pro" now. When DD was diagnosed with developmental delays at 9 months, we had no clue. We'd just done her first Disney trip at 8 months. We were still new when we took her at 15 months with the other set of grandparents (the only time we've done two trips within a year). DD obviously doesn't work, and was not yet in school and early intervention had just started and we had little clue of anything. As an infant it was not an issue, she didn't need accommodations at Disney, so we learned nothing of the system then.

Next time we took her was 3 y/o to Disneyland. She'd only been in the IEP system for a few months, and we were already overwhelmed with the fight we had to put up with the school district to get her services. It didn't dawn on us to think she may need accommodations at Disney, or what they might be. She didn't receive a diagnosis of anything specific until she was 4.

This was all years ago for us now. Now we are pros. Now we have years of paperwork to draw from, all organized in binders - some medical, most educational. That wasn't the case for a long time, though. It's very easy to get very overwhelmed, tongue tied and tripped up in explaining needs and such when you first start learning everything - whether you start when your child is a toddler (as we did), or whether you don't learn until they are in elementary school or older. Autism, for ex, is historically under diagnosed in girls. A friend of mine's daughter was just diagnosed as a high schooler. It's not like she just became autistic in high school. so it's really not equitable to judge people for being tripped up, esp when you have no idea where in this timeline of learning to navigate the disability world they are.

I appreciate you sharing this perspective and I can definitely relate to it.

My personal view is that I'd prefer a program that is stricter and may occasionally exclude some odd cases that probably should qualify. To me, that's far, far preferable to one that is open and easy to take advantage of.

If Disney simply mirrored the Six Flags process we went through to get our kids accommodations there, I would be thrilled.

 

[flynnibus]

No, like so many on here he offered up a specific example that was meant to conjure sympathy.

No, it's called testing a hypothesis. You come up with a outline of what you think is happening... and then you repeatedly test it through the different scenarios to see if it holds true. I simply took a scenario I know happens.

Just because you are seasoned fighting for your own developmentally challenged child does not mean everyone who needs disability assistance is as prepared or seasoned as that parent.

And not everything is as planned as a WDW annual vacation. Remember this policy will apply to DLR too... where not all guests are people who have been planning for 9months out.

 

[dothebrdwalk]

View attachment 778675

Not because of you... but their line. The idea that Disney is going to be able to keep the accepted/reject results somehow quiet is rediculous thinking on theirs or anyone's part. The Disney sphere is going to document it all along.. and countless bloggers will be interrogating for answers. And it can't be a 'moving target' else disney would keep excluding those it intends to support.

Disney may talk a bit talk about 'enforcing the rules' - but doing so has high stakes here. They aren't going to play a game of chicken, and they aren't opening a CSIAS department either.

Exactly this. The rules about "lifetime bans" for lying have always been in place, but Disney is aware that it has to be more of a scare tactic than anything as it is a slippery slope to prove someone is lying about a disability. Should Disney be wrong with their accusation, and the "lying" party produce any sort of evidence that they are in fact disabled- Disney is up to their nose in a lawsuit.

 

[flynnibus]

You’re on these boards each and every day. Why wouldn’t you tell your father about these new rules and work through them with him?

Imagine you live in Orange County California and are planning to goto DLR this weekend, and your wife says "hey, your mom was saying how much they'd really love to spend more time with the great grandchildren... we should bring them along"

And you have to say "Well, do you think they have their doctors notes and diagnosis handy and ready to turn in? Have you checked the website to lookup the availability of the interview? When are you going to be there with them to get them through the tech on the call?"

The predisposition that everyone who "really" needs assistance is somehow already prepped and seasoned for this stuff is a fallacy based on people who only consider their own situation.

 

[flynnibus]

I think part of what @flynnibus may have been getting at (but please correct me if I'm wrong, flynnibus) - is that every "pro" starts off having no clue what they're doing, what services/accommodations exist, get overwhelmed by navigating the system(s), etc.

Yup.. but not just because 'you're new to it' -- but because WDW is *DIFFERENT* from your daily life.

When the pros say "well we are all ready to do this..." -- that doesn't mean everyone is at that same point of preparation. And we have a LAW that says you shouldn't NEED to be.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

My personal view is that I'd prefer a program that is stricter and may occasionally exclude some odd cases that probably should qualify. To me, that's far, far preferable to one that is open and easy to take advantage of.

And I totally disagree with that view - I could care less if a few people lie and get away with something. I care a lot if someone who needs to be accommodated is turned away.

If you care more about your 5 minutes in standby then the need of someone who actually needs to use DAS then you need to look at your priorities.

 

[Chi84]

Yup.. but not just because 'you're new to it' -- but because WDW is *DIFFERENT* from your daily life.

When the pros say "well we are all ready to do this..." -- that doesn't mean everyone is at that same point of preparation. And we have a LAW that says you shouldn't NEED to be.

The law will guarantee access to the parks and most rides. But if you are asking for an accommodation over and above that Disney should be able to put in a system for handling requests for those additional accommodations.

 

[DryerLintFan]

That I’m Sure is the goal: An access system that only minimally impacts the operation as a whole.

It’s just hard. People want to scam
Disney…they’re hard to discourage.

And I think the “need” is highly questionable. Like I would question diabetes 99% of the time and ADHD probably like 85%

Okay but,… in this new system there’s nothing from preventing anyone going on the call and saying they or their child has autism. So all the people who were on DAS lying just have to change their lie.

i guess that’s why i was thinking Disney could track who flipped the tables in their interviews but it seems they wouldn’t track that.

 

[shambolicdefending]

And I totally disagree with that view - I could care less if a few people lie and get away with something. I care a lot if someone who needs to be accommodated is turned away.

If you care more about your 5 minutes in standby then the need of someone who actually needs to use DAS then you need to look at your priorities.

I don't believe this is a case of "a few" people taking advantage of the current system. If it were, I probably wouldn't feel as strongly about it. I think the current system is rampant with dishonesty and abuse. That's a major detriment to everyone, but especially those who need accommodations the most.

IMO, it's not possible for Disney to have a system that flawlessly includes everyone who deserves it without inviting that level of abuse. If they ever come up with one, I'll be the first to champion it. Until then, I'll continue to favor a stricter approach, even with its own imperfections.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Okay but,… in this new system there’s nothing from preventing anyone going on the call and saying they or their child has autism. So all the people who were on DAS lying just have to change their lie.

i guess that’s why i was thinking Disney could track who flipped the tables in their interviews but it seems they wouldn’t track that.

I’m hoping this is just phase 1

They’re looking to do it all in advance so they have hard numbers. That’s the first step. If I know the scammer - and I do - they were told to just go in the morning day of…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't believe this is a case of "a few" people taking advantage of the current system. If it were, I probably wouldn't feel as strongly about it. I think the current system is rampant with dishonesty and abuse. That's a major detriment to everyone, but especially those who need the accommodations the most.

IMO, it's not possible to have a system that flawlessly includes everyone who deserves it without inviting that level of abuse. If Disney ever comes up with one, I'll be the first to champion it. Until then, I'll continue to favor a stricter approach, even with its imperfections.

We have a tracking expert on the boards that agrees with you. It’s a significant level of abuse.

 

[pigglewiggle]

I'm looking forward to reports in how this all works.

I can't believe it's going to be as easy as saying my child has autism.
Nor can I believe someone with a physical disability that prevents them from standing in a line, not even with a wheelchair, will be denied either. I imagine if you are asked to speak with a healthcare professional and describe the exact issues, the DAS would be granted.

 

[Gomer]

I don't believe this is a case of "a few" people taking advantage of the current system. If it were, I probably wouldn't feel as strongly about it. I think the current system is rampant with dishonesty and abuse. That's a major detriment to everyone, but especially those who need accommodations the most.

IMO, it's not possible for Disney to have a system that flawlessly includes everyone who deserves it without inviting that level of abuse. If they ever come up with one, I'll be the first to champion it. Until then, I'll continue to favor a stricter approach, even with its own imperfections.

Disney can’t create a system though that knowingly excludes valid and reasonable accommodation requests to someone who is legitimately disabled just to try and restrict abuse. That would open them up to numerous lawsuits.

Whether someone thinks it’s for the greater good or not, I can’t imagine Disney would be willing to take that risk.

 

[Happyday]

Tells you she's a lawyer.

Then that person can tell me but if you notice it has been radio silence and they have been making other comments so!
Not to mention it all depends on if you consider it a good thing

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

We have a tracking expert on the boards that agrees with you. It’s a significant level of abuse.

how are they tracking abuse? Guessing if someone does or does not have a condition?

 

[shambolicdefending]

Disney can’t create a system though that knowingly excludes valid and reasonable accommodation requests to someone who is legitimately disabled just to try and restrict abuse. That would open them up to numerous lawsuits.

Whether someone thinks it’s for the greater good or not, I can’t imagine Disney would be willing to take that risk.

The relevant laws allow Disney to be much stricter than it currently is - even with the new changes. Disney has chosen to operate a looser policy than many other theme parks. Maybe there was a time when that made sense, but I don't think it does today.

 

[Andrew C]

Disney can’t create a system though that knowingly excludes valid and reasonable accommodation requests to someone who is legitimately disabled just to try and restrict abuse. That would open them up to numerous lawsuits.

Whether someone thinks it’s for the greater good or not, I can’t imagine Disney would be willing to take that risk.

DAS is not the only type of reasonable accommodation that exists....