New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Vegas Disney Fan]

We can do some simple math to determine if these numbers are even possible… (now you’ve got the math major fired up)

In an average day MK sees 59,000 people.
(21 million yearly divided by 356 days.

https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-Theme-Index-web-1.pdf)

8% of 59,000 people is 4,720 people.

So by the claim, 4,720 people are using 70% of total ride capacity.

Now let’s look at some ride capacity… the top 7 found here https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20181111/36323/disneys-highest-capacity-attractions?page=3

Space mountain, operational ride capacity is 1800 people per hour, in a 12 hour day that’s 21600 riders per day.

Little Mermaid, operational ride capacity is 1900 ppl, 22,800 riders per day.

Its a small world, 2700 pph, 32,400 per day.

Pirates, 2880 pph, 34,560 per day.

Haunted Mansion, 2880 pph, 34,560 per day.

Carousel of Progress, 3600 pph, 43,200 per day.

People over, 4885 pph, 58,620 per day.

For those 7 rides, 70% of capacity is 173,418 rides.

So even if we ignore the dozen + other rides in the park for the claim to be true those 4,720 people (8%) would have to go on 173,418 rides in a day (70% of the 247,740 rides just for those 7 listed above).

That‘s 37 rides per DAS per day, and that‘s only for those 7 rides, that’s 3 rides per hour all day long, with no breaks, minimum, add in the rest of the rides and every single DAS person would have to do roughly 50 rides per day for the claim to be true.

I've shown my work to substantiate my claim the statements is false, I challenge anyone to show me work to substantiate the claim is true.

 

[TrojanUSC]

8% of 59,000 people is 4,720 people.

So by the claim 4,720 people are using 70% of total capacity.

What? Even if the 70% figure is accurate, it was never just the 8% of people. The figure is that roughly 8% of people have DAS, but then those people all have 3-5 people on their DAS with them.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

What? Even if the 70% figure is accurate, it was never just the 8% of people. The figure is that roughly 8% of people have DAS, but then those people all have 3-5 people on their DAS with them.

Tell that to Fido, that’s the point I was making and he said I was wrong!

 

[rtmachine]

We can do some simple math to determine if these numbers are even possible… (now you’ve got the math major fired up)

In an average day MK sees 59,000 people.
(21 million yearly divided by 356 days.

https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-Theme-Index-web-1.pdf)

8% of 59,000 people is 4,720 people.

So by the claim, 4,720 people are using 70% of total ride capacity.

Now let’s look at some ride capacity… the top 7 found here https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20181111/36323/disneys-highest-capacity-attractions?page=3

Space mountain, operational ride capacity is 1800 people per hour, in a 12 hour day that’s 21600 riders per day.

Little Mermaid, operational ride capacity is 1900 ppl, 22,800 riders per day.

Its a small world, 2700 pph, 32,400 per day.

Pirates, 2880 pph, 34,560 per day.

Haunted Mansion, 2880 pph, 34,560 per day.

Carousel of Progress, 3600 pph, 43,200 per day.

People over, 4885 pph, 58,620 per day.

For those 7 rides, 70% of capacity is 173,418 rides.

So even if we ignore the dozen + other rides in the park for the claim to be true those 4,720 people (8%) would have to go on 173,418 rides in a day (70% of the 247,740 rides just for those 7 listed above).

That‘s 37 rides per DAS per day, and that‘s only for those 7 rides, that’s 3 rides per hour all day long, with no breaks, minimum, add in the rest of the rides and every single DAS person would have to do roughly 50 rides per day for the claim to be true.

I've shown my work to substantiate my claim the statements is false, I challenge anyone to show me work to substantiate the claim is true.

Is that 8% just the DAS holder or all of the family and friends?

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Is that 8% just the DAS holder or all of the family and friends?

According to Fido that’s everyone using DAS, I said it was 32-40% but he said it’s only 8% so I used his numbers to disprove his claim.

Using my estimates of 35% using 52% of ride capacity it would be about 20,000 people going on the listed rides 129,000 times per day, or about 7 rides on the 7 listed rides… but I’m being told I’m wrong.

 

[Chi84]

According to Fido that’s everyone using DAS, I said it was 32-40% but he said it’s only 8% so I used his numbers to disprove his claim.

Using my estimates of 35% using 52% of ride capacity it would be about 20,000 people going on the listed rides 129,000 times per day, or about 7 rides on the 7 listed rides… but I’m being told I’m wrong.

You may be confusing number of people using the service and the number of people with disabilities?

 

[RamblinWreck]

It's not going to make standby better. It's never been about that. The whole point of the change is for Disney to control the LL capacity better. DAS can't be accounted for per hour making it hard for Disney to control the amount of LL available. With less DAS users now, there should be more availability per ride per day.

There’s only so much demand for LL’s and G+

So if they want to keep standby lines the same then they’ll have to lower G+ and LL prices

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

You may be confusing number of people using the service and the number of people with disabilities?

I’m not confusing anything…

The claim was 8% were using 70% of total ride capacity, I said that was false and showed why I believe it’s closer to 35% are using 52% of total ride capacity… and was told I’m wrong.

That’s why I did the little math problem, to prove my numbers make far more sense and the others are not realistic.

 

[Jrb1979]

There’s only so much demand for LL’s and G+

So if they want to keep standby lines the same then they’ll have to lower G+ and LL prices

It has nothing to do with making standby better but to make G+ better for those who buy it.

 

[Grantwil93]

Here is what I will say as far as what ppl who work in operations have to go off of right now:

DAS program is entirely run through Disney Central now. Guest Relations has ZERO access to DAS. For either granting passes or adding people to an existing pass. The most that guest relations can do is set you up with a video chat to a Disney Central CM. No exceptions to this are possible because only Disney Central CM's within the DAS team have access.

They are not going to give DAS out just by saying "ADHD" or "Autism." It's supposed to work like understanding why the person needs specifically DAS. But it's essentially geared only towards developmental disabilities. But they probably don't want to give it out to a 24 year old who has a college degree and a full time job as a barista, but also has documented ADHD. Why do you need it? Explain? That's the main thing in getting one once you are past the "developmental disabilities" threshold.

Front line CM'S at attractions have other options for those who don't have a DAS pass but come up and ask if they can use lightning lane for x, y, z, etc.

Options include:

Advising guests in parties of 2 or more to form a "buffer" around someone with claustrophobia or anxiety while waiting in standby. Because of this, property wide there is to be a removal of CM language involving "move all the way forward in line..." so there isn't any encouragement to crowd each other. Just to focus on moving forward.

If they need to use the restroom they are welcome to leave at any time and can flag down a cast member and their party can wait in the line for them to return. But the most accommodation they will get in this regard is to come back in through the lightning lane to find their party. Not skipping to the exit to meet them unless their bathroom emergency happens right before getting on the ride or something. But those accommodations already happen in those situations.

There is also another version, where let's say there is a party of 4 and one of the kids(or an adult) doesn't have a DAS pass and they just can't wait in the standby line. So, the person who can't wait is allowed to wait outside the ride with maximum 1 other member of the party while the other ppl go into the standby line and then when they get to the merge point(where LL joins standby) they can tell the merge CM that they have ppl outside and the merge CM will let them wait in a designated area at merge while the party members(not the CM!!!) Will call the rest of their party that is outside and tell them to come meet them. Then the greeter CM will let them in and they will still have to wait in the LL and join their party at merge to then continue. This option is a much longer wait than just standby obviously.

Rider switch as it currently exists is also a viable option for the CM's to suggest.

If none of these things work, CM's can give out the "return to queue" passes. But CM's have to sign into the podiums or iPads when they are in charge of the scanners or issuing redemptions. And Disney will be heavily auditing when these passes are given out. CM's better have a good reason to give one out and it's been made clear that if they even remotely question how many you are issuing, you will have to explain yourself in a formal meeting/investigation. Basically, CM's aren't going to give these out like candy unless they are stupid. Abd it's not even a good option, cause it's essentially DAS but you have to physically walk to the ride and you are beholden to your pass being based on the posted wait time. And if you are getting tons of these passes all the time, Disney is gonna know and will follow up(tour guides/influencer prevention), because they aren't a DAS alternative. It's a different accommodation.

As you can probably tell, none of these are as good as DAS and all of them are less convenient than just waiting in standby in terms of time. But they are accommodations. Disney seems to be hoping that none of these see heavy use by those that don't need them because they aren't better than standby.
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As for changes to DAS, one thing is that after you scan in to your ride you will have to wait 10 minutes to book your next one. This is to reduce the advantage of the system and try to curb the ability to be in the LL for one ride and by the time you are off your ride you already have your next one ready to scan.
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Everything that isn't the virtual meetings is coming down on the CM's who work on the frontline. Some agree with the changes, some don't. None of them are adversarial to guests needs, but this is essentially the framework in place now that they have to work in. Try to keep that in mind when visiting. And know again that the sheer amount of LL usage via the DAS system was out of control as many in here have expertly laid out. It couldn't continue as it was. I'm not saying these are the correct changes. But I am saying it's no shock Disney did something.

It was also stressed to CM's that Disney is listening and will be constantly willing to tweak the alternate accommodations other than DAS and co tinuing to tweak how DAS works. And the accommodations will probably become different based on the realities of each individual ride's operation. This is just the starting point. So make your voices heard!

 

[Chi84]

I’m not confusing anything…

The claim was 8% were using 70% of total ride capacity, I said that was false and showed why I believe it’s closer to 35% are using 52% of total ride capacity… and was told I’m wrong.

That’s why I did the little math problem, to prove my numbers make far more sense and the others are not realistic.

But the people with the DAS qualified person are neither disabled nor paying yet using capacity. Maybe I’m the one who doesn’t understand?

 

[DisneyHead123]

I’m not confusing anything…

The claim was 8% were using 70% of total ride capacity, I said that was false and showed why I believe it’s closer to 35% are using 52% of total ride capacity… and was told I’m wrong.

That’s why I did the little math problem, to prove my numbers make far more sense and the others are not realistic.

Yeah, with genuine respect to all posters here, I never understand how the “8% using 70%” quote keeps getting thrown around, usually with the implication that if said 8% are removed from LL, it will open up just tons of capacity and improve wait times.

DAS users do not have superpowers and they’re not shape shifters who occupy 8 seats at a time. If 8% of guests could actually take up 70% of capacity, the logical conclusion there is that Disney’s capacity is extremely limited, and only able to accommodate under 15% of all park goers before everything is completely full, with 85% of guests wandering around.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Because of this, property wide there is to be a removal of CM language involving "move all the way forward in line..." so there isn't any encouragement to crowd each other.

This would be wonderful but I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ve had guests literally cuss me out when I followed a CM’s instruction to fill in all available space.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

But the people with the DAS qualified person are neither disabled nor paying yet using capacity. Maybe I’m the one who doesn’t understand?

I think you and I are in complete agreement, the 8% who get DAS becomes 35% once you add in the friends and family accompanying them.

 

[Grantwil93]

Yeah, with genuine respect to all posters here, I never understand how the “8% using 70%” quote keeps getting thrown around, usually with the implication that if said 8% are removed from LL, it will open up just tons of capacity and improve wait times.

DAS users do not have superpowers and they’re not shape shifters who occupy 8 seats at a time. If 8% of guests could actually take up 70% of capacity, the logical conclusion there is that Disney’s capacity is extremely limited, and only able to accommodate under 15% of all park goers before everything is completely full, with 85% of guests wandering around.

I might be misunderstanding.

The 8% are just the people with passes. As far as I understand the numbers Disney has. It's the other people in the party that Balloon it. If each person with a DAS pass averages only 3 other people on their pass(old system allowed 6), then that 8% of guests are now 32% of the guests in the park.

It created a situation where more than 50% of the guests in a park that day were utilizing LL(dont k ow how much g+ they sell, but they could only sell it to 15% of guests and still have more than 50% of the guests using LL on a bad day). Which breaks the entire thing. Disney doesn't want thar high a percentage in the LL pool.

 

[Grantwil93]

This would be wonderful but I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ve had guests literally cuss me out when I followed a CM’s instruction to fill in all available space.

It would be "keep moving forward with the line" instead of "keep up with the party in front of you and fill in all the available space"

Not sure how that applies to shows, but attraction lines will get these language changes. How effectively it gets adopted and trained is anyone's guess.

 

[Chi84]

I think you and I are in complete agreement, the 8% who get DAS becomes 35% once you add in the friends and family accompanying them.

Right but that makes things worse because people who are neither disabled nor paying guests are using up LL capacity that would otherwise go to people paying for the access.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I might be misunderstanding.

The 8% are just the people with passes. As far as I understand the numbers Disney has. It's the other people in the party that Balloon it. If each person with a DAS pass averages only 3 other people on their pass(old system allowed 6), then that 8% of guests are now 32% of the guests in the park.

It created a situation where more than 50% of the guests in a park that day were utilizing LL. Which breaks the entire thing. Disney doesn't want high a percentage in the LL pool.

I agree, but I think the actual numbers should be stated. Maybe I’m being nitpicky, I dunno.

 

[Grantwil93]

I agree, but I think the actual numbers should be stated. Maybe I’m being nitpicky, I dunno.

Only a few ppl in Disney probably have the hard numbers. It's more guess work. But anecdotally, I scan far more DAS than G+ when I'm working. At least twice as much. So I believe these educated guesses.

 

[Jrb1979]

Yeah, with genuine respect to all posters here, I never understand how the “8% using 70%” quote keeps getting thrown around, usually with the implication that if said 8% are removed from LL, it will open up just tons of capacity and improve wait times.

DAS users do not have superpowers and they’re not shape shifters who occupy 8 seats at a time. If 8% of guests could actually take up 70% of capacity, the logical conclusion there is that Disney’s capacity is extremely limited, and only able to accommodate under 15% of all park goers before everything is completely full, with 85% of guests wandering around.

It's easy for 8% to use 70% due to party size. For every 1 DAS guest they get 5 guests with them. That takes up capacity pretty quickly