The case challenging GAC to DAS held that facilities are not required to make the preferred accommodation of a disabled person's choice and that it is not enough for a person claiming an ADA violation to show that the offered accommodation does not eliminate all discomfort or difficulty. My guess is Disney will come up with some solution that doesn't require people to disclose their medical condition in front of other guests.
I hope so. We are all told to protect our medical privacy, for good reason. No one should have to repeat their issues over and over where anyone can hear.
But they haven’t and that’s not what they’re doing at the moment. They are telling people determined not eligible for DAS to speak with attraction cast members about their options.
Does that include disclosing their medical conditions in front of other guests? This is the only place I’m following the issue regularly.
My understanding from some reports I've read is that AQR is open to anyone, so specific disability talk is likely not necessary, but when people are denied DAS and told to ask for RTQ that there is some level of being told they will need to share with the attraction CM at the front of line entry why they need a RTQ. This makes sense with the other reports that CMs have stated that RTQ is to be given sparingly and that CMs will be audited re: how many RTQ times they give out. (although it doesn't seem to be being suggested sparingly when someone is denied DAS). That it's supposed to be given sparingly also seems to mean that something generic like "I need it for a medical reason" wouldn't fly, unless there's some kind of note on the back end indicating that RTQ was recommended (which there is no confirmation of at this time).
I’m assuming the person will have to explain why they can’t use AQR or possibly rider swap (?) under their specific circumstances.
And these are some of the reasons people are concerned that RTQ is seemingly being suggested easily when one is denied DAS. I doesn't match how difficult it's seemingly supposed to be to get RTQ
Your idea makes sens which is probably why it will never dawn on Disney's disability team.
I mean this “card” was literally the Guest Assistance Card program the preceded DAS. They offered a handful of “stamps” based on the specific needs of the guest. Some said things like “please offer this guest a shaded wait area,” while others said “please allow this guest to use the entrance designated for wheelchairs.” The most common one was “please allow this guest to use the alternate attraction entrance.” The problem is literally everyone knew what to say to get this stamp and it defeated the purpose. The others all just gathered dust.
People don’t need to disclose their medical condition during the DAS call, let alone to the ride operators. People never need to disclose their medical condition because DAS is needs based, not diagnosis based. I get that a lot of people want to disclose their medical condition to Disney because they feel that their medical condition entitles them to their preferred accommodation instead of the one that Disney may ultimately give them, but it is not part of the analysis at all.
AQR not working sounds like (from the other thread over on DIS) it’s largely going to be a factor of party size and adults versus children. It’s going to be hard for most adults in large groups to justify why they can’t attempt to wait in line and then get an AQR, or why they can’t rider swap, when they can wait in the Lighting Lane just fine. AQR is a perfectly reasonable accommodation for most and I expect most will be pushed to AQR with RTQ being reserved for solo travelers or parties of two with a caregiver/dependent.
Yeah it’s this. The suggestion of a card will be easily abused by:
It doesn't have to be medical history - it can be need just as with the calls themselves.
It's interesting, my guess is that Disney went above and beyond in accommodation, and now there is push back, as there always is when something is taken away. The thing is they are giving customers fair warning. And the idea they will lose customers to a point they care? This is the company that scaled back park hours, started to charge money for it's once free fast passes, started charging its guest parking fees, which for some reason get higher basd on how nice the resort, and finally, they consider 10 year olds adults and charge them as such, still customers pack the place, so they can probably weather whatever comes of this, if they think they will make more money by having more LL buyers.
The threshold of what is legally required for them is different from a public library or federal courthouse.
Disney changes things on the fly with no notice all of the time. So its possible there will be ongoing tweaks.
What is legally required is already written and will only change with successful litigation. Disney believes they meet the requirements currently in place.
