New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Grantwil93]

Nor should they - guests should be given some type of accommodation card (physical or digital) that tells the greeter what type of accommodations they should receive.

Similar to stroller = wheelchair tags - the greet at each attraction doesn’t get to determine if the stroller can or can’t be brought along - that decision was made when the tag was given.

Ideally this would work. But each ride is different. You would more likely need a sheet of paper(or multiple) listing what the person should receive at each attraction. They are all different. It's doable, but it's a lot to sift through for guests all day and for CM's to sift through it and find their ride. They could do it electronically, but I guess they don't want to go that route

 

[Chi84]

Ideally this would work. But each ride is different. You would more likely need a sheet of paper(or multiple) listing what the person should receive at each attraction. They are all different. It's doable, but it's a lot to sift through for guests all day and for CM's to sift through it and find their ride. They could do it electronically, but I guess they don't want to go that route

Also, wouldn’t someone who didn’t qualify for DAS but has a physical disability that requires assistance possibly get a RTQ if there were only 2 people? Would that be possible?

 

[RamblinWreck]

Maybe i been lucky but the comments about extremely long lightning lanes are to me nothing more than an exaggeration. Sans when a ride is down and they are trying to catch up with all the Genie users LL to me have not gotten out of control at all. I never remember them being a “walk on”. It’s always been a semi “wait”. Again my experience only im speaking of and others i know

Yeah I don’t get it.

It’s been a year since I’ve been there bid but by and large LL’s are all practically walk ons. Maybe 10 minutes for a popular attraction.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Was there an issue with stroller or wheelchair tags as far as getting into the lines? I’m not following.

No, that’s the point. There is not an issue because if a stroller has a tag the CM treats it as a wheelchair no questions asked. I’m saying that’s how RTQ etc. should be handled. The greeter should not have to make those types of calls.

 

[Grantwil93]

Also, wouldn’t someone who didn’t qualify for DAS but has a physical disability that requires assistance possibly get a RTQ if there were only 2 people? Would that be possible?

Theoretically yes, but they would have to explain why they can't be assisted in line due to their physical disability

Are they on cruches? If so, you offer a wheelchair to use in the queue if the wait is too long for them on crutches. Not give them a pass. All rides should have at least a few chairs on hand. If they don't want it, that's their choice and the conversation is essentially over unless they can explain why a wheelchair won't work(this is a possible scenario)

If they are in a mobility device already, then they would have to explain why the assistance they need can only be provided outside the queue, and why is the 10-20minute LL okay to be assisted in but not the 45 min standby? I'm not saying that it can't be explained, just that it would need to be. Specifically in the context of physical disability you were asking for.
-
-
This is essentially the rule:
If it was determined that there was no other option for them to reasonably experience the attraction, then RTQ passes could be issued. The key here is "reasonably experience." It comes back to the same arguments people are having about the interviews and who qualifies. "Disney" may not agree with you on what is reasonable, but legally they are in the clear(as it stands right now)

They could also be issued in some kind of leaving the queue for an emergency circumstance. But that's so subjective and circumstantial that it's essentially irrelevant to disect

 

[Chi84]

No, that’s the point. There is not an issue because if a stroller has a tag the CM treats it as a wheelchair no questions asked. I’m saying that’s how RTQ etc. should be handled. The greeter should not have to make those types of calls.

But from what’s been said in this thread being given a return time at the attraction is based on the particular attraction queue or possibly is given out in the event that a person doesn’t have someone to hold a place in line - either based on being alone or the only caretaker.

In the first instance it would not be useful and in the second it would be based on something Disney might not know ahead of time.

I think you may be suggesting another use where someone who doesn’t qualify for DAS can get something not listed on Disney’s website.

 

[ConfettiCupcake]

I’m guessing - just guessing, that there’s not a formal way to qualify for RTQ because that’s just a road to overuse/abuse again. As nice as it would be from the guest perspective to have some official notation on one’s account or an official pass, for Disney that just shifts the large chunk of people they got off DAS right back onto what’s effectively DAS with some extra hurdles.

I really think they don’t want people using it unless they without question need it. I don’t think they want the mights and maybes to have full access anymore period.

 

[RamblinWreck]

I’m guessing - just guessing, that there’s not a formal way to qualify for RTQ because that’s just a road to overuse/abuse again. As nice as it would be from the guest perspective to have some official notation on one’s account or an official pass, for Disney that just shifts the large chunk of people they got off DAS right back onto what’s effectively DAS with some extra hurdles.

I really think they don’t want people using it unless they without question need it. I don’t think they want the mights and maybes to have full access anymore period.

DAS with some extra hurdles would be a big improvement from a logistics side though.

Most people wouldn’t go to the effort to jump through the hoops for every single ride.

It would suck for the disabled people though.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I think you may be suggesting another use where someone who doesn’t qualify for DAS can get something not listed on Disney’s website.

No, I’m suggesting that those who don’t qualify for DAS but are expected to “seek assistance from a CM at the entrance” be given a card that informs the CM what accommodations to offer.

 

[Chi84]

No, I’m suggesting that those who don’t qualify for DAS but are expected to “seek assistance from a CM at the entrance” be given a card that informs the CM what accommodations to offer.

So what @Grantwil93 posted above? That seems both complex and possibly limiting for the attraction CMs.

The website tells people what line accommodations they can request (AQR and rider switch). From everything that’s been said here, getting a return time without entering the line is meant to be a rare exception.

Maybe you can give an example of the type of card you’re talking about? What situation would present itself where someone would get an accommodation other than the ones listed on the website?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

What situation would present itself where someone would get an accommodation other than the ones listed on the website?

What situations are supposed to get AQR, Rider Switch or RTQ?

Everyone can get rider switch now correct? Any stories of guests being denied that?

So who gets AQR and RTQ?

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Nor should they - guests should be given some type of accommodation card (physical or digital) that tells the greeter what type of accommodations they should receive.

Similar to stroller = wheelchair tags - the greet at each attraction doesn’t get to determine if the stroller can or can’t be brought along - that decision was made when the tag was given.

They tried that system, it was called GAC, and somehow, after several years, everyone ended up figuring out what to say to get cards indicating that what they needed was the highest form of accommodation possible. Shocking, I know.

 

[lazyboy97o]

They tried that system, it was called GAC, and somehow, after several years, everyone ended up figuring out what to say to get cards indicating that what they needed was the highest form of accommodation possible. Shocking, I know.

The problem with GAC was that it included a true skip the line system, not that it set out to offer organized variety.

 

[Chi84]

What situations are supposed to get AQR, Rider Switch or RTQ?

Everyone can get rider switch now correct? Any stories of guests being denied that?

So who gets AQR and RTQ?

Disney doesn’t list anything called RTQ. It seems to be for the type of rare situations described above by @Grantwil93.

I’m not sure how Disney could foresee those situations. For example, what happens if a card says AQR and rider switch because a disabled person has a party of 5 but he goes to an attraction alone? Would the CM be bound by what it says on the card?

 

[TrojanUSC]

No, I’m suggesting that those who don’t qualify for DAS but are expected to “seek assistance from a CM at the entrance” be given a card that informs the CM what accommodations to offer.

They literally tried this with GAC, which was a card with a stamp that told the CM what assistance to offer (offer a shaded wait area, use the alternate entrance, etc). However, everybody knew what to say to get the best card stamp and it became pointless.

The problem with GAC was that it included a true skip the line system, not that it set out to offer organized variety.

Kind of... the original intent was to offer a variety of options and they had about a half dozen stamps to ensure the specific needs of each guest were met.

 

[Angel Ariel]

There is a weird amount of , " What about me ism" in this thread. So many posts Is ring with an air of, "Well I can't do that thing, so it's not fair the disabled person can." That is such a weird take to have.

The disabled person might have physical or mental limitations that proclude them from riding a decent number of rides. So, what does it matter if they choose to ride the three or four over and over again that they can.

They might also only be able to be in the park for a limited number of time directly related to their disability, so what does it really matter if they can use DAS for 1 really long line, while waiting in two or three shorter ones in the mean time. I know that I cannot do the same thing, but I also have the option to choose to be in the park for twelve hours that day with minimal impact to my health.

The better way to take these discussions is when somebody comes in concerned about how to prepare, Advice is given. Or when somebody is denied and doesn't know what to do, Advice is given.

Arguing about the would have, should have, could've of what disney should have done might be more fun, but is definitely more fruitless. Thay have made their decision regarding DAS for now.

Thank you.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It's relevant because it is a factor that may impact standby wait times for all guests, and is one of the major benefits of DAS that contributes to people lying to get it.

Legitimate DAS users who don't want to budge on this issue should consider that. The more a service like DAS provides 'advantages', the more likely it is to be cut back because of various impacts.

To what degree it's an impact we can only speculate. The issue isn't so much riding Pirates 3 times, it's if a lot of people are joining a virtual queue for something like rise 5 times a day. That's where it can impact everyone and isn't equitable.

I sympathize with the extremely autistic kids who only want to ride the same thing over and over, but that's not the intent of any theme park for any guest. Equal access doesn't mean getting an experience way outside the norm.

I mean, the same is true for any guest who chooses to re-ride an attraction. The access here is the choice. Nondisabled families may not choose to ride an headliner multiple times in a day - but it is a choice. Disney doesn't prevent them from doing so via standby on virtually all rides (VQs with Boarding Groups excepted, which is a minimal number of attractions at any given time). any guest choosing to ride a headliner multiple times in a day is going to have that same impact on that ride's standby line as a DAS guest doing so would.

Being able to choose what rides your family experiences during a day at Disney isn't an experience outside the norm. Everyone's daily ride makeup will look different based on their family's needs. For some that will be visit as many varied attractions as possible. For others that will be visiting a smaller number of attractions, possibly multiple times if they are able. Neither is right or wrong.

And again - those continuing to see something like this as an advantage for current DAS holders (so a much more restricted and higher level of need than previous) - please take a few moments to consider how those more significant needs can make riding headliners multiple times in a day extremely difficult for the family as well. There seems to be an accepted assumption that such a day would be easier or better or an advantage over others. Thinking about our own situation, the idea of riding Rise 4x in a day is just laughable because of how difficult the logistics of making that happen would be. I can't find the words to describe how stressful it would be. I actually feel for families whose family member may be super fixated like this, because I can imagine just how difficult it can be on the family to have to potentially choose between dealing with a possible crisis moment for the person by not allowing them to do the re-rides, or how difficult it would be just to logistically make those rerides happen and the impact it could have on the entire party to do so. Both suck and neither would I consider an advantage.

 

[Dranth]

So if you need to be with your fall-prone parent... you think that person is already on DAS?

Assuming there is no other family present then that is the type of case that DAS should cover. Disney is going to need to modify their criteria to allow those types of situations because now you are talking about scenarios where no other accommodation could be considered reasonable.

There will always be edge cases and they need to be handled as such.

Disney doesn't have a 'need or requirement' to do a lot of things - but they do it because it makes sense from a customer service and satisifaction point of view.

Agreed, but in this case we are talking about a program that is, at least in Disney's eyes, starting to overwhelm the system. Judging from what they are doing, fixing it is more important to them than the customer service and satisfaction hit. At least for now. I still expect tweaks down the line to try and help address some of this but we'll have to see how it plays out.

These absolutes just bring out the worst in people...

I used no absolutes.

 

[DoubleSwitchback]

I'm sort of in your minority... still a money grab, but for different reasons than what normally gets pushed here. I think the uncertainty of the true time spent in a queue, especially standby, is translating into lost vacation bookings. They aren't trying to sell more $30 Genie+, so much as they are trying to avoid losing out on $5K bookings.

Couldn't agree more! We are big spenders but our last trip was so miserable in Feb, even with G+ (which we know how to "maximize") that we decided not to go back, indefinitely. Obv we had no idea that DAS changes were coming, so indefinitely might be shorter than we originally thought.

 

[Kingoglow]

G+ shouldn't enter the conversation as it is a tool available to both DAS and non-DAS users. DAS needs to be compared to Standby.

I am saying as a non-DAS user I have ridden the same ride more than twice a day (not during extra magic hours or ticketed event or anything). Granted the rides were Pooh, Star tours, and Everest(through SR line).

I don't think it's reasonable to tell 1 person sorry you can't get a return time for this ride (which is supposed to be your substitute for a standby line) because you've already ridden it twice. While telling someone else, go ahead, the back of the standby line is here.

If you want to limit it to E tickets, where do you draw the line?

I will 100% agree the opportunity cost for the DAS user with a return time is much much lower than the opportunity cost of a non-DAS user. However, the only solutions I can think that problem (DAS holding/waiting area, infrastructure to now allow DAS users to wait in standby lines, ect) seem like expenses that Disney would not be willing to do or would actively cost Disney profits from DAS users.

The issue that promoted Disney to change the DAS system in the first place was its need to clear the LL ques so that guests that are paying an additional 25-30% of their admission to use the LL service, feel like there is value in their purchase. It has been said that the number of DAS ab/users are causeing the LL wait to be far longer than what Disney wants.

So allowing multiple rerides, all day, via to LL que is counter to what Disney is trying to achieve with changing DAS.