New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[Tigger&Pooh]

Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard someone say that GAC/DAS was intended to give qualifying guests an enhanced experience over non- GAC/DAS guests. I always thought the intention was to give those that needed it a similar experience to those that did not need it.

If the intent of a program is to give an enhanced experience, this will always come at the expense of other guests' experience.

I don't believe Disney intended their accommodations give an "enhanced" experience. Such designation really depends on the disability/needs/manifestations and definitely does not apply to all who utilized GAC or DAS in the past. Not everyone has the same experience; however when the only accommodation offered is 1-size-fits-all it obviously was "more" than some people needed as accommodation. They are adjusting that now and it understandably rankles some who are losing that "enhancement" -- which pretty much just confirms it was more than those individuals need.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

Why? What a strange phrase to use in this case.

There’s so much harm when politicians, businesses, etc. create an “Avatar” of an average customer, person, etc.

If you don’t see the harm that can cause, then I’m sorry you feel that way haha

There isn't any harm, its good business. Any successfully business has way too many customers, or potential customers to make any business decision based on each of their individual features/characteristics. You market to groups, to demographics, to target audience. Average is a mathematical term, there is no positive or negative connotation to it. A business in doing its marketing and forecasting isn't going to go through the millions of different people that visit every year and figure out what works best for each of them. You market and spend based upon your customers, and not your extreme demographics, but your average guests, as they make up the biggest percentage of your audience, which is where you should be spending your focus/money.

 

[flynnibus]

Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard someone say that GAC/DAS was intended to give qualifying guests an enhanced experience over non- GAC/DAS guests.

You saying it would be the first time, because that's not actually what I said. I never made any comparison to other guest's experience.

 

[flynnibus]

Why? What a strange phrase to use in this case.

There’s so much harm when politicians, businesses, etc. create an “Avatar” of an average customer, person, etc.

If you don’t see the harm that can cause, then I’m sorry you feel that way haha

you painted it as if using such concepts was a negative or dismissive.

Customers are diverse, no business evaluates every decision by trying to evaluate it against EVERY POSSIBLE VARIATION of customer. No one can digest so many different answers into meaningful conclusions.

Concepts like 'demographics' and statistical analysis of customer trends is not dehumanizing nor a negative trend. It's literally how someone finds some consistency in what is otherwise an impossible evaluation problem.

 

[Disstevefan1]

There really isn’t an “average” park goer. Bob’s family of 4.5 kids from Colorado doesn’t actually exist outside of the boardroom and spreadsheets.

Problem is, TWDC makes decisions in its theme park business based on boardrooms and spreadsheets.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Problem is, TWDC makes decisions in its theme park business based on boardrooms and spreadsheets.

Exactly. You get it. Haha

 

[RSoxNo1]

Question: You are required to have an admission ticket before you can apply for DAS online. If you are denied a DAS, and you feel it is too onerous to go without one, can you get a refund? Can you find out of you qualify before you purchase a ticket.

Sorry if this has been discussed already but I can't read the entire thread. Thanks in advance.

At this point they will not talk with you without valid tickets.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Why would Disney want to set up a system and pay people to conduct the interviews/investigations for someone who hasn't committed to going to the park?

And also, the determination for if accommodations are warranted, and if so to what level (which might be less than DAS) should be based on need and need alone. Doing it before tickets are purchased leaves open a way too easy avenue of "well if you don't give me what I want, I guess I won't be buying tickets" which can lead to abuse and incentivizes over using DAS as to not lose customers.

The reason being is many people will not go through the trouble of floating Disney a several thousand dollar loan at the chance Disney would consider their disability severe enough to qualify for a DAS.

 

[Angel Ariel]

At this point they will not talk with you without valid tickets.

If you don't have date based tickets, they also require you to have theme park reservations before starting the video call

 

[Angel Ariel]

Just had our call. Got on just after 7, was answered by 7:35, off the call by 7:45. DD was approved. Having read from others with developmental disabilities with similar high needs being found not eligible, it was a worry. Surprised, happily so, at the low wait time before the video.

It was a longer experience in general because I didn't realize we needed theme park reservations in place (since they no longer have preselects, I thought just tickets being linked would be enough). The cast member gave me a few mins after starting to chat with me to do those before starting the video. I fully expected we'd be trying this again tomorrow.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Ds

Just had our call. Got on just after 7, was answered by 7:35, off the call by 7:45. DD was approved. Having read from others with developmental disabilities with similar high needs being found not eligible, it was a worry. Surprised, happily so, at the low wait time before the video.

It was a longer experience in general because I didn't realize we needed theme park reservations in place (since they no longer have preselects, I thought just tickets being linked would be enough). The cast member gave me a few mins after starting to chat with me to do those before starting the video. I fully expected we'd be trying this again tomorrow.

Disney World has been under an hour for the call. Disneyland has been substantially longer.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Problem is, TWDC makes decisions in its theme park business based on boardrooms and spreadsheets.

I’m sorry, are they not meant to make business decisions in a business environment based on business documents?

The reason being is many people will not go through the trouble of floating Disney a several thousand dollar loan at the chance Disney would consider their disability severe enough to qualify for a DAS.

This isn’t about being severe or not. This type of phrasing is so dramatic.

They’re not deciding if you’re “disabled enough”. They’re determining if you can be accommodated a different way than DAS or if that is the right fit for you.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’m sorry, are they not meant to make business decisions in a business environment based on business documents?

I'm sorry, a theme park is not a factory or a warehouse.

A theme park serves humans that the business itself calls "guests".

 

[Purduevian]

You saying it would be the first time, because that's not actually what I said. I never made any comparison to other guest's experience.

There is an important distinction in there...

Accessibility required by law you can argue 'should not help nor hurt ones daily goals'

But one must remember Disney's past was not driven by the law. Disney has had decades of systems intended to not just do the minimum, but to actually ENHANCE potential experience for these kinds of guests. Disney didn't stumble into somehow mistakenly enabling guests to do more than they could do otherwise - it was part of their customer experience strategy and choices.

So when you are talking about existing customers and how their world may change... you should consider the interaction between Disney and that customer. Not just necessarily what a company is legally obligated to do. Disney reached and did more for these kinds of guests... now they do less. That's still very true no matter what their legal obligations are.

Sorry I must have misunderstood the bolded portion. So, you are saying Disney intended to enhance the potential experience for DAS users in comparison to the legally minimum required? That I would understand and agree with. I thought you were claiming the intent was an enhanced potential experience over non-DAS users.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Sorry I must have misunderstood the bolded portion. So, you are saying Disney intended to enhance the potential experience for DAS users in comparison to the legally minimum required? That I would understand and agree with. I thought you were claiming the intent was an enhanced potential experience over non-DAS users.

This, I would agree with. The legal minimum of the ADA often does not result in actual accessibility ("ada compliant" playgrounds are a great example of this).

Disney has seemed to understand that and value creating more actual accessibility - which is not super common (ime), and imo part of why Disney has been a popular destination for disabled guests. It's not like there aren't things that are still inaccessible, there are, but comparatively it has been more accessible than so many places because it didn't stop at ADA-compliance.

 

[Kingoglow]

There is an important distinction in there...

Accessibility required by law you can argue 'should not help nor hurt ones daily goals'

But one must remember Disney's past was not driven by the law. Disney has had decades of systems intended to not just do the minimum, but to actually ENHANCE potential experience for these kinds of guests. Disney didn't stumble into somehow mistakenly enabling guests to do more than they could do otherwise - it was part of their customer experience strategy and choices.

So when you are talking about existing customers and how their world may change... you should consider the interaction between Disney and that customer. Not just necessarily what a company is legally obligated to do. Disney reached and did more for these kinds of guests... now they do less. That's still very true no matter what their legal obligations are.

We all are keenly aware that Disney has been cutting back on the customer experience for all guests for years. Beyond altering who DAS is designed for, guests also lost checked luggage going straight to room, Magical Express, daily housekeeping, room upgrades, the number of park hours in a day, the amount of time resort guests for Extra Magic Hours, live entertainment and probably more that I can't think of.

We all mourn the yesterdays of exceptional guest service from Disney. This is where we are.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I’m sorry, are they not meant to make business decisions in a business environment based on business documents?



This isn’t about being severe or not. This type of phrasing is so dramatic.

They’re not deciding if you’re “disabled enough”. They’re determining if you can be accommodated a different way than DAS or if that is the right fit for you.

With autism there is absolutely anecdotal evidence of them effectively saying, you're not autistic enough.

 

[Splash4eva]

Ok but reading your last sentence.

I mean.... that is an absolute advantage. Just like buying LLMP is an advantage over Standby. Or people who pay for a plaid have an advantage. I don't think DAS is/was intended to make it to where you could accomplish a full day of parking in a shorter amount of time. It was so people who cant stand in a physical line didn't have to. That's it. Someone with DAS should not be able to ride more than any other person waiting standby.

Disney feels different and even with this “new” version of DAS & enforcement they encourage and fully allow anyone with DAS to enjoy other attractions shows rides entertainment while you are in your DAS VQ….

 

[jennab55]

With autism there is absolutely anecdotal evidence of them effectively saying, you're not autistic enough.

Where is this evidence (other than hearsay on fb pages or from a friend)?

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I'm sorry, a theme park is not a factory or a warehouse.

A theme park serves humans that the business itself calls "guests".

WDW is a multi-national for profit fortune 500 publicly traded company. It is a business, and needs to operate like any large business does, whether its in the service industry, or production industry.

With tens of millions of customers every day, you are not working on a bespoke business model. You work on figures, trends, averages and tendencies. The way any large business does. Its absurd to think any other way, not on the scale of business that WDW runs.