News New DAS System at Walt Disney World 2024

[MickeyLuv'r]

This isn't a "maybe." I just came back from a 13 day trip. We consistently tapped in 1-1.5 hours past expiration time over multiple days, in part to test to see if this was accurate, in part because our plans needed to be adjusted based upon exhaustion of our children. (Disney isn't just tough for the disabled). The 15 minute grace period is dead. It's now a 2 hour grace period. They could change it back I suppose, but it's definitely a 2 hour grace period right now, so 3 hours total.

I realized last summer that with unpredictability of the VQ's, WDW has to make some accommodation for late LL arrivals. Guests have no control over the VQ times, little control over popular LL times, rides are often down, and Tiana's took 2 hours with the VQ, so that math just doesn't add up.

WDW advertises that LL times can be changed, but that is not often the case w/rides like Slinky, Remy, or Frozen. By the time you realize you might not make the return window time, there's no way to get a different return time. Even if one is available, the system won't let users rebook.

Very recently, we were late for a few LL's. Most CM's were very nice about it, and just waved us through with a smile, but one was just plain rude. Waits were pretty low, so the few times we were late, if the CM's had said we were too late to use our LL's we would not have cared. Most MK LL passes only saved 5-10min.

Except one rude AK CM asked loudly, in a very confrontational tone, "WHY are you 3-hours LATE?"

A non-serious feminine medical issue had delayed our morning departure, ahem, yet here we were being asked to explain and justify a medical condition. (We had opted to use the other 2 pre-booked LL on-time, so we were only late for the 1 pass.)

Mind, the posted standby wait was only 20minutes. The situation was needlessly overblown. Some consistency on WDW's part would help, especially given WDW's new DAS policies.

 

[Splash4eva]

I realized last summer that with unpredictability of the VQ's, WDW has to make some accommodation for late LL arrivals. Guests have no control over the VQ times, little control over popular LL times, rides are often down, and Tiana's took 2 hours with the VQ, so that math just doesn't add up.

WDW advertises that LL times can be changed, but that is not often the case w/rides like Slinky, Remy, or Frozen. By the time you realize you might not make the return window time, there's no way to get a different return time. Even if one is available, the system won't let users rebook.

Very recently, we were late for a few LL's. Most CM's were very nice about it, and just waved us through with a smile, but one was just plain rude. Waits were pretty low, so the few times we were late, if the CM's had said we were too late to use our LL's we would not have cared. Most MK LL passes only saved 5-10min.

Except one rude AK CM asked loudly, in a very confrontational tone, "WHY are you 3-hours LATE?"

A non-serious feminine medical issue had delayed our morning departure, ahem, yet here we were being asked to explain and justify a medical condition. (We had opted to use the other 2 pre-booked LL on-time, so we were only late for the 1 pass.)

Mind, the posted standby wait was only 20minutes. The situation was needlessly overblown. Some consistency on WDW's part would help, especially given WDW's new DAS policies.

Sounds magical

 

[wdwmagic]

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access​

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[jennab55]

I highly doubt that change is going to change who can get approved for DAS. Sounds like just a technical wording change.

 

[Chi84]

I highly doubt that change is going to change who can get approved for DAS. Sounds like just a technical wording change.

The word “only” is not technical; eliminating it means DAS is not limited to the people described.

I doubt there will be any significant change in who qualifies. The new system has been in place for several months now so an evaluation of how it’s working seems likely.

CMs were probably granting DAS to guests who needed it but did not have a developmental disability. The wording change may have been made to reflect reality.

 

[Purduevian]

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access​

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access

Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access

www.wdwmagic.com

I do wish they would be a little more specific
"are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time." is so vague. No reasoning for why they can't wait (no concept of a line, get violet in lines, ect?) and no definition of "Extended period of time".

 

[Chi84]

I do wish they would be a little more specific
"are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time." is so vague. No reasoning for why they can't wait (no concept of a line, get violet in lines, ect?) and no definition of "Extended period of time".

That would give people a guide map of what to say, which would make it easier for abuse.

 

[Purduevian]

That would give people a guide map of what to say, which would make it easier for abuse.

True... its such a tough line Disney has to draw. It's a less extreme version of is it better for a guilty person to walk free or an innocent person be found guilty?

 

[jennab55]

The word “only” is not technical; eliminating it means DAS is not limited to the people described.

I doubt there will be any significant change in who qualifies. The new system has been in place for several months now so an evaluation of how it’s working seems likely.

CMs were probably granting DAS to guests who needed it but did not have a developmental disability. The wording change may have been made to reflect reality.

That’s why I think it was a “technical change”. They were likely approving people who didn’t have a development disability because people don’t even need to state what their disability is…. I just think it’s unfortunate there’s some articles out there making it sound like DAS has changed to soften their eligibility requirements, which may lead people to reapply and be disappointed.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I do wish they would be a little more specific
"are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time." is so vague. No reasoning for why they can't wait (no concept of a line, get violet in lines, ect?) and no definition of "Extended period of time".

Being more specific would just make it easier for cheaters to game the system.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

That’s why I think it was a “technical change”. They were likely approving people who didn’t have a development disability because people don’t even need to state what their disability is…. I just think it’s unfortunate there’s some articles out there making it sound like DAS has changed to soften their eligibility requirements, which may lead people to reapply and be disappointed.

My thought was sorta the opposite, and I base this on what I recently saw in the parks. People on this forum trend towards being a bit cynical.

But a large % of parkgoers are either first timers or very infrequent guests. Many do not know the details of park touring as well as many of us do.

In just a few days of visiting, I saw multiple families attempting the standby queue and struggling. Mind, I didn't pry/stare or anything, but I saw multiple times where a CM intervened to try to help a struggling family. If families don't know to pre-apply for DAS, trying to get DAS while already in the park is less than ideal. So IMO, WDW made it a bit too hard for some families to find out about DAS and an uptick in meltdowns is the unfortunate consequence.

I think we've all seen people having meltdowns at WDW, and it is always a bit stressful for everyone, especially the person having the meltdown. It is even more unfortunate if the person is having one due to a disability (because they weren't able to access a service like DAS.)

 

[Jenn Finan]

I remembered another observation from our trip I wanted to ask everyone about…

Has there been a substantial decrease in scooters/wheelchairs since the DAS changes?

We didn’t wait a single time for a scooter or wheelchair to load on our buses during our entire trip, I don’t think that’s ever happened before, usually it’s a daily occurrence. We also found it ironic because a few times we were on the newer buses specifically designed for more scooters/chairs and none of the spots were being used. We were wondering if DAS changes have driven away a lot of disabled people or if we just experienced a random occurrence.

In a word, yes, it's horrendous. In a few more words, my family and I have no plans to return to Disney after our last visit in October and our experience with not only DAS but the overall attitude of both cast members, park goers and the new formal policy changes that have been implemented in the past 4 years since our last visit. I took my now 12 year old nephew who is wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy and autism every year from the time he was 2 until he was 9 and we had a blast. Our trip in October was horrible and in stark contrast to all of the other places we went while down there. Universal, Gatorland, the Crayola Experience, etc. were wonderful and made us feel welcome and valued. Disney was the exact opposite and from the discussions we had with other people in wheelchairs and ECV's, ours was not a unique experience.

 

[jennab55]

My thought was sorta the opposite, and I base this on what I recently saw in the parks. People on this forum trend towards being a bit cynical.

But a large % of parkgoers are either first timers or very infrequent guests. Many do not know the details of park touring as well as many of us do.

In just a few days of visiting, I saw multiple families attempting the standby queue and struggling. Mind, I didn't pry/stare or anything, but I saw multiple times where a CM intervened to try to help a struggling family. If families don't know to pre-apply for DAS, trying to get DAS while already in the park is less than ideal. So IMO, WDW made it a bit too hard for some families to find out about DAS and an uptick in meltdowns is the unfortunate consequence.

I think we've all seen people having meltdowns at WDW, and it is always a bit stressful for everyone, especially the person having the meltdown. It is even more unfortunate if the person is having one due to a disability (because they weren't able to access a service like DAS.)

But I don’t think the actual eligibility has changed, just the website wording. Guess we will see.

 

[DoubleSwitchback]

But I don’t think the actual eligibility has changed, just the website wording. Guess we will see.

It seems like this change to prevent people from claiming that the occasional exceptions are Disney violating its policies.

 

[Chi84]

It seems like this change to prevent people from claiming that the occasional exceptions are Disney violating its policies.

That’s a good point.

 

[networkpro]

Wording of policy rarely occurs unless lawyers are involved.

 

[Chi84]

Wording of policy rarely occurs unless lawyers are involved.

That’s usually the job.

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

In a word, yes, it's horrendous. In a few more words, my family and I have no plans to return to Disney after our last visit in October and our experience with not only DAS but the overall attitude of both cast members, park goers and the new formal policy changes that have been implemented in the past 4 years since our last visit. I took my now 12 year old nephew who is wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy and autism every year from the time he was 2 until he was 9 and we had a blast. Our trip in October was horrible and in stark contrast to all of the other places we went while down there. Universal, Gatorland, the Crayola Experience, etc. were wonderful and made us feel welcome and valued. Disney was the exact opposite and from the discussions we had with other people in wheelchairs and ECV's, ours was not a unique experience.

Just out of curiosity, was your nephew denied DAS? Were you offered an alternative?

 

[Jenn Finan]

Just out of curiosity, was your nephew denied DAS? Were you offered an alternative?

We didn't seek accommodation under the new program because although he likely would have qualified, the accommodations offered would not have been effective given the relatively short amount of time that we can be in the parks (aka a few hours). This means that having return times would not have been helpful. So instead we did LL at Epcot one day (only got to do Soaring due to availability) and then MNSSHP in the hopes of shorter lines and less crowds. It was not a good experience either day. My complaints about our experience as a party with what are now 2 members with disabilities extends beyond the new DAS program. There were a number of experiences that we encountered in our 2 days at Disney where we were confronted with new ways that cast members deal with people with disabilities and their devices that significantly impacted our ability to enjoy our time in the parks. So... when we return to Orlando in May, we are going to go elsewhere. I raised concerns with Guest Services by mail and was told that they were "disappointed to hear that our trip did not live up to our expectations." We literally went 9 times in 12 years, always for 4-5 days at a time and cut it back to only 2 so that we could work with the new DAS program. Then, based on our experience of the parks and with cast members, we have made the decision not to return because we do not feel welcome anymore. Was there anything that we experienced that was in contravention of the ADA and established laws, I don't think so but whereas Disney used to be a leader in this field and customer service, it now feels like they are at the trailing edge. We were out everyday doing stuff and going to tourist attractions for two weeks with my nephew and always had a great time.... except for our 2 days at Disney. When Gatorland or a kid's neon bounce house party experience can accommodate us significantly better than Disney, I find that shocking. Personally, I would like to give a great shout out and recommendation to the Crayola Experience in Orlando. Kids both with and without disabilities will find a welcoming environment with ton's of fun stuff to do. We had a blast!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

But I don’t think the actual eligibility has changed, just the website wording. Guess we will see.

Then I think you are misunderstanding what I posted. Not everyone who should qualify for DAS knows to apply for it.