What is Disney to do?

[rt06]

http://www.newsweek.com/disney-crackdown-disabled-kids-are-collateral-damage-10959

I think the problem is trying to find a system that people can't defraud in our cynical world while trying to accommodate 1000 families with 1000 different needs under one system.

 

[CaptainJackNO]

The problem with providing medical information is that would require WDW to be responsible for privacy and securing of medical records. That, to me, is beyond WDW's scope of service.
It's sad that people abused the policy. But, WDW in a no win situation here. Do nothing, and the media attacks. Come up with this new policy, and the media attacks. I say stay with the new policy. Most fastpass lines (except for Soarin and Test Track) move quickly. You cannot specifically accommodate ebery person or group. I guarantee even the old policy would not apply to all disabled groups. Sad, but necessary in this narcissistic nation in which we live.
Plus, don't forget newsweek is a major competitor to Disney's media division (ABC). They have a bit to gain from negative Disney press.

 

[BiffyClyro]

It's not perfect, but they tried. I don't really see this as negative press for Disney, just more of a shaming of the idiots who exploited the system. It's a shame they couldn't come up with some system so the pass was personal, a bit like the finger print scanning, although it would obviously be costly.

 

[copcarguyp71]

I agree with the new policies. It is regrettable that reformation was needed due to despicable people in our society but it WAS needed. I realize it does not help every single solitary person in our society with every permutation of every dysfunction or handicap but I do think it is as fair as it can be. I do not know or even have anyone close to me with autism so I am speaking without direct experience in that realm. Without wanting to seem cold and callus I think that if your child or even an adult cannot cope with things at Walt Disney World then perhaps a different venue might be in that person's best interest whether they know it or not.

I am sure there are kids who want to go but going is not in their best interest...heck I wanted to jump the Snake River like Evel Knievel when I was a kid but had to accept that it was simply not going to happen for a myriad of different reasons including me being a fat little kid. Just because you want to do something in particular does not mean that you need that thing to happen otherwise your life is a shambles or that you will live your life in eternal disappointment, we all deal with let downs and obstacles on a daily basis.

There you have it...my two pennies.

 

[Jim Chandler]

Hate o say this but I read many of the posts on the web site mentioned and it seemed more about the adults inconvience and not the disabled persons. I had to use an EVC once and yes we went in the side door to HM and others but still waited in a line to get on the ride. Much shorter but still a line. Many that were complaining, I wonder when they went. Was it during the busiest time? If it was WDW in the summer or during school vacations, the lines are outrageous for every one. Time of year will play a big part in this debate.

 

[Lucky]

Like most articles on this issue it creates some misimpressions. No one was "escorted to the front of the line" under the GAC. Typically they were allowed to join the FastPass line at attractions where there was one. So there was always some wait, especially where there was no FP.

It also exaggerates the waiting issue under DAS. During your "wait" for one attraction you can do other things, including another attraction with a short standby line.

So the difference between GAC and DAS is not as dramatic as the article portrays. I realize the change might make Disney trips too difficult for some families, but I think DAS will work well enough for the vast majority of (legitimate) GAC users.

 

[FettFan]

It's not perfect, but they tried. I don't really see this as negative press for Disney, just more of a shaming of the idiots who exploited the system. It's a shame they couldn't come up with some system so the pass was personal, a bit like the finger print scanning, although it would obviously be costly.

Bingo. For NEWSWEEK to declare that disabled children are "Collateral Damage" is putting the cart FAR before the horse, and reeks of desperate click-bait. (Because really, who in their right mind actually reads NEWSWEEK anymore?)

If the NEWSWEEK author had one iota of what he/she was talking about, they would realize that Disney is constantly working to find a solution to an increasingly thorny situation.

The rules might seem draconian right now, but one must remember two things:
1. Disney is not going to simply make the rues and leave them in place. They will start enforcing these rules, but will make changes as necessary, so that disabled children at any of the Disney parks are NOT going to get lost in the shuffle, and there is a veritable army of cast members and management who are going to make sure that those kids are going to have the most magical experience possible.
2. Disney HAS to make a strict stand at first, in order to assure the public that they will not tolerate people abusing the system, as that caught them a major black eye when the scandal first hit the news.


Oh and....NEWSWEEK decides to use Stacy (web handle "Autism Hippie") and her autistic son as an example of how "bad" things are. This is the same wicked old shrew who filmed a rant about how terrible Disney is while in line at the Great Movie Ride, that involved her shoving her son out of the camera frame when he tried to talk to her.

 

[The Mom]

This topic, and discussion, can be found here:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/gac-to-become-das.873666/page-122#post-5810996