DAS changes coming WDW May 20/ DL June 18, 2024

[ElyseInWonderland]

My theory is...this new program is a temporary stopover while they wait to see how things shake out with the lawsuits over IBCCES. I'd put money on it, TBH.

 

[sarahk0204]

So from the way this timeline works, if you apply 30 days in advance before your trip date and that day you apply falls prior to May 20th, is that conversation under the old criteria? That seems to be what I'm understanding here.

That is my hope. DS 20 is planning on applying tonight, as we are just within our 30 day window. I sure can report back how things go.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Nevermind how unfair that is to your familly, what about the DAS user who doesn't have someone in line for them? How would they easily get back to their place in line? How would they even know where it was?

Also, what is to stop someone from getting in line for ROTR, leaving for "the bathroom", going to have lunch at Docking Bay 7, and returning an hour later, that much closer to the front of the line?

Probably the sensors in the passes that will give Disney data on what you were doing. Thus, the "threat of forfeited tickets/annual passes".

 

[razlime]

Probably the sensors in the passes that will give Disney data on what you were doing. Thus, the "threat of forfeited tickets/annual passes".

I sincerely doubt it. That wouldn't make sense for disabilities that require food or beverages to manage symptoms and not the bathroom (electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia). If I'm getting out of the line to treat a low I'm not going to go drink juice in a toilet stall now am I?

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

The return to line thing is still not clicking for me. Let's assume for a second you could figure out how to exit the line (big assumption) - I'm not understanding how they are going to keep track of where you were in the line? And even if they knew you were in front of "lady in striped shirt" - how would you get back to where she is? Or alternatively, what happens if you leave members of your party in the line, and they reach the front of the line before you return?

It will likely be a designated checkpoint. So you don’t need to know who you were behind or in front of. When you return, they place you back into the queue at the same checkpoint.

 

[Gentry2004]

This will not prevent abuse at all. There will merely be a huge increase in "developmental disabilities like autism." Anyone willing to lie before will still be willing to lie, it will only hurt those people being truthful who no longer fit this narrow definition. I'm thankful there will be plenty of time for real life reports of the new system before our trip so we can decide if we are switching to Universal. I actually just went and made a placeholder hotel reservation over there just in case.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Probably the sensors in the passes that will give Disney data on what you were doing. Thus, the "threat of forfeited tickets/annual passes".

Yep.

I’ve often wondered why Disney doesn’t utilize this technology to catch abusers now.

If you have a DAS return time but you wait in an hour long queue for another ride while you wait for your DAS return, boom! You’re out.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I sincerely doubt it. That wouldn't make sense for disabilities that require food or beverages to manage symptoms and not the bathroom (electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia). If I'm getting out of the line to treat a low I'm not going to go drink juice in a toilet stall now am I?

I expect it wouldn't be an issue for food (but someone asked), but I expect ride data would be the huge one that would get you kicked from the park. If you left one line with the bathroom pass and entered another, that would be the abuse Disney is looking to avoid and crack down hard on.

 

[Gentry2004]

I expect it wouldn't be an issue for food (but someone asked), but I expect ride data would be the huge one that would get you kicked from the park. If you left one line with the bathroom pass and entered another, that would be the abuse Disney is looking to avoid and crack down hard on.

That wouldn't work at all. People would just start leaving their tickets/magic bands in a stroller or something. Again, you aren't going to stop those people willing to lie. You are only hurting the truth-tellers.

 

[KCO5988]

Did a quick google search for Florida law immediate family and got this result: "the term “immediate family” means a parent, spouse, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law." So those concerned about grandparents may not have to be, guess we'll see. Though my disability may not qualify now anyway sadly.

 

[OurBigTrip]

That wouldn't work at all. People would just start leaving their tickets/magic bands in a stroller or something. Again, you aren't going to stop those people willing to lie. You are only hurting the truth-tellers.

Bottom line, just like GAC, DAS is being overused and Disney is once again having to adjust their policies to address the abuse/misuse.

They have an obligation to all of their guests, not just the disabled ones, and when park operations are negatively impacted, Disney has not just the right, but the obligation, to address the issue.

 

[CmdrThor]

If there's one thing most of us should be able to agree on is that if you can afford a whole Disney World vacation, you can afford at least one doctor's visit lol, even without insurance. I'm not recommending calling an ambulance to take you to the emergency room for a diagnosis after all. Some Dr's offices are even starting to not use insurance at all and only having cash patients because insurances suck so much, but that is a different conversation.

Wow, if you think you can get a autism diagnosis with one doctor's visit you would be sorely mistaken. The process can take months to get an appointment for an evaluation, is sometimes multiple days of evaluation, and costs thousands of dollars.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Yep.

I’ve often wondered why Disney doesn’t utilize this technology to catch abusers now.

If you have a DAS return time but you wait in an hour long queue for another ride while you wait for your DAS return, boom! You’re out.

The practical problem is that you don’t tap in/scan for standby queues, so it’s hard to track. The ethical problem is where a standby queue becomes disqualifying— 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45 minutes? Frankly, you need to be able to wait 40+ minutes to handle some of the LL returns (looking at you Test Track!).

 

[Gentry2004]

Bottom line, just like GAC, DAS is being overused and Disney is once again having to adjust their policies to address the abuse/misuse.

They have an obligation to all of their guests, not just the disabled ones, and when park operations are negatively impacted, Disney has not just the right, but the obligation, to address the issue.

Except they aren't addressing the abuse at all. The only way to do that would be to actually require documentation. Instead they are kicking out one category of disabled person while leaving the abusers to continue abusing.

 

[TwoMisfits]

That wouldn't work at all. People would just start leaving their tickets/magic bands in a stroller or something. Again, you aren't going to stop those people willing to lie. You are only hurting the truth-tellers.

And employees could be trained to remove any lanyards lying around. And Disney has facial rec and cameras in their parks if they really wanted to crack down to see who took a lanyard and then rode a ride and then came back.

Seeing these new rules, it looks like Disney want to crack down hard. So, I'd expect some tough standards at the start to weed out all the potential cheating (which is why it's during summer b/c they can have the most college folks around to do observation), and then a slow relaxation if abuse is lowered enough.

 

[married2grumpy]

This will not prevent abuse at all. There will merely be a huge increase in "developmental disabilities like autism." Anyone willing to lie before will still be willing to lie, it will only hurt those people being truthful who no longer fit this narrow definition.

I agree with this 100%!!!

 

[Gentry2004]

And employees could be trained to remove any lanyards lying around. And Disney has facial rec and cameras in their parks if they really wanted to crack down to see who took a lanyard and then rode a ride and then came back.

Seeing these new rules, it looks like Disney want to crack down hard. So, I'd expect some tough standards at the start to weed out all the potential cheating (which is why it's during summer b/c they can have the most college folks around to do observation), and then a slow relaxation if abuse is lowered enough.

Maybe. Or it could be a big nothing-burger like Universal, where everyone who had the pass before still got it. Only time will tell. It will be interesting for sure.

 

[HopperFan]

While it is stressful (glad we aren't going until September this year) I think we just need to wait and see how it all shakes out. Disney has watched Universal for the last year handing out passes like candy. They also know what it is costing Universal to pay for all these applications. Disney likely determined it made more sense to get their people better trained and avoid the whole document thing. And they have in their system why each person got a DAS, I'm sure they did an audit to see where the most "overuse/abuse" is and if guests can manage otherwise. Don't think for a minute they haven't had their lawyers going over all this very carefully.

And I know people are upset but in this thread there is a large number of posts with inaccurate information, and that is not helpful.

I mean, I think only cast members would know unless there are people seriously paying attention to what color the light turns when scanning into a return. (And if people are doing that...they need a new hobby!)

There is a large blogger specializing in data who has been counting various rides blue lights vs green and talking about their findings on his podcast which is popular among Disney fans. So yes, randos have been watching the light colors and pointing out the meaning to all their followers.

It is pretty obvious who is using a DAS. Either the group guides someone to be first (me with DS) or an adult will say "Wait I have to scan first" ... instant red flags. Then the light turns blue and unlike others who are sent out of line for wrong attraction or time the CM looks the the screen then the guest to see if the picture matches. Then they override and everyone else scans in. Most times the CM even says "Enjoy the ride Billy Bob" which they don't do to other guests. One could easily sit by the LL entrance and count total number of users. I will say from last few trips, it is A LOT.

So then how does that work when you have multiple children and the parents leave to takes a younger one somewhere and the grandparents stay with a child who has a DAS? Or if two children qualify for DAS and they are wanting to ride different things and the family splits up and grandparents take the younger one to the little rides - or hops to another park?

It likely will work like it does now. They will put all of you on the DAS but only 4 can get a return time at once. So Grandma & DAS holder get a time ... next round Grandma sits out and Grandpa goes.

Good, it's been abused by many for years.

Good example. Last month we were in line at DHS GR to renew DS DAS. There was a woman in front of me. Her parents were outside the line sitting on ECVs. When she got to front of line the CM asked what she needed, she said DAS for them, and pointed. He asked what their issue was with lines and she says loudly "Look at them, they can't walk, they can't stand long, they need DAS." He said very politely "Then you did exactly what we would have suggested, you got them ECV so they didn't have to walk or stand. They can take the ECV in line right up to ride." Well then we had a her yelling and him politely telling her no back and forth for 5 minutes. She then screams "Well what do I have to say so you give it to me." He said "I'm sorry I can not tell you." She got quite animated and said "Well they have anxiety". His face went to stone and just said "You will have to have them walk inside and discuss it with them." He was just over it, her and the whole process. I know this is many times a day. You can't blame Disney.

If you have a DAS return time but you wait in an hour long queue for another ride while you wait for your DAS return, boom! You’re out.

The issue that many have (my DS) is the structure of the queue. While he is time sensitive the real issue is the physical structure of the queue. If it has switchbacks and he is trapped between two rows of people, problem. If it is inside where the sound is louder and echoing AND people, problem. He could probably wait an hour at Speedway because it is outside and not trapped between rows of people ~ but not Big Thunder Mountain ... we've had a big issue there which was why he even started getting GAC in the first place.

 

[ellataylor]

Is this still just rumors? I can’t seem to find it on any official Disney sites.

 

[razlime]

Wow, if you think you can get a autism diagnosis with one doctor's visit you would be sorely mistaken. The process can take months to get an appointment for an evaluation, is sometimes multiple days of evaluation, and costs thousands of dollars.

It seems pretty clear that they won't be requiring any documentation that you're actually autistic. They went in the opposite direction of Universal, leaving those willing to lie with the advantage over those with documented disabilities.