My wife is neurodivergent and qualified for DAS in July under the new rules. We are headed to WDW next week and need to renew it since it was under the 120 days rule. My anxiety is off the charts over whether or not she will qualify again as it is up to the cast member we get on the video call. Anyone have experience with renewing DAS under the new rules that can give me tips/help me calm down?
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I have no experience with this, but I would think that you should probably mention that she qualified for DAS in July. Hopefully that will push it towards being accepted again since I’m sure they want to be consistent.
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And that there has been no improvement in her condition…
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That reminds me, did your partner (horrible with names: is it Don?) appeal and get approved?
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He chose not to try. He thought the initial process was humiliating, so we are AP-less now.
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It was. No doubt about it. 
Did I get his name right?
Sorry, @kadmgs, for hijacking your thread.
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Yep. Unless I’m mad at him, then it’s @&*!#.
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I’m sorry your anxiety has been high over this application. I can relate because my son is a DAS holder under the current system, but I understand that it may not be the case in the future. That uncertainty creates anxiety. Although we haven’t yet gone through a new application, my advice would be to keep in mind a few things: 1) Disney will have a record of the approval under the current terms, and that will likely be helpful to you unless something about your circumstances changed; 2) anecdotally you may hear that it just depends which CM you get. I don’t think that is probably generally true–and even if it is, you can try again with a different CM; 3) it may help you feel calmer if you think about what will happen if you are denied, assuming you could find ways to make things work for you (though it would look different). That last one helped me feel at peace going through the process. Just take a deep breath, articulate whatever you did in July, and hope for the best. I wish you well!
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Beautifully said and very true. Our entire July trip was planned that way…
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I know I’m a little late, but I qualified before the change and I qualified again for the trip I have this week. So it IS possible!
My initial qualification was for a mobility issue, but I also have AuDHD and anxiety/panic attacks that it helps with too. I did let them know I qualified previously. They asked me how these things would impact me and present when in line. They qualified me with no issue.
I was also really really nervous about getting it after the change. The process was simple, but I still had anxiety tears during it so I totally understand. I’d say for anyone unsure about qualifying again to at least try, if you can.
I just started using the forums but I’ll do my chest to check back if anyone has any questions about the current DAS if I can help.
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I am so glad to hear that. Is the process at all demoralizing like it has been for others early on? I think my DD31 should qualify, but I don’t want to put her through it if they make the process traumatic.
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It wasn’t demoralizing at all for me, but I do understand how it could be overwhelming for people. My experience with it was very pleasant and I actually found it less mentally taxing than the old system, likely because I didn’t need to worry about having things to schedule picked out, etc.
The worst part of it was waiting for my turn, but I just kept my phone in sight and turned up loud while I played games so it helped the time pass. Once we were connected the person I spoke with was really kind and patient. I have a tendency to overshare sometimes or go off on tangents before I get to the full answer to the question. They were super understanding and gently guided me back quickly by being more specific about what they needed to know.
I think the big thing they need the info on is how things present if we need to be in a long line. Yes how it impacts us internally is important, but the focus seemed to be more on the external. I explained how my symptoms impact me, but in a way that described how they can also impact others (example: when I have panic attacks I may tremble, cry, and/or need a quick escape.) I believe they technically asked how it impacts me cognitively, but my memory isn’t the best and I may be wrong on that detail.
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Well, I came to say it didn’t work. They would not renew her. They stated the qualifications had changed (again) since July. She was visibly upset and had a panic attack during the zoom call with little to no reaction from the cast member. The cast member had a medical professional speak to her before he denied her and the medical professional was the one that actually denied her. Then we asked to speak to a supervisor and they confirmed the denial. His solution was to have us stand in line for as long as she could and they get out of line and ask the cast member at the entrance to the attraction for a return time. This gave her so much anxiety in the parks that she really didn’t want to ride anything. She did not want to have to explain and ask every time she wanted to ride something. I finally got her to try the process in Hollywood Studios after we had been in the parks for 4 days. We tried to stand in line for Slinky Dog, but her anixiety kicked in and we got out of line. The cast member gave us a return time since it was just two of us. We tried it again with Runaway Railway & same result. I don’t know how they would handle if there were more than 2 people. My guess is someone would have to stay in the line. We figured out that she was ok with a short line when we rode Living with the Land in EPCOT and it was a 15 min. wait. She could clearly see the entrance and exit of the queue and people weren’t bumping up against her back (her triggers from combat in Iraq). At this point, I’m not quite sure who actually qualifies.
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Oh no I’m so sorry to hear they denied her!! Especially with specifically seeing how things can impact her, that’s extra horrible.
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I know that you may be fed up and not want to engage at this point, but if you feel up to it, I would definitely send an email to Disney outlining your experience and how much more difficult it was because your wife was denied DAS. They definitely need to hear about the effects of their policy changes.
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I plan to do so. However, I don’t think it will make a difference.
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