This is an interesting question. I imagine that’s something they’re trying to balance… Is the Disney DAS experience better than the average guest experience? Should it be?
I certainly wouldn’t want to be the one trying to figure this out. It’s a complex and emotional issue.
My experience with the current/old DAS is that they will add more than the DAS holder + 5 if you have more people in your party than live with you (ie. parent and minor kids), but only a total of 6 will be allowed on each attraction at a time. So I’d be prepared for the possibility that you may have 7 but someone has to sit out each ride. You could always ask at rides like Pirates or Frozen where the 7th person wouldn’t take up a spot for another guest, but consider that to be pixie dust if allowed in.
In some ways it is. But at the same time many DAS families are also sitting out for sometimes hours of park time because of our medical or neurological conditions. I can’t count the number of times we waited for our return time, got through the LL (or express at UO) and then had to tell the CM or TM that we couldn’t board because my daughter’s condition had deteriorated and she wasn’t stable. So many of us deal with volatile situations so even 10 mins in line can change things. Also in my daughter’s case some nights I’m up literally all night managing her condition because of the havoc a park day can cause on her body. So while overall the experience of using the DAS is much easier/better than Genie+ or FP+, overall a day at Disney is not better than the average family because we are dealing with so much more than just the time we spend in the LL to access rides.
Amy Schinner talked to MK Guest Services to get some answers. The two big takeaways:
For those who still qualify for DAS, there will be some leeway in regards to party size.
Disney is seemingly serious about limiting DAS to developmental disabilities.
Unless this is just a total smokescreen in an attempt to limit abuse, I don’t see any way there aren’t going to be a lot of people upset by this change, at least in the short term. People should mentally prepare themselves for the possibility of a different (and perhaps significantly less generous) accommodation than they’re used to.
I don’t think that Guest Services will have all the info yet.
In fact Disability Services have already said in emails that no one will be told if their condition qualifies for assistance. before the new system comes in. And it seems like they are still working on how the “return to line option” will work.
So I think what GS told Amy was their stock answer to everyone who asks.
@len seems fairly sure that people will be accommodated, and that where other options won’t work they will be given DAS. I hope he’s correct.
I’m sure that there will be exceptions. There always are. The magnitude at which those exceptions will be made is where I’m far less certain.
And there’s also the question of exactly how ethical it would be to be less than upfront about what accommodations are available to those with other disabilities. Unless the stated policy changes, there will be a lot of honest people with non-developmental issues that read it on the website or hear it from a CM, take it at face value, and don’t bother applying for DAS even though they may still qualify. I don’t think Disney particularly minds if that happens (it’s kind of the point of all this), but that seems less than fair to me.
If they do end up granting exceptions on a broad basis, word is going to get out at the speed of TikTok. Which kind of defeats the purpose of publicly stating otherwise.
Also, if they really did make this announcement without knowing exactly how return-to-line is going to work, lol but also lmao. I know Disney does it all the time, but announcing a change as big as this – especially for something that affects folks with disabilities – and not having all the pertinent information available is just sad.
Yes. This. But sad isn’t the word I’d use. Especially for those with disabilities who are planning a trip right now.
Let me put it this way: I was told on Tuesday night that there was genuine concern that when Tiana’s opens in June, a plausible worst-case scenario would require almost 100% of the Lightning Lane line to be dedicated to DAS.
You can imagine the impact to everyone else in the park.
And I was reminded about the ADA: “They’re guidelines, not a suicide pact.”
One thing I think everyone should keep in mind is that Disney has, for decades, been one of the best companies on the planet when it comes to disabilities and special needs. They aren’t making this sort of drastic change unless it was absolutely necessary.
You beat me to that quote. It explains the timing if nothing else.
The return to line thing worries me. Firstly because of the practicalities for those in a wheelchair or ECV having to reverse out and pass others in mobility devices. And secondly there have already been physical fights when a guest thought someone else was cutting in line. What’s going to happen when guests are rejoining the line constantly?
Definitely this, but in some queues, it would be hard for people to get out even without mobility devices.
Especially because many just won’t come.
Love how they said this isn’t a GS issue. Because, isn’t it? It wouldn’t be the first time Disney announced something without bringing in park ops. I mean the return to mine is a big deal and involves EVERY ride.
Amy is quite lovely and compassionate isn’t she?
If someone is with a party, I can see this working like when FOP first opened - the party gets a tag with a number and the returning guest returns by ILL and waits for thier party. That doesn’t solve the challenge of exiting the line, solo travels or families with only one adult (or child 14 or older). Still a lot of ops to think through!
Hadn’t thought about this.
This would be a nightmare. I would just not ride, tbh. Then what’s the point of going to WDW?
I worry that they are vastly underestimating how many will be needing this option. And for many of them, finding or waiting to speak to a CM will be somewhat impractical if they need to get to a restroom quickly.
My thoughts are that they think a lot of the fakers are claiming something like IBS or Crohns, so consequently think the actual numbers needing to leave for a bathroom break won’t be that high.
You know, Disney…you don’t need a return-to-line service if you get rid of G+.
Frustrating that G+ causes more problems than it solves. (Actually, it causes the problems it solves.) But with G+ making standby lines longer, people are waiting longer.
For the most part, a person generally knows not to get in line if they don’t think they can wait the time posted. Go use the restroom, and then come back. If there is a legit DAS reason, then just grant DAS…otherwise, “back in my day”, if we failed to use the restroom before getting in line, and then we had to go while in line…well, we either suffered, or we got out of line and had to start over. It is a choice. I make choices all the time. I choose to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, for example, if I know I will be flying, or if I’m going to head into a show, or church, etc. I know it will make me need to need the bathroom…so I CHOOSE to alter my behavior accordingly.
Again, not talking about a legit DAS need here. I’m just talking about a need to complicate waiting in line for everyone by offering a return-to-line “feature”.
But the return to line feature is a replacement for not only conditions like IBS and Crohns, but possibly also for those with PTSD.
So talking about choice is somewhat pointless. Needing to use the bathroom every 15-30 minutes is a fact of life for some. Not a choice.
Then that would be a medically documented case that should qualify for DAS.
Agreed. But your laws say they can’t ask for documentation, so that’s not an option.
I’m not sure that is the intent of the law. The intent of the law is to prevent discrimination. The point of DAS is actually quite the opposite…it is to provide specialized access for those who need it.
ETA: And…it is really easy to have a form Disney provides that lists the types of conditions, medically, that might qualify (not even listing them by name, but symptoms, etc) that a person can simply have a doctor sign. It gets around the problem of asking for documentation if someone doesn’t want to offer it, but still gives evidence of need.
I’m just thrilled that the Washington Post has me on record saying “This is why we can’t have nice things.”
You should get that put on a t-shirt, complete with the source where you are quoted.
Oh my, if Disney is thinking that return to line would work for PTSD, they are really have lost all sense of reality.
I still think that a doctor’s note explaining why a person can’t wait in line without giving the diagnosis should work.