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

[BingoJoe]

The planning part doesn't bother me- I think it's fun but I do understand that not everyone feels the same.
I agree Disney is not handling the rollout of the new DAS rules well. I think the company should have said this is what we're doing in 6 months or 1 year and not 30 days. The company is seriously going to make a major change right before Summer vacation when thousands of families, some impacted by DAS changes, choose to vacation at the parks?

IMO, if Disney was going to have a press release or change the verbiage on the webpage, they should have waited until all information pertinent to the guests in both Disney World and Disneyland was available. Of course had that happened, this thread would likely have been half as long because it would have knocked out the supposition, lol.
Both the timing and the lack of information by Disney look ill planned which is shocking because Disney has been in the theme park business for 69 years.

I think maybe that's because you identify or communicate more with people who use DAS.

For the average park goer a reduction in DAS is probably seen as positive news.

For example the thing that I hear from everyone who goes to Disney as a once if a lifetime are complaints about large people using scooters to board the buses first (obviously unaffected by the DAS changes). It doesn't matter that half the time they have to wait longer because each bus only fits two scooters, its seen as undeserving people getting special treatment and its the most visible example of a health accommodation. You even hear people in the bus lines name calling and muttering about people on scooters if you listen.

The stories about Disney cracking down on wheelchair users for hire were massively popular and were great marketing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I don't know why Disney did/is doing the change the way they have done.
They gave more notice than Universal when it switched to requiring medical documentation and using third party IBCCES to collect the documentation. The announcement was made on July 13, 2023 for visits starting July 24, 2023.
They definitely had issues - both IBCCES and Universal told people with wheelchairs, blind people using canes,/guide dogs, deaf guests who needed ASL interpretation, guests with Service Animals that they needed to provide proof of disability/get IBCCES card to use these accommodations in the park. It's specifically against the law to require proof for any of those

UOR really set the bar here. And Disney leaped over it, I have no complaints with their advance notice after having watched how UOR went down. A couple months doesn’t seem like much until your staring down at needing a note from your Dr one week before your trip- if you even realized they changed everything before you arrived. Ugg, that was a mess for folks

 

[jlundeen]

UOR really set the bar here. And Disney leaped over it, I have no complaints with their advance notice after having watched how UOR went down. A couple months doesn’t seem like much until your staring down at needing a note from your Dr one week before your trip- if you even realized they changed everything before you arrived. Ugg, that was a mess for folks

Yes, I only hope that if Disney ever does go down the path of Dr. notes, that they give us lots of notice... just to get in for a primary care appointment around here is months out and specialists are even longer. And I really don't think Urgent Care would work out.

 

[Nikkimouse44]

Yes, I only hope that if Disney ever does go down the path of Dr. notes, that they give us lots of notice... just to get in for a primary care appointment around here is months out and specialists are even longer. And I really don't think Urgent Care would work out.

The one positive I see about doctors notes is this - because if you have been seen or being seen by a doctor for reasons to qualify for DAS, most of the doctors we deal with - in the patient portal we can write them a message and get a note or documents pretty quickly, and swing by the office to pick it up - usually they need a week at most.

If someone was to be faking it - they would not have a doctor who can provide documentation as quickly - like you said it can take months for a PCP appointment.

However I do understand that this would not work in all situations, and I do understand why Disney doesn’t want documents.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, I only hope that if Disney ever does go down the path of Dr. notes, that they give us lots of notice... just to get in for a primary care appointment around here is months out and specialists are even longer. And I really don't think Urgent Care would work out.

Disney has consistently not wanted to get involved with collecting/viewing medical information.
People who emailed Disney regarding the upcoming changes have received an email that specifically says Guests will not be asked for medical documentation.

The one positive I see about doctors notes is this - because if you have been seen or being seen by a doctor for reasons to qualify for DAS, most of the doctors we deal with - in the patient portal we can write them a message and get a note or documents pretty quickly, and swing by the office to pick it up - usually they need a week at most.

If someone was to be faking it - they would not have a doctor who can provide documentation as quickly - like you said it can take months for a PCP appointment.

However I do understand that this would not work in all situations, and I do understand why Disney doesn’t want documents.

My daughter's primary physician is pretty quickly responsive to the questions in the patient portal. I have read comments from some people trying to get information for IBCCES that their doctor charged for a letter or required a visit to discuss the letter (not paid for by insurance because the visit wasn't medically necessary).
Fakers also figure out ways to fake.
Much of the 'proof' that they accept as proof of disability doesn't have anything to do with need for accommodation in a theme park - handicapped parking permit, National Park Access Pass, school records, etc.

 

[nalababybear]

Disney has been consistent with not wanting a diagnosis which is following the intent of the law.

The reasonable accommodation is to address a disability at that moment, not a diagnosis.

UOR punted on this and havint a third party to take the role of a screening party which IMHO is just another barrier to those with needs and not much a filter for those wanting to cheat the system. UOR still needs to match the accommodation

Ironically, we.may due the card to get an official disability document to visit disneysea next year as something beyond a doctors note to use and.present to the DAS folk there.

 

[Jdavidm]

I acknowledge the reasons many dislike Universal’s IBCCES process however I think we can all agree on one positive of their process:

Neither IBCCES nor Universal requires a park ticket to go through the accommodation process. You don’t need to make any ticket purchases to apply for IBCCES or even to complete the final step of seeing if Universal will personally approve you for an accommodation at their parks. This removes the risk of purchasing tickets for a park you may not be able to enjoy without appropriate accommodations.

This is because the Case Number they assign for those who are given accommodations at their parks is hooked to the IBCCES Card versus a park ticket. This also makes the Case Number permanent (as long as you keep the IBCCES Card active). So whether you are a pass member or someone who makes repeat trips with different tickets, you won’t have to repeat the process as long as you renew your IBCCES Card each year.

I simply can’t see Disney giving out permanent case numbers without requiring proof. And there’s also not a way (currently) to hook DAS to anything but a ticket or pass. But I really do hope they will be issuing refunds to anyone who feels they won’t be able to visit the parks with the accommodations they are offered.

 

[Disneychick75]

I think maybe that's because you identify or communicate more with people who use DAS.

For the average park goer a reduction in DAS is probably seen as positive news.

For example the thing that I hear from everyone who goes to Disney as a once if a lifetime are complaints about large people using scooters to board the buses first (obviously unaffected by the DAS changes). It doesn't matter that half the time they have to wait longer because each bus only fits two scooters, its seen as undeserving people getting special treatment and its the most visible example of a health accommodation. You even hear people in the bus lines name calling and muttering about people on scooters if you listen.

The stories about Disney cracking down on wheelchair users for hire were massively popular and were great marketing.

Yes, I use DAS and if the new DAS rules cut down on cheaters yay. Park goers may see fewer cheaters for a while until they find a loophole. Me? I wouldn't see a cheater if he/she were literally standing right in front of or behind me because my attention is on having a good time with my husband and grandchildren.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yes, I use DAS and if the new DAS rules cut down on cheaters yay. Park goers may see fewer cheaters for a while until they find a loophole. Me? I wouldn't see a cheater if he/she were literally standing right in front of or behind me because my attention is on having a good time with my husband and grandchildren.

As has been mentioned many times, it isn’t just the cheaters, it’s that too many people are receiving DAS.

And whether you see the cheaters or not, they are impacting your day just like they are non-DAS users; that impact is in the form of longer LLs.

 

[Disneychick75]

As has been mentioned many times, it isn’t just the cheaters, it’s that too many people are receiving DAS.

And whether you see the cheaters or not, they are impacting your day just like they are non-DAS users; that impact is in the form of longer LLs.

My day is not affected to the degree that I've noticed. We go along on our merry way enjoying ourselves.
People who need them and the cheaters will still get accommodations of some kind. So if someone worries about this, then yes, their days will be impacted.

 

[kittehkay]

This was my experience today registering for DAS.

My park days are only for June 5th and 6th and I only have one other person in my party. I was given the opportunity to book advanced selections for both days via chat. I had a very short wait, about 25 minutes from start of chat to end with ride selections. My disability is not developmental and I only briefly talked about my concerns. The cast member I spoke to reiterated that as long as you register before May 20th that you follow the current rules. He also told me that he and other cast members do not know what exactly the changes will be after the 20th.

 

[Angel Ariel]

however, I’m sure others have a totally different take on that idea for varying reasons. I’m just tossing it out there as something I wish they had considered

We've been asked not to hypothesize what might have been done better in terms of new accommodations ideas to keep the thread on track.

 

[keishashadow]

We've been asked not to hypothesize what might have been done better in terms of new accommodations ideas to keep the thread on track.

Shame on me. Apologies to the mods who are surely working OT on this subject.

Really hope things not stringently cut & dried, as one size rarely does fits all.

Never know what we may see on the 20th, hope it’s beneficial for those who honestly do require some sort of accommodation.

 

[OurBigTrip]

My day is not affected to the degree that I've noticed. We go along on our merry way enjoying ourselves.
People who need them and the cheaters will still get accommodations of some kind. So if someone worries about this, then yes, their days will be impacted.

It isn’t a matter of you’re not impacted unless you “worry about it’, it’s a matter of being impacted because too many people in the LL makes everyone wait in line longer.

You don’t care about it because you already have less time in the actual line. But for some DAS users for whom LLs are already near or over what they are able to wait, for Genie+ and ILL purchasers who aren’t really getting what they paid for, and for non-DAS holders who are waiting even longer in standby because of too many people in the LLs, yes, it definitely negatively impacts their experience.

You don’t care, and that’s fine, but others certainly do.

 

[lanejudy]

Really hope things not stringently cut & dried, as size rarely does fits all

Actually, the upcoming changes to DAS appear to be moving away from the one-size-fits-all accommodation that IS the current DAS.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

This was my experience today registering for DAS.

My park days are only for June 5th and 6th and I only have one other person in my party. I was given the opportunity to book advanced selections for both days via chat. I had a very short wait, about 25 minutes from start of chat to end with ride selections. My disability is not developmental and I only briefly talked about my concerns. The cast member I spoke to reiterated that as long as you register before May 20th that you follow the current rules. He also told me that he and other cast members do not know what exactly the changes will be after the 20th.

I personally am leaning towards avoiding WDW early-mid June (was previously considering trying to get out there for TBA’s opening) because I suspect a lot of DAS users may try to get one last trip in before the changes to qualifications and party sizes (which I certainly do not begrudge any legitimate users!). We cannot handle more than a couple waits that are longer than 15-20m in a day and I don’t really want to gamble—OTOH, my disability could easily be one of the one that is switched to rider switch, so there is a temptation to try to go right after media previews so I can hopefully actually enjoy the ride for the first time with my kids.

I feel like June 19-21 (at least) will be a chaotic situation in the parks, but if Disney’s rollout works the lines might be a bit shorter standby for a few days/weeks before the abusers learn how to get around a new system and/or Disney feels confident enough to increase park capacity and sell more LLs.

 

[keishashadow]

Actually, the upcoming changes to DAS appear to be moving away from the one-size-fits-all accommodation that IS the current DAS.

Does appear that way from the information that has been released.

Won’t be long now for us all to know what the new system entails and try to make the best of it going forward

 

[RamblinWreck]

I personally am leaning towards avoiding WDW early-mid June (was previously considering trying to get out there for TBA’s opening) because I suspect a lot of DAS users may try to get one last trip in before the changes to qualifications and party sizes (which I certainly do not begrudge any legitimate users!). We cannot handle more than a couple waits that are longer than 15-20m in a day and I don’t really want to gamble—OTOH, my disability could easily be one of the one that is switched to rider switch, so there is a temptation to try to go right after media previews so I can hopefully actually enjoy the ride for the first time with my kids.

I feel like June 19-21 (at least) will be a chaotic situation in the parks, but if Disney’s rollout works the lines might be a bit shorter standby for a few days/weeks before the abusers learn how to get around a new system and/or Disney feels confident enough to increase park capacity and sell more LLs.

I would anticipate that based on how publicized the changes have been, and the date of May 20, that there's almost assuredly going to be a significant decrease in DAS usage by early June, and definitely Mid-June.

Anyone planning to register for Mid-June under the old rules only has a window of a couple of days to do so.