Disney DAS

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:With DAS, you are still waiting the full standby time to get back into the line. It's not anything like a VIP pass.

But you're not standing there adjacent to the line. You can go on another ride, eat, shop, etc.

Or you can stand adjacent to the line. You're still waiting the full time.

Yes, I'm sure everyone does just that.

Well, unless you polled every family that has traveled there with a person with special needs, then you don't actually know.

There is a lot of ignorance about the das use in this thread.

Well, according to Disney there was abuse of the system so they had to update it because the demand exploded. It doesn't really matter if you thought people were patiently standing next to the queue to wait out their return time. They certainly don't have to so it seems obvious that people didn't.

"The shift comes as Disney acknowledges that some customers have misused the program; the company has already taken some steps to crack down on abuse."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/11/disney-disability-access-service-das/

There are, in fact, people who do wait at the ride outside the line for their return time. Please stop with your ignorance.

Most are using DAS to “wait” for longer line rides while riding short line rides. Ie: Use DAS to wait for Mine Train and while that is going on, you can go do teacups, Mermaid, Philharmagic, etc.

Don’t pee on my face and tell me it’s raining.

You seem to have invested a lot of time and emotion, in the idea that people are getting away with something with das. You might find yourself happier and having a better vacation experience, if you focus on you and your family and how you can have the happiest day possible. And let the other people, who need a Das, worry about their families.

NP - I have been to Disney World a lot, and frankly your response above is exactly why the experience has degraded. Your happy day tactics, do in fact impact my ability to have a happy day. Anyone who has been to the parks at all has lived through huge families rolling grandma up in her wheelchair (or worse her scooter), so that everyone can board, or groups of teenagers with one of them in a wheelchair with a "boot" and then you see a different person from the same group with the "boot" later, or yes, even kids on the spectrum and their families. As many have mentioned above, no one's kids wants to wait in lines, and if yours is experiencing distress, it is because you have chosen an inappropriate vacation.

Dying kids in a wheelchair getting their "Make a Wish" trip - yes, come on down to the front of the line. Anybody else should understand what is involved in a trip to Disney and either adjust or choose a different trip.

Was your last trip more than ten years ago? Because Disney no longer grants DAS for the scenarios you describe.

No, and it is still seen...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should limit the accommodations to once a year.

Maybe they shouldn't allow sn people in the park at all! Only NT people with no physical disabilities!

What an angry way to spin it? How many people even go to Disney multiple times a year...then reduce it to those that have a disability. I think many people would rather have great accommodations once a year then a sort of tweak any time.

Oh, you're so kind and benelovent to allow people with SN a once-a-year visit! Thank goodness you are here on this earth to facilitate this!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With DAS, you are still waiting the full standby time to get back into the line. It's not anything like a VIP pass.

But you're not standing there adjacent to the line. You can go on another ride, eat, shop, etc.

Or you can stand adjacent to the line. You're still waiting the full time.

Yes, I'm sure everyone does just that.

Well, unless you polled every family that has traveled there with a person with special needs, then you don't actually know.

There is a lot of ignorance about the das use in this thread.

Well, according to Disney there was abuse of the system so they had to update it because the demand exploded. It doesn't really matter if you thought people were patiently standing next to the queue to wait out their return time. They certainly don't have to so it seems obvious that people didn't.

"The shift comes as Disney acknowledges that some customers have misused the program; the company has already taken some steps to crack down on abuse."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/11/disney-disability-access-service-das/

There are, in fact, people who do wait at the ride outside the line for their return time. Please stop with your ignorance.

Most are using DAS to “wait” for longer line rides while riding short line rides. Ie: Use DAS to wait for Mine Train and while that is going on, you can go do teacups, Mermaid, Philharmagic, etc.

Don’t pee on my face and tell me it’s raining.

You seem to have invested a lot of time and emotion, in the idea that people are getting away with something with das. You might find yourself happier and having a better vacation experience, if you focus on you and your family and how you can have the happiest day possible. And let the other people, who need a Das, worry about their families.

NP - I have been to Disney World a lot, and frankly your response above is exactly why the experience has degraded. Your happy day tactics, do in fact impact my ability to have a happy day. Anyone who has been to the parks at all has lived through huge families rolling grandma up in her wheelchair (or worse her scooter), so that everyone can board, or groups of teenagers with one of them in a wheelchair with a "boot" and then you see a different person from the same group with the "boot" later, or yes, even kids on the spectrum and their families. As many have mentioned above, no one's kids wants to wait in lines, and if yours is experiencing distress, it is because you have chosen an inappropriate vacation.

Dying kids in a wheelchair getting their "Make a Wish" trip - yes, come on down to the front of the line. Anybody else should understand what is involved in a trip to Disney and either adjust or choose a different trip.

Was your last trip more than ten years ago? Because Disney no longer grants DAS for the scenarios you describe.

What do you mean 10 years ago. The changes take effect May 20 this year.

People using scooters and wheelchairs are not granted DAS under the existing system or the new one (unless they have some other qualifying condition). That changed years ago.

Of course, but you were asking about attitudes and why people are resentful, AND these things still happen. A 90 year old grandma has other qualifying conditions. Is she enjoying herself on the trip, I don't know, but big families definitely still show up in those lines with Grandma.

The other thing that happens is that the rides have to stop now all of the time as people struggle to get on and off. If you are on a 2 minute ride and it stops multiple times, with announcements interrupting the ride, it is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With DAS, you are still waiting the full standby time to get back into the line. It's not anything like a VIP pass.

But you're not standing there adjacent to the line. You can go on another ride, eat, shop, etc.

Or you can stand adjacent to the line. You're still waiting the full time.

Yes, I'm sure everyone does just that.

Well, unless you polled every family that has traveled there with a person with special needs, then you don't actually know.

There is a lot of ignorance about the das use in this thread.

Well, according to Disney there was abuse of the system so they had to update it because the demand exploded. It doesn't really matter if you thought people were patiently standing next to the queue to wait out their return time. They certainly don't have to so it seems obvious that people didn't.

"The shift comes as Disney acknowledges that some customers have misused the program; the company has already taken some steps to crack down on abuse."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/11/disney-disability-access-service-das/

There are, in fact, people who do wait at the ride outside the line for their return time. Please stop with your ignorance.

Most are using DAS to “wait” for longer line rides while riding short line rides. Ie: Use DAS to wait for Mine Train and while that is going on, you can go do teacups, Mermaid, Philharmagic, etc.

Don’t pee on my face and tell me it’s raining.

You seem to have invested a lot of time and emotion, in the idea that people are getting away with something with das. You might find yourself happier and having a better vacation experience, if you focus on you and your family and how you can have the happiest day possible. And let the other people, who need a Das, worry about their families.

NP - I have been to Disney World a lot, and frankly your response above is exactly why the experience has degraded. Your happy day tactics, do in fact impact my ability to have a happy day. Anyone who has been to the parks at all has lived through huge families rolling grandma up in her wheelchair (or worse her scooter), so that everyone can board, or groups of teenagers with one of them in a wheelchair with a "boot" and then you see a different person from the same group with the "boot" later, or yes, even kids on the spectrum and their families. As many have mentioned above, no one's kids wants to wait in lines, and if yours is experiencing distress, it is because you have chosen an inappropriate vacation.

Dying kids in a wheelchair getting their "Make a Wish" trip - yes, come on down to the front of the line. Anybody else should understand what is involved in a trip to Disney and either adjust or choose a different trip.

Was your last trip more than ten years ago? Because Disney no longer grants DAS for the scenarios you describe.

No, and it is still seen...

Wow. You must have amazing abilities to see things! You go to Disney and you see people rolling granny up in a wheelchair to the head of the line, while at the same time eating, shopping and going on slinky dog? And you see one kid with a boot in a wheelchair and see same kid-out of many thousands of people in the park-stand up and walk? You see all these things?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Since everyone pays the same price to enter or to get season passes, people try to get the most they can for their money since it is so expensive for most families to go visit Disneyland / Disneyworld.

When you go and see a family of 6 cutting into the line and they have (or not have a family member) with an invisible disability then you start to think well someone in our family has ADHD, IBS, back issues, eye issues, heart issues, anxiety, etc. so if they don't have to wait in line why should I?

They did wait-they had to wait the standby return time, then wait through the LL. And before someone spins the tale of shopping, eating and going on slinky dog while waiting the standby time...the most likely thing the sn person was doing was waiting someplace quieter, or perhaps toileting, or eating a packed lunch because they only eat certain things.

The most likely thing? What's your source on how people spend their time?

It's based on years of experience parenting in the sn community and many visits to Disney with use of a DAS. I don't know anyone (and I know many families with sn family members who have visited Disney) who crams in multiple high sensory experiences during the standby time. They are usually doing one of the things I mentioned, which is why I mentioned it.

So, you have no idea what other people are doing. You, alone, can believe nobody ever abused the system.

So, you have years of experience in the sn community and using DAS, and you came to the conclusion that they are shopping, eating, and riding slinky dog? That is what you think? How did you arrive at this conclusion?

Because Disney said there was abuse why should I believe you?

'Disney' did not say there was abuse.

They did. https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/11/disney-disability-access-service-das/

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should limit the accommodations to once a year.

Maybe they shouldn't allow sn people in the park at all! Only NT people with no physical disabilities!

What an angry way to spin it? How many people even go to Disney multiple times a year...then reduce it to those that have a disability. I think many people would rather have great accommodations once a year then a sort of tweak any time.

Oh, you're so kind and benevolent to allow people with SN a once-a-year visit! Thank goodness you are here on this earth to facilitate this!

It would be my families preference based on my kids needs. You do not have to agree with me. Otherwise we would likely not go at all. Whatever.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People really took advantage of the DAS program. I don’t blame Disney for changing it.

I do. People taking advantage of it is no reason to completely take away DAS from physically disabled people. It’s crazy to me that someone with like cerebral palsy or cancer or MS or whatever can’t use this service anymore because they don’t also have autism.

It doesn't sound like the new policy removes all access to physical disabilities. DAS is just excluding people whose issues can be solved with a pass to leave the line and return or a mobility device (e.g., scooter or wheelchair) so they don't have to stand.

Part of the problem is forcing people to use mobility devices when they don't need them under normal circumstances. I've seen several stories about amputees who are perfectly "mobile" but who have difficulty waiting in long lines, especially in heat, as the day progresses because their prosthesis becomes less comfortable and more painful being denied DAS because they could just get a wheelchair. That seems wrong to me.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either.

They can get a scooter. There is nothing “wrong” about that.

Huh. You don't think someone with a genuine physical disability that causes significant pain deserves some accommodation? By the way, ECVs cost $65 per day to rent, but I guess those slacker amputees should just deal.

If they’re walking around a park all day on a prosthesis, there’s no reason they can’t stand in line with the same prosthesis. Or sit on the chair/cane. Or lean on the ropes like the rest of us. If they can’t walk around the park all day and can’t stand in line at all, they get a scooter or a wheelchair.
Quit playing the victim here. There are options. You just don’t like them.

NP. By that logic, people with zero physical disabilities who have autism can also just stand in line for hours.

I don’t think that’s true. If an autistic kid can’t stand in line for an hour they may act out or scream or get physical or cause a disturbance to others waiting in line. It’s a completely different scenario.

This. My kid has to eat in a lunch bunch because he cannot even handle the noise and commotion of the cafeteria at school. If he gets overstimulated/dysregulated he may throw himself on the ground and kick. That doesn’t happen often thankfully, but it does on occasion.

In order for our family to go to Disney, we had to pick a less crowded time, select a few must do rides, and basically have a straight forward itinerary to avoid crossing all over the park and having downtime built in. We bought Genie + in conjunction to using DAS and were able to minimize crowd/line time, take meal breaks while waiting for our return time, and get in and out of the park in a shorter time.

I know people pay a lot of money to go to Disney and I appreciate not having to risk a) my kid losing it 80 minutes into a 90 minute wait and then having to give up on the ride and b) disturbing other guests if my kid flails and is upset.

Why are you taking a kid who can't cope in crowded places to Disney? Goodness. Choose a different vacation.

What’s wrong with you? Disney makes an effort to be inclusive. Kids with disabilities deserve to experience the magic of seeing their favorite characters come to life. My son also needed to eat in a lunch bunch during camp, where he gets dysregulated, but loves Disney world. He was obsessed with Toy Story the first time we went, and the castle. He was mesmerized by the fireworks. And all the entertainment was great for his adhd needs - we just have to know when to take breaks from all the stimulation, which we can do in our small family setting. We modify our vacation to meet his needs, but I can’t imagine having him miss out on Disney altogether. I’ve seen autistic people waiting in lines for cosmic rewind, wearing sensory friendly headphones. This is such a spectacularly out of touch comment.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either. Don't all kids deserve the magic of Disney? Their lines are untenable for all.

Yes, if you don’t want to wait in long lines you pay for genie+. The same way you pay for premium economy on an airplane. It’s a different than children with disabilities.

We did pay for genie+... the lightning lanes are still 20-30 min long and then you have to wait in other long lines between your genie + rides.

And if your toddler cannot handle that then they cannot handle Disney.

Not really, you can call that ADHD, autism, or anxiety and boom, get a DAS pass. It's apparently very easy. What you can't do is rent a scooter anymore and have it be a disability that qualifies. You don't need a doctor's note or diagnosis to qualify you just have to register for the process and have a video chat.

Also, this is lying. I would never lie about my child’s condition. I am completely honest with Disney about his conditions and behaviors, and they can tell me if that qualifies or not. Shame on people who lie.

And one more point- I wish my son didn’t have the difficulties that make him eligible for a DAS pass. One accommodation on a five day trip to Disney world does not make up for how much harder he needs to work on a daily basis to function in his everyday life. It does not compensate for the impact it has on our family and other child. I wish people understood this and had empathy for families of children with special needs.

This! People are upset over a child with disabilities getting a perceived “perk” over their family. But I’m willing to bet they wouldn’t trade places if they realized the trade offs this accommodation comes with. Want to drop 5k on a neuropsych, out of pocket therapies, calls from the school, IEP meetings, etc. Like my goodness, let the families of special needs kids have something to help them so they can take their neurodiverse child (and siblings growing up with a special needs family member) on a somewhat normal vacation.

What is next, is the PP going to be upset that amputees get to park closer to the store? That is an unfair advantage while others have to walk farther back in the lot. I mean maybe my feet are hurting too that day, so why should the person with a prosthetic get special treatment. Perhaps they should just stay home and order online groceries instead.

(Obviously this last paragraph is sarcasm).

No one is begrudging a child with autism or another disability using DAS on a family vacation. What has become ridiculous is that so many adults are using DAS. So many people with anxiety, IBS, ADHD, back issues, etc. Then the whole group they are traveling also gets to cut in line. And SO many of these people live close to Disneyland or Disneyworld they have annual passes so go VERY frequently. You should really want Disney to crack down and absolutely limit the number of DAS accommodations granted. It has TRIPLED in the past five years. So think of those numbers because it isn't just the DAS eligible person it is all of their group which could be 6 people.

I’m the PP you’re responding to and I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. My frustrated response is to the poster(s) basically saying kids who need DAS shouldn’t go to Disney and that all kids would benefit from it so why should the kids with SNs get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People really took advantage of the DAS program. I don’t blame Disney for changing it.

I do. People taking advantage of it is no reason to completely take away DAS from physically disabled people. It’s crazy to me that someone with like cerebral palsy or cancer or MS or whatever can’t use this service anymore because they don’t also have autism.

As someone with CP I agree. I'm glad our Disney days are finished.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People really took advantage of the DAS program. I don’t blame Disney for changing it.

I do. People taking advantage of it is no reason to completely take away DAS from physically disabled people. It’s crazy to me that someone with like cerebral palsy or cancer or MS or whatever can’t use this service anymore because they don’t also have autism.

It doesn't sound like the new policy removes all access to physical disabilities. DAS is just excluding people whose issues can be solved with a pass to leave the line and return or a mobility device (e.g., scooter or wheelchair) so they don't have to stand.

Part of the problem is forcing people to use mobility devices when they don't need them under normal circumstances. I've seen several stories about amputees who are perfectly "mobile" but who have difficulty waiting in long lines, especially in heat, as the day progresses because their prosthesis becomes less comfortable and more painful being denied DAS because they could just get a wheelchair. That seems wrong to me.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either.

They can get a scooter. There is nothing “wrong” about that.

Huh. You don't think someone with a genuine physical disability that causes significant pain deserves some accommodation? By the way, ECVs cost $65 per day to rent, but I guess those slacker amputees should just deal.

If they’re walking around a park all day on a prosthesis, there’s no reason they can’t stand in line with the same prosthesis. Or sit on the chair/cane. Or lean on the ropes like the rest of us. If they can’t walk around the park all day and can’t stand in line at all, they get a scooter or a wheelchair.
Quit playing the victim here. There are options. You just don’t like them.

NP. By that logic, people with zero physical disabilities who have autism can also just stand in line for hours.

I don’t think that’s true. If an autistic kid can’t stand in line for an hour they may act out or scream or get physical or cause a disturbance to others waiting in line. It’s a completely different scenario.

This. My kid has to eat in a lunch bunch because he cannot even handle the noise and commotion of the cafeteria at school. If he gets overstimulated/dysregulated he may throw himself on the ground and kick. That doesn’t happen often thankfully, but it does on occasion.

In order for our family to go to Disney, we had to pick a less crowded time, select a few must do rides, and basically have a straight forward itinerary to avoid crossing all over the park and having downtime built in. We bought Genie + in conjunction to using DAS and were able to minimize crowd/line time, take meal breaks while waiting for our return time, and get in and out of the park in a shorter time.

I know people pay a lot of money to go to Disney and I appreciate not having to risk a) my kid losing it 80 minutes into a 90 minute wait and then having to give up on the ride and b) disturbing other guests if my kid flails and is upset.

Why are you taking a kid who can't cope in crowded places to Disney? Goodness. Choose a different vacation.

What’s wrong with you? Disney makes an effort to be inclusive. Kids with disabilities deserve to experience the magic of seeing their favorite characters come to life. My son also needed to eat in a lunch bunch during camp, where he gets dysregulated, but loves Disney world. He was obsessed with Toy Story the first time we went, and the castle. He was mesmerized by the fireworks. And all the entertainment was great for his adhd needs - we just have to know when to take breaks from all the stimulation, which we can do in our small family setting. We modify our vacation to meet his needs, but I can’t imagine having him miss out on Disney altogether. I’ve seen autistic people waiting in lines for cosmic rewind, wearing sensory friendly headphones. This is such a spectacularly out of touch comment.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either. Don't all kids deserve the magic of Disney? Their lines are untenable for all.

Yes, if you don’t want to wait in long lines you pay for genie+. The same way you pay for premium economy on an airplane. It’s a different than children with disabilities.

We did pay for genie+... the lightning lanes are still 20-30 min long and then you have to wait in other long lines between your genie + rides.

And if your toddler cannot handle that then they cannot handle Disney.

Not really, you can call that ADHD, autism, or anxiety and boom, get a DAS pass. It's apparently very easy. What you can't do is rent a scooter anymore and have it be a disability that qualifies. You don't need a doctor's note or diagnosis to qualify you just have to register for the process and have a video chat.

Also, this is lying. I would never lie about my child’s condition. I am completely honest with Disney about his conditions and behaviors, and they can tell me if that qualifies or not. Shame on people who lie.

And one more point- I wish my son didn’t have the difficulties that make him eligible for a DAS pass. One accommodation on a five day trip to Disney world does not make up for how much harder he needs to work on a daily basis to function in his everyday life. It does not compensate for the impact it has on our family and other child. I wish people understood this and had empathy for families of children with special needs.

This! People are upset over a child with disabilities getting a perceived “perk” over their family. But I’m willing to bet they wouldn’t trade places if they realized the trade offs this accommodation comes with. Want to drop 5k on a neuropsych, out of pocket therapies, calls from the school, IEP meetings, etc. Like my goodness, let the families of special needs kids have something to help them so they can take their neurodiverse child (and siblings growing up with a special needs family member) on a somewhat normal vacation.

What is next, is the PP going to be upset that amputees get to park closer to the store? That is an unfair advantage while others have to walk farther back in the lot. I mean maybe my feet are hurting too that day, so why should the person with a prosthetic get special treatment. Perhaps they should just stay home and order online groceries instead.

(Obviously this last paragraph is sarcasm).

Umm no one is complaining over people with REAL disabilities getting DAS. There were whole websites that told you how to fake DAS. Lots of blog posts and facebook groups too.

No there was absolutely a poster I was referring to (hopefully only one, but maybe more) saying kids with developmental disabilities shouldn’t be going on Disney vacations and that every kid under 10 could benefit from not waiting in line so why should these kids get a benefit.

As a person who a kid who has SNs and cannot cram in a gazillion rides from sun up to sun down, I’d be fine with a cap or limits on popular rides. I’m just disgusted by certain people saying disabled kids should basically not go at all.

Your reading comprehension is terrible. The statement was that Disney isn't a good vacation choice for a kid who is made upset by noise, crowds and stimulation. DAS doesn't remove those aspects. Disney is still noisy, crowded and over stimulating.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People really took advantage of the DAS program. I don’t blame Disney for changing it.

I do. People taking advantage of it is no reason to completely take away DAS from physically disabled people. It’s crazy to me that someone with like cerebral palsy or cancer or MS or whatever can’t use this service anymore because they don’t also have autism.

It doesn't sound like the new policy removes all access to physical disabilities. DAS is just excluding people whose issues can be solved with a pass to leave the line and return or a mobility device (e.g., scooter or wheelchair) so they don't have to stand.

Part of the problem is forcing people to use mobility devices when they don't need them under normal circumstances. I've seen several stories about amputees who are perfectly "mobile" but who have difficulty waiting in long lines, especially in heat, as the day progresses because their prosthesis becomes less comfortable and more painful being denied DAS because they could just get a wheelchair. That seems wrong to me.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either.

They can get a scooter. There is nothing “wrong” about that.

Huh. You don't think someone with a genuine physical disability that causes significant pain deserves some accommodation? By the way, ECVs cost $65 per day to rent, but I guess those slacker amputees should just deal.

If they’re walking around a park all day on a prosthesis, there’s no reason they can’t stand in line with the same prosthesis. Or sit on the chair/cane. Or lean on the ropes like the rest of us. If they can’t walk around the park all day and can’t stand in line at all, they get a scooter or a wheelchair.
Quit playing the victim here. There are options. You just don’t like them.

NP. By that logic, people with zero physical disabilities who have autism can also just stand in line for hours.

I don’t think that’s true. If an autistic kid can’t stand in line for an hour they may act out or scream or get physical or cause a disturbance to others waiting in line. It’s a completely different scenario.

This. My kid has to eat in a lunch bunch because he cannot even handle the noise and commotion of the cafeteria at school. If he gets overstimulated/dysregulated he may throw himself on the ground and kick. That doesn’t happen often thankfully, but it does on occasion.

In order for our family to go to Disney, we had to pick a less crowded time, select a few must do rides, and basically have a straight forward itinerary to avoid crossing all over the park and having downtime built in. We bought Genie + in conjunction to using DAS and were able to minimize crowd/line time, take meal breaks while waiting for our return time, and get in and out of the park in a shorter time.

I know people pay a lot of money to go to Disney and I appreciate not having to risk a) my kid losing it 80 minutes into a 90 minute wait and then having to give up on the ride and b) disturbing other guests if my kid flails and is upset.

Why are you taking a kid who can't cope in crowded places to Disney? Goodness. Choose a different vacation.

What’s wrong with you? Disney makes an effort to be inclusive. Kids with disabilities deserve to experience the magic of seeing their favorite characters come to life. My son also needed to eat in a lunch bunch during camp, where he gets dysregulated, but loves Disney world. He was obsessed with Toy Story the first time we went, and the castle. He was mesmerized by the fireworks. And all the entertainment was great for his adhd needs - we just have to know when to take breaks from all the stimulation, which we can do in our small family setting. We modify our vacation to meet his needs, but I can’t imagine having him miss out on Disney altogether. I’ve seen autistic people waiting in lines for cosmic rewind, wearing sensory friendly headphones. This is such a spectacularly out of touch comment.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either. Don't all kids deserve the magic of Disney? Their lines are untenable for all.

Yes, if you don’t want to wait in long lines you pay for genie+. The same way you pay for premium economy on an airplane. It’s a different than children with disabilities.

We did pay for genie+... the lightning lanes are still 20-30 min long and then you have to wait in other long lines between your genie + rides.

And if your toddler cannot handle that then they cannot handle Disney.

Not really, you can call that ADHD, autism, or anxiety and boom, get a DAS pass. It's apparently very easy. What you can't do is rent a scooter anymore and have it be a disability that qualifies. You don't need a doctor's note or diagnosis to qualify you just have to register for the process and have a video chat.

Also, this is lying. I would never lie about my child’s condition. I am completely honest with Disney about his conditions and behaviors, and they can tell me if that qualifies or not. Shame on people who lie.

And one more point- I wish my son didn’t have the difficulties that make him eligible for a DAS pass. One accommodation on a five day trip to Disney world does not make up for how much harder he needs to work on a daily basis to function in his everyday life. It does not compensate for the impact it has on our family and other child. I wish people understood this and had empathy for families of children with special needs.

This! People are upset over a child with disabilities getting a perceived “perk” over their family. But I’m willing to bet they wouldn’t trade places if they realized the trade offs this accommodation comes with. Want to drop 5k on a neuropsych, out of pocket therapies, calls from the school, IEP meetings, etc. Like my goodness, let the families of special needs kids have something to help them so they can take their neurodiverse child (and siblings growing up with a special needs family member) on a somewhat normal vacation.

What is next, is the PP going to be upset that amputees get to park closer to the store? That is an unfair advantage while others have to walk farther back in the lot. I mean maybe my feet are hurting too that day, so why should the person with a prosthetic get special treatment. Perhaps they should just stay home and order online groceries instead.

(Obviously this last paragraph is sarcasm).

No one is begrudging a child with autism or another disability using DAS on a family vacation. What has become ridiculous is that so many adults are using DAS. So many people with anxiety, IBS, ADHD, back issues, etc. Then the whole group they are traveling also gets to cut in line. And SO many of these people live close to Disneyland or Disneyworld they have annual passes so go VERY frequently. You should really want Disney to crack down and absolutely limit the number of DAS accommodations granted. It has TRIPLED in the past five years. So think of those numbers because it isn't just the DAS eligible person it is all of their group which could be 6 people.

I’m the PP you’re responding to and I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. My frustrated response is to the poster(s) basically saying kids who need DAS shouldn’t go to Disney and that all kids would benefit from it so why should the kids with SNs get it.

Why are you arguing with someone who has no power to take anything from you?

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Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should limit the accommodations to once a year.

Maybe they shouldn't allow sn people in the park at all! Only NT people with no physical disabilities!

What an angry way to spin it? How many people even go to Disney multiple times a year...then reduce it to those that have a disability. I think many people would rather have great accommodations once a year then a sort of tweak any time.

Yep and a huge number of Disney locals have DAS. If you go on other boards they talk about how they go “so often” that the cost of G+ would be “prohibitive.” Those are the people clogging up the lines.

I’m convinced Disney would like to dismantle DAS altogether but the autism lobby is strong and has deep pockets.

[Anonymous]

Again you're all making this about kids when kids are who Disney WANTS to help. This is about Disney adults with annual passes who are clogging up these lines. I saw a guy on another forum whining that his mother has (laundry list of health problems) and she's in her 90s so she deserves to enjoy herself with her adult children at Disney on their quarterly trips!!! Why are you all so heartless making her wait in line?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again you're all making this about kids when kids are who Disney WANTS to help. This is about Disney adults with annual passes who are clogging up these lines. I saw a guy on another forum whining that his mother has (laundry list of health problems) and she's in her 90s so she deserves to enjoy herself with her adult children at Disney on their quarterly trips!!! Why are you all so heartless making her wait in line?

It’s the parents of littles too. I’ve seen plenty on other forums complaining that their little precious simply can’t enjoy Disney if Grandma Josie and Uncle Billy Bob can’t be on the DAS pass with them (because it’s being limited to 4 instead of 6.)

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Anonymous wrote:Since everyone pays the same price to enter or to get season passes, people try to get the most they can for their money since it is so expensive for most families to go visit Disneyland / Disneyworld.

When you go and see a family of 6 cutting into the line and they have (or not have a family member) with an invisible disability then you start to think well someone in our family has ADHD, IBS, back issues, eye issues, heart issues, anxiety, etc. so if they don't have to wait in line why should I?

They did wait-they had to wait the standby return time, then wait through the LL. And before someone spins the tale of shopping, eating and going on slinky dog while waiting the standby time...the most likely thing the sn person was doing was waiting someplace quieter, or perhaps toileting, or eating a packed lunch because they only eat certain things.

The most likely thing? What's your source on how people spend their time?

It's based on years of experience parenting in the sn community and many visits to Disney with use of a DAS. I don't know anyone (and I know many families with sn family members who have visited Disney) who crams in multiple high sensory experiences during the standby time. They are usually doing one of the things I mentioned, which is why I mentioned it.

So, you have no idea what other people are doing. You, alone, can believe nobody ever abused the system.

So, you have years of experience in the sn community and using DAS, and you came to the conclusion that they are shopping, eating, and riding slinky dog? That is what you think? How did you arrive at this conclusion?

Because Disney said there was abuse why should I believe you?

'Disney' did not say there was abuse.

They did. https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/11/disney-disability-access-service-das/

No, they were not quoted - it was an independent travel agent. Good try though.

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Anonymous wrote:People really took advantage of the DAS program. I don’t blame Disney for changing it.

I do. People taking advantage of it is no reason to completely take away DAS from physically disabled people. It’s crazy to me that someone with like cerebral palsy or cancer or MS or whatever can’t use this service anymore because they don’t also have autism.

It doesn't sound like the new policy removes all access to physical disabilities. DAS is just excluding people whose issues can be solved with a pass to leave the line and return or a mobility device (e.g., scooter or wheelchair) so they don't have to stand.

Part of the problem is forcing people to use mobility devices when they don't need them under normal circumstances. I've seen several stories about amputees who are perfectly "mobile" but who have difficulty waiting in long lines, especially in heat, as the day progresses because their prosthesis becomes less comfortable and more painful being denied DAS because they could just get a wheelchair. That seems wrong to me.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either.

They can get a scooter. There is nothing “wrong” about that.

Huh. You don't think someone with a genuine physical disability that causes significant pain deserves some accommodation? By the way, ECVs cost $65 per day to rent, but I guess those slacker amputees should just deal.

If they’re walking around a park all day on a prosthesis, there’s no reason they can’t stand in line with the same prosthesis. Or sit on the chair/cane. Or lean on the ropes like the rest of us. If they can’t walk around the park all day and can’t stand in line at all, they get a scooter or a wheelchair.
Quit playing the victim here. There are options. You just don’t like them.

NP. By that logic, people with zero physical disabilities who have autism can also just stand in line for hours.

I don’t think that’s true. If an autistic kid can’t stand in line for an hour they may act out or scream or get physical or cause a disturbance to others waiting in line. It’s a completely different scenario.

This. My kid has to eat in a lunch bunch because he cannot even handle the noise and commotion of the cafeteria at school. If he gets overstimulated/dysregulated he may throw himself on the ground and kick. That doesn’t happen often thankfully, but it does on occasion.

In order for our family to go to Disney, we had to pick a less crowded time, select a few must do rides, and basically have a straight forward itinerary to avoid crossing all over the park and having downtime built in. We bought Genie + in conjunction to using DAS and were able to minimize crowd/line time, take meal breaks while waiting for our return time, and get in and out of the park in a shorter time.

I know people pay a lot of money to go to Disney and I appreciate not having to risk a) my kid losing it 80 minutes into a 90 minute wait and then having to give up on the ride and b) disturbing other guests if my kid flails and is upset.

Why are you taking a kid who can't cope in crowded places to Disney? Goodness. Choose a different vacation.

What’s wrong with you? Disney makes an effort to be inclusive. Kids with disabilities deserve to experience the magic of seeing their favorite characters come to life. My son also needed to eat in a lunch bunch during camp, where he gets dysregulated, but loves Disney world. He was obsessed with Toy Story the first time we went, and the castle. He was mesmerized by the fireworks. And all the entertainment was great for his adhd needs - we just have to know when to take breaks from all the stimulation, which we can do in our small family setting. We modify our vacation to meet his needs, but I can’t imagine having him miss out on Disney altogether. I’ve seen autistic people waiting in lines for cosmic rewind, wearing sensory friendly headphones. This is such a spectacularly out of touch comment.

NP What?! Someone upthread told me that if my toddler can't wait in 30-60 minute lines I shouldn't go to Disney either. Don't all kids deserve the magic of Disney? Their lines are untenable for all.

Yes, if you don’t want to wait in long lines you pay for genie+. The same way you pay for premium economy on an airplane. It’s a different than children with disabilities.

We did pay for genie+... the lightning lanes are still 20-30 min long and then you have to wait in other long lines between your genie + rides.

And if your toddler cannot handle that then they cannot handle Disney.

Not really, you can call that ADHD, autism, or anxiety and boom, get a DAS pass. It's apparently very easy. What you can't do is rent a scooter anymore and have it be a disability that qualifies. You don't need a doctor's note or diagnosis to qualify you just have to register for the process and have a video chat.

Also, this is lying. I would never lie about my child’s condition. I am completely honest with Disney about his conditions and behaviors, and they can tell me if that qualifies or not. Shame on people who lie.

And one more point- I wish my son didn’t have the difficulties that make him eligible for a DAS pass. One accommodation on a five day trip to Disney world does not make up for how much harder he needs to work on a daily basis to function in his everyday life. It does not compensate for the impact it has on our family and other child. I wish people understood this and had empathy for families of children with special needs.

This! People are upset over a child with disabilities getting a perceived “perk” over their family. But I’m willing to bet they wouldn’t trade places if they realized the trade offs this accommodation comes with. Want to drop 5k on a neuropsych, out of pocket therapies, calls from the school, IEP meetings, etc. Like my goodness, let the families of special needs kids have something to help them so they can take their neurodiverse child (and siblings growing up with a special needs family member) on a somewhat normal vacation.

What is next, is the PP going to be upset that amputees get to park closer to the store? That is an unfair advantage while others have to walk farther back in the lot. I mean maybe my feet are hurting too that day, so why should the person with a prosthetic get special treatment. Perhaps they should just stay home and order online groceries instead.

(Obviously this last paragraph is sarcasm).

Umm no one is complaining over people with REAL disabilities getting DAS. There were whole websites that told you how to fake DAS. Lots of blog posts and facebook groups too.

No there was absolutely a poster I was referring to (hopefully only one, but maybe more) saying kids with developmental disabilities shouldn’t be going on Disney vacations and that every kid under 10 could benefit from not waiting in line so why should these kids get a benefit.

As a person who a kid who has SNs and cannot cram in a gazillion rides from sun up to sun down, I’d be fine with a cap or limits on popular rides. I’m just disgusted by certain people saying disabled kids should basically not go at all.

Your reading comprehension is terrible. The statement was that Disney isn't a good vacation choice for a kid who is made upset by noise, crowds and stimulation. DAS doesn't remove those aspects. Disney is still noisy, crowded and over stimulating.

And DAS provides accommodations to help those kid still get to enjoy the magic of a Disney vacation. My son can get dysregulated in certain situations, so we don’t push him to the brink. We make a reasonable ride schedule (he does love the rides). He loves interacting with the characters. We book meal reservations in advance (buffets are great b/c there is no wait and lots of food options for picky eaters). There are multiple pools at many resorts so you can pick a quieter pool to go back and relax at. We also stay on property so we’re close by if we want to take breaks back at your room.

So who are you to say kids like mine can’t have a good vacation at Disney? DAS along with other planning measures on our family’s part allow him to enjoy a family vacation, better in some ways than traveling to places are that less self contained and curated for families.

I am sure there is abuse. I’ll trust Disney’s statistics on it and am fine with a paperwork process since we can easily provide that. But to say DAS doesn’t help with developmental disabilities and that it’s not a good vacation for them is just ignorant of how amazing Disney really is for families including kids with SNs.