So basically I have severe osteoarthritis,bone on bone in both my knees. I use an EVC when at the parks. So now that I’ve been punished for others abuse the system. An EVC does not fit in most lines. So while I’m on the sidelines now my family gets to have fun. I’ve never looked to skip the line. My family used to go in a regular line and I’d be waiting at the ride front and join them there. I’m still waiting but not having to stand which after less than 5 minutes I break into an extremely powerful painful sweat and nausea.
Thanks Disney looks like I’ll never see WDW again and cancel my plans to visit Disneyland now. How SELFISH OF YOU. VERY DISAPPOINTED
My dad has to use an ECV at the parks and has never had trouble navigating it through the lines. Even in the older rides like Pirates, Haunted Mansion or Small World.
I have un seen physical issues that prevent me from standing or sitting for long periods of time. Also high anxiety as I know the pain I am in. I am very heartbroken that they are only going to allow autism. Many people have issues unseen and it is not going to be easy to enjoy disney
The irony is that I have autism–which DOES NOT require accomodation.
But I have a physical disability that DOES require accomodation.
Disney is all but asking me to lie to them to get the pass I legitimately need because I cannot stand in the line due to my physical issue but only my autism now qualifies me.
That’s basically the same concern that I have! I have severe spinal stenosis and just recently started renting an ECV when I found that walking in the parks caused so much pain that just entering & exiting the parks would cause me to stop several time to allow the pain to subside.
As you pointed out, MOST of the ride lines won’t accommodate an ECV, & standing in like is actually more painful than walking!
I’ve never used the DAS, but would now consider it IF IT WERE AVAILABLE TO ME, which NOW it is not!
If you ask me after Walt died Disney went to shit, they don’t know how to run the park properly and all these new rules and regulations is just going to make them go further down hill!!!!!! I loved visiting Walt Disney World when Walt was alive he really knew how to make people feel welcome in a place that he created for everyone to take a trip back to childhood and have fun now all the magic is gone I would not be surprised if everyone stopped going to the parks and the place becomes a ghost town!!!!!!
It’s been very clear for awhile that mobility issues are not under DAS. Most lines are accessible for wheelchairs and ECV units. If not, I’ve seen Casr Members make accommodations
You don’t need a DAS in order to get a return time to use an ECV or wheelchair for inaccessible standby lines. The fact that you were given one to begin with is the problem, not the fact that they’re going to take it away.
I’m at Disney now and using an ECV. It has gone through all the lines except Pirates and Peter Pan. I’ve been able to do everything else either staying on the ECV or getting through the que and then having a cast member move it to the exit.
If my 75 year old mother can take her scooter around the Disney parks even with her myriad of medical issues, many others can too. The system is abused and I am glad Disney is FINALLY addressing it. We buy a lightning lane pass for the whole family, yes it’s expensive, but it allows my mother to have shorter wait times. With 60% of LL returns being DDS, that should make the line even shorter. Come on, no one is requiring you to take insulin in line, get out of line and go to the restroom like a kid needing a potty break….figure it out people.
I pray you never go through what some of us that truly have medical issues have when you get older. Using a scooter is one thing but standing in a line in the heat when you have diabetes or asthma can be deadly. Arthritis is an invisible but excruciating pain that is doubled or tripled while standing in a que. Walking is less painful but at time even that is impossible.
Yes, because all of the other guests are just so accepting of people trying to get back to their party after leaving the line to go to the bathroom. There certainly have never been any stories of people blocking other people from passing them because they think they’re just trying to cut the line. Not to mention, people with bathroom related medical issues often spend quite some time in the bathroom, or can go to the bathroom and need to head back urgently not 5 minutes later. I’ll just start having accidents in line and making everyone around me deal with the smell and all that since people like you think it’s just me not wanting to leave the line real quick to go to the bathroom…
Some of us cannot sit all day anymore than we can stand all day. That’s why the individualized system was initially developed: because disabilities take all kinds of forms.
This is all money driven, Disney just wants people to buy the lightning lane. My wife has always qualified for the DAS because of her type 1 diabetes. She has to take shots several times a day, the pump does not work for her. She also has to be able to eat if she has bloodsugar issues. She has always had a note from her doctor even though Disney doesn’t ask for it. When bring it just in case. So with the new system, she will have to get out glass bottles and needles, praying someone doesn’t bump her and make her drop her $200 a bottle insulin and it shatters. Guess we won’t go to Disney anymore.
What people are not getting that are for the new DAS changes is the only people qualified for the new system are autistic or have mental problems. Ptsd which I have, if people are too close to me causes an episode causing anger I can’t handle but keeping it in control exhaust me it also gives me migraines. Also I have COPD which certain perfumes or smells I can’t breathe, as well as skin cancer so lines that are in the sun I can’t do an umbrella interferes with others. I have even offered a doctor’s note. We should all be able to enjoy the happiest place on earth. I believe this all got worse because of social media because I have seen it.
THIS. It’s no coindcidence that the number of cheats skyrocketed when Disney replaced thwir FREE FastPass system–which essentially did something very like the DAS system, with the expensive Genie++/Lightning Lane systwm.
Disabled guests are now being forced to pay for Disney’s cash grab, pure and simple.
Disney has the projection of guests where they only want the perfect pretty people to be in their parks. The humanoids that look like models. Its like the person that wants the perfect bf or gf because it makes them look good out in public.
Yes, there are those that cheat and claim a disability that doesn’t exist to “jump” a ride line. Been going on forever it seems. Over the years I’ve seen this, mostly by teens (would rent a push wheelchair then all their buddies got on a ride sooner). However, now it seems the “cheating” crosses over to almost all age groups.
I’ve used the disability lines for over 20 yrs , I may not have Autism etc. but I have a myriad of other health issues which preclude me from standing in long lines or in the sun, or walking long distances plus heart issues.
I’ve always given Disney huge THANK YOU’S for accommodating my health issues over the decades.
Guess I’ll have to wait and see how this new policy shakes out….
I hear and read that people wonder “why” Disney is changing their policy on this. They use the excuse that too many people are lying, which many probably are. We have been Disney fans for many years (more than 50 years). Sadly it is nothing like what Walt Disney himself had envisioned, a place where every family could enjoy time together without spending a fortune. The people who now run it are ALL about the money, and not just at the parks. By making these new changes, it will force many people who have disabilities to pay for the new genie plus and lightning lane and the company knows it and they don’t care.
My family are long time Disney fans, and we’ve visited every Christmas for the last thirty years. We’ve seen people time and again abuse the system, getting wheelchairs and taking turns riding in it to get ahead in lines. It is so painfully obvious, yet Disney dare not call these people out on their fraud. So I’m glad they’re finally doing something about it. However, if someone presents documentation concerning their disability, or are obviously disabled, they certainly should be able to get assistance in the park, including being allowed first access to rides/shows.
I have documented mobility issues and have a handicapped placard. I also have gastro issues where if my colon signals me to get to a toilet, I have to ASAP. It is not possible to get a scooter out of the queue fast enough. Yes I hit the restroom frequently to avoid problems. The idea of hubby and I going on vacation and him waiting in the queue is ridiculous. Now mind you we are not going on those thrill E ticket rides. Probably had my last trip to Disney. The last trip wasn’t that much fun. Some wonderful cast members but just some really rude ones. They idea of a Disney family vacation is just that, family. Forcing a family to separate is ridiculous. If Disney thinks people will book a vacation only to find out that a person in their family won’t qualify for a DAS afterwards, they are in for a rude awakening.
To the people who badmouth others with physical challenges, GROW UP!!! This is unequivocally Disney wanting to be able to sell more Genie+. This is undoubtedly another reason, along with getting rid of the free fast passes, changing Splash Mountain for stupid reasons and not building any new theme parks in over 20 years why I will NEVER visit Disney again. We were 10+ year annual pass holders until COVID. Disney screwed us out of our passes and we never got them back. They have since DOUBLED in price. Disney has quickly become a haven for the rich and Disney WILL pay for that some day when the rich stop coming too.
So I had a major stroke and spent days in ICU. I can no longer walk like I used to without a cane or a wheelchair. If Disney is going to be this unfair then I’m going to find a good lawyer to take it to court. So basically we all are lying about our disabilities and are forced to wait in lines when we have a hard time walking or standing. This is the worst kind of discrimination I’ve ever seen. Thanks Disney for ruining my for happy place.
At some point, someone with a medical disability is going to sue for lack of accommodations under the ADA and ADAAA over this new policy, because it isn’t in compliance. At that point it’s going to change back to the old policy really fast. Then most of the people who will have a legitimate medical need are going to be recognized again. This is not going to go on for very long. I’m disabled, and before I became disabled I used to work in federal disability law, I have seen so many people at this point complain online and heard so many in my community complain in person that their medical disability is not going to be met by this policy. It is only a matter of time before someone with the time and the money sues them. It will probably be someone from Florida too, we are very litigious down here.
Again, sue them for what? If you need to wait outside the line, use rider switch – your party waits in the regular line, then you go through the LL.
Since you claim to know about federal disability law, then you must know that businesses have to provide an accommodation, not a preferred accommodation. If you choose not to utilize the accommodation, that’s on you, not on Disney.
Wow, such a fun family vacation sitting by yourself while your family/party goes through the line. Universal is right down the street and has better rides anyways. This decision is going to end up costing Disney money.
Keep one person with you, then both of you ride after the rest of the party waits in the standby line.
Disney isn’t required to provide the desired accommodation, only a reasonable accommodation. And they certainly aren’t required to provide it to the entire family of a disabled guest.
Does you family do nothing but ride on attractions? You don’t eat together, see shows together, shop together? The only time you can spend together is when you’re riding an attraction where most of the time you’re not going to be directly next to your entire party anyway?
No what there doing is not fair or right. And i believe its against the ADA’s rules. There are rides that dont allow your ecv in the queued line. My suggestion for those like me and one legged hubby who actually need the disability pass is to bring a letter from you doctor proving you need it. I do agree with the policy that if you are faking the need for it you should be punished as it makes life hard for those of us that do need it.
People dont think about the consequence of lieing about things like that or what its like for tjose of us who actually need services like that.
You all are some of the whiniest people. If you’re in a wheelchair or similar, you’re sitting. Get an umbrella to block the sun and wait in line. Some of you are so entitled. You want Mickey and Minnie to roll out the red carpet for you too? 🙄
Living with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, exposure to heat for extended periods while queuing in standby lines would render my wife in capable of movement or having strength to sit without support.
Yes, the system is abused but this move seems excessive and punitive to many others living with a physical disability.
From the UK you cannot have the DAS interview before travelling.
This could result in paying £1000’s for a holiday having an interview on arrival with an unsuccessful outcome making our park tickets useless.
You do realize the other parks whom ask for dr notes etc are being lawsuited! Its unlawful and not dr should give out those things. Patient dr confidential for one plus ada and hippa!
Why not ask for blood btw if you do your research… das was always meant only for invisible disablities bc duh you diblities that is visible is seen! More than half arent and need more help than folks that can easily get around in a wc and evc. Some of us w real issues cannot deal w a real line your sitting down in one. You see why some have the right to that arguement! And wdw will still help you wo this pass we do not get help or alt entrances which you also have access to wo a pass. Remember when it was a real 2 line park reg queue and alt entrance guess which one was longer the alt one bc you all been taking advantage its good wdw is cracking diwn while still helping us that need it.
Comments for Disney Ends Inclusivity Initiative According to Expert, New Ruling to be Permanent Next Month
Debbie
So basically I have severe osteoarthritis,bone on bone in both my knees. I use an EVC when at the parks. So now that I’ve been punished for others abuse the system. An EVC does not fit in most lines. So while I’m on the sidelines now my family gets to have fun. I’ve never looked to skip the line. My family used to go in a regular line and I’d be waiting at the ride front and join them there. I’m still waiting but not having to stand which after less than 5 minutes I break into an extremely powerful painful sweat and nausea.
Thanks Disney looks like I’ll never see WDW again and cancel my plans to visit Disneyland now. How SELFISH OF YOU. VERY DISAPPOINTED
Seabo
You’ll still be able to do that.
Besides, EVC DO fit in most queues
april whitfield
exactly…I see them in line all the time… who’s really selfish here… the whole point of the change
Tanya
My dad has to use an ECV at the parks and has never had trouble navigating it through the lines. Even in the older rides like Pirates, Haunted Mansion or Small World.
Laura
It fits at DisneyWORLD. But a lot of DisneyLAND lines aren’t set up for them.
JustMe
Then they get a return time for an alternate, accessible entrance – no DAS required. It’s been this way for years.
Karen
I have un seen physical issues that prevent me from standing or sitting for long periods of time. Also high anxiety as I know the pain I am in. I am very heartbroken that they are only going to allow autism. Many people have issues unseen and it is not going to be easy to enjoy disney
Laura
The irony is that I have autism–which DOES NOT require accomodation.
But I have a physical disability that DOES require accomodation.
Disney is all but asking me to lie to them to get the pass I legitimately need because I cannot stand in the line due to my physical issue but only my autism now qualifies me.
Jack Wilkinson
It is not limited to just autism. There are other developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome or ADHD
Eric L Erickson
That’s basically the same concern that I have! I have severe spinal stenosis and just recently started renting an ECV when I found that walking in the parks caused so much pain that just entering & exiting the parks would cause me to stop several time to allow the pain to subside.
As you pointed out, MOST of the ride lines won’t accommodate an ECV, & standing in like is actually more painful than walking!
I’ve never used the DAS, but would now consider it IF IT WERE AVAILABLE TO ME, which NOW it is not!
JustMe
You don’t need a DAS to get a return time for an accessible entrance.
James
If you ask me after Walt died Disney went to shit, they don’t know how to run the park properly and all these new rules and regulations is just going to make them go further down hill!!!!!! I loved visiting Walt Disney World when Walt was alive he really knew how to make people feel welcome in a place that he created for everyone to take a trip back to childhood and have fun now all the magic is gone I would not be surprised if everyone stopped going to the parks and the place becomes a ghost town!!!!!!
Kungaloosh
Newsflash: You never visited Walt Disney World when Walt was alive. Because nobody did.
JustMe
Um, Walt Disney died four years before Disney World opened, so I doubt you enjoyed visiting it when he was alive…
Garrett
It’s been very clear for awhile that mobility issues are not under DAS. Most lines are accessible for wheelchairs and ECV units. If not, I’ve seen Casr Members make accommodations
JustMe
You don’t need a DAS in order to get a return time to use an ECV or wheelchair for inaccessible standby lines. The fact that you were given one to begin with is the problem, not the fact that they’re going to take it away.
Dawn
I’m at Disney now and using an ECV. It has gone through all the lines except Pirates and Peter Pan. I’ve been able to do everything else either staying on the ECV or getting through the que and then having a cast member move it to the exit.
Stacy
If my 75 year old mother can take her scooter around the Disney parks even with her myriad of medical issues, many others can too. The system is abused and I am glad Disney is FINALLY addressing it. We buy a lightning lane pass for the whole family, yes it’s expensive, but it allows my mother to have shorter wait times. With 60% of LL returns being DDS, that should make the line even shorter. Come on, no one is requiring you to take insulin in line, get out of line and go to the restroom like a kid needing a potty break….figure it out people.
Jan K.
I pray you never go through what some of us that truly have medical issues have when you get older. Using a scooter is one thing but standing in a line in the heat when you have diabetes or asthma can be deadly. Arthritis is an invisible but excruciating pain that is doubled or tripled while standing in a que. Walking is less painful but at time even that is impossible.
Brad
Yes, because all of the other guests are just so accepting of people trying to get back to their party after leaving the line to go to the bathroom. There certainly have never been any stories of people blocking other people from passing them because they think they’re just trying to cut the line. Not to mention, people with bathroom related medical issues often spend quite some time in the bathroom, or can go to the bathroom and need to head back urgently not 5 minutes later. I’ll just start having accidents in line and making everyone around me deal with the smell and all that since people like you think it’s just me not wanting to leave the line real quick to go to the bathroom…
Laura
Some of us cannot sit all day anymore than we can stand all day. That’s why the individualized system was initially developed: because disabilities take all kinds of forms.
Eric
This is all money driven, Disney just wants people to buy the lightning lane. My wife has always qualified for the DAS because of her type 1 diabetes. She has to take shots several times a day, the pump does not work for her. She also has to be able to eat if she has bloodsugar issues. She has always had a note from her doctor even though Disney doesn’t ask for it. When bring it just in case. So with the new system, she will have to get out glass bottles and needles, praying someone doesn’t bump her and make her drop her $200 a bottle insulin and it shatters. Guess we won’t go to Disney anymore.
Tracy
What people are not getting that are for the new DAS changes is the only people qualified for the new system are autistic or have mental problems. Ptsd which I have, if people are too close to me causes an episode causing anger I can’t handle but keeping it in control exhaust me it also gives me migraines. Also I have COPD which certain perfumes or smells I can’t breathe, as well as skin cancer so lines that are in the sun I can’t do an umbrella interferes with others. I have even offered a doctor’s note. We should all be able to enjoy the happiest place on earth. I believe this all got worse because of social media because I have seen it.
Laura
THIS. It’s no coindcidence that the number of cheats skyrocketed when Disney replaced thwir FREE FastPass system–which essentially did something very like the DAS system, with the expensive Genie++/Lightning Lane systwm.
Disabled guests are now being forced to pay for Disney’s cash grab, pure and simple.
Chris B
Disney has the projection of guests where they only want the perfect pretty people to be in their parks. The humanoids that look like models. Its like the person that wants the perfect bf or gf because it makes them look good out in public.
Sandra
Yes, there are those that cheat and claim a disability that doesn’t exist to “jump” a ride line. Been going on forever it seems. Over the years I’ve seen this, mostly by teens (would rent a push wheelchair then all their buddies got on a ride sooner). However, now it seems the “cheating” crosses over to almost all age groups.
I’ve used the disability lines for over 20 yrs , I may not have Autism etc. but I have a myriad of other health issues which preclude me from standing in long lines or in the sun, or walking long distances plus heart issues.
I’ve always given Disney huge THANK YOU’S for accommodating my health issues over the decades.
Guess I’ll have to wait and see how this new policy shakes out….
Brian Duchscherer
I hear and read that people wonder “why” Disney is changing their policy on this. They use the excuse that too many people are lying, which many probably are. We have been Disney fans for many years (more than 50 years). Sadly it is nothing like what Walt Disney himself had envisioned, a place where every family could enjoy time together without spending a fortune. The people who now run it are ALL about the money, and not just at the parks. By making these new changes, it will force many people who have disabilities to pay for the new genie plus and lightning lane and the company knows it and they don’t care.
SJBrown
My family are long time Disney fans, and we’ve visited every Christmas for the last thirty years. We’ve seen people time and again abuse the system, getting wheelchairs and taking turns riding in it to get ahead in lines. It is so painfully obvious, yet Disney dare not call these people out on their fraud. So I’m glad they’re finally doing something about it. However, if someone presents documentation concerning their disability, or are obviously disabled, they certainly should be able to get assistance in the park, including being allowed first access to rides/shows.
Deb
I have documented mobility issues and have a handicapped placard. I also have gastro issues where if my colon signals me to get to a toilet, I have to ASAP. It is not possible to get a scooter out of the queue fast enough. Yes I hit the restroom frequently to avoid problems. The idea of hubby and I going on vacation and him waiting in the queue is ridiculous. Now mind you we are not going on those thrill E ticket rides. Probably had my last trip to Disney. The last trip wasn’t that much fun. Some wonderful cast members but just some really rude ones. They idea of a Disney family vacation is just that, family. Forcing a family to separate is ridiculous. If Disney thinks people will book a vacation only to find out that a person in their family won’t qualify for a DAS afterwards, they are in for a rude awakening.
D.H.
To the people who badmouth others with physical challenges, GROW UP!!! This is unequivocally Disney wanting to be able to sell more Genie+. This is undoubtedly another reason, along with getting rid of the free fast passes, changing Splash Mountain for stupid reasons and not building any new theme parks in over 20 years why I will NEVER visit Disney again. We were 10+ year annual pass holders until COVID. Disney screwed us out of our passes and we never got them back. They have since DOUBLED in price. Disney has quickly become a haven for the rich and Disney WILL pay for that some day when the rich stop coming too.
Lisa
So I had a major stroke and spent days in ICU. I can no longer walk like I used to without a cane or a wheelchair. If Disney is going to be this unfair then I’m going to find a good lawyer to take it to court. So basically we all are lying about our disabilities and are forced to wait in lines when we have a hard time walking or standing. This is the worst kind of discrimination I’ve ever seen. Thanks Disney for ruining my for happy place.
JustMe
LOL take them to court for what? Your wheelchair can through the lines, no reason for you to need a DAS.
EmiEm
At some point, someone with a medical disability is going to sue for lack of accommodations under the ADA and ADAAA over this new policy, because it isn’t in compliance. At that point it’s going to change back to the old policy really fast. Then most of the people who will have a legitimate medical need are going to be recognized again. This is not going to go on for very long. I’m disabled, and before I became disabled I used to work in federal disability law, I have seen so many people at this point complain online and heard so many in my community complain in person that their medical disability is not going to be met by this policy. It is only a matter of time before someone with the time and the money sues them. It will probably be someone from Florida too, we are very litigious down here.
Carol
And we have won against Disney down here in Florida👍
JustMe
On disability discrimination claims? When?
JustMe
Again, sue them for what? If you need to wait outside the line, use rider switch – your party waits in the regular line, then you go through the LL.
Since you claim to know about federal disability law, then you must know that businesses have to provide an accommodation, not a preferred accommodation. If you choose not to utilize the accommodation, that’s on you, not on Disney.
NewMountain
Wow, such a fun family vacation sitting by yourself while your family/party goes through the line. Universal is right down the street and has better rides anyways. This decision is going to end up costing Disney money.
JustMe
Keep one person with you, then both of you ride after the rest of the party waits in the standby line.
Disney isn’t required to provide the desired accommodation, only a reasonable accommodation. And they certainly aren’t required to provide it to the entire family of a disabled guest.
Does you family do nothing but ride on attractions? You don’t eat together, see shows together, shop together? The only time you can spend together is when you’re riding an attraction where most of the time you’re not going to be directly next to your entire party anyway?
Jessie
No what there doing is not fair or right. And i believe its against the ADA’s rules. There are rides that dont allow your ecv in the queued line. My suggestion for those like me and one legged hubby who actually need the disability pass is to bring a letter from you doctor proving you need it. I do agree with the policy that if you are faking the need for it you should be punished as it makes life hard for those of us that do need it.
People dont think about the consequence of lieing about things like that or what its like for tjose of us who actually need services like that.
JustMe
Your husband can use a wheelchair, he doesn’t need a DAS.
AD
You all are some of the whiniest people. If you’re in a wheelchair or similar, you’re sitting. Get an umbrella to block the sun and wait in line. Some of you are so entitled. You want Mickey and Minnie to roll out the red carpet for you too? 🙄
Darren Green
Living with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, exposure to heat for extended periods while queuing in standby lines would render my wife in capable of movement or having strength to sit without support.
Yes, the system is abused but this move seems excessive and punitive to many others living with a physical disability.
From the UK you cannot have the DAS interview before travelling.
This could result in paying £1000’s for a holiday having an interview on arrival with an unsuccessful outcome making our park tickets useless.
Markus
You do realize the other parks whom ask for dr notes etc are being lawsuited! Its unlawful and not dr should give out those things. Patient dr confidential for one plus ada and hippa!
Why not ask for blood btw if you do your research… das was always meant only for invisible disablities bc duh you diblities that is visible is seen! More than half arent and need more help than folks that can easily get around in a wc and evc. Some of us w real issues cannot deal w a real line your sitting down in one. You see why some have the right to that arguement! And wdw will still help you wo this pass we do not get help or alt entrances which you also have access to wo a pass. Remember when it was a real 2 line park reg queue and alt entrance guess which one was longer the alt one bc you all been taking advantage its good wdw is cracking diwn while still helping us that need it.
Comments are closed.