Credit: DisneySince April 9, Disney has been dealing with the fallout of the controversial changes made to its Disability Access Service (DAS) system at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. Since its inception, guests with a wide range of physical, medical, and cognitive disabilities have been able to use the DAS service and wait in a shorter line.
Now, that has all changed.
Disney announced that only those with cognitive disabilities, such as autism, will be able to take advantage of the DAS program. Those with other disabilities will have to wait in the regular queue and exit when necessary. The changes to DAS went into effect at Walt Disney World Resort on May 20. They will go into effect at the Disneyland Resort beginning June 18.
Since the changes to the DAS program are now in effect, frustrated guests have been taking to social media to share their stories of being turned down, even though they desperately need the service.
Related: Disney Just Told Thousands of People With Disabilities That They Don’t Count
X (formerly Twitter) user Bluey Christine Heeler said that she has a medical condition that is triggered by heat, crowding, and overstimulation. Those problems can cause her to faint in line. She was allegedly told by a cast member that she should find a shaded area to sit, which does not help when it comes to actually standing in a long line.
Unfortunately, the professional employed by Disney told her that she no longer qualified for Disney’s disability program. A theme park cast member then told her that she could always pay for Disney Genie+.
the professional apologized & disconnected and the CM suggested finding shaded/secluded areas to avoid overstimulation. i said i’m already accustomed to doing this but this does nothing to help me experience attractions w/ my disability, which is supposedly the purpose of DAS
shocker, her final suggestion was to pay for genie + and lightning lane
shocker, her final suggestion was to pay for genie + and lightning lane
— bluey christine heeler (@beIIabaxters) May 21, 2024
Related: DAS Defenders Challenge Disney’s Controversial Disability Changes
X user Izzy commented that she had actually seen someone with epilepsy get turned down. The reason the guest was given? They will have some symptoms before the seizures appear, which should allow them to get out of line, deal with their seizure, and then get back in line.
someone with epilepsy was turned down because they have auras…the CM told them to leave the line and go to first aid when they have an aura, have a seizure there, and then go back in line 💀💀
someone with epilepsy was turned down because they have auras…the CM told them to leave the line and go to first aid when they have an aura, have a seizure there, and then go back in line 💀💀
— izzy 🍊🎗️ (@isabelleprimave) May 22, 2024
Related: Thank You For Your Service: Disney’s New Disability Policy Could Alienate One Important Group
X user Fern commented that DAS did not give people with disabilities preferential treatment; it simply allowed them to enjoy Disney theme parks and made them more accessible.
Please explain what about the DAS gives disabled ppl “preferred access” bc all it did was make the park more accessible
Ive been to Disney twice; I am disabled and have a sister who is disabled. DAS allowed us to actually enjoy the park without worrying that one of us would suffer.
Ive been to Disney twice; I am disabled and have a sister who is disabled. DAS allowed us to actually enjoy the park without worrying that one of us would suffer. https://t.co/91bu0vhMyf
— fern ^_^ !!!! 🎗 ✈︎ (@belovedhrts) May 23, 2024
User AlternativeAnt7677 shared their disappointing experience with the DAS changes on Reddit. They have a tissue disorder, as well as ADHD, but were told to use a wheelchair and noise-canceling headphones.
For the record, I have qualified for DAS for years. I got started with the DAS process bright and early this morning to see exactly how it worked, and while I hoped the wording on the first post was just poor, I could not be more wrong.
I have a tissue disorder that affects muscle tone globally. Without going into too much detail, my heart overcompensates its pulse when exposed to certain triggers like prolonged heat and exertion, causing pain across my body. My doctor has directed for me to recognize the beginnings of these attacks and find a cold place to sit to return to stability.
The representative told me to use ice packs and cooling towels as well as bring a wheelchair into the queue. The towels I can understand, but for someone with muscle issues, carrying around a wheelchair all day when I often visit alone is more likely to accelerate my attacks than prevent them.
She also brought up the queue reentry system, which, as others have said, seems more complicated than anything. I asked if this is the same solution for conditions like ADHD (which I have), with triggers like sensory overload around crowds. The solution to this was acquiring noise-canceling headphones — for purchase, of course, so not an accommodation by definition — within the park. Other sensory concerns were not addressed.
I don’t know who DAS is for now, but it’s not for disabled people. I implore you not to give into buying Genie+ or ILL if you don’t qualify under the new rules. Do not let them profit off of your disability.
My experience with the new DAS system
byu/AlternativeAnt7677 inWaltDisneyWorld
Some even claim that Disney is telling people with multiple disabilities not to go to the theme parks at all.
@WaltDisneyWorld Do better. I had a friend be told this today
She had a doctor from the DAS department tell her husband if you have that many issues maybe you shouldn’t be going to the parks.Wow Disney how inclusive is that ????
@WaltDisneyWorld Do better. I had a friend be told this today
She had a doctor from the DAS department tell her husband if you have that many issues maybe you shouldn’t be going to the parks.Wow Disney how inclusive is that ????
— Cindy Williams (@CindyWill78700) May 23, 2024
When changes to the DAS program were announced, Disney said that it was because of the uptick in abuse of the program. More people are using DAS than ever before, although that could be because there is no longer a free FastPass system.
With so many guests in need being denied accessibility services, it seems unlikely that Disney will be able to avoid a bevy of lawsuits. Many believe that Disney is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires businesses to provide reasonable accommodations for guests with a wide variety of disabilities.
A lot of guests do not think that telling someone to climb over others to get out of line, only to go back into that same line later, or forcing them to purchase Disney+, is not providing reasonable accommodation.
It is important to note that Disney is making those who do manage to be approved for a DAS pass agree not to file a class action lawsuit. So it appears that the company is well aware of the issues it may face.
Do you think Disney is now discriminating against too many guests with disabilities? Let us know in the comments!
This post originally appeared on Disney Dining.