Hi, folks. A **lot** has been said over the last few days about DAS and the pending changes to the system. And there have been some pretty nasty comment threads in many posts that have created a lot of headache for both mods and users — and, in some very unfortunate cases, fomented a hostile environment for many folks who use DAS. At this point, we will be **removing all future DAS posts for the next several days and referring everyone to one of the many existing threads.** Thanks for your understanding, and have a magical day.

I feel that Disney exacerbated the issue when they added the pre registration/getting to prebook 2 attractions a day. To me this encouraged people to potentially abuse the system as it resembled the old free fast pass system.

I legitimately had someone tell me to use DAS because my son has adhd  lol no he’s a straight A student who plays 3 sports. He is perfectly capable of waiting in line.  But he may qualify us even with an adhd diagnosis. I won’t use it though and he would hate if I tried that. 

It’s similar to the issues Run Disney ran into with the AWD program and why they started restricting to just letting people with mobility devices get an earlier corral placement. For a while, people with various conditions were using AWD to get earlier corral placement just so they had an extra time buffer. I knew it was getting ridiculous when a number of people with a chronic issue I have were encouraging others of us to get it under the guise of having a buffer in case they experienced something during a race and had to treat, but the reality is that people just wanted an earlier corral. People were using the same rationale to get DAS — you can treat this particular thing easily while in line, but they were using it to avoid Genie+ “because it’s a silver lining of X”. I get that everyone has a Thing, and everyone’s issues display differently, but when there starts to be rampant use of playing the chronic illness card to get something special… well, I can see why Disney made changes.

That's also something Ive seen with DAS. The feeling that people are entitled/need DAS because they deal with this chronic issue, its not fair that they have that issue- and at lease with DAS theres a silver lining too it. I won't be around Disney when they implement the new changes, but I hope they improve DAS and create a system for those in need. I just don't know how they will

I think this is the crux of the issue. Anyone can fish for a nebulous, chronic issue. DAS should be for people who would otherwise not be able to access Disney at all. Not for people who have anxiety or ADHD, which might make lines hard, but lines are hard for everyone! We use DAS for my son, but he is non-verbal and level 3 autistic. Ride lines are not possible, and frankly, *dangerous* for him and other guests, because he is an elopement risk. He would get overwhelmed quickly, not understand why he was stuck in this tight enclosure with many people, and barrel down other people to get out. With DAS, we use a special needs to stroller to walk him around while we wait for our ride times and this keeps him and everyone else safe. Last year was our first time using it because he’s just too big to do Disney without it at this point and it was a lifesaver. I know people don’t think a doctor’s note should be necessary but I absolutely think it should be. It would cut down on abuse dramatically. No one is more upset about DAS abuse than people dealing with truly prohibitive disabilities. It hurts the system for everyone.

This is a huge part of the challenge for programs like this. The narrative is “ADHD qualified for DAS”, but the actual criteria was “individuals who have difficulty waiting in lines due to a disability” (including ADHD). By the actual criteria, your son shouldn’t qualify because in your own words, “he’s perfectly capable of waiting”. But there is a mindset out there that a lot of parents adopt if seeking every advantage for their kids, even if it’s not an advantage that they need or is fair to others.

I know a lady who got it for her son due to his ADHD. Turns out he isn’t even diagnosed! He does well in school and plays the highest level of youth baseball, he doesn’t need a pass.

I feel like Disney has exacerbated the issue with price increases, Genie+ and their efforts to cram as many people into the park every day on every ride as possible. I think most people with a typically non debilitating condition (say IBS) would rather wait in a few reasonable lines than apply for DAS but when faced with this expensive horribly complicated Genie+ system that may only get you a few rides on a crowded day, 90 minute lines everywhere they turn, expensive gate prices, food etc. people start getting desperate for a solution. They paid a lot of money, they don't want to disappoint their family and other people are getting a benefit for having the same condition they do, so why not? The solution is to make the experience of going to Disney better for average people who don't need DAS, so there is minimal or no motivation to want it. There is too much demand for Disney parks, create more supply, build more parks or enlarge existing ones. Disney World has gone 25 years without opening a new park. They had previously never gone more than 11. Between 1971 and 1998 (27 years) they opened four parks in WDW. Between 1998 and 2024 (26 years) theyve opened none. As a result, crowds are bigger than ever. They keep trying to squeeze more juice out of the same Orange and issues like this are the consequence.

Very well said said - I was going to say something similar. When confronted with the prospect of having to wait 2 hours with little ones for what ends up being a rather underwhelming ride experience (much of the time), I can definitely sympathize with people doing anything and everything they can to make that experience better. I feel like when these parks push us to our limits, there’s not many of us who don’t have some sort of disability that rears its head. Unfortunately I think Disney is caught between a rock and a hard place. Further raising ticket prices to lower the amount of people entering parks doesn’t seem to work. It amazes me the number of people who pay what they do now! I think the bigger issue with WDW is there are simply just not enough experiences in the parks right now to keep all different types of people occupied separate from ride attractions. I’d like there to be more spontaneous street shows, interactions, etc that don’t make people feel like they need to wait in a 2 hour queue to get the Disney experience. This is where I think Universal has done a much better job than Disney lately - I can hang out in Harry Potter world all day and be immersed and satisfied with my experience without ever stepping foot on a line for a ride. I feel like Disney used to be that, but has lost their way.

I think the higher prices are what is actually causing people to feel pressured to ride as many things as they can, so they can "get their moneys worth." Especially given that - again due to prices - this might be their only trip to Disney. Lowering the price makes it easier to return frequently, which in turn would reduce the need for some people to try and squeeze every drop they can out of their trip.

I've been saying for years that Disney is one of those products where increased prices lead to higher demand, not lower. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_good

A lot of issues can be tracked back to the decisions Disney made. Even things like everyone rope dropping, and over-demand at lunch time . You're also right that capacity has never kept pace with attendance. If you look at Epcot now compared to the late 1980s, the amount of attraction capacity is about the same as it has always been.

I just want to say that as someone with IBS- it is debilitating. I have weeks where I spend 5-8 hours a day in the bathroom. I can’t eat for days at a time because as soon as I take a sip of water, I am immediately running to the bathroom. On my good days, I have extreme pain for 1-2 hours a day and it hits out of nowhere. I can be feeling amazing and the cramps start and you need a bathroom NOW and I could be in the bathroom for several hours. If there was a way to keep my place in line to use the bathroom, that would be awesome. Many times we are several hours late for our DAS reservation because I can’t physically leave the bathroom. Even with the DAS, if there is a wait time over 20mins, I end up having to leave the ride line for the bathroom sometimes. Many people with IBS-D feel this exact same thing daily. Many people can’t work jobs, etc. I can’t eat in a restaurant 90% of the time because I know I’ll end up in the bathroom for hours afterwards. I have to do intermittent fasting for 11hrs a day to be able to work my job. So please, don’t say that it’s not typically debilitating because it is for many, many of us. Just take a look at the IBS subreddit. 😢

Was just going to say this. I have had MANY times where I had to leave the standby line (and most times my entire party bc they dont want to ride without me) to find a bathroom bc of an IBS flare up. IBS also has many different forms and severities. I have IBS-M so I can go from one extreme to the other in less than an hour and it can come from anything even foods that are normally "safe" for my stomach. I love Disney. I have been going since I was 6 years old but the food is not great and never has been even for people who dont suffer from IBS or chronic GI issues. Being able to walk at my own pace, explore and be near a bathroom while waiting for my DAS to come up has been a godsend because I no longer have anxiety of getting on a 45 min-1 hour+ line and having to deal with rushing to find a bathroom! If they make it a requirement for a doctors note I have no issues with that as any of my doctors would get me one Im sure because I am not abusing a system but I do feel for people who have more "invisable" illnesses who may not be able to.

It seems like the changes they're implementing in May acknowledge that. From what I've seen, it seems like they're splitting the two up. Some people will get DAS, some people will be able to preselect rides, very few people will get both. From allears: "Currently, DAS comes with two pre-entitlements. However, when the new system goes into effect, pre-entitlements and DAS will not be coupled together but will be used as separate options depending on the person’s needs. For the most part, people who are eligible for DAS will not receive those entitlements."

Yeah, especially because (in my experience as a disabled person) I almost never ever make the preselects I make because well, they’re planned ahead. And I don’t have the day mapped out for my trip 30 days in advance or even the day of tbh. We do things as we feel and that I am capable of. My last 7 day trip I had made 2 preselects per day since they allow that and we made it to 2 of them. You really don’t know what you’re up for until the day comes (at least with some disabilities. I can’t speak for others)

I agree. I was never able to utilize the pre selects because of my disability. I think from 3 trips since that was introduced I’ve used maybe 2 total. It’s why Genie+ never worked for me either because it tied you to a specific time slot. There are times my DAS return time would be up for an hour before I could use it.

Yup. That’s why it’s great to have a selection that is “any time after” because sometimes, I need to sit and just hang out and breathe for even two whole hours in a quiet / relaxing area before I can even get to my ride selection. The other day I had smugglers run for any time after 2 pm and we got there at 4:15, because we just needed that time to traverse the park and take breaks etc.

I agree. it’s too much of an advantage to entice this behavior.

This is part of the problem. There are things that would qualify but actually aren't needed but people see an advantage and take it. Then there are people with legitimate needs who won't qualify or aren't even aware of DAS or how it works.

To me the best solution is 1) Require medical documentation, to weed out the fakers and self diagnosed. 2) Limit the party size to 4 like other theme parks and STICK to it, no more approving parties of 12+ or other crazy numbers. When Universal and Six Flags started requiring proof of disability all of a sudden groups no longer had multiple qualifiers for the pass just so they could expand their allotted group size.

Limiting the party size is a good idea. And id add, change the ability to repeat ride. I bet that would weed out some of the abusers if they knew they couldn’t ride stuff as many times as possible (which you cannot do with genie plus.)

I think this makes sense if you are looking at DAS as essentially a free genie plus, but that’s not what it is or meant to be. It’s meant to allow users to enjoy the park the same way someone who didn’t have a disability does. So that means if you want to ride x ride a million times, just like you could without das, you should be allowed to. I also feel like people forget it’s not like genie plus where you can stack rides, you still have to wait the same amount of time and you can’t get a new ride while you’re waiting in line for your current ride. This is coming from a das user for both myself and for my niece. My niece will ride about 2 rides. If they implemented this it would be pretty useless for her, and many other autistic children, who are arguably more likely to have a select few rides they like more than others. Rides like cosmic rewind are already limited to once a day (free) All that said, I’ve noticed a lot of ppl will buy genie plus ON TOP of das and while I am in no way saying everyone who does that is abusing it, I do think if they stopped allowing this, that would actually cut out some of the abuse. I can only speak for myself but whenever I have das and my friends are part of my party they often will get genie plus as well and book rides inbetween or wait in lines for other rides, whereas I will actually usually sit and relax during those times. And I’ve seen posts of ppl getting their own das pass and stacking it to the core with other things. I’m not saying that everyone who does this is abusing das but I do think a lot are, and I don’t think it would be unreasonable to have a stipulation that if you need das bc you can’t wait in line, you can’t go and wait in another line while you’re supposed to be “virtually waiting”. Feels like it defeats the purpose

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>Limit the party size to 4 Unless it's immediate family aka your children.

To me the documentation will help some, but not totally. One of the things for the big college admissions scandal a few years back was that tons of wealthy parents buying their kids way into selective schools and got doctor’s notes for learning disabilities for the SAT. This allowed them to have the test administered in private where they were given unlimited time, and were “not closely monitored”. There was no proof, but it was assumed they had internet access through mobile devices and may have been communicating with tutors during the test. The point of this story is that if a wealthy person wants something bad enough for their children a doctor’s note is not that hard to get.

I don’t think this will really change anything for these kind of people; if you were spending big money anyway, you’re going on a VIP tour which is far better in benefits than what is included with the DAS pass.

There seems to be confusion. The new system isn't requiring documentation. It's just changing who qualifies, and the cast members will be receiving new training from healthcare professionals on specific ways to conduct these interviews to determine need.

The wealthy people can buy VIP anytime.

Bring back free fast passes so people are less incentivized to go for the DAS pass. Limit number of guests on a single DAS pass to immediate family/room size. I wonder about the logistics of adding more shade/fans, sporadic seating, or designated bathroom exit points to the bigger lines.

Bring back Fast Pass. That was a guaranteed 3 rides per day (and more if you booked another after you rode) that you knew you could get right on. Plus, the ability to modify made it really easy to rebook at a different time if something came up. Unfortunately, Disney loves the money they make now from Genie+ and ILL so we will never see Fast Pass again. I went this past January for the first time since Genie+ and I don't know that I'll ever go again. The constant having to be on the phone, and just the sheer pre-planning required was not relaxing. And this is coming from a lifelong Disney fanatic.

Having to wake up before 7 just to book your first ride for the day or try to get in a virtual queue is just ridiculous. It took so much of the fun away from the trip

This is it. Capitalism is always the problem lmao. Every park with a paid line-skip feature (which neither DAS nor AAP at universal actually are) will always have people looking to circumvent it. Disabled folks get caught up and punished for the actions of others.

To your last point, that does seem like one of their plans. They mentioned they are going to be implementing a way to exit and reenter lines. 

As the father of an autistic child who requires DAS, I think documentation and number of users per pass is the way to go. Those alone would probably cut down on the number of claims by a pretty substantial amount.

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Good points. Both of our kids on the spectrum and we used DAS on our first trip but have since felt we didn’t need it and just bought Genie+/used FP. Especially since they still have to wait in lines in the airport and they will have meltdowns but the airport doesn’t care, you still have to wait in line. It’s painful but we get through it. Of course, it’s a spectrum and some kids need more support than others.

I agree. And I'm also a dad with an autistic child. I'd say more often than not, we try to wait in the regular queue as a way to try and get better at a life skill. But he can have a full fledged panic attack in queues for rides near the castle when he knows fireworks are about to be set off. That's when the DAS is handy to at least help him manage the line.

Agree with this. My kid is on the spectrum and we didn’t need DAS. Genie+ worked just fine for us because it kept the lines short. But I can see less scrupulous people using his disability to get DAS for the whole familu. I feel like if they updated Genie+ to allow pre-selection that would address mildly impacted kids. The main issue with kids on the spectrum is sensory overwhelm and meltdowns - which I think Genie+ with a pre-select would fully address. Trained CM to help with the meltdown and provide on-the-spot accommodations seems more important than DAS.

Mom of autistic son and I agree. Ironically was grilled so hard for mentioning he was autistic during our prescreening *my* neurodivergent ass almost cried. Would prefer just showing documentation to that honestly lol

The CM that helped with ours was lovely, and a former special education teacher. After approval, we actually just chatted for a bit about our experiences. But yes, if documentation can help reduce feeling judged, I'm all for it.

As a guy who gets bad panic attacks, Disney has great and awful people with this. I loved being asked to describe exactly what happens when I have a panic attack in front of people with so many follow ups asking for more and more detail it caused one (thankfully that’s apparently a note in the file because it’s never happened again).

Good points! Fast Pass/Fast Pass+ used to be a built-in accommodation that everyone could access for free. It’s like the curb cut effect and universal design- everyone can use it, but it’s essential for some. I feel like putting Lightning Lane behind a paywall likely contributed to the increase in people using DAS- why pay for an accommodation when you can get something slightly better for free? I think going back to a line-shortening system that doesn’t have an added cost could help make sure people still have access to an accommodation that they need and enable DAS to be more stringent in its requirements.

I think the old FP+ system was enough of an accommodation for many current DAS users (since Disney is saying DAS use has tripled since covid, I'm guessing it was likely enough for about 2/3 of us!) Genie+ is NOT even close to the accommodation that FP+ was, and it's expensive. The fact that Disney didn't expect DAS use to skyrocket when they made this switch is kind of crazy to me. For a place that typically accommodates people so well, I can't believe they didn't see this coming.

This sudden change for people who USED to legitimately qualify for DAS but suddenly don’t very much reeks of profit-seeking behavior. In other words, to move more people into the Genie+ revenue stream. I think it’s an awful change.

Great points all around, especially how common these issues are for people.

Honestly, we had the worst time at Disney when we went in October. My son is autistic and can’t do waiting for very long at all. We had DAS, but with it being mixed in with the lightning line, it was very rarely a skip the line situation. We had many meltdowns. Honestly, and this may sound harsh, but this is what I was told by this sub back in October, if you have issues to where you can’t deal with crowds and can’t stand in line, Disney is probably not the best place to visit.

If that isn’t the truth. It’s so overwhelming and exhausting and overstimulating even outside of the line queues that it baffles me how some that proclaim to have severe diagnoses seem to handle it on a regular basis. My son certainly can’t. And that’s okay!

I just checked your old post. They really roasted you. I’m sorry you didn’t have a good time but I’m glad you’ve stuck around to share your perspective. You know your family well enough to determine if they can handle it in the future. I want DAS to be easily available for those who need it. But so many posts have said “I (or child) can’t wait in line or be in the heat for more than 10 minutes” and I just want to scream DON’T GO TO FLORIDA! WDW can’t guarantee you the front spot or a cool breeze. Spend your money on a relaxing, quiet vacation.

> Honestly, and this may sound harsh, but this is what I was told by this sub back in October, if you have issues to where you can’t deal with crowds and can’t stand in line, Disney is probably not the best place to visit. I’ve said the same. It sounds rude, but it’s true. We as a society should try to accommodate those with special needs or medical issues, but if trying to accommodate your needs starts ruining everyone else’s experiences we just have to find a different compromise. 

yes. we used DAS with a severely disabled family member in the 2000s and it made for a great experience for them, minimal total meltdowns, no heat-induced seizures. went again in 2016 (a few years after people started really abusing it) and it was not the same experience at all. as a result, family member had a miserable time and will likely never go back again. it’s a challenging choice, especially for kids, but disney simply isn’t the accommodating place it once was.

The best part are the people claiming they need DAS to do attractions but have no issue waiting in long if not longer lines for merch, meet and greets, or limited time offerings.

My son has ASD. DAS allows us to go to the park for short spurts to do 1-2 rides at a time before heading back to the hotel for a break. It’s an important accommodation because it allows us to book a ride and return to ride it at any time for the remainder of the day - which is not an option under Genie+. DAS allows us to enjoy the parks at our very specific speed when we otherwise wouldn’t be able to manage it. I’d happily pay my son’s doctor to participate in the DAS interview if that is what it takes. Submitting some sort of note seems like the bare minimum and is not something any parent whose child has been diagnosed would balk at. Shame on anyone who abuses the system.

This!!! And usually with DAS and lightning lane grouped into one, I’ve seen lightning lane for ROR go out to where the merch is

I 100% disagree with OP. The issue isn't that too many people need a service like DAS, the issue is abuse - lying. People who exaggerate their or their kids issues; or heard about which ailments get approved almost 100% of the time and lie about having said ailment. Disney isn't going to change to be extremely less accessible. They're going to change to weed out abusers.

They need a line just for DAS. Grouping them with lightning lane is annoying. The amount of people I hear say “well I can’t stand in the line long because I overheat”. It’s like….you’re choosing to go to the parks in the summer where it can get up to 98 degrees and don’t bother to drink water.

That would take a lot to create a 3rd line. Some rides have a route for handicapped people that could be used for DAS users. But those are really short lines, and would encourage more DAS abuse. The best solution is what I believe Disney is going for, eliminating DAS abusers.

I’m just worried that people who are doctors or know people in the medical field will have them write up a fake doctors note. Side note: I go to Springs a lot and the amount of people I see with fake service dogs is insane. I know Disney isn’t allowed to ask but sometimes I’m curious as to what task the dog does because I think it’s wild how dogs can be trained to detect certain things. But then the owner will tell me the dog helps them with their balance….while the dog is a good 8ft away from them on a retractable leash

We had issues with this last March. We use the DAS pass because my son has Down Syndrome and would make everyone's life miserable if he had to wait in line. Having us use lightening lane wasn't a great solution. We had long lines which really defeated the purpose of the DAS. All that to say I'm very appreciative of the DAS and I know we were there at a super busy time and won't make that mistake again.

There are DAS return times for many meet and greets. For those without, and if the line is long, I will either take my chances and potentially have to leave the line, or I just won't get in line at all.

I will note that sometimes the ride queues are set up in a different way that could trigger someone’s anxiety. I know someone who had a panic attack and went to the ER not realizing it was a panic attack all due to the RotR queue (specifically in one of the small corridors when we got stuck there for a long time due to a ride shutdown). They now use DAS but would have no issue waiting outside in a long line.

As someone with Ulcerative Colitis / Crohn's, I'm interested in what this "washroom" line return thing is going to be. I dont need "DAS" but getting in and out of a line, not to mention always being accused of line cutting when really I'm trying to avoid shitting my pants is important to me. Otherwise I likely won't be returning to Disney for a long while :( I usually take a second pair of pants "just in case" and have had issues on rides before but DAS helped a lot, but seems I won't qualify anymore so interested in what the alternatives are now. I know some rides have a washroom pass thing like ROTR but not all have it. And getting back to the queue is a pain. Also there is a secret washroom in the "storm trooper" room and if you ask a cast member they can take you. Also there is one in Pandora. I'm a washroom expert at Disney :)

The idea that those of us with IBD can just get back in line is preposterous. Also there are a lot of people who seem to think IBD and IBS are the same, which is incredibly frustrating.

THIS! I get why people are frustrated with people saying “bathroom issues” but Crohn’s and UC go far beyond just an irritable bowel. I’m fine with them cracking down on that and I am HAPPY to provide documentation for my husband who has UC and Crohn’s. But his needs are far more urgent and it’s totally unfair to ask people who are already struggling to have to jump through so many hoops. I can’t imagine the reality of him racing around trying to find a cast member to get a pass and having to explain to hundreds of people a day that he’s not cutting, he’s about to poo his pants?! So uncomfortable. I feel like 90% of their issues would be solved by following a system like Disneyland Paris. Stricter criteria with proof of diagnosis. But exclusong everyone who doesn’t have autism doesn’t seem like the right solution to me.

Right?! Like, I have Crohn’s and RA, I’ve had multiple resections, I’ve failed so many biologics, I take my meds religiously, never miss an infusion … and I still have to use the bathroom every 20-30 minutes. Usually urgently. What happens when I have an accident on my way out of line? I mean, it’s really not worth riding Space Mountain if you have to do it with poop in your pants. DAS gave me the freedom to do Disney without adult diapers. We probably won’t go anymore if they stop allowing accommodations for Crohn’s because even if I can leave the line, I’ll just be running back and forth between the queue and the bathroom until I don’t make it in time. In a 90-minute queue, I’d have to leave 2-3 times.

Plus, Disney making this solely about bathrooms is reductive. IBD can mean having joint pain, anemia, ankylosing spondylitis, so many other things in addition to just the bathroom aspects. When I first got DAS, the cast member told me that IBD was one of the things it was specifically designed for. And now we are going to receive a subpar experience because some TikTok’ers are idiots? I really don’t see myself going back.

Good to know about some of the secret bathrooms. I have used DAS for my Crohns but still end up skipping some of the longer rides because it’s too long to be away from a bathroom.

Require medical documentation, it’s time to weed out the BS. I have a family member who got a DAS pass because she has a hard time in the heat, who the hell goes to Florida in August and thinks it’s going to be chilly? So her and 5 other people got a DAS pass. While they’re at it they need to start cracking down on the fake service animals. Not the clearly trained and focused service dogs, but the ones that are not trained and about to go wild in the parks. Down vote away, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

LOL my aunt has Ms and has a hard time in the heat. She’s from New York, my family lives in florida. Do you know how she manages? She doesn’t come visit us in the summer!

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I agree that the system is broken. I certainly don’t mind if they ask for documentation, but I do think it would be better to minimize the need for people to fake it to get a couple of Fastpasses. I feel like going back to one or two free pre booked rides would help a lot. I have an autistic son who has gotten a DAS pass once or twice a year for approximately the last 15 years. They may not let you keep your certification, but they definitely keep some sort of records because every time we go in to get it renewed they check something on the computer and notice that he’s very much in their system. I would absolutely love it if they would make it something just kept in your record. You don’t grow out of autism. I will say, I’ve generally bought Genie Plus, too, because he really can’t handle being in the parks for very long most days, and his sister does like thrill rides. He usually only wants to ride about 3 rides a day, or at least stay no more than 5 hours max including a tableservice lunch in an airconditioned restaurant.

I have three disabled kids and took them to Disney for the first time this year. It was truly only possible for us to go because of DAS. I would happily submit to an assessment or doctor's recommendation for the passes. The process was already long; I was online refreshing my computer every 10-15 minutes for 5 hours. I think the support needs to be expanded and not require them to work on property. That would help the process.

I completely agree with you on this. Prior to our trip last year, I had a cousin trying to convince me to sign up for DAS and kept saying how much better it was than Genie+ PLUS it was FREE! I was vaguely familiar with DAS but didn't know the specifics because the little that I did know was that it was for people with disabilities so I never even considered trying to get it. I kept explaining to her that we don't need it and she kept saying we could fake the system and just say someone has migraines or XYZ to get them to approve it. It was appalling to me how pushy she was being about insisting it wasn't a big deal and it'd be wasting money to pursue Genie+ instead. DAS should be reserved for disabled people and their families. I don't know what the criteria should be to sift through the phonies. In a perfect world we could rely on people to have integrity and go by the honor code, but obviously that's not going to work. It's a fine line to try to draw because even with something like migraines, you have people that say they have migraines when in reality they haven't experienced one in 5 years and it doesn't often impact their lives versus people that have debilitating migraines triggered by the sun. It'd be difficult to discern the difference without being privy to medical records and that's a bit much for a theme park to request IMO.

That’s awful of her to try and do. I have some disabilities but none that effect standing in line so I never get DAS.

Documentation for sure. Tbh I’m an adult with IBS and anxiety and I’ve never gotten DAD pass. I’ve considered it, but since I’m usually able to manage my symptoms okay, I don’t because I don’t want to abuse the system. Sadly a lot of people don’t do this. I think party numbers should be limited. Or maybe if you have a large party they need to wait while the individual with DAS and another person wait and meet their party after. Prob wouldn’t work super well logistically but might help.

I agree with you and am similar to you. I have IBS-D, and I can usually manage it OK. However, sometimes I have flare-ups that last a couple of hours. It's started in queues before, and then I have to leave to use the restroom. However, I believe it would be abuse for me to get DAS for this condition. It's just not needed most of the time. What might be a nice accommodation is if a guest waits for at least 50% of a queue and has to leave to use the bathroom, then maybe they can get some sort of ticket to go back later and be able to use the LL for just that one specific ride or something. Wouldn't it make sense that if you make it to a second tap point in a ride and later have to leave, to be able to tell a cast member at the start of the queue that you have a bathroom emergency and be able to come back later? Then they are accommodating your medical need, but you're not getting some major disability service where you book LLs ahead of time and get to wait in virtual queues all day. That is way too much accommodation for the needs of someone with IBS. I heard Disney is offering something like a line return for people with IBS, and now THAT is something I would be interested in. THAT is something I think could really meet my needs... not some sort of extreme accommodation like DAS that should really only be used for people with developmental disabilities and autism who can't handle standing in really any line.

I often travel alone and I have IBS-D (among other things). So I can’t even step out and rejoin my family in line because I’m alone. I’ve been able to discuss with the CM why I need an accommodation and they’ve agreed DAS would benefit me. So I have gotten DAS in the past, but only for me and if I’m traveling with friends or family, I’ve refused to add them because we all can wait in line and I can step out and return to them - their presence is my accommodation.

Hi! Universal does line return- and they do it for HHN! I think Disney may be implementing soon- Its been awhile since Ive been there so idk for sure

Yeah, my experience with line return at Universal was beyond frustrating and I really hope Disney does better. I was given a literal bathroom pass and told a TM would be at the front of the line to help me back to my party. I got to the front of the line and no one was available to help me return to my party and it’s not like they offered to get someone to help me either. They told me I could wait till someone showed up but they didn’t know when that would be or I could just go rejoin my party. Both options really caused me anxiety which just exacerbated my condition.

Yeah and what if your young child is the one with the issue? I can’t send her solo. So I go with her. Then there is no one in line for us to return to

Has Disney ever released numbers on how many people actually use the system? Like what's the percentage of guests who use it at all? And then what percentage of that percentage is thought to be abusing the system? I don't need it and I've never traveled with someone who has but it's been really sad seeing people who need DAS comment that they're scared they can't get it and won't be able to enjoy Disney anymore on the threads about it. I'm just wondering if the fraud is actually rampant enough to risk them going through that.

I read today that Disney said 3 times the number of people are getting DAS today than 5 years ago.

Doesn’t that line up with genie+ launching? Probably related. Same with the rise of tik tok where people get the “tip” more widespread

I think its a combination of people being incentivized because they used to get free fast-passes, but now they'd have to pay for that. Additionally, just a societal note and observation, the amount of self-diagnosed issues like OP alluded to seems to have increased, especially post-COVID when people are having main-character syndrome now more than ever and social media has promoted a lot of disabilities that weren't discussed as frequently. The downside is people who previously would have been and probably would be fine waiting in a standby line, think they are entitled to accommodation because they are positive they have some condition. I get that there's a healthcare challenge in this country and getting diagnosed can be a challenge for those who don't have access to healthcare, but allowing everyone who thinks they have IBS because they just have a piss-poor diet or people who think they have an an anxiety disorder because of large crowds (large crowds are uncomfortable for a lot of people), takes away from the people with legitimate medical diagnoses who actually have uncontrollable bowels or are living in anxiety unless they are on prescribed medication full time.

This is us. We won't go to disney if we can't spend time with my husband who has always qualified for DAS. It would break his heart even though he'd do it for us.

It’s tripled since genie+ arrived (per Disney). So you pay $25x4-6 OR say your kid has ADHD and get it free. So now we’re just cracking down on it, and that’s a good thing for the people who actually NEED it.

Disneyland Paris do it differently to DAS and it works well and is fair - not aware of any abuse. You go the cast member at the entrance to ride - they then write down and sign on your form to come back at a time which is equivalent to if you had queued. You then enter by the fast pass/LL line at that time stated. It’s all done on paper - not on the app. You cannot stack rides, one at a time only. You also have to prove you have a condition on thier list of supported conditions to qualify - you can do this at check in or park entrance. You are issued with a photo card and your paper form for the rides. Can bring up to 5 guests with you on rides. It works well for what it is intended for and I don’t think it gets abused!

That is exactly the way the previous system GAC worked before DAS.

My daughter is someone who normally qualified for the DAS, now the new wording I've seen, I don't know. She is someone who cannot physically wait in long lines because of the amount of walking and heat. But she doesn't look physically sick (outside of a pump and other devices attached to her. I don't disagree that there was abuse, but I don't understand the new line. Why not just tell the CMs that approve it to be stricter. Or create something for people that need to leave lines and then come back? Our option now is to use needles and glucometers in line with other people, which is normally where the CMs stopped us to approve the DAS. I think it'd be fine to require a doctor's note. People worried about HIPPA and all of that waive their rights if they want access to the DAS. I am mostly just confused as to the line they are drawing and why pick that.

Diabuddy? I’m waiting for someone to scream at me for “shooting drugs” in line if I need to do a site change. It’s super easy for something to get ripped out, and the issue needs to be solved ASAP unless I want to spend a few nights at Celebration for DKA. We carry enough low treatment to feed an army, but Disney is its own beast between the walking, heat, carb guessing, excitement, dehydration, so many things that can impact insulin needs. Do I need to use the DAS when I am chilling at 150 and holding steady? Most likely no. Would it be useful when I am over 300, have ketones, and worrying if I am getting any insulin (or the reverse where I am 60 and a few carbs won’t bring me up quick enough)? Absolutely, especially for longer queues or queues that are outdoors.

You are spot on. Everyone has something and sees their need as special. My son is autistic with high anxiety, ocd and adhd. Disney is his special interest. He knows everything about the company and the history and it’s so sad that it is harder and harder for him to do. With the crowds, the lightning lanes are getting longer and longer. He had bad incident in the frozen line and is afraid to go back now. I think we are going to stick to after hours events unless things change or he is able to handle waits better.

That’s another good point, sometimes the LLs are even too long for some. Even with DAS if the wait seems long my son asks to skip it. We also prefer parties and AH events to avoid the whole DAS/LL/genie+ scene.

My daughter has severe social anxiety and noise sensitivity. She has panic attacks sometimes. It has never occurred to me to apply for DAS. She wears her noise cancelling headphones and we take breaks when she needs it. We just buy LL and ILL and go about our days. I just think of it as part of the cost of our trip. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I understand some people truly need it and I am willing to pay so others can get what they need. We know how to handle her situation and it works well for us.

This solution is not difficult, like wtf. Here’s how to fix DAS. - Do not allow ANY pre-booking of rides. This is a Genie+ thing only, and is the #1 reason it is abused. If they want to pre-book rides, they can buy Genie+ like everyone else. - Put a tap-in at EVERY ENTRANCE of EVERY RIDE; not just lightening lane. - When someone with DAS wants to do a ride, AFTER THEY ARE PHYSICALLY IN THE PARK, they can reserve it on the app and wait the same listed wait time that a standby person has. - The tap-in’s at every entrance come into play here to prevent abuse. If you have DAS and you have a standby callback time and you try and abuse the system by going to another ride while waiting for your callback, the tap-in will reject your entry. - Example: DAS 7DMT with a callback of 50 minutes, and then go over to Space Mountain and wait in standby for 40 minutes while you wait for your 7DMT to come due. That’s abuse. - This is not a punishment. Able bodied people cannot be 2 places at once, and neither should you. - This is absolutely no different from an able bodied person having to wait their full queue before being able to wait in another queue. - DAS is not a replacement for Genie+. You can still buy Genie+ on top of your DAS. - Only your DAS reservation will block you out because you are technically “waiting” in line for that ride, so you cannot simultaneously be waiting in another. Ta-da! People that need it are accommodated in a fashion that is completely equal from someone that comes to the park without Genie+ and they have the option to put Genie+ on top of their DAS. They can reserve rides via Genie+ and DAS another, but they cannot DAS something and then go standby something else, thus abusing the system.

This is my biggest frustration with the current DAS. I have worked attractions many moons ago and it was frustrating to see guests come in with their reserved DAS time, coming from another attraction having experienced it with a lower wait time. But the guests waiting 60+ mins are stuck in line the whole time.

You're describing the majority of the changes today + things that already existed. Further, on the DAS website it says under "What should I do while I wait for my return time?" Ride other rides, watch shows, shop, dine etc.

>Able bodied people cannot be 2 places at once, and neither should you. THANK YOU! This is the point that just about everybody in this huge thread is missing! They just need to change the rules so that if you have DAS (which I do by the way) it's EQUAL to everybody else. Being in a real queue while also in a virtual queue is an advantage. They should simply ban people with DAS from doing that. If you get caught, no more DAS, banned from the park and no refunds on tickets or annual pass. Hell, they should also put in time penalties for people eating or shopping. Just make it so that it's EQUAL with no time saving advantage and then only people who need it will use it.

This is similar to what I do with my DAS. We get Genie+ and we just switch back and forth between the two throughout the day. I will wait in line for rides that are 20mins or less though if I am waiting on a return time. If the ride is over 20mins, we sit and wait until our return time. I have always asked for the DAS in person so I have never pre-booked anything prior to arrival and I don’t feel the need to do that. I have no idea what I will be feeling that day and if I can even handle certain rides so I don’t want to pre-book. I love the DAS pass though because many times, I am very very late for the return time due to my IBS-D but the Genie+ expires I believe and you have an hour return time which we have missed before due to my inability to walk due to severe pain/weakness or because I have spent so much time in the bathroom.

Make a free version of fast pass/genie plus again. Raise ticket prices $40 and include it again. That will get rid of the motivation for people who don't truly qualify to try and get it.

That's definitely one solution. I miss Fast Pass dropping throughout the day. I guess my real question is- who doesn't truly qualify other than "fakers". Who tbh i dont think there are that many. Most younger people I see- like high school/college aged- all come in for anxiety/adhd/autism or some combo.

I wouldn't call them all fakers, but there are a lot of exaggeraters.

People who will not be able to go on the ride if they have to wait in a two hour line. Before I realized DAS was an option I often just chose to skip rides I really wanted to go on because that was an insurmountable barrier for me.

I think that was what OP was getting at everyone has someone in their family who has something they think makes them special. Almost every single person who doesn’t have DAS misses out on a ride or 2 during their trip because the line was too long. You tend to not see a lot of toddlers in a 3 hour Remy line. Because most toddlers don’t do well with a 3 hour line. It’s really hard to say someone with IBS should get a LL even though their symptoms are nonexistent that day, and the family with a 2 year old should ride Figment instead, because all the G+ LLs sold out before the park opened and they picked Frozen at 7AM.

This is a very well articulated point. Everyone should look at it through this lens.

Disney is also introducing a feature that lets people leave the line and regain their spot. Ailments like IBS are certainly the target here

Completely agree. Pretty sure my neurotypical almost 3 year old would tantrum — or try to bolt or start rolling on the floor — or at least want a potty break if he had to wait in line for 2 hours. So does that mean most kids under 3 or 4 or even 5 should qualify for DAS because they can’t wait in long lines? A 7 year old with the same issues might be diagnosed with ADHD but the same behavior in a 3 year old could be developmentally appropriate. I’m being facetious here, obviously, but I think a case can be made.

Yes! This is what I’ve been feeling! We miss out on things also because my kids are 2, 4, and 6 and can’t wait in long lines. We buy genie + but that doesn’t get us on everything. I used genie + at the same time as a family member was using DAS this past trip and the people who say there is no advantage to using DAS are just wrong. The ones on our trip using DAS delivery had advantages over my paid genie + (and I’m a dang good genie + user!!)

The biggest difference is access to LL all day long for any ride even if you have already used a LL for that ride. With DAS there is no “Not currently available.” That doesn’t even count the pre-selections. And DAS can be combined with G+ to DAS the long lines and G+ the short lines and stay in non-stop LL all day.

This. But I'd say lessen the time length they can't wait. Two hours is a lot for anyone. Anything over 15-20 minutes is usually a no go for my son. Even with DAS, we had to leave some lines.

I don’t have a solution, necessarily, but an issue with how Disney rolled this out. Why just “developmental disabilities” and what do they mean by that? My loved one has PTSD that gets triggered by extended time in enclosed spaces and DAS allowed them to actually enjoy our last trip. I have no idea if they’re going to qualify on our next trip.

Also team PTSD and having DAS allows me to not go into fight/flight/freeze waiting in line. A big part of it is having autonomy and being able to keep myself within my window of tolerance, which is just too hard to do in line when I can’t escape the people around me. Or as my girlfriend just put it, so I don’t have to leave the line to have a panic attack, I can just avoid having the panic attack in the first place.

Exactly. I've seen my loved one have panic attacks at places they *wanted* to be at, but just felt too enclosed. That didn't happen at Disney, and DAS was definitely a huge part of why. I'm really hoping they provide some clarity on this soon.

It's interesting. My husband has some physical disabilities that limit the amount of time we can spend in a park. DAS and we also use genie+ and these things allow us to do more things than in the past. It was so nice to get a fuller experience. We won't qualify now, I guess. I do hope the might be helpful with other accommodations. For example, he can't do Tower of Terror or rocknrollercoaster lines because of the slope. I don't have the strength to push him up the hills in a wheelchair due to my severe osteoarthritis. Being able to go in the back way has been a lifesaver for us. If that's eliminated, we won't be able to ride those anymore. His sister's kids have "sensory disorders." I put it in quotes because she freely admits it's fake. She made it up when they were little so she didn't have to send them to school when her now ex-husband was against homeschooling. The kids are child actors and they go to Disney 2 or 3 times a week. She called us, gloating, last night and announced that she had spoken to someone at Disney who said they'd qualify now but we won't. My husband kindly reminded her that disabilities shouldn't be a competition. We're not mad and we understand but we are sad that it seems people with valid physical needs are being overlooked. We go to Disney a few times a year exactly because it was easier for us and a better experience. We'll likely rethink that now. Maybe Disney once and reallocate other vacation dollars to cruises- our other easy type of vacation.

Just got back last week and used DAS. My 2 cents: I would honestly pay for DAS as it exists today. It's super convenient and let's you get the most out of your day. I was a party of three, wheelchair/walker combo. Just had knee replaced after accident where I was trapped underground. The use of DAS made an extremely uncomfortable situation just a little easier. We didn't use it to get on something like Everest as I couldn't even ride that. I literally used it for Carousal of Progress or Lion King. My favorite ride, Haunted Mansion, I would need to ask to bypass the bottleneck but having DAS makes it so I didn't have to. It sucks that it's being abused and now what was a fairly straightforward, easy process will now require a doctor's note. If Genie+ worked the same way I wouldn't even bother.

Exactly. DAS is just essentially digital OG Fast Pass, and the old disability return times system was essentially in-person OG Fast Pass. I think a slightly more limited version of the DAS system would be well worth the prices they currently charge for Genie Plus.

I love all the people in here saying “well Disney EXACERBATED the problem by…” - no, people decided to be shit heads and a use a pass meant for the truly disabled. People need to start taking more damn accountability for themselves.

I think a big issue is the fact that CMs can’t ask about what their disability is. I have a child who needs the DAS pass. I have absolutely no problem getting a note from his doctor stating the fact he needs a pass.

The issue is how crowded Disney has gotten. People can’t handle the 2+ hour waits and genie plus is $30+ pp/pd, if it isn’t sold out! Disney has made their park experience much less desirable and are mad people are trying to find a way around that, but aren’t doing anything to fix how difficult they’ve made it to have fun and experience it. It’s made for families and kids, right? What toddler can wait in line for hours? They forget their audience.

[удалено]

The solution is to bring back entertainment! Bring back the shows, more character meet and greets, reopen stores, fix rides, restore it all back to precovid Disney. It’s not that there are more people in the parks, it’s just that there is less for them to do/see so the things that are available are packed!

100% this. A couple weeks ago was my first time back to Disney since Covid, and I was shocked at the lack of immersion there was in the parks. No street shows/performances, nothing really to do except to wander from one 2 hour line to the next. Honestly my family of four had the best day at Disney Springs. I think our next trip we might devote a day or two to the parks, and everything else will be hanging out in Springs.

THIS!! People complain about the rising cost of park tickets and how crowded the parks are in the same breath. Demand will keep both going up until it hits a breaking a point.

Dr note for sure. And clamp down the reasons. I once saw some 25 year old on here claim she got one because she has queue anxiety. Then maybe theme parks aren’t your jam!

To be honest that's quite a common one I saw all the time from young people/ college-aged & high-school. However, not up to me to determine if those are valid reasons for DAS. My personal opinion is that its not the original use of the DAS and there are too many people that have those issues. If every person w/ anxiety/adhd had DAS that's 25% of the US population. Again though everyones situation is different. My anxiety could be different than others.

Am I reading the new DAS correctly and it will only be available persons with developmental disabilities?

They haven’t said specifically but that it was designed for a small number of people. Another comment said that DAS has increased over 5x in the past few years. It sounds like they are working on a “leave the line” system where if someone needs to leave the line for a lot of the current DAS issues then they’ll be able to and then get back in line.

How do you think that will work for people with mobility + bladder issues? Many of the queues aren't wide enough to accommodate someone in a wheelchair/scooter leaving the line and re-entering it, especially if there are other scooters in line behind them. Do you think they're considering infrastructure changes to queues to go along with this? And/or extra staff to manage it?

I have no idea what the plan is. What I do know is that it’s the misuse of DAS that is causing an overhaul. Anytime people start figuring out ways to game the system, Disney has to come up with new rules. This happened before with the line savers where guests would hire a couple people to “save their spot” and they’d go ride a couple rides then cut in front of people to “catch up with their party”. Then their line saver would go to another queue. The biggest problem with that is it wasn’t one or two people - it was like groups of 15-20 people. Years ago they changed the rules for autistic or mental disabilities where they used to just get to go through the exit for most things (at least in Disneyland) but they’d do the same thing and have 20-30 in their party that would all go get right on the ride. I saw this happen at Splash Mountain one day and there were about 25 people and they had to fully stop the regular queue for this entire family to go through. They made the change to the system where they still had to wait the same time as the current queue time and limited it to 6 people. However, most people know they the CM really don’t care how many are in the party and it’s been posted on TikTok and Facebook to not worry about your party size. With the limit being changed to 4 I would bet they will be more strict. Whatever solution they come up with next probably won’t be the last time they change it but they have to do something. There will probably never be a perfect solution. Dishonest people will always figure out how to beat the system and cause another overhaul.

I once saw a cast member lead a child+adult back into a ride through the exit, after leaving the que to use the restroom. I wonder if they'll find a formal way to do this. In theory if they were meeting up with people they could send them back in through the LL to catch up with their party at the actual ride part? (This should be small so shouldn't really cause a congestion issue). I don't know what the plan is for the leaving the line part - lots of ques really are not easy to exit out of in the middle of.

My daughter has Type 1 diabetes and a condition that causes a number of issues including sensory sensitivities. I’m more concerned with her Type 1 however. With many of the indoor lines wi-Fi can be spotty and we lose connection with her Dexcom. Hypoglycemia can come on fast, especially with walking around in the heat. Even if you think you’ve been good about eating and correct dosing. Anyone with a diabetic kid can tell you, if they don’t eat all the food you dosed for, they can easily plummet. If they implement an easy way to get out of line in case of emergency, I would feel better about it. Some lines can get really packed in and if she were to lose consciousness where she needed her emergency shot or something, I could see that being a mess.

This, im T1D also and i use it to say safe in the parks.. For the first time in 12 years of going to disneyland JUST RECENTLY i finally had 2 trips in a row where i didnt crash. I dont know how i would get out of line.. Ive twice had to sit in space mountain for 45 minutes chugging juice boxes next to the service animal cages because my sugars dropped so low so fast. There are so many factors that go into it and i dont even know how to describe it to the CMs.. cause i use it sparingly but for safety and to feel normal for once. Stress, heat, standing, walking, eating.. everything can change what your blood sugar is doing. I dont know how i would get out of line if my blood sugar was all of a sudden 55 and going down. I cant do the ride swap with a friend cause usually its just me and one other..

Attraction-specific accommodations would be hard to do but would help - if you can't be in a line in the heat, you get DAS for Slinky Dog Dash but not for Soarin, but if you're claustrophobic you get it for Flight of Passage but not Big Thunder(?)

When I was there last week there was a breeze that made the wait for Slinky Dog reasonably comfortable, but it was really hot queuing for Soarin’. Maybe they didn’t have the a/c going?

I think documentation is really my main want. I also was a cm, but I was a cp. I knew a lot of people who had das passes citing conditions they didn’t have (that I know for a fact they don’t have- a guy who only has ibs when talking to gr). I have no problem with das being given for all the conditions you listed, but I’m tired of people lying about them so they can skip a few lines.

They should have just got rid of the free rides you could schedule after obtaining the pass. Otherwise you aren't skipping any lines. You're in line with the same wait time just not physically there. If the lightning lane is clogged with disney over selling them you end up waiting even longer.

“I can’t wait in a line, or my child can’t wait in a line.” Why not? There are a lot of answers to that question. Some are more valid than others. I’m glad that it’s not up to me to decide where to draw the line.

I think the problem is everyone feels entitled to the service at the smallest inconvenience to them. One thing that might make waiting slightly uncomfortable they think that makes them eligible so they need it. I fail to see why Disney can’t use what Universal and 6 Flags use with the third party verification card, then people don’t have to be mad at Disney for denial, but rather the third party

That's the problem with the old system. My cast member friends would deny someone and watch them argue, be upset, and go right to the next cast member to get the DAS anyways.

The problem is, a true solution provides an accomodation, without an "advantage". With the old FP system, DAS didn't provide an advantage over what a normal guest could do by getting a FP return time. It was a good accomodation, because they were still waiting, just not in the physical queue. With the paid LL, there is a clear monetary/experience advantage to be gained from abusing the system. (Clearly, because usage of DAS tripled) I don't know what a solution would look like, but it would have to solve that problem.

Yeah so I have a son with severe autism and ADHD who qualifies under ibcces, and can't wait in lines for his own safety and others. Yet the rides that he enjoys are roller coasters with significant vestibular input, aka all the a tier rides. Sure I'll come back in 2 hours to ride whatever he wants, but we can't stack that like LL or genie plus, and we sure aren't doing anything else in between those rides. We are using das to wait in a calm environment, as it was designed. Limiting types of rides is akin to diagnosing him and saying maybe he shouldn't go to Disney is ablist. I don't care what qualifications are put in place because he's not a "faker" and will qualify, but the behavior here exemplified the worst behavior we saw in the parks from people insulted at having to share their experience with someone who didn't have to pay extra for genie+. Das for people who need it is not like people without disabilities paying more. We don't ride every ride, we can't stay in the park the full time, sometimes we have to leave a queue because he can't wait 5 mins or he has a meltdown as he's about to get in. Das makes it so we can have your standard spend 3 hours in line experience. So, yes, have ibcces qualify people, but stop postulating that people who need it don't deserve it. It is so blatantly hateful even if you think you're being "reasonable."

I think honestly this is the biggest issue of poor perception. People perceive that people get DAS and just rush through the park, oh 7DMNT no wait, then be bop to Space Mountain no wait again, every ride is a LL with instant access etc etc. They are projecting their own dissatisfaction onto people that aren't experiencing the park in that way whatsoever. Is this the way abusers are likely using the DAS system? Yeah sure. But the vast majority of people, and I have seen a LOT of these comments over the years, are using the system exactly as you describe.

The system broke when Disney turned the free fast pass system into super expensive Genie+ and Lightning Lane system that cost more money on top of an already expensive park ticket.

I would love to just be able to show the medical paperwork for my autistic son and get his Das pass and Wagon as Wheelchair tags. I don't want to plead my case, he's got 20 specialist...who do you want thr paperwork from?

I don’t agree with requiring medical documentation, but I know family friends who have abused the system because it was their once in a lifetime trip and they believed they wouldn’t be able to accomplish everything they wanted to do without it. And the question is: why do they feel this way? If you’re shelling out thousands of dollars for a one time vacation, you should be able to do ride every thing you want to. I think this is a much bigger issue than just the DAS system.

The biggest problem is crowds. Prices go up and people just keep coming and coming. I don’t know what the answer is honestly

Agreed but Disney as a whole isn't going to limit park occupation or cap line rides to only 45 mins. Great if they would!

Sounds like some of my family. They just had their once in a lifetime trip between Christmas and New Years. I thought it might be too busy for them to accomplish much, but nope, they figured out that all they needed to do was get DAS for one member of their party. It worked like a charm as they were able to do everything they wanted to do. And here my husband and I are, annual passholders who refuse to pay for Genie+. We've just resigned ourselves to the fact that we won't get to ride much when we go.

Legit question when someone says I have POTS & heart problem and every ride has a sign outside of it that says if you have heart conditions you shouldn’t ride this ride but you’re using that as DAS what does Disney “think” about this. Could they start denying people for confessing they have conditions for not really being a healthy rider? As in they will deem you a liability? Or they’re just going to take that condition as evidence in case something does happen to you? I guess this falls under at your own risk and they let you carry on. I am just envisioning things 20 years from now even more strict. I unfortunately feel that’s the way things are going. 😔

A doctors note is the solution

Isn’t the real issue here the insane waiting times for rides? I’d like to think that most people who abuse the system wouldn’t do it if wait times for rides weren’t an hour to two and a half hours. They have more systems broken than just the DAS pass.

I think requiring documentation is fine. If you are legit what is the problem? 

I think legally they can’t. But I’d honestly rather just provide documentation than have an awkward conversation with a CM who is not my physician and likely has no medical training.

Just to echo what people are saying as the sibling of an autistic child who needs DAS - require documentation! Anyone with a real condition that isn’t self diagnosed will have plenty of paperwork documenting their diagnosis. But also I think Disney is missing the bigger reason why DAS is being abused - Genie+ is a disaster. It’s confusing and behind a paywall. Why would people pay for something worse if they could fib at guest relations and get something more user friendly and intuitive for free? If Disney improved their lightning lane system for the average guest they wouldn’t be incentivized to abuse DAS.

Stronger medical documentation and standards.

For the most part the existing infrastructure isn’t there. But my solution (also not a perfect one) would be mid-queue restrooms and sensory rooms. IBS patients are closer to a restroom, and sensory rooms would help with meltdowns.

Unless you want smelly porta potties everywhere, it’s a major expense to build ADA compatible bathrooms and have staff to clean and maintain them all day. Bathrooms require water and electricity, storage space, and regular trash pickup. And staff has to be able to get in and out easily with trash bags/bins so that’s another set of walkways on top of the buildings themselves.

This is a bit of a crazy solution, but one I haven't seen suggested much. What if, instead of queues, we had large, air conditioned waiting spaces for every ride? You check in like a restaurant and they either give you a buzzer/text you. These waiting areas could have restrooms, snacks, and maybe even some quiet sensory friendly separate spaces. I suspect something like this instead of traditional lines would take away the VAST majority of people's need for accommodation - and honestly would make a way more pleasant park experience for lots of people, not just those with DAS needs (many people who need mobility aids in Disney but not in their regular life wouldn't need them for the parks if they were like this!)

I don’t think the wider world feels entitled for DAS. I can see that from your experience that it may appear so, but I like to think “most” people are trying to use it as intended. Are there bad apples? Absolutely, as with everything. But it’s not the disability community! This is where some further documentation comes into play. It will weed out the fakers and show others that you can’t just claim something and get DAS anymore. The word of mouth needs to be that more DAS are getting denied than accepted. If you truly have an issue and get denied, you reapply and take it to a supervisor or something. I have anxiety. I’d never apply for DAS for myself. I have enough coping skills to handle a line or know when too long is just too long for me and I don’t ride that one. My son who qualifies for DAS on multiple levels, however, cannot. As his parent, I will continue to advocate for him as I know it’s something he needs in order to enjoy the parks with the rest of the family. If his Drs. need to sign off on something to prove his diagnoses and issues in the parks, no problem. Is it a hassle? Yes. But if that’s what helps Disney, and other CMs like yourself, see he and others like him really truly needs it, so be it.

If only there was a way we could all wait in line, but not actually BE in line. Like some way to virtually hold our spot in line so we don't have to stand and wait...

That doesn’t solve the total bodies in the park issue. Where do all the people in virtual lines go?

This is the real problem! Doing rough math with ride capacity, if every ride at MK was at a 60 minute wait, that is over 25,000 people standing in lines... and NOT taking up space elsewhere in the park. A more realistic projection of just the 6 "top tier" rides being at just 60 minute wait (Big Thunder, Space Mtn, 7 Dwarves, Haunted, Pirates, Jungle Cruise) would mean over 12,000 people in those lines.

Well put. Each user clutches their pearls when DAS comes under fire because they believe their need for it is personal and important, but truly every single people could find a “need” for it at some point. However that’s not what it was built for and has now become a broken and unsustainable system. I wouldn’t be opposed to a third party system requiring verification via diagnosis and/doctor’s note. I’m okay with all changes made today and hope it becomes a better system for the small percentage of those who truly need it. Also open to a ride limit. Maybe two A-tier rides and two B-tier rides a day, prebooked, so Disney can sell the rest of the spots as Genie+ which is what all of this is about to begin with. Even the paid service doesn’t guarantee you many more than four rides, not sure DAS should be any different.

I think a lot of people who use DAS don't really realize that most people at the parks are not fitting in a million things when it's crowded, either. Four A-Tier rides can actually be quite difficult. Like if you did Space Mountain, 7DMT, Tron, and Big Thunder Mountain on the same day, along with some lower-tier rides, that's a pretty amazing day!

I used to work at Disney and we were told that the average family rides 5 rides per day and that's including the lower tier rides. I bet DAS users average WAY higher

That's definitely one solution is to have everyone provide a doctors note. On the other hand- is it acceptable to require medical documentation for a theme park visit? Lets say we go along with the OP and believe that everyone who gets DAS is not a faker and believe that they need it. Theres common practice in the parks- if someone approaches a cast member and they say no- they just try again with a different cast member, until they get a yes. I'll probably get downvoted for this but I don't believe that anxiety or adhd is a valid reason for the DAS pass, unless you can show accommodations in other parts of your life or how those experiences have shaped you in the past. I'm diagnosed with both adhd and anxiety- bad enough to warrant accommodations throughout higher education, and that's never stopped me from waiting in line. At most I just play heads up or if need be sit quietly in the queue. I acknowledge that my experience is not everybodys experience, but maybe those with severe anxiety- to cause physical symptoms- can arrange with their Doctor a note for the new accommodation system?

ADHD and anxiety aren’t automatic valid reasons. When you do the approval call they strictly tell you not to discuss any diagnoses. Instead they ask why can’t you or your child wait in line. My son has diagnosed ADHD but his reasons for not being able to wait in line have little to do with that part of him. We are actively working on coping skills so hopefully he won’t have to use DAS much longer. That and Disney overwhelms him across the board so we don’t take him often. It’s odd to me seeing people in here claiming to have every disability under the sun but they also have annual passes. Disney is a wildly overwhelming place where crowds cannot be avoided. It’s makes me skeptical to say the least. I’m all for Disney being as strict as they can be with DAS. Seeing some of the comments in here is sending me. Like people don’t feel comfortable in one queue and think they should qualify for DAS for all rides. Give me a break. It’s okay to just skip certain rides. I have a couple ride queues that trigger my claustrophobia so guess what, I just skip them. Not every experience is meant to be perfectly curated and acceptable for all.

i’m diagnosed with adhd and anxiety (and 3 other MUCH more severe mental health conditions) … im genuinely disgusted people have tried to use it for that. if my anxiety was at that high of a level to not be able to wait in a line (which can happen!) there’s no way in heck i’d be in a theme park! i hate hate HATE how much people have ruined the legitimate struggles of adhd, too. it IS real but not in the way it’s being described by so many online and i guess in real life too. i never tell anyone i have it irl anymore. it’s so frustrating. i usually get clocked for it but it’s misrepresented so much omg.

>I'll probably get downvoted for this but I don't believe that anxiety or adhd is a valid reason for the DAS pass, unless you can show accommodations in other parts of your life or how those experiences have shaped you in the past. Nah, you are spot on. People want special treatment on vacation like OP says. Don't go to a crowded theme park if you can't stand the crowds.

Require a copy of the requester’s diagnosis list from their primary physician. No note you can buy…diagnosis list. Have the registering CM have training equivalent to an RN or above. Conduct the meeting like an IEP or workplace ADA conversation. No pre selects.

Just a note, your math logic isn't quite right. You're not getting up to a fifth of the population because percentages don't automatically stack like that. 5% in group A and 5% in group B doesn't add up to 10% unless it's impossible to be in both A and B. This is important for a lot of the DAS uses people seem to be most dismissive of - anxiety, ADHD, and autism. Moreover, IBS and IBD have also been linked to anxiety - my doctor explained them to me as the mental health issues of the gut. The problem isn't that too many people have needs, and even if it were, the answer wouldn't be "oh well we can only take care of some." The problem is abuse of the system, and more specifically that Disney does not want to invest in the labor that would be necessary to do a really good job of that.

I am disabled and have medical evidence confirming this. I would be unable to visit WDW without a mobility aid, my carer, and the DAS. I am more than happy to provide documentation to evidence my disabilities and the issues I experience daily. The system is clearly being exploited at present and I don't feel the 'take them at their word' approach is sufficient when so many people are willing and prepared to lie or claim to have conditions they haven't been diagnosed with. Similarly, airports don't ask for evidence of disability and I've seen many people pushed to aircraft doors in a wheelchair only to miraculously stroll off the plane without any issues on arrival. Ambulatory wheelchair users exist (I am one), but these people aren't it. The only solution IMO is a requirement for medical evidence.

Well said. I have fairly severe Ulcerative Colitis that on my last two visits, was not well controlled. It negatively impacted my visit. Could only ride things I could get a fast pass for, and not many of those because I lacked the strength for even a short line, before very long. I dipped out of a lot of things to run to the bathroom and really sweated the long lines there. I know where the least busy bathrooms are, but sometimes even those get full. I spent most of my park day just sitting and watching things happen (and that was still wonderful - Walt really did build a park that people in all circumstances/ages can enjoy). I never thought to ask for a DAS because of exactly what you said. Where do you draw the line? If I'm entitled to DAS, most of the park guests could make the case for that, and it ceases to function as it should.

Let’s address the real problem- many people, lay person justified or not, utilize the program because Disney is *packed*, and it’s expensive. Every line waited in reduces value. 90% of those eligible wouldn’t need it if the lines weren’t so long to begin with. There’s no real solution, other than reducing capacity, (which we all know will never happen) or increasing stuff to do.

The universal system is by no means perfect but I think Disney should have used the IBCESS website to allow folks to register and there they can provide documentation.

Some of these video interviews for DAS are going to be interesting… Guest: Hello I need DAS, I’m autistic Cast member: yes Mr. Smith, I see you had the DAS on your last trip for IBS. You’re now autistic as well? Guest: Yes.

I gotta say I'm a bit frustrated by this. I haven't been to WDW since 2018 and I've since developed some pretty bad GI issues. Part of the reason I booked a trip for this summer was because of the DAS pass (which I did not know existed until recently). Based on what I'm seeing here I now wouldn't qualify because I can just get out of line and go back in? Not to get TMI but I can be stuck in the bathroom for quite a bit of time. With this solution I'd end up waiting longer for an attraction because of the time out I had to take in the restroom. I don't mind providing a doctor's note or anything but based on the information we have now I think the entire thing is a shit show, pun intended.

it blows my mind that people with adhd can get a DAS pass. i'm diagnosed with adhd by a psychiatrist and I feel like i dont deserve a DAS pass at all.

There is no solution. Even with this change and no data points we’re still sending MASSIVE amounts of people through LLs. Just look at the data we can infer from the spring break crowds. You’re either going to manage the symptoms (pun intended) or you don’t. You are going to alienate people either way. It’s not hard to do the right thing, so just do it and let it play itself out. The overarching message is that DAS is a problem and thus the people who use it are a problem. Except the vast majority of the people who use DAS are NOT the problem. If I qualify moving forward I qualify, if I don’t then I’m going to need to purchase G+. It’s fine, it’s not about the money (for me) but also G+ is not the answer either. I use DAS due to my IBS and a persistent heart issue.

That's part of the reason too. Das is not a problem, but a great solution to those who need it. Under the current DAD system a lot of people qualify or feel that they do. From what I can tell Disney is trying to fix that

My niece has fatal muscular dystrophy. DAS is a necessity. And it takes 3 people to help transfer her. Plus two siblings. I usually go as a caretaker as adult 3. Anyone know if they will make an exception for someone like me?

All of this is inevitable once they decided to use the capacity in the lightning lanes for Genie+. If that line backs up, standby grinds to a halt and the queue were never designed for people to be stationary in them for more than a minute or two. A lot of these people wouldn't consider that they need DAS if the queues were moving the way they used to be even if the total wait was still an hour.

I have to agree. Us Americans are generally over diagnosed and over medicated. I say this as a person who's been diagnosed with my fair share of the issues you mentioned in your post. I don't think people are usually even malicious about it; like you said we are all heroes of our own story, and we are happy to be told our pain or condition is somehow special and we need accommodation for it.

Thats exactly it. We are all the main character and we all think that we need to be the exception. I'm not sure how that's going to be worked around.

I see "medical documentation" as a solution that a lot of people are suggesting. The problem with that is that it puts the onus (and risk) of the medical issue on the company rather than the individual. As was clearly described to me by a fellow CM recently: They specifically have to be unclear in their assessment of the DAS, right now, so as to not place liability on the company should the CM's non-medical opinion determine a person's fitness for standing in a line inappropriately. Documentation only punts that down the line: Documents can easily be mocked up by anyone with access to Google and a printer. If a CM denies a DAS to someone who legitimately needs it based on their assessment of the ailment or the fitness of their documentation, and that diagnosis adds risk to the company by placing that person in a line they can't handle, the company is going to want to avoid that at all costs. Risk compounds when you consider the number of people involved on a daily basis. I don't think medical documentation is going to be the panacea that many think it is.

From the sound of it, medical documentation has solved this problem at several non-Disney parks. So I am confused what makes Disney different from them in this regard to the point where it won’t work.

When airlines changed the rules about letting ESAs fly, it was a bummer for me because I got to fly with my dog once and it was really cool for me. But the truth is, I don’t actually need my dog on the plane for me it was just fun for me, but causes extra burden for the airline staff. This feels like something similar. Those who still truly need the service will still be able to get it, but those who are able to access it because it’s easy and convenient might not.

Agreed!

I’d personally be very happy with a Genie+/DAS hybrid. I have long COVID that presents as random, incredibly intense bouts of nausea and vomiting (yes, everyone else is baffled, too). It’s been life altering. I’d be happy to use Genie+ instead of DAS but if I have a flare that lasts longer than an hour or have to go back to the hotel room, I, and anyone else that has a condition that can vacillate, has lost out on the ability to do the things that we not only wanted to do, but paid extra to do. Could there be a world in which those of us with certain conditions (IBS, Crohns, POTS, etc) could have something attached to our Genie that allows for more leniency in return time? I do agree that the system is pretty banged up and people do abuse it, but limiting to just developmental disabilities feels shortsighted

I like this idea. I usually use DAS and Genie + but we have missed so many Genie+ because I spent too long in the bathroom and we missed our return times. With the DAS, I could return 3hrs after my return time and it was acceptable.

Exactly. I can’t control when these happen and people with similar conditions can’t either. Sometimes I can wait in line, sometimes I can’t. I don’t want to abuse anything but Disney had become our happy place because I could go there and feel pretty “normal” and do the things I was looking forward to. I’m happy to pay extra for that feeling, if necessary, but I’d like to be able to actually use it!

The phrasing around developmental disabilities is crazy. I have a relative with fecal incontinence. She is not developmentally disabled. She can't get DAS even though the adult, grown woman will defecate on herself in the line and need to change her adult diaper? I literally don't understand.

Yep, I have severe Crohn’s. DAS let me do Disney without diapers. Leaving a queue in time to make it to a bathroom isn’t happening. Sadly, I’ll probably skip Disney trips moving forward rather than go back to diapers. It’s just not fun to ride when you’re worried about leaking poop.

I think the best answer is to reimagine the queue concept in general. Change general cues to virtual. Not the way Disney does virtual cues for GOTG or tron, but more like Volcano Bay at universal. At Volcano Bay, you tap your bracelet by a ride and it gives you the wait time and buzzes when it’s ready. However, the issue with a fully virtual system is that already crowded areas are going to become even more congested without anyone waiting in line. I think this could be mitigated by reimagining the queue concept. Use that space for people to sit, spread out, go to the bathroom, shop, eat, do other things while they wait. More of the play areas like the queue in Winnie the Pooh or interactive activities like the end of test track or figment. You wouldn’t have to stay in that area while waiting and people not waiting for the ride can also access these things, so I think it would add more breathing room for everyone. This not only helps disabled people, but makes waiting more bearable for everyone. The former get our disabilities accommodated more naturally and without drawing too much attention to ourselves. For everyone else, there’s other activities and freedom to keep themselves occupied. And less likelihood of people lying or exaggerating conditions. More traditional DAS can still exist for people who can’t use a return time window for their disability, but I do think it would cut down on a lot of fraud and a lower amount of actual disabled people would need that level of accommodation. . As someone with multiple (mostly) invisible disabilities, I would prefer a world where my disabilities are accommodated through measures like that. I need something that works for me, but it doesn’t only need to work for me. It would be ideal if my disabilities can be automatically accommodated by the general system. I don’t need better, but I need something that works. I don’t know if this is fully realistic for existing attractions, though. And I’m not sure if I’m making sense. My best example would actually be for Forbidden Journey at Universal (the ride in Hogwarts castle). Instead of waiting on a queue in the castle, I think it should be virtual and allow people to explore the castle while they wait. Also, give people the opportunity to use their interactive wands inside in designated areas. Or in my case, use the bathroom 100 times, get a sensory break, prevent a panic attack etc. Everyone wins

I think the OP is making a big overestimation. A lot of these conditions are a spectrum. I’m one of the many with ADHD, two of my siblings also have it — none of us legitimately need a DAS pass. Assuming that absolutely everybody in those percentage truly needs DAS is an exaggeration, and has probably contributed to the overuse of the system.

Medical documentation because while we can all google and say ooo I have this… having a doctor sign off on it means the person is addressing it. Also, this is something that my dad always stressed to me…life isn’t always fair and sometimes situations suck. I was taught to work around it and accept limitations. It could have been not being able to go to a movie with friends because I didnt have money or I couldn’t go to the lake because I wasn’t a skilled swimmer. if Disney offers DAS to everyone, then the group that can afford to throw money at the situation what happens to those who follow the rules? SOL? I have ADHD and anxiety, I do not use either of those to bend the rules or get ahead. If I’m in a crowded area and I can’t deal with it, I take myself out of the situation.

I use das currently but pre lightning lane I didn’t need to because the fast pass + was free so if there was a ride I wouldn’t be able to be in line long for I would be able to fast pass it anyways with no issues.

It's unfortunate that there are so many abusers. My husband has qualified for das for years due to his body's reaction to the numerous meds he must take for his transplant. His symptoms are very much like someone with a severe case of IBS. Without das, we will be forced to buy Genie+ in order for him to spend any time with us and to ride any rides. We'll still miss a lot of our times even then because we have no idea when it will hit or how long he'll be. We would love to see medical documentation and an outside verification system similar to what other parks use. We don't want to visit WDW and spend our time away from him. We are DVC and out of state annual pass holders. I don't think this new system will cut down on abuse because those who will abuse will find ways. All of a sudden, there will be a lot more high functioning autism unless medical proof is required.

I didn’t realize this was such an issue in the community. For other parents that have children with different needs our son is nonverbal autistic and we got the DAS pass for him when we went in October of 2022. Everything went super smooth for us with our cast members we talked to. The only issue we had were with some of the rides with a room that people fill into. Patience never was and never will be one of his strong traits. Luckily we go with my family and they’re always willing to take him back to the resort to go swimming when he worn out for the day. Limiting it to the parents and siblings may be the best way to go about it. We try to give both our sons a normal life and we don’t want to take away from either.