We’ve acquired over 200 questions in regards to the overhaul of Incapacity Entry Service (DAS) at Walt Disney World and Disneyland that may roll out within the subsequent couple of months. This FAQ solutions widespread inquiries about eligibility modifications, mechanics of how DAS will (and gained’t) work, causes for brand new insurance policies, how they need to reduce down on Lightning Lane abuse and misuse, and rather more.
This comes as a follow-up to the long-awaited information that Disney is as soon as once more redoing DAS at Walt Disney World and Disneyland due largely to abuse and proliferation of this system’s use. That article covers numerous floor in regards to the specifics of the new-look Incapacity Entry Service, plus our commentary about winners & losers, in addition to collateral harm and extra.
Sadly, that article can be almost 4,500 phrases lengthy. Brevity is hardly this website’s robust go well with, so a prolonged publish is pretty unsurprising. Besides on this case, I had one other 1,500+ phrases that have been misplaced left on the chopping block–and I might’ve devoted one other 2,000 phrases to answering reader questions. As a substitute, I believed I’d put collectively an FAQ that may try and be as concise as potential–and likewise be simpler to navigate so you’ll be able to skim and bypass questions that don’t apply to you.
This combines public info that Walt Disney World has launched, questions we’ve been capable of get answered throughout discussions with Disney’s group engaged on the DAS overhaul, knowledgeable hypothesis primarily based on studying between the strains of the insurance policies, sensible realities of ADA compliance, and extra.
That is nonetheless going to be a protracted one, so let’s dig proper into the FAQ…
How do you register for DAS?
Registration is out there through dwell video chat.
Communicate with a Forged Member through dwell video chat to find out eligibility not more than 30 days prematurely of a park go to.
Is in-person same-day registration obtainable at Walt Disney World?
No and sure. Identical day registration continues to be obtainable by visiting Visitor Relations, however it won’t be in-person within the sense that you simply’ll be talking face-to-face with a Forged Member contained in the park. You’ll be directed to a location and given a tool to conduct the dwell video chat. It’ll work precisely like it might from outdoors the park, besides you’ll be squandering precious trip time to take action.
Provided that alone–and the potential of this taking further time primarily based on demand–we extremely advocate going the pre-arrival route at Walt Disney World. Nothing goes to vary, outcome-wise, with getting or not getting DAS. It’s simply the place you’re taking the time to undergo the method.
Visitors visiting now by Could 19 might go to a theme park Visitor Relation location to talk with a Forged Member. In-person registration will not be obtainable at theme park Visitor Relations places beginning Could 20, 2024.
What’s the utmost DAS social gathering dimension?
DAS registration most social gathering dimension is the registered DAS visitor and all members of their speedy household (dad and mom and siblings), however in any other case as much as 3 extra social gathering members, for a complete of 4 individuals.
Because of this if the DAS visitor brings each of their dad and mom, three sisters, and two brothers (complete social gathering dimension of 8)–that’s tremendous. But when a DAS visitor brings each dad and mom and one sibling (complete social gathering dimension of 4), they might NOT additionally be capable to convey their two grandparents who footed the invoice for the journey.
As soon as outdoors the nuclear household, the social gathering dimension cap is 4 individuals, and that features the DAS visitor. (This isn’t speculative–I confirmed with Disney because it was a query we have been getting quite a bit.)
How lengthy is DAS legitimate?
DAS is legitimate for the size of the ticket or as much as 120 days, whichever is shorter. As soon as the DAS interval has elapsed, company have to re-register for this system.
For company visiting from April 9 by Could 19, 2024, DAS is legitimate for as much as 30 days, or when a brand new ticket is required.
For which disabilities is DAS supposed?
In accordance with Walt Disney World, “DAS is meant to accommodate a small proportion of company who, resulting from a developmental incapacity like autism or comparable, are unable to attend in a traditional queue for an prolonged time frame.”
This line (or a variation thereof) will be discovered repeatedly all through Walt Disney World’s new DAS sources. From that, it’s clear that they’re making an attempt to recalibrate expectations in regards to the supposed recipients of DAS.
Does that imply that DAS has been narrowed in scope to solely company with developmental disabilities?
Not solely. In the course of the video chat, Encourage Well being Alliance’s well being professionals will work with Disney Forged Members to find out eligibility for acceptable lodging and be certain that these lodging are supplied just for the company for whom they’re supposed.
This can imply having a personalised dialog about every visitor’s distinctive wants and the companies they may require to find out whether or not DAS is suitable or whether or not the visitor ought to be directed to different varieties of companies obtainable, together with however not restricted to a line-return choice for company who may have to go to the restroom with better frequency, ASL decoding companies, and wheelchair or different mobility gadget entry.
This will likely sound imprecise and unclear, and that’s partly by (Disney’s) design. Simply remember that the ADA requires companies which can be open to the general public to make cheap modifications to insurance policies, practices, and procedures the place wanted. In case your particular person circumstances are such {that a} totally different lodging isn’t appropriate and solely DAS will be just right for you, for no matter purpose, it’s more likely to be the lodging you’re granted, developmental incapacity or not.
The premise of my conclusion isn’t essentially something Walt Disney World has stated, though there are a number of wiggle phrases (customized conversations, every company distinctive wants, and so forth.) that counsel requests will probably be evaluated on a case-by-case foundation. Furthermore, there’s the matter of federal legislation, which Disney clearly has the nice sense (and authorized group!) to know to not violate.
So DAS gained’t be issued to fewer company with precise disabilities?
That is the place issues get tough. It’s a near-certainty that fewer really disabled company will probably be deemed eligible for DAS. Whereas Disney gained’t outright say as a lot, that’s clearly one purpose of those modifications.
Nevertheless, this has much less to do with a altering of who qualifies for lodging and extra to do with the method for evaluating DAS requests. Up to now, it was not very rigorous and was roughly a rubber stamping as soon as sure phrases have been stated.
This additionally was by design, particularly in-park the place Visitor Relations Forged Members got the unenviable job of evaluating DAS requests. It was higher for them to err on the aspect of asking too little and issuing DAS too usually, each as a matter of legislation and the 4 Keys.
In consequence, DAS was issued to legitimately disabled company in lots of eventualities the place different lodging have been obtainable. These company weren’t abusers (we dubbed them “unwitting misusers” in our earlier publish about DAS) as their requests have been real, and so they have been merely following established process. If reevaluated as soon as the brand new insurance policies take impact, a lot of them wouldn’t obtain DAS. So briefly, the anticipated consequence is lowering the frequency with which DAS is issued.
Will these modifications completely get rid of abuse?
Undoubtedly not. There’s no excellent DAS system, and reform can’t be narrowly tailor-made in such a means that it solely hurts the abusers. That simply isn’t life like. The unhappy actuality is that some scammers are extremely intelligent and can at all times discover a option to exploit a loophole and outfox a system. The extra Disney clamps all the way down to attempt to cease them, the extra disabled company turn into unintended casualties, and the extra seemingly it’s that the system runs afoul of the ADA.
There’s no flawless technique of eliminating abuse. The very best I can consider is definitely stigmatizing the losers who abuse DAS so that they’re not as loud and happy with their terrible actions. However in a world the place actuality tv and social media fame seemingly reward the worst of society, that too appears unrealistic.
Why isn’t Disney utilizing IBCCES?
Walt Disney World isn’t utilizing the Worldwide Board of Credentialing and Persevering with Schooling Requirements (IBCCES) Sights Help Go that has turn into considerably of an trade commonplace. Many different parks have switched to this, together with Common Orlando.
With IBCCES, company should enroll earlier than their go to and add documentation for assessment. Upon qualifying through IBCCES for the Sights Help Go, the theme park operators then contact them about lodging they could want. It’s nearly definitely a extra rigorous system that decreases the probability of abuse.
It’s also extra controversial. There has already been litigation in California involving IBCCES, with one lawsuit specializing in the pre-planning requirement. There are additionally issues about using an middleman with regard to medical privateness and extra. I might not be in the slightest degree shocked if there’s extra litigation involving IBCCES. I gained’t faux to know the way that may all be determined.
Not eager to be on the shedding aspect of ADA instances, my robust suspicion is that Disney Authorized carried out litigation danger assessments on IBCCES and steered DAS in a special route in consequence. I additionally wouldn’t be in the slightest degree shocked if the following DAS overhaul does contain IBCCES, ought to they prevail in pending and future litigation. All of that is purely speculative on my half.
Why isn’t Disney requiring medical paperwork?
Many disabled company have welcomed Walt Disney World requiring medical paperwork or proof of a incapacity as a method of lowering abuse. Some say that is hardly burdensome, as they want this for a lot of facets of their day-to-day lives. Just a few indicated they’ve even introduced this to Visitor Relations previously, and Forged Members really refused to take a look at it.
That is additionally all by design. Simply as Walt Disney World doesn’t wish to run afoul of the ADA, they don’t wish to violate the Well being Insurance coverage Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, not HIPPA). Primarily based on my admittedly restricted understanding of public well being and administrative legislation, I believe issues about HIPAA and its limiting issue are most likely overblown. It’s not a blanket prohibition on disclosures (particularly voluntary ones) or requests to offer documentation for substantiation or to offer the bases for a request for lodging.
However, HIPAA acts as a strong incentive for companies to deal with medical info with nice care. It’s additionally necessary to keep in mind that Disney insurance policies need to be applied by Forged Members, presenting the chance for human error or oversight. On prime of that, Disney is conservative and risk-averse with its insurance policies, which might be truthful–the corporate has a bullseye on its again in the case of litigation.
How will the brand new outlined “return to queue” course of for company who have to exit the standby line and re-enter work?
Truthfully, I don’t know. It’s unclear whether or not this will probably be a digital system, a bodily flip card or one thing of that kind, contain higher Forged Member coaching and visitor communications or what.
It’s potential that Walt Disney World hasn’t even absolutely discovered the mechanics of how the “return to queue” course of will work, or aren’t prepared to debate it for no matter purpose. This was the primary I had even heard of this being within the pipeline, whereas a DAS overhaul has been in growth for some time. I’d be shocked if it’s digital or is something all that elaborate, however might be fallacious.
How will video calls work for worldwide guests?
Up to now, worldwide guests have reported having points connecting with the video chats crucial to finish the pre-arrival DAS course of. There are workarounds for this (VPN, and so forth.) that would and may nonetheless work, though that’s not Walt Disney World’s official recommendation.
Disney’s advice is to finish the method through video chat upon arriving in america however earlier than coming to the parks. Failing that, there will probably be an in-park choice as mentioned above (iPads at Visitor Relations). So actually, you wish to determine a means to do that earlier than attending to Walt Disney World and there’s no assure that the video chat will work overseas with out using a workaround.
Is DAS issued at Walt Disney World legitimate at Disneyland, or vice-versa?
DAS is legitimate solely on the coast the place it was issued. DAS issued at Walt Disney World isn’t legitimate on the Disneyland Resort, and vice versa.
What occurs if statements made by company through the DAS registration course of are discovered to be false?
Whether it is decided that any of the statements a Visitor made within the strategy of acquiring DAS usually are not true, the Visitor will probably be completely barred from coming into Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, and any beforehand bought Annual Passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and different park services and products will probably be forfeited and never refunded.
Observe that this isn’t a brand new coverage, and has been in place since (no less than) the modifications launched alongside Lightning Lanes. It’s most likely unenforceable (absent a visitor outright stating that they lied to a Forged Member), however I nonetheless want that Disney have been publicizing this extra.
The place do company obtain DAS return occasions?
Visitors using DAS (and their social gathering members) could make return time alternatives proper from the My Disney Expertise app through the day of their park go to. Registered company utilizing DAS and members of their social gathering will be capable to e-book, redeem, change or cancel DAS return occasions utilizing the My Disney Expertise app through a sensible telephone or different sensible gadget.
If extra help is required, company can even get hold of return occasions instantly from a Forged Member at any Visitor Relations or Visitor Expertise Crew location (the blue umbrella stands, pictured above).
Can company nonetheless pre-register for experience return occasions previous to their go to?
No. Solely after you’ve registered and entered the theme park, are you able to request your first return time.
What can company do throughout their digital wait?
Visitors using DAS can take pleasure in many different experiences all through Walt Disney World Resort throughout a DAS digital wait, corresponding to different rides, exhibits, leisure, parades and character meet & greets. They’ll additionally take a relaxation in a break space, get one thing to eat or buy groceries.
Does DAS give company a bonus?
Sure. There’s been numerous debate about this, however the reply is sure, statistically talking.
This has come out throughout previous litigation in regards to the system, throughout which Walt Disney World indicated that company utilizing DAS expertise 45% extra points of interest than these with out DAS. On one of many days, the non-DAS testers waited in queues on common a complete of 255 minutes, whereas the DAS testers solely waited in line on common complete of 107 minutes, or simply beneath two hours.
Notably, this was through the FastPass+ period, again when even the non-DAS group would’ve had entry to a model of line-skipping. If that take a look at have been redone at this time, the hole between standby company and DAS company would nearly definitely be better.
Some Walt Disney World followers assume this isn’t the case as a result of DAS includes a digital wait in line. However a digital line permits company to be in two locations directly, whereas somebody standing in a standby line is solely in that line. Clearly, precise outcomes are going to vary from individual to individual and plenty of disabled company will accomplish far much less for a wide range of causes.
That is seemingly why some disabled company justifiably consider DAS is just leveling the taking part in subject, fairly than providing a bonus. The issue, once more, seemingly lies with the abusers who’re utilizing DAS to maximise their effectivity and aren’t disabled within the first place.
Is there a option to stop DAS company from doing different points of interest throughout their digital wait?
In fact not. Walt Disney World isn’t going to scan park tickets on the standby entrances of points of interest, restaurant and retail entrances (and so forth), to cease DAS company from (successfully) being in two locations at one time. That’s an unworkable (proposed) answer.
Does the Visitor using DAS need to be current to acquire a return time at a Visitor Relations or Visitor Expertise Crew location?
No. Any member of the DAS-eligible visitor’s journey social gathering might get hold of a return time, however the visitor registered for DAS should be current and expertise the attraction with their social gathering.
Does a Visitor using DAS need to experience the attraction on the precise return time listed?
No. DAS return occasions usually are not restricted to a selected window and are legitimate till the park closes or an attraction closes for the day.
Can a Visitor have a couple of lively DAS return time at one time?
No. A visitor might solely have one DAS return time at a time. Visitors might get hold of one other return time for a similar or a special attraction 10 minutes after they redeem their earlier DAS choice.
Can a Visitor with an lively DAS return time obtain a boarding group for one of many digital queue points of interest?
Sure. A visitor can maintain one lively DAS return time and one digital queue boarding group on the identical time. When a visitor using DAS goes to the attraction with a digital queue, they, together with their social gathering, will communicate to a Forged Member on the attraction about accessing the queue.
All company within the social gathering might want to have efficiently joined the digital queue for that entry, not simply the DAS visitor.
Are these modifications being made to promote extra Lightning Lanes?
That’s a cynical evaluation, however most likely additionally an correct one. Perhaps not in the best way you suppose, although.
One purpose is undoubtedly to push DAS abusers into buying Lightning Lanes, fairly than scamming a means of getting them without cost. Much like how Disney+ has began a crackdown on password sharing. (I’d argue they’re not equal offenses on an moral stage, however each are breaking guidelines.)
Nevertheless, the idea that this may unencumber stock to promote extra Lightning Lanes is usually fallacious. Genie+ promoting out is pretty uncommon, so the ‘extra stock’ angle for promoting extra Lightning Lanes solely applies to these dates. For many days, the limiting issue on Genie+ is demand–not provide. Particular person Lightning Lanes are a considerably totally different story in that they’re extra regularly supply-constrained, so this might have a much bigger affect on gross sales of these.
Will this enhance Lightning Lane availability?
That’s a special query, and the reply to that ought to be sure. Lightning Lane stock accounts for DAS customers and, it follows that fewer DAS customers means extra experience reservations allotted to paid Lightning Lanes.
That is how we heard about DAS modifications final fall within the first place. It’s our understanding that it is a crucial prerequisite earlier than transferring to pre-arrival Lightning Lane alternatives as a result of there may be a lot DAS abuse or misuse.
So why are these modifications really occurring?
The quick reply is misuse and abuse.
Walt Disney World has publicly acknowledged that DAS utilization has tripled since 2019. Impartial of that and previous to it, we acquired credible stories that the majority of Lightning Lane utilization is definitely not Genie+ company, however fairly, DAS. Simply to place that into perspective for individuals who is perhaps inclined to consider that DAS continues to be a low quantity within the grand scheme of issues or relative to Lightning Lanes as an entire. It’s not.
Why has DAS utilization exploded?
That is the extra sophisticated query and the explanations are undoubtedly multifaceted. For one factor, the prevalence of identified developmental disabilities in youngsters have elevated considerably within the U.S. inhabitants as an entire since 2019. That might account for a slight improve (~5%), however not a tripling. Different contributing components would come with pent-up demand and reputational consciousness, as Disney has a sterling monitor report in treating company with disabilities nicely.
All of that pales compared to the primary wrongdoer, which is free FastPass+ going away and being changed by paid Lightning Lanes. This new system and every subsequent value improve thereof created a perverse incentive for dishonest the system. On the identical time, it additionally expanded the viewers for social media “hacks” about methods to skip the strains without cost. This, in flip, created its personal vicious cycle. As this DAS abuse content material proliferated, it additionally grew to become normalized by advantage of its ubiquity.
Abuse has at all times existed with DAS. The distinction is that previously, it was stored quiet as individuals acknowledged what they have been doing was immoral and so they’d be judged for it. Now, that stigma is basically gone. As a substitute of feeling (rightfully) ashamed of abusing a system supposed for disabled company, individuals brazenly boasted about it.
I’m not usually one to get preachy or advantage sign, however I’ll put this in no unsure phrases: individuals ought to be ashamed of abusing DAS, as what they’re doing is disgusting–it makes me hope karma is a factor. Whereas it is a drawback of Disney’s personal doing and predictable consequence of transferring to paid Lightning Lanes (making them hardly innocent in the entire affair), that doesn’t make abusing DAS okay.
As we’ve stated numerous occasions earlier than, queueing is a zero-sum sport. Abusing DAS isn’t a victimless crime or “sticking it to the person” or no matter dumb justification the abusers would possibly use. There’s actually no good excuse for the abhorrent conduct. Not solely is it unethical, however it additionally comes on the expense of fellow company, most notably these in respectable want of DAS who’ve to attend longer within the Lightning Lane or now is perhaps caught within the crossfire of this crackdown.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on Walt Disney World overhauling Incapacity Entry Service to scale back abuse and misuse? Do you suppose the brand new partnership with Encourage Well being Alliance and different modifications will higher guarantee DAS is just going to those that actually want it? When you’ve used Incapacity Entry Service at Walt Disney World, what do you consider the expertise? Any questions not answered by this FAQ?
