DAS Approval/Denial with New DAS Guidelines START 5/20 WDW & 6/18 DL

[Redroo]

Das was approved at WDW for 120 days, it was straight forward and about a 10 min conversation, the cast member made the decision without the medical specialist coming in, after going through the process it is very subjective to each cast members discretion making to me in my mind very unfair, it seems if you get a good cast member that is willing to listen and make accommodations for your disability you are fine but if you get one in a bad mood or only thinks “one” disability in a certain way is all that gets DAS you get screwed, I echo most other comments in Universal really got it right in the way they do it now, It really does make the Disney system feel like every 120 days that it will be a toss up if you will actually get it renewed and there is no guarantee that if you get it approved once it will be approved again, Disney is very aware of the criticism so if you are denied contact guest services and write a letter to the office of the CEO…..They will take note, if enough people complain and bring it to the forefront Disney will back track on this policy. Also for stats purposes was approved as an Adult with only one other person in my party also an adult and annual passholders

 

[Jrb1979]

Das was approved at WDW for 120 days, it was straight forward and about a 10 min conversation, the cast member made the decision without the medical specialist coming in, after going through the process it is very subjective to each cast members discretion making to me in my mind very unfair, it seems if you get a good cast member that is willing to listen and make accommodations for your disability you are fine but if you get one in a bad mood or only thinks “one” disability in a certain way is all that gets DAS you get screwed, I echo most other comments in Universal really got it right in the way they do it now, It really does make the Disney system feel like every 120 days that it will be a toss up if you will actually get it renewed and there is no guarantee that if you get it approved once it will be approved again, Disney is very aware of the criticism so if you are denied contact guest services and write a letter to the office of the CEO…..They will take note, if enough people complain and bring it to the forefront Disney will back track on this policy. Also for stats purposes was approved as an Adult with only one other person in my party also an adult and annual passholders

I highly doubt they will backtrack anything as DAS isn't the only accommodation for those with disabilities.

 

[Diamonddolljeanette]

I am a 38 year old female with ADHD that leans on the AuDHD side who travels with their boyfriend and I was approved for DAS for my Passholder within 5 minutes.
The CM I spoke to was so nice and understanding. I think it did help that I explained my struggles with lines within my normal life and within the parks.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I am a 38 year old female with ADHD that leans on the AuDHD side who travels with their boyfriend and I was approved for DAS for my Passholder within 5 minutes.
The CM I spoke to was so nice and understanding. I think it did help that I explained my struggles with lines within my normal life and within the parks.

This gives me hope, thanks for the report.

 

[Diamonddolljeanette]

This gives me hope, thanks for the report.

No problem, everyone has been freaking out and we all need some encouragement

 

[Unity]

Wrong thread- my bad!

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

This gives me hope, thanks for the report.

Me too considering I'm similar in age, party size, and condition.

 

[Disneylvr]

No problem, everyone has been freaking out and we all need some encouragement

I agree. Encouragement, and hope. Thank you.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Isn't this thread supposed to be specifically for reports and not DAS discussions?

 

[DigitalOlli]

got the das for my son today.

It was a very smooth process, they ask the same questions like last year.

Call takes all in all no longer then 10 minutes

 

[phoebec]

Does the child have to be nearby the whole time or can it just be to get photo taken? She gets upset when we talk about her issues but the main thing is I’m trying for this trip to be a surprise and I could probably talk my way around why she has to get a photo taken but not if she hears the whole conversation. She would definitely catch on to the trip that way.

 

[DigitalOlli]

Does the child have to be nearby the whole time or can it just be to get photo taken? She gets upset when we talk about her issues but the main thing is I’m trying for this trip to be a surprise and I could probably talk my way around why she has to get a photo taken but not if she hears the whole conversation. She would definitely catch on to the trip that way.

My son was watching tv in another room. after i answer the questions, the cm said we have to take a photo and i went to my son and she took the picture while he was watching tv
after this i wlk back to the other room to talk with her further

 

[Jfsag123]

My son was approved for DAS. We are a family of 5, 2 teenagers (one of whom is the DAS holder), 2 parents, and a pre-schooler. We have had DAS in the past and the issue is developmental. However, as in the past, I did not mention any diagnosis, just talked about what the issue was with lines. The cast member was super nice and the interview process was quick. No medical professional brought in. She also said she was going to ask for an exception to the 4 person party rule so our family could ride things together and said this was approved before I got off the chat. I've been so stressed out wondering if we would be approved at all with the changes and also trying to figure out how we would address it even if we were approved, but could no longer stay together. I just wanted to share a positive experience for folks in a similar situation.

 

[Bearval]

I highly doubt they will backtrack anything as DAS isn't the only accommodation for those with disabilities.

I agree with you here. I highly doubt the decision is left up to the CM own opinion, they are most likely following a flow chart based upon the responses they are given to the questions. Your responses send you on either the "denied" path or to the "approved" path. You better believe they are saving all of this information just incase they are challenged that they are not following ADA guidelines.

 

[DigitalOlli]

Your experiences with das sounds similar to mine. My son (kindergarten) has iep at school for development delays. My wife does all the doctor stuff but my understanding is he’s not diagnosed with anything officially yet but they suspect he’s mildly autistic and adhd. We explained [his needs] to them and basicaly was told we don’t qualify because we can just use rider swap. My wife is special education teacher and she was shocked/upset they denied and couldn’t understand. From discussion here it really sounds like some of the cast members are trained to reject anyone who has two adults who can rider swap (we are party of two adults, 6 yr, 4yr, and 2yr old).

I really don’t feel like having to split our party to ride everything so I guess I can just look forward to participating in the inevitable class action lawsuit.

Note: edited by a moderator​

No. we are 2 Adults and my son ( 7 years). We got approved yesterday

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

I was approved yesterday but my daughter was declined. I've had a DAS for the past 9 years. My disability is not a developmental disability. My daughter has not had a DAS in the past, she started having panic attacks last year (her first one was during our Disney trip) and this was my first time asking for one for her.

I was eligible to call the day after the new rules went into effect but I chickened out, feeling defeated by so many people being declined. I waited in the chat queue for 2.5 hours on Wednesday (from 5:30-8pm) before it abruptly said the chat was ending and to contact them when they reopened at 7am. Cool. I tried again the next day around 5pm and sat in the queue for about an hour before moving to the video call. I went through my daughter's issues first. The cast member was very kind and empathetic but DD was declined. She discussed alternate quiet spots to wait, as well as return to queue as options instead of DAS. Her demeanor did at least give me hope that I had the possibility of being accepted. I made notes ahead of time and went through what happens when I stand in a traditional line as well as accomodations I receive at work. After about 2 minutes of talking she let me know I was approved. She asked a supervisor to make an exception to the DAS holder +3 rule and that was quickly granted. On this trip, it is me and DH and 5 children ages 10-16. She asked if I wanted to request to add my parents and my sister's family to the DAS list since they are travelling with us - the CM said it was unlikely but possible to be approved by her supervisor. I really just wanted the call to end, I felt like I had zero spoons left (iykyk) so I declined to involve her supervisor and ended the call.

 

[PrincessV]

cast member was very kind and empathetic but DD was declined. She discussed alternate quiet spots to wait, as well as return to queue as options instead of DAS.

This may be abundantly obvious to others and I just need a 2nd cup of coffee, so please bear with me if this sounds dumb - are you saying that the CM denied DAS for your daughter, but then suggested that she use alternate spots to wait outside of lines? I’m asking because that literally is what DAS is, so it’s an odd suggestion… unless the CM was saying your daughter could wait outside of the lines while the rest of her party waited in standby, and then your daughter could meet back up with them at the end to ride?

(I realize in the end it doesn’t matter for your situation, since you received DAS approval to include your party, but the whole wait somewhere else thing for those denied is still a grey area for a lot of us!)

 

[lanejudy]

are you saying that the CM denied DAS for your daughter, but then suggested that she use alternate spots to wait outside of lines? I’m asking because that literally is what DAS is

It sounds like AQR was suggested, with the girl leaving the queue for a quiet break if needed. Then rejoin the party to ride.

DAS would allow the entire party to wait outside the queue, not just the individual (or +caregiver as needed). Disney is really trying to get the party back into the queue while providing accommodations to the individual.

 

[PrincessV]

It sounds like AQR was suggested, with the girl leaving the queue for a quiet break if needed. Then rejoin the party to ride.

That was my assumption, too, but it wasn’t entirely clear to me.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

It sounds like AQR was suggested, with the girl leaving the queue for a quiet break if needed. Then rejoin the party to ride.

DAS would allow the entire party to wait outside the queue, not just the individual (or +caregiver as needed). Disney is really trying to get the party back into the queue while providing accommodations to the individual.

Yes, that is what was suggested.