Well, there certainly have been changes at Disney World, right?
There have been new rides, restaurants, and hotels popping up all over Disney World. And it makes sense. Disney has to continue to innovate in order to stay relevant. But here’s the thing: not all changes are good, right? That got us thinking about any changes that Disney has made that might have turned you against Disney, which is why we wanted to find out your thoughts on the matter! We asked, and you delivered!
We reached out to our followers on Facebook to ask: “What’s something that makes you consider NOT going back to Disney World?” We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments!
Now, let’s go over some of your top responses!
Changes to DAS
First up, the vast majority of you have strong feelings about Disney’s changes to their Disability Access Service at Disney World. (The majority of you responded this way.)
Before diving into your responses, let’s go over what happened.
As of Monday, May 20th, 2024, several updates have come to DAS. Disney said they are “dedicated to providing a great experience for all Guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our Guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting our theme parks.”
The objective of these updates is to keep DAS available for those who need it and to ensure that these services are provided to the right visitors.
Here’s what is different:
- The DAS user is only allowed 4 people on the pass with them, or only their immediate family (if above 4 people).
- The current DAS system comes with 2 pre-entitlements, where guests who register for the service online can choose 2 rides per day that they’d like to secure a time for AND use the regular DAS system. With this new system, pre-entitlements and the regular DAS system will be separate, and those using DAS will not be guaranteed those pre-entitlements.
- The enrollment window for DAS will increase from 60 days to 120 days.
- Under the current system, you can speak with a Cast Member virtually before your trip to access the service OR apply in person. With the new system, however, no in-person option will be available.
Over the past 5 years, the use of DAS has tripled in the parks. Disney wants to make sure that the people who are using the system “actually” need it. They have even stated that if any guest is found to be lying about the reasons they require DAS, they will be barred from Disney World and Disneyland permanently.
These updates just came to Disneyland Resort on June 18th, 2024.
Read more about the changes to the service right here
Now that we’re all caught up, here are some of the things you shared:
- “The changes to DAS So many people who truly need it are getting rejected and won’t be able to have a safe experience at Disney anymore”
- “This is an easy one for my family. The recent changes made to Disney’s DAS policies have caused us to cancel trip plans and go elsewhere.”
- “The change to DAS and treatment of those of us with a disability ? strongly considered canceling our December trip!! Let’s hope things improve for those who need it!!”
- “I live locally and have an AP, but the DAS changes now make visits much more difficult for me. Prior to having a DAS, there were many rides I didn’t go on for years because of my disabilities. The DAS made them mostly possible (I would still turn around and leave lines if we scanned in and went through to find a long wait or a ride going down). Now, it’s back to not riding because I just cannot manage the waits. It’s sad that being a disabled military veteran isn’t disabled enough for Disney.”
The Cost
Lastly, you clearly have strong feelings when it comes to the change in the overall cost of Disney World and how that will impact your ability to come back. (The next largest percentage of you responded this way.)
Here’s what you said:
- “The ridiculous extra costs for Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. The high costs of everything. I love Disney; we are still going, but I miss the easier pace when I was a kid and teen in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.”
- “The constant nickel and dime for everything.”
- “Any ride should not cost extra after what they charge just to enter a park! Greed!!!”
- “The bang for your buck. I understand prices go up, but compared to what I used to get, it’s just not worth it anymore. Nickel and dime for every single thing but less perks and feels more like a Six Flags now. For the first time in a decade I’m not not going this year and have no plans in motion to go back and I’m ok with it.”
- “The cost…it’s ridiculous. We went recently after about 7 years and there wasn’t anything improved. Yes, there’s a few new rides but the fact that you can’t just buy a ticket anymore. You have to pay extra for everything or you stand in line for hours.”
Listen, we’ll be the first to tell you that you are right. Disney World is pricey. Not only are the tickets costly, but also the ability to skip lines comes with a hefty fee, not like it used to be a few years ago.
Those were just some of your thoughts on how these controversial changes are turning you against Disney World, and we want to hear more from you! In the meantime, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
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What changes are turning you against Disney World? Tell us all about it in the comments!
The cost of everything is way overpriced, forget about the extras that that have. All the parties & dining experiences are absolutely outrageous in price.
DAS was NEVER a line skipping pass! It only allowed us to wait outside the line the same amount of time as the stand by que and return to the lightning lane to then wait again for a shorter more manageable line. This actual means we waited longer than everyone else especially those of us with complex comorbid disabilities that required a mobility device who then waited in another line of wheelchairs after going thru the lightning lane.
DAS is NOT line skipping! It’s waiting outside the line the same amount if time for those that can’t handle a line because of disability.
You missed a part- DAS is now only for those with autism or similar. But- that’s not inclusive of all disabilities. Which is a big issue. And even those with autism are being denied.
I hate when Das is referred to as line skipping, Das users have to WAIT to get on the ride, they just dont do it in a standby line. They wait until it is their return time..so yes they do wait and are NOT line skipping
DAS is NOT Line-skipping. It’s a disability accommodation for those that cannot wait in a standard line which allows them to wait a similar (or often longer) length of time in an environment better suited to their health needs. Calling it “line-skipping” empowers ableist discrimination. #DisneyDASDisaster #DoBetterDisney
The number of park goers has tripled, as well, so yes, the DAS numbers would increase. Also some people with disabilities were able to use the old paper fast pass to navigate the parks, so when they took it away, they started applying for DAS.
As a disabled person who will no longer qualify for DAS we will no longer take our twice yearly trip across the pond dropping 15k on flights each time on flights, accommodation and park tickets as I will no longer be safe which upsets me as a regular visitor sinced the 1980s. Disney clearly don’t want disabled people but that’s fine, we can go elsewhere for far less money. We will visit where we are welcomed, cared for and safe.
One of their main alternate accommodations is the “Return To Queue” option. However, most of the people that attempt to use this are told that they can’t by the CM at the rides, or the CM know nothing about it, so you’re just out of luck if you need it. If you are lucky enough to use it, now you have to fight through a crowd of people that think you’re just trying to cut the line and refuse to let them by.
Blind and visually impaired park goers that have other disabilities that make it difficult for them to wait in lines are being denied and told to use scooters… How? People with prefect vision can barely drive scooters without running into or almost running into people, but they want blind and visually impaired people giving it a go? Or leaving them to sit somewhere alone while whoever they are with go through the line for them and somehow making their way to meet them once they make it to the front of the line. It makes no sense that only people with autism or similar disabilities are the only ones that should qualify for DAS. There are even people with autism or similar disabilities that are being denied just because they got the wrong CM who just doesn’t feel like that particular person needs it.
People were abusing DAS for sure BUT now my husband who travels with a service dog for his Epilepsy & can not stand in the sun & get overheated is no longer eligible. The federal Government declared him disabled 14 years ago after tests & hospitalizations but Disney thinks they know better. Why can’t they use the system Universal uses & have you submit a Dr’s note online to see if you are eligible we would gladly do that.
We’ve been coming at least yearly since 1992… have annual passes and see a distinct change since the covid closure. Prices have gone up everywhere, although Disney seems a bit more… extensive. We will still be coming probably but are just disappointed in some changes that make the trips less fun. DAS… seems like the criteria are a moving target and hard to understand why some situations get approved and others do not.
Genie+ was so crazy. Not with the new Lightening Lane multipass seems some better to me. It seemed like fastpass+ was working so not sure why they could not have put a more reasonable price on Fastpass+ and leave well enough alone.
Alcohol prices for sepcial events… I’ve not seen comments on this but this has affected my family more than some of the other issues. We used to do dessert parties and MNSSHP and Christmas part, but we have not since covid because the prices have doubled so they could add alcohol to the offering. We do drink, but do not need to do so and would rather have a tiered price offering for the parties… with and without alcohol. Disney knows how to use wristbands and the alcohol could easily be priced differently and handled with a different colored wrist band.
The magic at Disney is tied into that “bubble” experience of leaving the real world behind for a few days. Since covid it is very much like there is a tear in the bubble and the magic is sadly less special. thanks for reading.
I can see both sides of the issue. I’m disabled myself and used the DAS pass when I went to Disney World in 2022. But I also know that it was widely abused. I doubt that I would qualify for the new DAS pass with mobility and gastrointestinal issues. I feel for Disney because somebody’s going to mad no matter what they do. I do think they need to increase capacity so the lines won’t be as long anyway and work out the kinks in their lightning lane system. That will help. Then hire some out of the box thinkers to help solve this and other problems.
I don’t have a problem with the new DAS system. I have seen too many people abuse the system. Disney had to do something so all guests can enjoy the parks. Sort of reminds me of Southwest Airlines miracle flights.
So, because some abused it, all should be denied? That’s what is happening. Autism is about the only disability that qualifies now and it doesn’t matter what your doctors say, it’s based on some cast member with no medical & phycological training.
Das changes are definitely it. I don’t know how I will be able to manage my trip without it. I haven’t called yet but limiting to autism is really not fair to the thousands of people for whom disabilities for whom a regular queue is a challenge. We will wait the same time if not more with das we just do it in more appropriate areas for us.
I also hate that I’m prevented from going on my favorite rides more than once in a day due to stupid virtual queues.
DAS rule changes, higher prices overall, difficulty getting on rides even with Lightning Lane passes. One thing that I didn’t see mentioned was the cost of restaurants with character visits.I understand these restaurants charging more for the character experience, but charging adult price (between $50 and $65 per family style meal) for a 10 year old girl who sticks mainly with macaroni and cheese and french fries is more than a bit much. Sure it’s a fun experience but I just can’t see charging adult price for a 10 year old child who doesn’t eat much. Disney charges adult prices for buffet and family style meals for ages 10 and above. A child’s meal price is charged for ages 3-9.
I can’t speak to DAS but I believe Disney has mountains of data on how it was abused. They are now using the same service as Universal.
Regarding costs. Clearly some people just don’t get it. You don’t have to pay extra. No one makes you. Just like they don’t make you fly first class.
Ice Water is always available for free at QSR locations or bring your own bottled water. You don’t have to eat at the fancy restaurants. You can bring your own snacks. Buy your souvenirs at Wal Mart before you go. Use Marriott points or stay at a GN hotel. Take the public bus from mco to DS and use the free transportation from there. If you want to get fancy rent a confirmed DVC reservation.
They are absolutely not using the same system as Universal. Universal allows you provide documentation of your medical disability and needs. Universal does not limit their accommodations to those with autism only. Disney will NOT accept any medical documentation and the DAS pass is limited to autism and “similar developmental disabilities” ONLY. There is no DAS availability for those with physical disabilities period. The option provided is “return to que” – if my child has a flare of her condition we are to find a cast member and leave the line and then when she’s able to return we can return later to rejoin the rest of our party. So when you have me and my 15 month old shoving past you after a flare up to find the rest of our party, please know this is what Disney has asked us to do.
They are not using the same service as universal. Universal uses a private company to screen applicants first, and documentation regarding diagnosis is required for consideration and approval. Disney uses cast members primarily, and the so called medical professionals are at most (if at all) phycologists. Disney will not accept or look at medical documentation.
They are not using the same system as universal. The system universal and other parks requires you to submit your doctors information then review and make an approval still relying on cast members and the medical primarily psychologist.
My husband has Leukemia, heart issues, vascular and pulminary issues, adema and only one eye. I would think that would qualify you for a DAS pass. There is only two of us and we ARE NOT trying to get over on Disney. We have literally been to Disney 60 times and this is how we get treated. We cancelled our Disney trip and booked elsewhere.
I think you’re missing the biggest change affecting DAS that users are upset with. It now only covers developmental disabilities like autism and seemingly no longer covers physical disabilities. That’s why people are upset.
You are 1 million percent right! It’s hard enough being disabled without a corporation saying you are not disabled enough to meet their standards. When the federal Government considers you disabled & even your state gives you a disabled parking pass but Disney says thats not enough to prove you need help it’s disgraceful.
The DAS was originally supposed to only be for Autism and similar disabilities. They told people who had mobility disabilities about solutions like using an ECV. Unfortunately, people started abusing it by chipping away at it by trying to use it for disabilities that had other such solutions, and then of course it was abused by selfish non-disabled people. Disney is right to be bringing it back to what it was intended to be used for: helping people who can’t mentally stay in line and for which there are no other solutions. I don’t know if the details include that they can’t go on other rides while waiting for the ride they’re waiting for, but it should, as that would be beyond a reasonable accommodation and cause people to keep faking disabilities to get the perk of extra rides. A perfect solution would be a quiet waiting room until the time of waiting in line is up, but that’s not feasible for every ride in the park.
I have physical disabilities and use a service dog, but I wouldn’t try to use a DAS because I don’t have mental/emotional problems with crowds etc. so can wait in line even when other things in lines/crowds could affect my physical disabilities, because I have other solutions and have the ability to deal with my issues as needed. DAS, skipping lines, etc. is not the correct accommodation for most disabilities.
Glad to see Disney saying fakers will be banned from Disney, but who knows if anyone will actually ever be caught and banned.
Exactly they should be kept only for those who don’t understand what a line is like some autistic people. Only parents of actual disabled autistic children knows of the challenged we live everyday by having a child disabled to the point they don’t know what a line is. The others do know it.
It’s incredible that everyone wants a DAS for smells and anxiety, everyone has anxiety and doesn’t like smells of others either, so that would make everyone qualified for a DAS. They have to draw the line somewhere.
I understand your concern, but it’s important to recognize that disabilities, whether visible or invisible, can significantly impact a person’s ability to navigate spaces like Disney. For someone with severe anxiety, long waits in crowded lines can be incredibly triggering and even debilitating. Providing accommodations like shorter wait times through the DAS is a necessary support for these individuals.
It’s crucial to avoid categorizing invisible disabilities as less legitimate than visible ones. This mindset is a form of ableism that dismisses the real challenges faced by those with conditions like severe anxiety. Invisible disabilities are valid and deserve the same consideration and accommodations as any other disability.
By acknowledging and accommodating the diverse needs of all guests, Disney is working towards creating an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone, regardless of the nature of their disability.
Disney was sued in 2014 by a group of people who felt the DAS system at the time did nothing to accommodate those with developmental disabilities… So no, it wasn’t made ONLY for those with autism or similar conditions.
Your perspective on the DAS is understandable, but it overlooks the complexities of physical disabilities that aren’t easily solved by mobility devices. As someone with nerve damage, I don’t use mobility devices daily, and being forced into one at the parks isn’t a viable solution.
DAS was created to assist those who can’t wait in traditional lines due to their disabilities, which includes more than just Autism and similar conditions. Many physical disabilities, like mine, involve severe pain or discomfort from standing in line for long periods. The DAS helps mitigate these challenges without forcing us into using devices that aren’t part of our everyday lives.
While abuse of the system is a valid concern, the solution shouldn’t involve restricting DAS to only certain types of disabilities. A balanced approach that ensures accessibility for those genuinely in need, while preventing misuse, would be more effective. Quiet waiting areas, while ideal, are indeed impractical. However, better enforcement of the DAS rules and stricter verification processes could help minimize abuse.
Accessibility should be inclusive, accommodating a wide range of disabilities, not just those that fit a narrow definition.
No, it wasn’t originally for mental disabilities. Many of the ques would not accommodate a wheelchair then. As for now, how about people that cannot stand in a 2 hour line because of a physical disability? It’s easy to tell when a commentor doesn’t have to deal with a disability.