Which is part of the problem. Like others put it "just in case", the rides didn't change, the queues didn't change. MP is similar to Genie+, what changes for your situation between MP and Genie+ that means you'd need to use DAS more? The fact that you are only allowed to ride once? Why would that mean you use DAS because of that. Seems like an example of why Disney would be looking to tweak DAS
But again what would have done before. I think that's the point trying to be made. Disney isn't making you miss family time. If you need to use the bathroom unpredictably you'd be leaving the queue on and off. It would seem a better overall situation where your family isn't losing a place in line, you aren't either, to allow the usage of a separate area for this specific issue if you need to leave. You are the one with the bathroom issues and presumably don't need aid (I trust Disney has a protocol in place for the bathroom pass when the person in need does need aid) so it sounds like they are trying to narrow this down.
I think all they were saying is, for the most part the only people in the LL/Genie+ line at that time were DAS users...which made it very easy to see how many people were using that specific pass, and gave the CM friend a better perception of how much abuse of the system could be happening.
Same thing that all people did before a disability pass was available, they had to make choices on if they should get in line and risk having an issue. I would have had to decide if I can get in line and not need to leave for the bathroom. The person or family of someone with autism would have had to decide if they could make it through the line without a meltdown. In both cases only 1 person has the medical issue. While I understand I don't need aid and the person with autism probably does, neither one needs the whole family to wait with them. So why is Disney making the decision that someone needing to leave the line for a medically related bathroom issue is less deserving of waiting out of the line with their whole family than someone who has autism.
DAS is not designed to accommodate people who need to leave the line. It is designed to accommodate people who can't wait in line. I know it sounds like I'm splitting hairs but there really is a difference. If your diagnosis means you may unpredictably have to leave a line that is not what they designed DAS to handle (not saying that is right or wrong, just how it is). If waiting in line is causing a worsening of your diagnosis or potentially triggering your diagnosis, then DAS is designed in such a way that you can wait elsewhere before you ride.
But the person with Autism still has to wait in a line. They still have to wait through the lightning lane. So they are capable of waiting in a short line, just not a 60min line. During a flare, I too can probably wait in a short line but a line of 60 min would be an issue.
Less deserving is an emotional response and while understandable it it literally impossible to make that distinction as just about everyone is going to say they are all deserving of the same. It's hard not to take it like a personal affront from Disney but they really aren't trying to make it personal towards you. They aren't telling you that you are less deserving.
From what I've read about WDW's adjustment they appear to be more stringent when a person is just changing how they describe their situation. I think that's why they've gone to be more wide approach of bathroom issues. That's what would happen in the past that people would just change how they said things and get it from another CM. There are reasons why that would appropriately need to be re-done but if Disney is adjusting how they are choosing to handle what they call bathroom issues it means they are probably going to pay more attention to how someone "hangs up and calls again" kind of thing. That doesn't mean the PP may not still qualify for DAS by some other means but they do seem to be paying attention to what the issue may fall under. I suspect if they have too many people just calling again and again they may go an even stricter route (total speculation on my part).
It very well could for me. But what about all the other people with bathroom issues? I'm not the only one who can't wait in long lines due to a bathroom related medical disability. The fact is both disabilities make waiting in a typical line impossible for 1 person, not the whole family. So why are those with bathroom disabilities being singled out and told they can't wait outside of the line with their whole family, but those with autism can wait with their whole family.
I agree with you but I think it's also fair to say it's hard to necessarily use the reasoning it was not designed to accommodate such and such even though that's the part I agree with you. If Disney in the past lumped it all in there abruptly not having it included would certainly put someone off. For all we know Disney did design it as an more broad program but still stricter than GAC but then just like GAC found things needed to be adjusted (and we don't know if this is a permanent change other than we know Universal is going a documentation route which sounds more permanent to me).
If they made that decision across the board, that anyone getting a DAS could only have 1 person plus the person with the medical need wait outside the line, that would be fair. The person with the medical need receives the accommodation that they need, plus they have someone with them. What isn't fair is that Disney is saying if you have autism you can wait with your whole family. If you have a medically related bathroom issue you have to separate from your family and wait by yourself if you can't wait the full time in a regular line.
As I said, DH doesn't do all of the rides that have Genie+/Lightning Lanes, so he would gladly do say two rides on Grizzly instead of one on Grizzly and one on Goofys Sky School (which he can't handle). This was allowed under Maxpass, but not under Genie+. This means to make the same accomodations, he now needs the DAS when he might not have bothered before. Now granted that opens up additional attractions, so maybe now he won't do a second Grizzly ride, but instead park hop to DL and go on Peter Pan. The point is he is now more likely to get a DAS than under the old MaxPass system and there are likely a lot more like him, so with the new restricted Genie+/Lightning Lane system, it makes sense there are a lot more DAS users and they are likely mostly legitimate needs.
You can't really tell someone with autism they can't wait with their entire family, that could cause a meltdown in and of itself.
I have several family members (between my family and my husband's family) with autism with varying degrees of it from high functioning to non-verbal. It is not impossible to wait in long lines for my aunt nor for the non-verbal person, it would be an issue for the one who is verbal but lower functioning, he's a lot better than he used to be but it would be an issue for him still, although a toy train or a tablet with trains going on on a video would help.
You're thinking about it from your own particular situation but what about others? Are you always just traveling with your son? What about the person that has 3 in their party or 4 in their party. If your whole point is you are separated from your family then it only works in your favor what I hypothesized with only having 1 go in if you are a party of 2. I was, in effect, being slightly hyperbolic there. People would absolutely complain if they only allowed one other person irrespective of one's reasoning for qualifying for DAS because then they would use what you said that you don't get time with your family, it would become advantageous for a party of two and only that, which was my point in bringing it up. More or less because you kept making the point you felt Disney was saying you were less deserving or singling you out.
Again people are individuals too, one person with autism isn't the same as another. My aunt could wait with just my mom, or just my aunt or even just me. The person I know who is non-verbal would be better off with at least his mom and dad. The person who is lower functioning but verbal could do well with either his mom or his sister. In this case the whole family is not required for any of them with the exception that one would likely need both parents.
I would gladly take going on rides multiple times myself
actually that's one of the reasons Genie+/ILL is a bummer, at least with MP, Legacy FP and FP+ you could ride multiple times by just selecting the attraction again should the attraction/time be available. But what about that means your husband needs to use DAS more than before? Because DAS is need based, you are in essence saying you need to be able to ride multiple times when no one gets that opportunity unless they pay for it. Without any hint of being disrespectful that could make a case on an abuse of the DAS system ethically speaking and would be an example of an increase in DAS usage without the true need for it. Is riding a ride more than once a legitimate need? Like I said I'd like to ride multiple times myself like the olden days and not have to pay for it
