I am sure it is legal. I just wish they were honest people. Disney used to employ people of integrity, but this just sounds like every other company that takes away benefits and tells us how it is an "improvement".
The stated reason is that DAS pass usage has increased. We are left to imagine whether this is due to more disabled people coming to the parks because they feel welcomed or the negative reasons that people are cheating or that Disney is not selling enough
Genie+.
The DAS system is essentially the old fast pass system that EVERY customer got 5 years ago. Hold one return time based on the current queue and return later (don't think I was denied a late entry in 10 years, and then I just waited until the CM changed and the next one let me in.) So it is clearly not a capacity management issue. Even if the increase is 100% fraud it is still less than every customer.
This does nothing to stop fraud. You still have to do an interview. How many of us have heard a parent tell their kid to "act autistic" whatever that means? If you know the key words you can still lie. Now there will be supposed consequences if you do. Sure, the Disney gestapo are going to be following DAS pass holders to make sure they didn't lie.
This cuts the capacity by eliminating everyone who does not have a "developmental" issue however that is defined. It redefines fraud as having a medical issue that is not developmental. Yesterday my DW qualified due to her chronic health issues that impact her waiting in line in the heat. It is much safer for her to go shop or eat in air conditioning than wait in a queue and hope for the best (time is right, no breakdowns, etc). She can't do E ticket rides, so our DAS does not impact many of the Genie+ rides and there are many rides that don't even have a Genie+ option.
They could have done many things: limit DAS per day, double the wait time, offered alternative accommodations and said current DAS holders can discuss their future with a cast member, required medical documentation, etc. Instead they just said you are out, you may crawl back but we'll let you know AFTER your paid in full date. At best that is terrible customer service, at worst it is a deliberate slap in the face to loyal customers.
Which brings us back to money. If it is not about capacity and not about honesty/conveniece/alternatives then it is about selling more Genie+. I guess it is illegal for them to sell DAS passes, so just eliminate them and see how the revenue reacts. Either way I feel less welcome and now have to decide if Disney will eventually do the right thing or just cancel my trip and be done with it.