When walking out of Animal Kingdom this evening, I made the decision that I am no longer going to report on the DAS. Originally we started reporting on it because it was a part of our story and it affected how we enjoy the parks. The responses we received on our experiences and our reporting in a positive manner were completely unexpected. While we did get a lot of friendly and kind responses, there were also a lot of extremely negative and attacking responses. Definitely something we NEVER expected at any point was to be attacked for simply telling our story and our experiences, and for trying to help. We felt we were forced into defending something, that while workable, wasn’t the best solution (in our opinion). Because we made the decision to remain positive about what Disney was giving us (the new DAS) and to make it work for our family, we got put into the middle of several very hateful groups and people.
I have trusted Disney. I understand things were inconsistent, but those things were always easily able to be dealt with. I have believed Disney when they said they were still trying to provide a better service. I stood up for them and tried to advocate for understanding during the learning curve.
At the same time, I tried to educate our readers and followers to the best practices for the new system. I even had one CM at GR tell me to not share about the ReAds and Files, but I told her I would, because withholding that information hurts people. I gave of my time, my families time and of myself to bring you as much information as I could. I have taken hundreds of emails and answered each one personally with help to specific situations. I have gladly given my phone number and had many phone calls with worried moms about their upcoming visits. I am by no means any sort of an “expert”, I am just mom who has autism in her story.
For the last 48 hours, I have felt every ounce of Disney Magic leave me. I haven’t been able to sleep, and I have been completely stressed out over all this DAS crap. I even yelled {over a private group email} at several other Disney bloggers who I have much respect for because of my frustration over all this. I trusted Disney when I called in and was told Yes Accommodations are still available and then Yes you can get 3 wait times now. I trusted them when I called in a second time and was told the same thing. I trusted them when I received accommodations at MK {later learned my file still has pending accommodations, so I am assuming that is why}. I trusted them when I called in again, this time with a second party {another blogger} on the line and was told that accommodations essentially are still available, but they will be HARD to come by and not handed out freely, and that Yes 3 Wait times are now permitted.
We went to Animal Kingdom this evening to test out the 3 wait times. Not to do it, but rather to just ask to make sure that was the case. At Guest Relations, they had no idea what I was talking about. Ok fine…. I called in again, while in the parks and got another woman who informed that she had no idea what I was talking about. AND that the DAS could only be used for 3 come back times in a day. She informed that since resort guests only get 3 FP then the DAS only gets 3 come back times, because it is essentially a FastPass…. I LOST IT. TOTALLY LOST IT why, you might be wondering, well
- This was once again a different story than what I had been told {3 change to the story}
- The DAS is not a FP – – those other families can do more rides than the FP ones… I can’t, my child can’t wait in the other lines… so we get 3 rides and that is it?
- She was condescending and rude
We were walking out of the park by this time, and I decided to head into Guest Relations to ask them about this 3 times total BS. They said no that wasn’t true… OK yet another different story….
At this point, I feel like I have failed you, our readers, because I trusted Disney. I believed them when they told me what was going on. As of right now, I have NO IDEA about how the DAS is working, because no one is giving me the same story two times in a row.
The stress of making sure I am reporting accurate information, offering help to as many as I can, and to also share our experiences has turned Autism from being a small part of our story to one of the main focuses. That is never what we had intended, and not something we want. Worrying about not only my family, but all of our readers who are struggling with the Disney DAS and changes has weighed greatly on me and has affected my desire to even be in the parks.
So with a heavy heart tonight, I am saying, enough. I can’t do it. I have to recapture the magic, and tell the story of my family, loving life, staying positive, learning new things and making memories.
No, I don’t trust Disney any more, not after the last 48 hours but I will continue to make the DAS work us. Yes, I will tell our story and at times that will be autism related, but I won’t focus on it. It’s not fair to the rest of my family, or to me to make everything about one fraction of our family.
There are some great resources out there that will report on all the changes, and that will tackle the mess that is currently Disney’s Disability program. As for us, we will mention it when it is a part of the story, but we will leave the heavy hitting reports to sites that devote their time, talents and resources to Special Needs and Disney.
Autism is in our story, but it isn’t our only story….
Thank you,
Thank you for your honesty! The whole journey for ALL of us since the switch has been VERY discouraging, especially to autism families. Please continue to report (both good and bad), but also PLEASE help US advocate and improve the system so it’s fair, consistent, and meets the needs for everyone. I appreciate your well written articles and experiences. You have a voice that is much bigger than most of us. Please provide feedback to Disney. All our children deserve magic. Again, thank you for your efforts!
I am so sad to hear about how much trouble you had trying to do a kind thing for others in similar situations as yours. I don’t think I would have lasted as long as you did especially with the public hating on you like they did. That is so disheartening to realize how so many people can be so hatelful due to pure ignorance and would have done me in for sure. Thank you for what you have reported on so far and I look forward to your stories of things other than the DAS frustration while in the Disney parks. May the your future dealings with CM’s about he DAS get better and better in the future.
Aunesty, I am so sorry that those cast members and others ruined your magic, people like that should not work for Disney. I will tell you that I have loved reading Temporary Tourist, you have been so informative on so many things and I enjoy your post when you go to the parks, I wish I could be like you and your family living so close to WDW that you can go to the parks on a whim, would be awesome. I am hoping that you are still going to do the Temporary Tourist. Just know that there are people like me that are thankful to you for everything you’ve done for us.
Thank you so very much
Eulette
Thank you for your honesty! I have been trying to get answers from Disney about the das and have read as many blogs as I can about it, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t believe what I was being told in the conversation with whomever answers the phones. Yes Disneyland us one of my favorite places…but it isn’t the only one. I want my son (who has autism and a mitochondrial issue) to look back at our holiday and enjoy it.I want him to see things through his eyes not my worry over whether the major $$$ we put out for tickets is worth it. So it was with a heavy heart I changed my reservation to one that was as far away from Disneyland as I could and we bought tickets for the places we know will accept him for WHO he is not WHAT he is…that being the wonderful little fella who loves life and loves to do things with his family and just happens to be diagnosed with autism and his other issues. *hugs*
I just wanted to chime in and say that I related to every item in this post on a much smaller scale. Every one. Our Disney vacation led us down this same path and all of the confusion and heartbreak of losing a special, magical place. I started helping others in groups I was in by sharing our thoughts and experiences. Our trip to Disney was awful, quite honestly, and I felt exactly what you are describing – Cerebral Palsy defined us. Disability was at the forefront. That’s not how we live. My daughter does not view herself as disabled. It was so, so hard.
My encouragement is this – once our trip was over and I stopped worrying about all of it, I realized just how beautiful our “regular life” is. Thankfully, Disney couldn’t taint that. We are so ridiculously blessed and, though our life is filled with many, many challenges, disability is not something that is held over our heads or thrown in our faces in our day to day. It’s an obstacle, not a shroud that constrains us.
Thanks for trying so hard and for so long to bring the information to us, but know that you are absolutely right to step back and focus on your ‘normal’ and on your family. It will bless you. And you are wise to know when it is time to let Disney sort it’s own mess out and go enjoy the beautiful (albeit probably messy at times if it’s anything like mine) life the Lord has blessed you with. Many blessings to you!
Hi there. I never ever accept a spoken promise. After phoning I always ask for email address that will go directly to the person i have just spoken to. In that email I list the agreements. And ask them to endorse them. This proved absolutely invaluable recenty when flying. Having this in your hand is powerful. Also can I just mention that as a newbie to your amazing page I do not understand any of your abbreviations. Thank you for fighting. Please don’t give up, and if you do do not think you failed. Its a big world to take on. Auties rule ok. I least I think they might one day. Xx
I am sorry. You took the hit for all of us. We can do is vote with our wallets and our voices. Disney had been wanting to rid itself of the GAC for a long time. I’m just we never night into DVC like I had wanted to. I’m so disappointed. Our trip in 2005 was magical. We started in the Fort Wilderness cabins and zipped around in a cool golf cart. But like all good things, that has ended.
Thanks for helping me through my first DAS trip.
I hope you reconsider stepping down because you have a unique opportunity to affect change not only for your own child but also for other children and adults who cannot fight for themselves. I can feel your grief at losing the magic that we all felt at such a personal level. We have all been there and I still get sad when I see a Disney ad or hear a Disney song. My son doesn’t know about the changes and I will do everything in my power to keep HIS magic intact. But I encourage you to use your voice. Make another video. Get it on the media.
I remember reading your original story about the DAS. While I don’t need to use this service, I thought the article was very informative. I am sorry to hear that not only has Disney let you down, but that people would attack you for just telling your perspective of a service that you have utilized and what your thoughts were on that service.
Unfortunately that has become the norm. People feel that if your opinion does not match theirs then you are wrong and you need to change how you feel. Thank you for standing strong and true to yourself and your family.
God Bless.
Thankyou so much..I know what you mean about the magic not being so magic anymore..my son has autisim and it was a difficult holiday!
but you need to do whats best for you and im sure you dont need any more stress in your life!
hopefully one day the magic will return to us all..
I’ve read the info you’ve shared with great interest our So has ads and our experience of das wasn’t good to the point of for our next visit we have only booked a five day disney ticket instead of 14 day as I can’t handle the stress or tears again
I hope you re catcher the magic and I hope my boy does too
I thank you so much for taking your time to share. You of all people HAVE given Disney the benefit of the doubt and now they have burned you as their protector and I am so sorry for that. It is hateful the way they are acting. I hope that they clear it up in the future but my heart is very reluctant to believe that. I hope within hope that you will feel like the load is at least partially lifted by letting this side of the DAS go. I would however love love love, to see some info about how other parks are handling our precious children. So, I will just keep reading on whatever your heart posts!!! You have done a good job, please do not feel as though you haven’t. :-). Now move on friend and enjoy life again.
I just wanted to tell you that all of your hard work and information helped us have a successful trip last week to Disney. We have 3 kids, our oldest 14 has autism and has been going to Disney since he is 1. We were worried how he would handle the changes during this visit. With your advice, I was able to make it work and we had a wonderful trip. Thank you!!! Best of luck to you 🙂
I have enjoyed your post and been frustrated along with you on your journey into Disney’s DAS. You should be making wonderful loving memories with your family. I am sure you have made a difference into someones life. I wish you nothing but the best for you and your family. Go….Make it work for you and your family, and continue to make those wonderful memories.
As a caregiver to my brother David, who has severe autism, and as a big lover of all things Disney, I appreciate the effort you have put forth to help other families, including mine. I am also saddened that you have had such a frustrating time. When I first learned of the changes to the DAS, I was very disappointed, and nothing I have read and heard has changed my mind. But it’s okay, because we will find a way to make whatever we do work for us. Again, thank you.
I read your post with tears in my eyes, Aunesty. And with anger … upon hearing how your efforts to help others were attacked by those hateful individuals and groups (as well as by hearing about Disney’s own lack of compassion and understanding of the situation and their inability to give you the truthful answers that you needed — and deserved — to your legitimate questions).
And I admire your ability to assess the situation and to decide what is best for you and for your family, as difficult as that decision was. And although your contributions to this topic will be very much missed … you have “fought the good fight” for those you have been trying to help … but restoring the your own personal magic matters more.
Thank you.