I arrived at Disney and make my way to guest services to speak to them about my disability as I have autism. I had been in touch with someone before I went to explain that I struggle in crowds of people, don’t like being touched my strangers and can become over stimulated in long and noisy lines. I was told that Disney are extremely supportive of people with disabilities and to make my way to guest services on the first day of the holiday and they could give me accommodations to help. That’s what I did. The experience was horrendous. I was told I had to video call with a third party agency who would decide if I was disabled enough to be given a DAS pass. I spoke to this person over the video call in the middle of guest services. The headphones were not working so I was having to shout into the tablet with guests around me listening to my medical history and talking about a disability I am extremely sensitive about- this in itself was very belittling and stressful. At the end of the video call they said I didn’t quality for a DAS pass as they only give it to people with autism. WHAT!!! That’s exactly what I’m telling them I have. I offered to show my diagnosis but they were not interested. They told me I did quality for some accommodations and I could have my family queue and then join them when they are at the front or if things became too much to just leave the line. I said this would not be possible and that my family should not be split up to accommodate my disability. This is indirect discrimination. I also couldn’t leave the lines as it would mean walking through crowds of people which is actually the problem. They were not interested. I tried a second time on another video call with a different agent. Went through the whole embarrassing process again of shouting out my issues down a video call with everyone listening in and was then told I now had to speak to a healthcare professional. I did this and talked about all the accommodations I have at home to help me. Got to the end and the healthcare professional decided I was not autistic enough to qualify for a DAS pass. At this point I became very upset and thought well I may as well just go home as I won’t join queues for rides as my anxiety will be too bad. My holiday was saved thanks to two very lovely members of staff called Marcie and Brittany in animal kingdom guest services. They really sympathised with me and went above and beyond to help ensure my experience was not ruined. They could not override the decision that had been made by this third party but they did put a number of things in place to ensure the challenges I have were accommodated, meaning I could enjoy the rest of my time at Disney. I am so grateful to these two staff members. In relation to the DAS programme- this is a joke! It would appear that no one is ever granted a DAS pass and the decision whether you get one or not comes down to a 30 second conversation you have with a person who is not medically trained and has no understanding or neurodiversity. I understand some people take the Mickey (excuse the pun) but it should be as simple as a guest providing proof they have a disability and then a DAS pass is granted. The way I was made to feel, the 2 hours of stress I went through means that I am not unlikely to ever return to Disney again! Sort it out Disney- this is not very inclusive and what you are doing is actually indirect discrimination. I wasn’t granted a DAS pass as I didn’t present as autistic enough! WHAT! This is unacceptable and I will be taking this further!
