Universal now requiring documentation be sent to a third party for accessibility

[Angel Ariel]

I don't think it's a matter of training. This falls under "user error" or in this case, checking off the wrong boxes during the application process.

There are 2 yes/no questions about ABILITIES. Those need to be answered honestly. Those are the MOBILITY questions. A YES answer to either of those means your primary need is mobility based.

I applied on day one. I never even thought to select "can't stand in lines with other people" because my son CAN do these things. Instead, I checked the boxes for the following, which DO reflect the issues that are faced with waiting in attraction queues:

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Why does it automatically make the mobility disability the primary disability? DD has both mobility needs and sensory needs. Stroller as a wheelchair helps, but does not address all of her needs. From what you're saying, I'm getting the impression if I answer no to either of the top questions, she'll be denied universal's pass even though she'll have other sensory needs checked off as well?

 

[only hope]

I waste a lot of my time on TikTok and I have seen more people on there than ever before the past two years talking about requesting DAS for bathroom issues. Many went viral and were followed by tons of comments saying, oh cool I'll just say this too! Not that TikTok is all to blame but knowledge does spread fast on there.

Interestingly enough, I was at a meeting today at the university I work at about student disabilities and the accommodations office showed us statistics of how the number of students applying for accommodations has been increasing significantly each semester. It actually doubled since COVID and this is a large university. They attribute a lot of it to the knowledge/awareness on disabilities that was available during covid so more people know how to ask what they need and also how the stigma continues to decrease on identifying your own needs. I'm sure that also applies too with the increase in guests requesting accommodations at theme parks. Sure, I bet there's a chunk out there lying to try and use it as a TikTok hack but my bet is the majority of increases is due to the awareness/lessening stigma. There's just more info now for people to know what they need and how they should ask for it.

All that to say, I think the knee jerk reaction to seeing increases in accommodations requests is to assume falsehoods (I see this happen at my work with some colleagues, sadly) and perhaps theme parks are having a similar reaction. Or maybe those viral videos on bathroom needs=theme park accommodations ended up on Universals radar. Such a specific thing to focus on...

There also a lot of people with new disabilities due to long-Covid.

 

[HavendishSquare]

I waste a lot of my time on TikTok and I have seen more people on there than ever before the past two years talking about requesting DAS for bathroom issues. Many went viral and were followed by tons of comments saying, oh cool I'll just say this too! Not that TikTok is all to blame but knowledge does spread fast on there.

Interestingly enough, I was at a meeting today at the university I work at about student disabilities and the accommodations office showed us statistics of how the number of students applying for accommodations has been increasing significantly each semester. It actually doubled since COVID and this is a large university. They attribute a lot of it to the knowledge/awareness on disabilities that was available during covid so more people know how to ask what they need and also how the stigma continues to decrease on identifying your own needs. I'm sure that also applies too with the increase in guests requesting accommodations at theme parks. Sure, I bet there's a chunk out there lying to try and use it as a TikTok hack but my bet is the majority of increases is due to the awareness/lessening stigma. There's just more info now for people to know what they need and how they should ask for it.

All that to say, I think the knee jerk reaction to seeing increases in accommodations requests is to assume falsehoods (I see this happen at my work with some colleagues, sadly) and perhaps theme parks are having a similar reaction. Or maybe those viral videos on bathroom needs=theme park accommodations ended up on Universals radar. Such a specific thing to focus on...

TikTok is actually how I found out about the theme park accommodations. Before that I just never went on any rides that had a wait longer than 30-40 mins because that’s about all I could handle. So I’m sure there’s been an increase in both legit AAP/DAS users and abusers because of TikTok.

 

[HavendishSquare]

Why does it automatically make the mobility disability the primary disability? DD has both mobility needs and sensory needs. Stroller as a wheelchair helps, but does not address all of her needs. From what you're saying, I'm getting the impression if I answer no to either of the top questions, she'll be denied universal's pass even though she'll have other sensory needs checked off as well?

I get the feeling either IBCCES or Universal purposely made the options super vague so people won’t just check off what they think will qualify them. They almost feel like trick questions. When I first applied it was even worse, so maybe they will continue to refine it (hopefully).

 

[Angel Ariel]

I get the feeling either IBCCES or Universal purposely made the options super vague so people won’t just check off what they think will qualify them. They almost feel like trick questions. When I first applied it was even worse, so maybe they will continue to refine it (hopefully).

This is so frustrating. It shouldn't be a "gotcha" game or someone on the other side of a screen deciding what a person's primary disability is based off such vague questions.

 

[kathyk2]

There also a lot of people with new disabilities due to long-Covid.

There are also many students who have learned to advocate for themselves. More disabled students doesn't mean that people are faking disabilities.

 

[DisneDas]

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[Angel Ariel]

I really disagree with all the rhetoric going around. The process is pretty simple and the guest relations people have all been super sweet SO FAR.

The process really hasn’t changed, there’s just an extra step to submit medical documentation to IBC which doesn’t take long. I think the only complaint people could have is that it cost money to get documentation from a doctor. I think it’s great that it lasts for a year so you won’t have to worry about it until another year passes.

If you want to see a system that’s truly awful look to Disney. They’ve been striking down what they accept as a disability with no warning and it changes with each person you talk to.

If answering "no" to whether my chlid can stand in line results in them refusing a pass because they deem it a mobility issue, that's problematic for my child who has both mobility and cognitive/sensory needs. That's why I'm asking the question, because what was relayed implies that answering No to either of those standing questions will result in a denial.

 

[DisneDas]

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[Angel Ariel]

It doesn’t. They’re mainly looking toward what you select as the accommodations you would need

That's why I asked the question originally, because the earlier post definitely implies that.

 

[only hope]

There are also many students who have learned to advocate for themselves. More disabled students doesn't mean that people are faking disabilities.

I wasn’t disagreeing with that, just saying in addition more people have disabilities now too. The two combined would result in more accommodations being requested.

 

[DLgal]

Or maybe those viral videos on bathroom needs=theme park accommodations ended up on Universals radar. Such a specific thing to focus on...

I think it's most likely this. A similar thing happened with "service animals" several years ago and then suddenly everyone was bringing their dogs everywhere and claiming they were service dogs. And places EVERYWHERE clamped down hard on that. Airlines, restaurants, stores, theme parks, etc.

These theme parks keep track of reasons why people are asking for accommodations. A 500% increase in "bathroom issues" over a short period of time is suspect, and likely largely due to abuse of the system. Sure, a lot of people have Chrohns/UC or a similar condition like IBS, but not THAT many. I'm guessing the number of requests for those conditions was a major mismatch when looking at how prevalent these conditions are in real life.

It is telling that both Disney AND Universal are cracking down on this as a reason to issue assistance passes. I'm guessing they did their homework.

 

[DLgal]

That's why I asked the question originally, because the earlier post definitely implies that.

I was implying that ONLY checking off the mobility boxes would result in a denial because its a mobility issue. It seems that the website was not originally offering the checkbooks for sensory or other needs and the person who was denied simply checked off that their child could not stand in lines, and no other needs.

 

[DisneDas]

delet

 

[DLgal]

I really disagree with all the rhetoric going around. The process is pretty simple and the guest relations people have all been super sweet SO FAR.

The process really hasn’t changed, there’s just an extra step to submit medical documentation to IBC which doesn’t take long. I think the only complaint people could have is that it cost money to get documentation from a doctor. I think it’s great that it lasts for a year so you won’t have to worry about it until another year passes.

If you want to see a system that’s truly awful look to Disney. They’ve been striking down what they accept as a disability with no warning and it changes with each person you talk to.

Our experiences with Disney over the last 6 months have been consistent. We had ONE surly cast member who begrudgingly renewed my son's DAS, but since that one, we have had no issues at all renewing the DL one 3 times and obtaining a DAS for our WDW trip last week.

I am going to attempt another renewal online today for our park visit Saturday. We'll see how it goes. I get nervous about it every time.

 

[DLgal]

And there are other accommodations available for those with those disabilities. I think both Disney and Universal are going to roll out a system where a team member will be able to escort you to the bathroom and back in line, if needed. (Or just allow you to leave and bring you back to the front of the line when you’re ready)

I don't think they will go so far as an escort. But I think creating a physical "bathroom pass" system could be really helpful.

I mean, I doubt most people with these issues are in and out of the bathroom quickly and you don't want employees standing around waiting on them. That would be really embarrassing for me, because I'm often in there for HOURS.

 

[jods]

I think it's most likely this. A similar thing happened with "service animals" several years ago and then suddenly everyone was bringing their dogs everywhere and claiming they were service dogs. And places EVERYWHERE clamped down hard on that. Airlines, restaurants, stores, theme parks, etc.

These theme parks keep track of reasons why people are asking for accommodations. A 500% increase in "bathroom issues" over a short period of time is suspect, and likely largely due to abuse of the system. Sure, a lot of people have Chrohns/UC or a similar condition like IBS, but not THAT many. I'm guessing the number of requests for those conditions was a major mismatch when looking at how prevalent these conditions are in real life.

It is telling that both Disney AND Universal are cracking down on this as a reason to issue assistance passes. I'm guessing they did their homework.

But wouldn't having the outside agency confirming a diagnosis of chron's/UC get rid of those that were faking?

 

[Disneychick13]

I think it's most likely this. A similar thing happened with "service animals" several years ago and then suddenly everyone was bringing their dogs everywhere and claiming they were service dogs. And places EVERYWHERE clamped down hard on that. Airlines, restaurants, stores, theme parks, etc.

These theme parks keep track of reasons why people are asking for accommodations. A 500% increase in "bathroom issues" over a short period of time is suspect, and likely largely due to abuse of the system. Sure, a lot of people have Chrohns/UC or a similar condition like IBS, but not THAT many. I'm guessing the number of requests for those conditions was a major mismatch when looking at how prevalent these conditions are in real life.

It is telling that both Disney AND Universal are cracking down on this as a reason to issue assistance passes. I'm guessing they did their homework.

Ulcerative colitis and Chrohns and relatively rare. IBS is fairly common with estimates up to 15 of the adult population. I’m assuming the vast majority of people who are asking for an AAP for “bathroom issues” are for IBS or overactive bladder/ urge incontinence. Because these issues affect such a large percentage of the population, it really can’t be something that the theme parks can reasonably issue a disability pass for because far too many people would qualify. It would be helpful, just like with mobility or hearing/sight issues, if they would just state that bathroom issues do not qualify for an AAP (except in the cases of people with UC or progressive Chrohns disease) and that will keep in line with what the theme parks in Europe do. There might have to be something for solo travelers because it would be really hard to get out/come back to the line with no one saving your place, so having an individual pass (that would only be good for one person/ not a group or family) seems like it would be appropriate for visitors with documented IBS and severe overactive bladder that are traveling alone.

 

[DLgal]

Ulcerative colitis and Chrohns and relatively rare. IBS is fairly common with estimates up to 15 of the adult population. I’m assuming the vast majority of people who are asking for an AAP for “bathroom issues” are for IBS or overactive bladder/ urge incontinence. Because these issues affect such a large percentage of the population, it really can’t be something that the theme parks can reasonably issue a disability pass for because far too many people would qualify. It would be helpful, just like with mobility or hearing/sight issues, if they would just state that bathroom issues do not qualify for an AAP (except in the cases of people with UC or progressive Chrohns disease) and that will keep in line with what the theme parks in Europe do. There might have to be something for solo travelers because it would be really hard to get out/come back to the line with no one saving your place, so having an individual pass (that would only be good for one person/ not a group or family) seems like it would be appropriate for visitors with documented IBS and severe overactive bladder that are traveling alone.

That makes sense.

I know that when you have UC/Chrohns, you can get a bathroom card that requires businesses without public bathrooms to give you access to a bathroom if needed.

I think it would be fair to issue assistance passes for those particular conditions and agree that IBS is too prominent to accommodate.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I was implying that ONLY checking off the mobility boxes would result in a denial because its a mobility issue. It seems that the website was not originally offering the checkbooks for sensory or other needs and the person who was denied simply checked off that their child could not stand in lines, and no other needs.

Thank you for clarifying - that is helpful!