BREAKING: Disney Announces Change to Disability Access Service (DAS)
If you have ever used or plan to use the Disability Access Service (DAS) at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you will want to keep reading, as big changes have just been announced.
The DAS system was originally implemented for those who experience difficulty waiting in long lines for attractions. This reason could be anything from a mental health issue to a physical impairment.
Photo: Disneyland
When the new system goes live, DAS will be available for “only for those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”
Disney has partnered with Inspire Health Alliance professionals to help Cast Members determine if a guest can receive DAS accommodations under the new guidelines.
Photo: Disney
Currently, guests can make an appointment to qualify for DAS two to 30 days before their arrival. Or, they can stop by Guest Services once they are in the Parks to receive their pass.
However, with this new change, Guests will no longer be able to meet with a Cast Member in person to receive their DAS accommodations once in the Parks and will have to do a virtual chat before their arrival or a virtual chat the day of.
For guests who might not qualify for the new program but need to leave a queue for a period and then get back in line, Disney will implement a “return to queue” process. More details on this will be released at a later date.
The new system will take effect at Walt Disney World on May 20, 2024, and at the Disneyland Resort on June 18, 2024.
Photo: D23
These are the notable changes when the new DAS system launches later this year at Disney World and Disneyland:
- Pre-arrival DAS attraction selections will no longer be offered to every guest
- Guests who currently have a DAS pass will have to re-apply
- The maximum party size for a DAS accommodation will be four guests (exceptions will be made for larger families)
- Enrollment eligibility goes from 60 to 120 days
Disney has stated that Guests using the DAS system has tripled over the past five years. They also said, “Disney is dedicated to providing great experience for all Guests, including those with disabilities, which is why we are so committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our Guests with disabilities have a wonderful time when visiting out theme parks.”
What do you think about these changes to Disney’s DAS system? Let us know in the comments below!
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As a parent of an adult on the autism spectrum, I heartily applaud these new changes. We have never used a DAS pass, because we feel incredibly blessed that our son’s needs do not extend to any difficulties standing in line. That said, over the years we have seen Disney’s good intentions with DAS exploited by those solely seeking to jump their turn in the queue – including young women leveraging falsified fertility excuses as well as extended family members lining up behind an elderly person in a wheelchair with a DAS, perfectly capable of navigating the queue, even if it means waiting from a sitting position. Thank you, Disney, for doing the right thing in this instance. Those with legitimate disabilities deserve your compassion and assistance. (So many of my friends in the autism community are rightfully appreciative of such considerations.) Those without legitimate reasons (and their often-large parties of interlopers) do not. It’s as simple as that.
Another way to make more money. Disney is moving to the same system as Universal. Forcing people who can not stand in line for hours to buy Genie +. Are they going to make lines wider so that mobility scooters can go down them?
This really sad for all honest guests with a disability that is not covered by the new rules of elegibility.
We just got back fron Disney World and the DAS pass was a live saver for me. I have a disability, due to several autoimmune diseases, that does not allow me to stand or sit for longer periodes of time. I can either walk or lay down. So this past trip was my last one to Disney if this goes into effect.
Universal has also a very strict system, but they accept a note from the doctor, stating the problem that prevents their patient from standing or sitting in line.
Disney should consider applying the same process Universal has to filter out the abusers of the system.
I have serious knee problems as does my wife and she also has sclerosis of her back. And we are in our 70’s.
Does this mean we are out of luck now and all of the thousands of dollars we have spent there that we have to stand in the long lines and suffer? We don’t mind some waiting and are happy to see some changes for the people who really do cheat