This past week, Walt Disney World announced that there are changes on the horizon to their Disability Access Service (DAS). You can read our past articles on DAS, but in a nutshell, DAS allows people who can’t wait in the traditional queue to receive a return time for when they can ride the attraction. The return time is based upon the current standby line wait time so, effectively, this allows an individual to wait outside of the normal line.
This service mainly is meant for people who might have some invisible disability which makes it harder for them to tolerate the normal line. It is NOT meant for people with mobility disabilities, as almost all attractions allow you to use a wheelchair or ECV in the regular queue.
This article will summarize all of the changes that are coming. I’ll also provide some of my initial commentary as someone with a child who has used DAS in the past. Of course, many of the details are still evolving, so it is likely that there will be more announcements coming in the future.
For the latest information on DAS, your best source is the offical Walt Disney World Disability Access Service website.
What Are the Changes?
Guests Can Only Apply Through Video Chat
Starting on May 20, 2024, the only option for applying for DAS is through a virtual video chat with a Disney Cast Member.
Previously, guests had the option of either applying through video chat anywhere from 2 to 30 days in advance of their trip, or they could apply in person at any theme park Guest Relations location.
It isn’t clear from the Disney’s official DAS website whether you still have to apply 2 days in advance. That wording appears to have been removed from the site, so I assume you will be able to apply on the day of your visit via video chat. That would make sense as Disney would want to retain the same day option in some form.
This, of course, means that now Disney needs to train more Cast Members specifically in handling DAS requests through the video chat. On the flip side, it removes the burden from the general Guest Relations cast members from making the determination…. especially since the qualifications are changing. And that’s a perfect segue to…
Qualifying for DAS May Get Harder
Only those with a developmental disability such as autism will qualify for DAS
The following new language was added to the DAS website by Disney:
DAS is one of the programs offered at Walt Disney World Resort theme parks intended to accommodate only 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.
I bolded the word which is causing the most controversy in the disability community. Previously, DAS was available to those with many different invisible disabilities which makes the standard line difficult to tolerate: anxiety, IBS, etc. However, this new language clearly makes these individuals ineligible for DAS.
The optimist in me thinks that there are more changes on the horizon to address people who might need to leave the line suddenly. The Washington Post (and other new outlets) have reported that Disney is also working on a “return to line” process for these situations. Disney hasn’t posted anything on its official website on this topic, so no other details are available. Hopefully, Disney will announce something soon in order to put the speculation on this topic to rest
In my opinion, I think this is probably a reasonable compromise. By limiting who qualifies for DAS, this will reduce the pressure on the Lightning Lanes. However, they would still be offering a solution for those who may not qualify for DAS under the new rules, but who still might need to leave the line on a moment’s notice due to a medical issue. This appears to be in keeping with the spirit of “equal access” that the law mandates.
Disney Will Partner With Inspire Health Alliance to Determine Eligibility
It has been reported by many news outlets that Disney will be leveraging health experts from Inspire Health Alliance to help with DAS qualification. This will provide Cast Members with another level of expertise when evaluating applications. Note that Disney is still not requiring any proof of disability, unlike Universal and Sea World.
This is probably another reason why Disney went to a video chat only system. This allows Disney to have a dedicated pool of Cast Members and experts who can provide a consistent evaluation.
Individuals Will Have to Re-qualify Less Frequently
Starting on May 20, 2024, once a person is approved for DAS, that approval lasts 120 days.
Under the previous system, DAS approval had to be renewed every 60 days, so the time period is now doubled.
For those who only travel to Disney, say, once a year, this change makes no difference. Effectively, you still have to re-qualify for every trip. However, if you are a local with an Annual Pass, you will benefit from this change.
To be honest, I don’t know why you have to re-qualify at all, especially with the new criteria. If someone has a developmental disability, that generally isn’t something that is going to go away in most cases. Why put someone through the process repeatedly? That aspect makes no sense to me.
The Number of Additional Guests Who May Accompany the DAS Pass Holder Has Reduced
Only THREE additional people (or one’s immediate family, regardless of number) may ride with the person who has DAS.
Previously, up to five additional guests could ride with the disabled guest.
Again, I think this is a reasonable change. This has been an area that has had a lot of abuse in the past. In the past, there have been instances of people who obtained a DAS for themselves and then would bring large groups onto rides with them. To combat this, Disney instituted a rule that only five people could ride with the DAS pass holder.
However, if one has a larger family, an arbitrary limit like five unfairly penalized these people. So it looks like Disney compromised here. They opened it up to everyone in the immediate family, which means that large families don’t have to split up. At the same time, they reduced the number of non-immediate family members to three, presumably to offset the first change.
Note that I could not find any language on the website as to how an immediate family member is defined for this purpose. Expect more clarification to come on this topic in the future.
No More “Advanced Planning” Selections
Previously, Disney offered a perk where DAS passholders could select up to two one-hour return times per day for qualifying rides in advance of their trip. Now this perk has been eliminated.
Honestly, I am not going to miss this one.
This really wasn’t much of a perk. The selection process itself was a pain in the neck. You had to do an online chat with a Cast Member, who would “suggest” various available rides and return times. A back and forth negotiation would then ensue. In most cases, the selections were not all that great. Usually, they would only offer rides that had little wait time anyway. It was a waste of time.
Also, DAS is about equal access. While I am all about getting extra stuff, it really wasn’t necessary to be given this extra reward. I have no problem with eliminating it if it helps take pressure off of the Lightning Lane for able guests.
What isn’t Changing?
Once You Qualify, DAS Works Exactly the Same
The mechanics of DAS are remaining the same.
- You can reserve one DAS return time at a time
- Your return time is based upon the current wait time
- Once it is time for you to return, you enter through the Lightning Lane entrance
- Once you check-in, you can reserve your next DAS return time
No Medical Documentation is Required
Disney is still not requiring any medical documentation. No doctor’s note. No disclosure of medical records. I would imagine that Disney’s lawyers are concerned about running afoul of the Americans With Disabilities Act regulations. Six Flags is already facing a class action lawsuit about their disability accommodation practices, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney is waiting to see how that case goes.
If You Lie About Your Disability, You Are Banned
Many news outlets are making a big deal about the following new language on the Disney DAS website:
If it is determined that any of the statements a Guest made in the process of obtaining DAS are not true, the Guest will be permanently barred from entering Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, and any previously purchased Annual Passes , Magic Key passes, tickets and other park products and services will be forfeited and not refunded.
Specifically, they are reporting this as if this is a change in Disney’s policy, and that somehow Disney is making the penalty harsher. It is not.
Although this statement is more prominently displayed on the website, it has always been the case that if you were caught lying, you were banned. Honestly, I agree with this 100%. The liars who have abused DAS are the reason why we can’t have nice things.
Why is Disney Making This Change?
Disney has seen usage of DAS skyrocket over the last few years. This could be due to a number of factors
- More people are now aware of the service
- The criteria for qualifying for the service may have gotten looser
- More people are lying about their condition in order to qualify
More DAS users mean that more people are using the Lightning Lanes. Not only can this back up the Lightning Lane, but this also has a cascade effect on standby wait times. This means that either they need to sell fewer Genie+ subscriptions (which means less $$$ for Disney), accept longer standby lines (and the resulting guest dissatisfaction), or reduce the number of DAS users by cracking down on abuse and restricting access.
Clearly, something had to be done in order to provide a better park experience for everyone, both disabled and non-disabled. Time will tell if these changes are the right changes
Hopefully Disney will announce more details about their “return to line” accommodation for those who no longer qualify for DAS but who still need an alternative option. Once that is in place, we can better evaluate the overall impact of these changes.
Wrap Up
Personally, having DAS has been a godsend for our family. It has allowed Little Banshee, who has autism, severe developmental delays, seizure disorder, low muscle tone, impaired gross and fine motor skills, etc to experience the Disney parks on par with everyone else. That said, there are times where I wish that we didn’t need DAS.
I would gladly stand in the longest standby lines at Walt Disney World if it meant that my daughter didn’t have to endure the struggles that she endures on a daily basis. But given that I can’t change Little Banshee, I’m glad that WDW offers accommodations for those who need them.
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