Disney World announces new measures to address abuse of Disability Access Service

Apr 09, 2024 in "Magic Kingdom"

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Posted: Tuesday April 9, 2024 12:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney is making changes to Walt Disney World's Disability Access Service (DAS) to address the misuse of this widely used benefit, which skips conventional queue environments at the parks. The new system aims to ensure that DAS is used fairly and only by those who truly need it, improving the park experience for all guests.

A major change is in the works for Walt Disney World's Disability Access Service (DAS)

DAS is intended for guests with difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. DAS offers return times for attractions, similar to standby waits, allowing guests and their party to enjoy other park experiences instead of waiting in line. Notably, Disney has dramatically narrowed the scope of eligibility and now says that DAS is for guests with a "developmental disability like autism or similar." The new DAS also extends the enrollment period from 60 days to 120 days, and reduces the DAS party size to four guests.

Disney is facing increasing abuse of the system, which, according to sources who spoke with WDWMAGIC, is the primary cause for extended wait times in the Genie+ Lightning Lanes and occupies a significant quantity of available Lightning Lane inventory.

Disney plans to introduce the new DAS system on May 20, 2024 at Walt Disney World, and June 18, 2024 at Disneyland Resort in California. Disney is teaming up with Inspire Health Alliance to help Cast Members determine eligibility.

How to Register for DAS at Walt Disney World

Registration is available via live video chat.
Speak with a Cast Member via live video chat to determine eligibility as soon as 30 days in advance of a park visit.
At this time, live chat is offered in English only.
Guests visiting now through May 19 may visit a theme park Guest Relation location to speak with a Cast Member. In-person registration will no longer be available at theme park Guest Relations locations starting May 20, 2024.
If DAS is provided after a conversation with a Cast Member to determine eligibility, the Guest with a disability (or a parent/guardian) will participate in the registration process. This requires having a photo taken of the DAS-registered Guest.
DAS registration maximum party size is the registered DAS Guest and up to 3 additional party members, for a total of 4 people.
DAS is valid for up to 120 days. Once the service has elapsed, Guests will need to re-register.
Guests visiting now through May 19, 2024, DAS is valid for up to 30 days.

Disney says that, "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."

DAS Information for Guests visiting from April 9 through May 19, 2024

Pre-arrival conversations to determine eligibility for DAS are available 2-30 days prior to your park visit.
In-person conversations to determine eligibility for DAS will continue to be at Guest Relations locations.
You can book up to 2 one-hour return windows for select experiences using our DAS Advance planning option.
DAS is valid for up to 30 days from the start of the registration. Once the service has elapsed, Guests will need to re-register.

Discuss on the Forums

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ditzee2 hours ago

It can also vary by the business issuing the permits. There are a couple in our town right across the street from each other. Went to the first one and she said I needed a note from my doctor. I told her it was already in the system. She was rude, we left. Went across the street, the woman looked up my info, bam, license plate, and id were issued. We talked and I was telling her about our upcoming Disney vacation . She gave me an extra hang tag for our rental car. NOTE: In our state, you must have your disability/handicap ID in order to park in a handicapped spot regardless of hang tag or license plate. IMO, that's a good thing.

Comped20 hours ago

There absolutely is - but it's often dependent on the state. Some require a bit more paperwork and documentation for proof you actually need it. Others, not so much. (Usually correlates with if they have more handicapped spaces required in local building codes than elsewhere.)

TrainsOfDisney21 hours ago

This mirrors my thoughts as well. There is also a range of guests in that 8% - it’s not like a guest either 100% needs DAS or is lying, there are lots of in between where guests are slightly or greatly exaggerating an issue in order to get the DAS. I’m sure there is a huge range for Handicap parking permits as well. I’m not entirely convinced the problem couldn’t have been solved with just reducing the party size and having trained CM’s who specifically evaluate each guest.

Splash4eva21 hours ago

But again. The numbers are Not bad. 8% of guests are getting DAS which to me is Not alot imo of which All are not lying. So say 2% is lying again not a high number. The issues lies with this… Party size. They are addressing this (total of 4 now) i can argue to reduce that to say 2 and then make a case by case basis for families and that eliminates groups of adults… Pre bookings handing everyone 2 extra rides is NOT needed again they are addressing that as well. Elephant in room are re rides. Not sure how you handle that Genie+. No way they are going to tell people willing to pay they cant. So how to handle that again is a tough one. Tough to say you cant hold 2 at once but maybe find a middle ground. I really dont know but to me re rides are an issue…

Chi8422 hours ago

Then even more will have to be done. Disney wants people back in lines or paying to avoid them. With an aging population and expanding categories of disabilities, the system may not be able to handle DAS like accommodations even absent any abuse.

Splash4eva22 hours ago

People who lie to get access will continue to do so….

Angel Ariel22 hours ago

This. If i felt this would actually reduce (not eliminate - reduce) abuse I'd feel differently. I am very cynical that it will do much of anything to reduce abuse.

lazyboy97o22 hours ago

Because making things more difficult for people who need accommodations is not going to reduce the abuse. You need to stop people from lying about their needs. So long as they know what to say they can just say it. This is trying to reduce use by bluntly disqualifying people, the same strategy they originally tried with DAS.

Splash4eva22 hours ago

Because the argument is accurate. They are doing good things tho with the reducing party size & pre books

Fido Chuckwagon22 hours ago

Of course there will still be abuse. The idea is to reduce abuse. A lot of the arguments in this thread seem to boil down to “You can’t eliminate all abuse so why bother trying?”

Splash4eva22 hours ago

This is part of my point. ADHD is considered one… so anyone who is “abusing” the system now has an easy out to continue to do so. Do people really think this will not happen?

Fido Chuckwagon23 hours ago

If you have a developmental disability then you are still eligible.

Splash4eva1 day ago

Soaring well above Cindys castle that is for sure!

SourcererMark791 day ago

Ok, I see your point the way it needs to function shouldn't be a disadvantage, that's fair, and yes, it needs to provide the accomodations it was intended for, and that could certainly be abused by guests who would use that time to do anything but use the restroom. The cynic in me would like to see how high the flames will reach from the dumpster fire when this rolls out.