Walt Disney World Updates DAS Policy Wording: How It May Affect Disability Access

Jan 28, 2025 in "Disability Access Service Card - DAS"

Posted: Tuesday January 28, 2025 7:15am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Overnight, Walt Disney World quietly made a notable change to the wording of its Disability Access Service (DAS) policy. The updated policy no longer includes the word "only" in the "What to Know About DAS" opening paragraph.

Previous wording:
"DAS is 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."

Updated wording (January 28, 2025):
"DAS is intended to accommodate 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."

This seemingly small adjustment raises questions about its implications for how Disney defines eligibility for DAS and its impact on guests.

The Significance of Dropping "Only"

The removal of the word "only" may soften the exclusivity implied in the previous wording. By doing so, Disney could slightly broaden how it interprets eligibility for DAS. While the policy still emphasizes developmental disabilities like autism as the core criteria, the absence of "only" could be interpreted as leaving room for other similar conditions that may not fit traditional definitions but still meet the intent of the service.

This shift may also indicate an effort by Disney to avoid legal or interpretative limitations tied to the term "only," ensuring that the policy language is more inclusive and adaptable. However, no official statement has been made to clarify whether the change reflects a broader operational adjustment or is simply a refinement in wording.

What It May Mean for Guests

Removing "only" could allow Cast Members greater discretion in determining eligibility for DAS during the video chat registration process. This might benefit guests with non-traditional or less-common disabilities.

The previous wording may have inadvertently discouraged some eligible guests from applying, believing they did not meet the strict criteria. The updated language might encourage those who need DAS to register.

What Hasn't Changed

It's important to note that no other changes have been made to the DAS policy. Guests must still register via live video chat and meet the criteria determined by Disney's Cast Members. The primary purpose of DAS remains unchanged: to assist guests who cannot wait in traditional queues due to a developmental disability or similar condition.

Final Thoughts

While Disney has not provided further clarification on this wording change, it could have implications for how DAS is administered. For now, the impact will depend largely on how Cast Members interpret the updated language during the registration process. Guests relying on DAS should continue to provide a clear explanation of their needs to ensure smooth registration.

How to Register for DAS at Walt Disney World

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JAN J20 days ago

Makes sense, I hadn't considered it from that perspective.

Tigger&Pooh21 days ago

Agree that is the assumed reason for not limiting DAS. I also believe re-rides are simply not the problem that some posters here claim it is. If Disney felt DAS re-rides were causing a considerable backlog at certain attractions they could probably tweak DAS to include some limits (likely X number of attractions per day rather than "no re-rides"), but since it's apparently not a particularly high volume of riders Disney isn't interested in creating such limits.

JAN J21 days ago

Probably was easier to just say "set it at 10 minutes" rather than "estimate each ride's running time". My solution would be a scanner at the exit but then it would cost them money to buy and maintain.

DisneyHead12321 days ago

I think this is a largely uncharted topic, because in the past, disabilities often involved physical differences, with an assumption that people still wanted to do the same things in general. Now, with the huge increase we’re seeing in the ND population, it’s a bit different because the desire to do things differently is itself the disability, at least in part (note - I’m using disability in the sense that it qualifies people for DAS. I know some people use the term disability, some use difference, and I am open to both, depending on a person‘s unique situation and self perception.) I don’t know if wanting to go on a ride over and over would be considered something that needs to be accommodated if it were ever brought up in a legal sense. I actually think this is one of the few areas where a difference in ND thinking styles might be granted legal protection. If a person wants Disney to turn on all the lights in the dark rides and lower the volume on everything, that’s changing the experience for everyone else. If a person wants to go on a ride over and over? I feel like that’s similar to a person who goes to a zoo or museum and stands at one exhibit the whole time. It’s well within the choices they are allowed to make for themselves to have an enjoyable day. Now if the entrance to said exhibit is small and they are blocking it for other people? That’s a bit different. Again, I think this is one that would have to be discussed in detail in court as there is little that has been said about it thus far, that I’m aware of. I could see it going either way. My guess is that if Disney ever does limit DAS rides, it will be for a handful of attractions with the highest number of riders, the argument being that re-rides prevent other park guests from experiencing the ride (but more likely they’ll just sidestep the issue entirely with virtual queues.)

Chi8421 days ago

Right. I’m speaking only about the possible legality because talking about what the disabled person needs is only part of the issue. Needs likely differ greatly based on the individual. The court was using “like experience” differently from how many use it here. A business has to provide reasonable accommodations to give the disabled guest a like park experience to that of the non-disabled guest. But it looked at what the average guest actually does, not what each person could do if they wished based on the absence of a disability.

DisneyHead12321 days ago

In practice I doubt they would ever cap DAS because fixation on certain rides can be a thing for ND people. It would be a bad look to tell children with autism they can’t re-ride Small World multiple times if they wait the same amount of time as everyone else. Comparing their experience to what the average guest does is going to be perceived differently if their experience differs specifically because of the nature of their disability. (I say perceived vs legally different because I realize the need for alternative line programs hasn’t even been established from a legal standpoint, so it’s possible DAS isn’t required from a legal perspective at all.)

Splash4eva21 days ago

Thats why they implemented the “10 minute rule” as noted by myself before there definitely are rides/attractions that go well beyond that but for whatever reason Disney chose 10 minutes as the time frame. Im not a tech guy but im surprised Disney couldnt write some code where each ride is programmed in that DAS users use and the next tap isnt available until the ride time is up…

Chi8421 days ago

No, I’m saying that Disney would be able to cap DAS to limit or prevent re-rides. At least based on my reading of the GAC to DAS case. The court looked at statistics of what the average guest did, not what the guest could have done if they wished.

Figgy121 days ago

People can use stand by as many times as they wish, capping DAS to once per ride would give a much different experience to those needing DAS

JAN J21 days ago

I apologize but I absolutely don't understand what you mean. The first part is true for all accomodations (based on previous discussions in this thread, it's also the law: a business does not have to significantly impact its operations to provide an accomodation). As for the second part... I don't understand your point. Why are you saying Disney would not cap DAS to one use? The other person that replied to you had the same opinion as me but I don't understand your answer. PS: English is not my first language

Chi8421 days ago

JAN J21 days ago

How so?

Chi8422 days ago

Its not like that at all.

JAN J22 days ago

I believe the reason that they don't do it is because the DAS holder is technically queueing as well (even if virtually), so that would be the equivalent of saying a person can't go twice in a stand-by line.