Disney

Changes are coming to the Disney Disability Access System (DAS) hat may affect some wheelchair-users and slow walkers. These changes will go into effect on May 20, 2024 at Walt Disney World, and on June 18, 2024 at Disneyland.

The DAS pass allows guests who cannot wait in long lines to go to the ride and schedule a return time. The biggest change in this system is the criteria for qualification. Previously, all “guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability” qualified for the DAS pass. Under the new system, the qualifications have been narrowed to “guests who, due to a developmental disability such as autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for a long period of time.” And although some guests who qualify under the new criteria may also have a physical disability, they must also have a developmental disability that renders them unable to wait in long lines.

How the Program Works

Under the old program, guests could meet with a Cast Member at the Disney parks, have a short interview and then get their DAS. Under the new program, all DAS interviews will be done virtually, and they can be done two to 30 days in advance. In-person registration will no longer be an option. Additionally, professionals from Health Alliance will assist Cast Members to determine a guest’s eligibility for a DAS pass.

After you get your DAS pass, you can reserve a return time on rides through the My Disney Experience Mobile app. Guests can only reserve one wait time; and although they won’t have to stand in line, the return time will be comparable to the current waiting time for that ride or attraction. The DAS pass is good for the length of your ticket or 120 days, whichever is shorter. And it’s only good for a total of four people, unless they are immediate family.

The DAS may not be used for guests with a service animal, unless they meet the eligibility criteria for a developmental disability. Instead, guests with a service animal can use the Rider Switch Program. This program allows guests to split their party, and have half of their party board the ride, then have the rest of the party take the ride when they are done. This program is available to guests who have a service animal that cannot board the attraction or who do not want to use the provided kennel.

Why Did the Disney Disability Access System Criteria Change?

So why the big changes to the Disney Disability Access System? There are basically two reasons for this. Improved access and abuse of the previous system.

Years ago wheelchair-users got front-of-line privileges, usually because the entrances were not accessible. They had to go in the exit or an alternate entrance, and since there wasn’t a line at the exit, well they skipped the queue. Today many theme parks have worked hard to make their rides accessible to as many people as possible, so a separate entrance is not necessary.

And that leads to the second reason. Abuse. There’s no shortage of stories about folks who “faked” a disability in order to get a DAS pass. Basically if you rolled into guest services in a wheelchair — your own or not — you got one. Of course that ruined things for folks who really needed the access.

Once such “incident” involved some Manhattan moms who booked an accessible VIP Disney tour through a Florida tour company, even though nobody in the party was disabled. And they saw absolutely nothing wrong with booking an accessible tour to get what they considered concierge access to the front of the line. As one mom told the New York Post, “This is how the 1% does Disney.”

And after that went public, Disney cut their front-of-line policy for wheelchair-users and went to a more stringent evaluation for the DAS. But the latest change to their plan is just an attempt to fine tune it, and to meet the needs of guests with developmental disabilities who just cannot physically wait in long lines.

And with the entrances to most modern rides now being accessible, it makes for a more inclusive environment at Disney parks. So plan ahead for your next Disney visit so you know what to expect.