Walt Disney World Extends Disability Access Service (DAS) Validity Period

Sep 24, 2024 in "Magic Kingdom"

Posted: Tuesday September 24, 2024 7:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World has announced a significant change to its Disability Access Service (DAS) policy, doubling the validity period from 120 days to 240 days. This change is expected to benefit guests who rely on DAS, especially frequent visitors or those planning extended stays.

DAS is designed for guests who cannot tolerate extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to developmental disabilities, such as autism. With the new 240-day validity period, registered guests will have more flexibility when planning multiple trips or extended vacations without the need to re-register as frequently.

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

The process of obtaining DAS remains the same, with registration only available via live video chat between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In-person registration at the parks was discontinued as part of Disney’s efforts to streamline the process and reduce misuse of the system. The eligibility criteria for DAS have also been tightened, now focusing primarily on guests with developmental disabilities.

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.
In-person registration is no longer be available at theme park Guest Relations locations.
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 240 days. Once the service has elapsed, Guests will need to re-register.

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 FAQs

How long is DAS valid?
DAS is valid for the length of the ticket or up to 240 days, whichever is shorter. Once the service has elapsed, Guests need to re-register for the program.

Is DAS issued at the Walt Disney World Resort valid at the Disneyland Resort?
DAS is valid only throughout the Resort at which it was issued. DAS issued at Walt Disney World Resort, for example, is not valid at the Disneyland Resort, and vice versa.

What happens if any of the statements made by a Guest in the process of registering for DAS are found to be not true?
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.

Where do Guests utilizing DAS go to receive return times?
Guests utilizing DAS (and their party members) to make return time selections right from the My Disney Experience app during the day of their park visit. Registered Guests using DAS and members of their party will be able to book, redeem, change or cancel DAS return times using the My Disney Experience app via a smart phone or other smart device. If additional assistance is required, Guests can also obtain return times directly from a Cast Member at any Guest Relations or Guest Experience Team location.

What can Guests do during their DAS virtual wait?
Guests utilizing DAS can enjoy many other experiences throughout Walt Disney World Resort during a DAS virtual wait, such as other rides, shows, concerts, parades and Character Greetings. They can also take a rest in a break area, get something to eat or go shopping.

Does the Guest utilizing DAS have to be present to obtain a return time at a Guest Relations or Guest Experience Team location?
No. Any member of the DAS-eligible Guest’s travel party may obtain a return time, but the Guest registered for DAS must be present and experience the attraction with their party.

Does a Guest utilizing DAS have to ride the attraction at the exact return time listed?
No. DAS return times are not limited to a specific window and are valid until the park closes or an attraction closes for the day.

Can a Guest have more than one active DAS return time at one time?
No. A Guest may only have one DAS return time at a time. The Guest may obtain another return time for the same or different attraction 10 minutes after they redeem a return time.

Can a Guest with an active DAS return time receive a boarding group for one of the virtual queue attractions?
Yes. A Guest can hold one active DAS return time and one virtual queue boarding group at the same time. When a Guest utilizing DAS goes to the attraction with a virtual queue, they, along with their party, will speak to a Cast Member at the attraction about accessing the queue.

Discuss on the Forums

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jennab551 day ago

Thanks! You as well, wherever you decide to vacation next!

Jenn Finan1 day ago

I hope for only wonderful things for you and your family on your next trip. Many magical wishes!

jennab551 day ago

I hear you on some of the changes. Our last trip was summer 2022 and at that time the level of customer service we received was not what I expected. We had quite a few other issues as well. So like you, we decided to take a break. We are planning to return this year and hoping things have gotten better. We will see!

Jenn Finan1 day ago

For what it is worth, I never asked for a "front of the line" pass, nor was that what my party had/what we needed. I'm not sure where that idea even came from! We had the ability to join a LL standby queue for a small number of rides without having to book it prior...FULL STOP. We still waited 15, 20, 30, even 40 minutes for a particular ride once we were in line. I never walked onto ANY ride with the possible exception of Stitch's Great Escape, and that was because it was a walk on for everyone! Edit** and before anyone jumps on my "waiting time" comment, my nephew was much better about lines when he was 2 than he is now at 12. Naps were a wonderful thing! DAS may work for us sometime in the future, it just didn't this past time.

Jenn Finan1 day ago

I totally agree with that sentiment as well. The DAS and other changes were made in an attempt to reduce fraud and provide accommodation for those who needed them. I applaud the attempt and am pleased with the couple of tweaks that I have heard of but I think that there are likely more adjustments that would make the program better. Disney is probably still continuing to evaluate and will, I assume, make further changes as they feel warranted. I simply did not find value when we went in October, as well as experiencing a less courteous/welcoming environment. Will this change in 5 years? I hope so, as I truly love Disney and have been going for over 40 years. I want to return at some point but that point for me and my family is not now and that's fine. I did not mean to stir up such a hornet's nest. I just relayed my experience and decision that WDW was not the place for us at this time. No worries. Everybody makes their own decisions based on their individual circumstances.

ConfettiCupcake1 day ago

I don’t think it’s a lack of compassion, I think it’s just understanding this is not what Disney’s accessibility programs are intending to correct, and that it’s a massive can of worms for them to open. Nobody’s big picture experience is ever equal at WDW, for a multitude of reasons and limitations that have absolutely nothing to do with disabilities. The most obvious factor that determines how much you overall can experience at Disney is time spent in the parks, so do they then start accounting for ticket length, past visit history, ticket type (ie are you an AP), how far you’re traveling from, etc? There’s a reason that for all but very exceptional circumstances (like Make a Wish kids), they are offering as close to equal access as they can on an attraction by attraction basis.

DisneyHead1231 day ago

Disagree on the idea that people with disabilities (if they really, truthfully have them) are having a "slightly better experience" with DAS. Maybe some are, I of course can't speak for everyone, but for many people being disabled is not something that can be equalized by any form of accommodation. That said, my comment was about the idea that people can't go to the park for long days due to "other factors". Once you go down that road, you could say that Disney should be paying for people who can't afford longer trips, or offer babysitting to single moms with kids, and on an on. My point being that the whole idea of DAS centers around disabilities, specifically, so saying that other people have difficulties in life too is noteworthy in a personal sense but beside the point when it comes to DAS.

jennab551 day ago

I don’t have an issue with DAS. I do believe it gives a slightly better experience, but I’m ok with that as there is still a waiting component (just outside of the queue). What I had an issue with was PP stating that her front of the line pass was necessary because it gave her party the ability to enjoy the parks the same as a non disabled family. I disagreed that it gave a similar experience to a non disabled party. ETA - also I don’t think people should get DAS just because they can only be in the parks 4hrs per day (if they don’t meet the qualifications otherwise).

DisneyHead1231 day ago

Said in a jocular tone, DAS is meant to be a disability accommodation, not the most pure form of communism that ever existed. It's not meant to equalize all human differences.

jennab551 day ago

I personally just done like the argument of “well our party can only go for a few hours due to a disability, so we should get access to everything in those few hours”. As you stated, many people cannot do full park days due to other factors as well.

jennab551 day ago

Ahhh, gotcha. I was giving just what an accommodation is meant to do. Yes, I’m also fine with disabled people getting something that makes things easier for them (heck I’m disabled and so is my son), but like you said, that also causes some problems.

Purduevian1 day ago

I think there is a slight disconnect. I think the discussion should be if is that those with needed special accommodations (such as DAS) should be able to experience a similar to those that do not require special accommodations a) in a day b) in the time they are able to be in the parks The argument for point a is that everyone (regardless of accommodations needed) pays the same price to go to the parks, thus deserve the same quality and quantity of experiences. The argument for point b is that everyone moves at different paces and have different stamina in the parks. For instance, those with young children, are elderly, or are mobility impaired do not get enhanced access.

TrainsOfDisney1 day ago

I’m not sure if you are asking legal or just in general? I’m not speaking on legally - I’m just saying in my view, it doesn’t bother me in the least if guests with disabilities get an advantage. Of course the issue is, if they get an advantage, there is now an incentive to lie or exaggerate a disability to get that advantage- which is a shame. And in 500 pages we don’t have an easy solution! Haha.

jennab551 day ago

Oh 100%, but isn’t the goal of a disability accommodation to make the person experience the parks like a non disabled person? We only a few hours at the time in the parks, so we take longer trips. Because this is how we have to tour, should Disney give me half my hotel or park tickets for free so we can experience everything a non disabled person can?