A Guide to Walt Disney World’s Disability Access Service (DAS)

Visiting Walt Disney World can be a magical experience for many people. However, those with disabilities can find the long lines a major barrier to an enjoyable park day.

Fortunately, Disney is committed to making sure that all guests have accessible experiences, and its Disability Access Service, or DAS, is available for certain guests who cannot wait in long lines. The DAS pass is a program for those with a developmental disability that makes queues difficult or dangerous, allowing the entire party to enjoy the parks together.

This program has received various updates recently, so let’s take a look at the details of DAS and whether or not it makes sense for you or a loved one.

What Is Disney DAS?

Walt Disney World theme parks have the Disability Access Service, which is a free program designed for guests with a developmental disability, such as autism or a similar condition, who cannot wait in long lines.

Guests with disabilities who are approved for DAS have access to a special section of the My Disney Experience app, where they can request a return time for a desired attraction.

DAS does not provide immediate walk-on access to attractions, it is more of a FastPass and Genie+ hybrid that allows guests to rest or enjoy the park instead of physically waiting in line. They then return to the ride at a specified time to enter the attraction via the Lightning Lane.

Guests can register for DAS up to 60 days in advance online. In-person registration at the guest relations counter is no longer available. Once registered, the DAS pass is valid for the length of the ticket or up to 1 year, whichever is shorter. Once the service has elapsed, guests need to reregister.

Guests with DAS (and their party of up to 4) can schedule return times on many, but not all, attractions. Some of the attractions include but are not limited to:

As you can see, many popular attractions, including Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Slinky Dog Dash, and TRON Lightcycle / Run, are included in DAS.

Who Is Eligible for Disney DAS?

DAS was created and intended for guests (children and adults) who have difficulty standing and waiting in a conventional queue, but because of widespread abuse of the program, Disney made multiple updates over the past 2 years, meaning access is now restricted for many guests.

Now only guests who are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time because of a developmental disability such as autism are eligible for DAS. Guests in wheelchairs or scooters do not automatically qualify for DAS, as most attractions are wheelchair-accessible and can be accommodated by staff. Disney does not provide a list of disabilities that qualify for the Disability Access Service, nor do they request any type of proof.

However, if Disney determines that a guest acquired DAS using false statements, they 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.”

How Does Disney DAS Work?

The process for registering and using DAS is relatively simple.

Once in the park, guests can select their desired attraction via the My Disney Experience app almost exactly the same way as they used to for Genie+. So the steps may feel familiar to some.

Register

Guests can only register online via video chat starting up to 60 days in advance. Guests speak with a Disney staff member, who determines whether DAS is appropriate for their park visit.

Live video chat is available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. If you are already in the park, it is possible to complete this chat online on the day of use.

If deemed eligible, guests then complete the registration process and have their photo taken.

Request Return Time

Once approved, guests will see the DAS option in their My Disney Experience app. There, they can choose from available attractions and request a return time for their party of up to 4 people once physically inside one of the parks.

Once a return time is provided, guests can go and enjoy the theme park until their return time has come. When they return, guests can use the Lightning Lane entrance to enter the attraction.

Once checked in for that attraction, guests can request another return time for a different ride. There is no limit on how many times you can repeat a particular attraction.

Enjoy the Park

Once you have selected your attraction and have received a return time, all that is left is to enjoy the parks.

If guests are physically able, they can explore the rest of the park or even visit another attraction that may not have a long line. If not, they can find a cool spot to rest until their time.

When the return time comes, guests enter via the Lightning Lane and tap their MagicBand+, Key to the World card, connected phone, or watch, and will be allowed onto the ride.

Just note that the registered DAS guest must be the first person to tap into an attraction. That unlocks the Lightning Lane for the rest of the party.

My Family’s Experience With DAS

My wife first applied and was approved for DAS during our visit to Walt Disney World in July 2023, and it made her (and the entire family’s) time so much more enjoyable. As she’s someone with multiple sclerosis, navigating the parks in the Florida summer heat can be particularly stressful and potentially dangerous.

She simply selected attractions that worked for her and then found a cool spot to wait until her time was called. This not only made the visit more enjoyable but also extended our time in the park. Heat can trigger pseudo-relapses for her, which zap her energy — and would have forced us to end the park day prematurely. DAS was a game changer for my family.

However, with the changes in 2024, her diagnosis no longer falls under DAS guidelines, and she has been denied use of the program ever since.

While there was undeniable abuse of the system, many have criticized Disney’s corrective measures as too extreme, leaving many disabled guests with far fewer opportunities to enjoy the parks.

Final Thoughts

Visiting Walt Disney World can be an incredibly memorable and magical experience. However, for some, the heat, crowds, and long lines can intensify existing disabilities, leading to a less-than-magical visit to the parks. Disney wants to avoid that.

The Disability Access Service is a program that tries to ensure that all guests get to experience the attractions without negative side effects.

However, recent changes have severely limited who has access to this program. Now it is almost exclusively available to guests with a developmental disability such as autism.

Guests who can no longer receive DAS can either pay for Lightning Lanes or wait outside of an attraction until their party reaches the front of the line before rejoining, which removes the magic of a family vacation together.