One of the ways Disney accommodates guests with special needs is through their Disability Access Service, or DAS for short. Normally, guests would visit Guest Relations in the theme parks in order to sign up for DAS, which allows guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in conventional queues the ability to to book return times for rides and attractions.
Guest Relations
We learned earlier this year that Disney would be launching new services to make the DAS experience more convenient, including an online chat feature and the ability to pre-register. Starting today, guests looking to add DAS to their upcoming vacation may do so ahead of their trip online, saving valuable time once in the parks!
Disney World’s website has updated its Disability Access Service page, indicating that guests may now pre-register for the service. Now, there are two ways you can sign up for DAS: online ahead of your visit via live video chat, or day-of at Guest Relations locations in the theme parks. Note that at this time, the live video chats are only available in English.
Slinky Dog Dash
Guests may register for DAS in advance between 2 to 30 days ahead of a park visit. Once acquired, DAS is valid for up to 60 days. Once it’s acquired, guests may also begin to book attraction return times. If you sign up for DAS ahead of your visit, you may book up to two one-hour return windows between 2 and 30 days prior to a park visit. These 2 pre-arrival reservations are in addition to the return times you can book during the day of your park visit.
UPDATE: Disney has since updated their website to require that guests must be visiting on or after November 1st, 2021 in order to pre-register for DAS Advance virtually with a Cast Member.
Spaceship Earth
You may also continue to sign up for DAS in-person at Guest Relations once you enter the park. Another new feature coming this fall for guests using the DAS program includes the ability to book, redeem, change or cancel DAS return times using the My Disney Experience app via a smart phone or other smart device. We’ll be on the lookout for this feature with the arrival of Genie+.
Guest Relations building at Hollywood Studios
We’ll keep an eye on Disney World’s DAS program in the coming weeks, especially with the launch of Genie+ set to take place on October 19th. Be sure to follow along for all of the latest information to help plan your next Disney World vacation!
Click here to read about which holiday park pass reservations are already starting to fill up at Disney World.
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What does Disney consider as a disability? Do you have to show drs note ? Thank you! I love your site 🥰
Are you required to obtain a DAS pass for each park,each time you go into a park?
Any idea if DAS will now be preventing re-books of the same ride in a day the way Genie+ does? Because sometimes the only enjoyment for some is riding the same ride over and over. I rode Imagination about 5 times in one day because my brother wants to ride it again and again. To be fair, I dragged him on Spaceship Earth over and over and he says to me “DJ…they’re not going to put the missing anamotronics back on today” and I’m like “…no, I just riding the ride with a 5 minute wait time that I love.”
DJ, Disney has not, to my knowledge, specifically said that DAS will be restricted to one ride per DAS selection. When Disney Genie launches, I’ll go through the fine details to see if that’s in there as part of the upgrade.
Carrie, I believe a DAS card is active for 14 days, so you shouldn’t need to obtain one in each Park each day. If you register with the new virtual option you’ll also be able to select two DAS attractions per day, so that would get you started for each day of your trip, too.
Tina, Disney does not (and can not, I believe) require a note from a doctor. They essentially say anyone who knows they will be uncomfortable or can not stand in a line for an extended period of time can request DAS. The return times are equivalent to the Standby queue wait time, but using DAS allows someone to wait elsewhere, not confined to a line. Also of note: guests using wheelchairs or scooters/ECVs do not need a DAS card; they can simply go to the line to request a return time. It also will be equivalent to the Standby time.
What about the other people in my group who don’t need the DAS. I will need a scooter, but not the rest of my party. Will they also get a scheduled return time with me. What about rider swap in these cases?
David, the whole party will still be able to ride together when the DAS return time comes up. Rider Switch should work the same. When the first part of your group rides with the DAS return time, the second group will wait with whomever doesn’t want or can’t ride. When the first group returns from the ride, anyone in the second group who wishes to ride will then use the Lightning Lane to ride. Does that make sense?
Yes, thank you.
This could be a huge help to me and I’m very relieved to hear this. TY. 😊
The new DAS preregistration process greatly disadvantages people with disabilities and is a terrible customer experience. I have an upcoming trip and spent 5 days waiting in the live chat queue between 8-12 hrs each day to preregister. I did not speak to a cast member any of the days I tried and was bumped out of the queue each time when the business hours closed with a message telling me to try again the next day. I contacted the DAS customer service number and they said that it is typical to wait 12+hrs to preregister (and most of the time not be able to preregister at all). The cast member on the # told me that it’s easier to register at the guest relations at the park (how I’ve always done it), but you cannot book return times ahead of time.
I have been told that international guests are unable to use the DAS advance virtually. This seems unfair and wrong, as we will not be able to book the 2 rides in advance each day.We are visiting Christmas next year. From reading about guests experience over Thanksgiving it has been extremely bad using Genie +. Does anyone know what is happening with DAS advance virtual for international disabled guests please?