A Disney World vacation is overwhelming to most people, and some folks might need a little extra assistance with their arsenal of patience and ways to navigate the complicated and crowded parks.
EPCOT
And that’s where the Disability Access Service (DAS) comes in. Disney has long earned a reputation for being an accommodating vacation destination for families that have a wide range of health or nutritional needs to work around, and the DAS system is just one of those tools to help families have the Disney vacation that fits with their family needs.
Let’s review a little about the DAS system and then walk you through how to get signed up for it, if it’s right for you and your family.
DAS Overview
Disability Access Service (DAS) is designed to accommodate guests and their families who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. The service allows you to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction. It does not provide immediate attraction access.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Once a return time is issued, you can enjoy other theme park offerings while you wait virtually for the return time to arrive, as opposed to waiting in the queue. When you redeem a return time, you can book another return time for the same or a different attraction. So think of it like having access to a Virtual Queue for all of the attractions.
DAS Advance
In addition to the traditional DAS system, Disney has recently introduced DAS Advance. It is a new, enhanced feature of the popular DAS program. During the DAS Advance video conference, you can select and book up to 2 DAS Advance selections for each day of your visit (subject to availability).
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If a selection is available, you will be given a one-hour time period during the day of the visit to redeem the selection. Selections are valid for use only on the date and during the one-hour time period chosen and cannot be transferred. If you don’t pre-register for DAS, you will not be eligible to receive the DAS Advance selections.
Once you pre-register for DAS, you’ll be able to proceed to the booked attraction to confirm your identity before being able to use your DAS selections.
Test Track
To maximize the benefits of DAS, you should plan ahead using available information to develop a tentative plan for your visit. Current and forecasted future wait times can be found in the Disney Genie service app tool, in addition to ride locations and attraction access options. DAS can also be used in addition to Disney’s Genie+ service and individual paid attraction selections.
Step-By-Step Registration Process
There are 2 ways you can register for DAS. The recommended option is to register in advance via live video chat between 2 and 30 days prior to a park visit. If deemed eligible for DAS, you (or a parent/guardian if the guest is under 18 years of age) will participate in a virtual registration process. The individual utilizing DAS must be introduced on the video call, and a photo will be taken of them. At the end of that process, you will then be able to select up to 2 DAS Advance selections for select attractions (subject to availability).
If you can’t pre-register for DAS, you can register in person with a Cast Member at Guest Relations on the day of your visit.
There are 2 ways to register for DAS: (1) pre-arrival via live video chat or (2) on-site at Guest Relations. A new option is to pre-register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat between 2 to 30 days in advance of a park visit. Please note: At this time, live chat is offered in English only.
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If you haven’t pre-registered, you should go to Guest Relations to request assistance.
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Locations at Walt Disney World Resort include:
- City Hall at Magic Kingdom
- The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Animal Kingdom
- The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Hollywood Studios
- The Guest Relations lobby (near Spaceship Earth) at EPCOT
- Guest Experience Team kiosks
If DAS is provided, you (or a parent/guardian) will participate in a registration process, which requires having a photo taken.
Miracle workers
Your DAS is valid for up to 60 days. If you visit Disney World multiple times throughout the year or are a local visiting the parks, you’ll need to repeat the process to keep your DAS up to date.
If Disney determines that any of the statements an individual requesting DAS access has made in the process of obtaining DAS are not true, that individual 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.
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Have you used DAS in the Disney Parks before? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
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You can not register in advance from the U.K. Registering in advance is only available to U.S. citizens
We have used the DAS successfully for two trips, after years of prebooking the “free” Fast Passes prior to our trip instead. The process is quick and easy on site, although the line may be long to get it done at the in-park locations. I did try for the pre-trip video conference call to get it in advance, but both times the wait was estimated to be over an hour to speak with a CM, meaning me sitting there refreshing over and over so I didn’t miss it when our turn came up. They could probably use a few extra CMs for the advance process if they want us to use that without the long wait time. As has been the case in the past, the DAS will not be issued if you have only a mobility issue, the person in question must be with you for the process, and a limited number of family members/friends in the party may ride at the return time. It’s really pretty good for people like my son, who has autism, as we get a time to come back based on the standby time (like the old paper passes) and they can be booked on the app or at stands around the parks. Our return times have ranged from instantly to about 90 minutes from the time of booking.
My husband and I use DAS. I have lung disease, heart disease, and anxiety disorder, which are exacerbated by getting overheated. The DAS is an answer to a prayer. I couldn’t get it in a video call for some reason so I had to do it in person. Very simple process to get set up. Go to customer service show your ID, they ask your issues, take a picture and you’re done. LOVE this service. Leave it to the Mouse to make another thing so easy!
The comment about advance registration being only for US citizens is not correct. I have registered through the online live call and I am neither a US citizen nor do I live in the US. One thing to prepare for is that the wait time to be connected to a Cast Member can be at least an hour, during which time you need to stay in the chat. You may be logged out automatically a couple of times while you wait but, don’t worry, you just have to log in again and you don’t lose your place in the chat queue.
Now the DAS Advance Planning part is a bit complicated, here are some facts to bear in mind:
1. You don’t have to choose these ‘bookings’ at the same time as you Register, in fact I think the CMs prefer not to as it ties them up for a very long time in the live call when they could be helping the next person register.
2. To make the Advance plan ‘bookings’ you must go back into the DAS chat service – you cannot make these bookings anywhere in person (unless you are Registering in person at the parks, then you can make 2 but only 2 for the first day you are in the park).
3. You can only make Advance ‘bookings’ up to 7 days at a time and the days must be in the window of 2 – 30 days ahead.
4.The CM will send you a form in the chat which you have to fill in and submit straight back. So make sure you know in advance which attractions are eligible because not all of them are (there’s a list on the website).
5. You must have a Park Pass Reservation already in place for each park and date you are visiting.
6. Remember – you have to ‘book’ a minimum of 2 days ahead so unfortunately, if you were hoping to be spontaneous or change your plans from day to day, you won’t be able to do that without sacrificing the Advance ‘bookings’.
7. If your Main Gate Ticket is of a type that limits the amount of Park Pass Reservations you can hold (e.g. Annual Passholders can only hold 5 at a time) then having rolling Park Pass Reservations will control your ability to set up Advance ‘bookings’ (remember the 2 day rule!).
8. None of the above applies to the selections you can make when you are inside the park – it applies only to the DAS Advance planning.
Be grateful, although this part of the process is right up there with Disney’s best over complication strategies, it is a huge blessing from the Mouse.