Along with today’s announcement of the new Disney Genie app, Disney has also made changes to the way the Disability Access Service (DAS) will work for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The changes help make it easier for qualified applicants to use the program while still making it fair for other parkgoers. Here’s what you need to know about the changes to DAS.
Changes to Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS)
Beginning this fall (at an unspecified date) the DAS system will allow guests to pre-register via video chat with a Cast Member. Guests will be able to set everything up virtually upto 30 days prior to their park visit. (At this time, the video chats will only be available in English.)
During the pre-registration call, participants may schedule 2 attractions per day of their visit in advance. These pre-scheduled attractions must be booked at least 2 days prior to visiting the park. Visitors are given a 1-hour return time to ride the pre-scheduled attraction. DAS participants must confirm their identity upon arrival to the first attraction if they choose to make DAS advance reservations. Additional attraction reservations can be made once you get to the park as usual.
If pre-scheduling or video calls aren’t convenient for you, but you still need to use DAS, there are still in-person signups available in the park.
With the integration of Disney Genie beginning this fall, the updated changes to DAS will begin in a similar timeframe. Once the new system has been implemented, DAS users will be able to get a DAS return time directly from the app— meaning that participants will no longer need to physically go to the attraction they want to ride or speak with a Guest Relations Cast Member. Additionally, DAS users can join a Virtual Queue or purchase Lightning Lane directly from the Disney Genie app as well.
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If you’re looking to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Attraction, you’ll still need to press your luck through the Virtual Queue system. These attractions are not accessible through DAS and can only be accessed through the Virtual Queue. If you are assigned a boarding group for one of the attractions, and your boarding group has been called, you’ll need to speak to a Cast Member at the attraction entrance for DAS assistance. Keep in mind that you can only enter one virtual queue at a time and hold one active DAS return time at the same time. For our guide to getting a boarding pass in the Virtual Queues, take a look at the article below.
Finally, there’s a strongly worded warning for those who abuse the DAS system:
If Disney determines 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.
Please note that there may be additional changes and updates ahead to DAS. We’ll be keeping an eye out for what else may change and keep this article updated for the new DAS system.
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Let’s Hear From You
We would expect that over time, Disney will invest more resources into the online/mobile component to DAS management and slowly phase out guests doing it all in the parks. What are your thoughts? Do you make use of the system. Would virtual and mobile management of the DAS experience make things easier for you? And are you worried about abuse of the system and Disney’s ability to prevent it?
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