If you are traveling with an autistic person, you may be wondering how navigating the parks will work and how you can ensure that the person will enjoy their vacation as much as everyone else in your travel party. Thankfully, Disney Parks has a helpful solution called Disability Access Service, or DAS as it’s commonly known.
In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know about Disability access Service as well as how to use it, where to get it, and what to expect while you’re in Walt Disney World in Orlando.
The Disability Access Service passes have been helpful to my own family since Logan has a hard time waiting in line, as do most guests on the Autism Spectrum. The pass gives our family the opportunity to enjoy rides, shows, and attractions with a specific return time that makes our wait time a fraction of normal wait times. Logan’s success is everyone’s success.
How to Get the Disability Access Service Pass
Previously to get the DAS pass, guests would have to visit guest services at the Guest Relations desk, taking up precious time making magical memories. As of November 1, 2021 WDW has implemented a new preregistration and advanced planning tool to save time and relieve stress. This is a second option to waiting until you get in the park to set it up.
Registration Via Video Call
The new process will allow the guests to speak virtually with a cast member through a video chat. Your pre-registration chat with a cast member can be scheduled anywhere between 30 days to 2 days prior to your Florida vacation.
During the video chat, the cast member will be able to help book 2 attractions per day with a one-hour return time. This allows you to plan out your Genie + (should you choose to buy it) prior to arriving to the park that morning. You can’t preschedule any attraction that has an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL). However, you can use the DAS in park for them.
Once you enter the park, hop into your app book another one ride in your app. These 2 prescheduled ones don’t count toward your in park DAS. This is important info in case the 2 prescheduled are later in the day. This is where you would use the DAS to book a ILL ride like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Let me be brutally honest here about video chat. It currently takes hours, yes hours, to set up. A typical scenario looks like this:
11:36am – online pre-registration chat initiated
12:41pm – connected with CM, filled out and submitted the Guest Information Form (name, address, email, reservation number)
12:47pm – placed in the queue to wait for the video call
3:06pm – video chat with CM to register for DAS (asked a few questions, took a picture of my son and explained how the DAS system works)
3:16pm – placed back in the queue waiting to speak to a Planning Team CM to choose our 2 ride reservations per day
3:28pm – connected with a planning CM to book our 2 ride reservations per day
3:33pm – submitted the Guest Information Form a second time, then waited for the CM to respond
3:57pm – CM responded and we started the ride selection process
4:15pm – rides booked and full process completed!
Is it worth it for the 2 prescheduled rides? Maybe. If I was only going once a year or going for several days in a row, then yes, I would do it. If I was an annual passholder or made frequent trips to the park, then no. Eventually you are going to ride everything. You could even get your child’s favorite ride by using the DAS you get in park. That’s my personal opinion.
Registration while in the park
You can get the Disability Access Service Pass (DAS) at any guest relations desk in all 4 major parks. You enter the park and look for guest services which is almost always near the front of the park. Ask a cast member to direct you as you enter.
After standing in line as you will everywhere, you tell the cast member that you have a special needs child and would like a DAS. Be prepared to have the child with you and to answer specific questions about what your child can’t do in relation to the line. I have Logan with me but allow him to play on his phone seated nearby. If you have a small child then have someone sit with them to keep them occupied .
Here’s what we tell them for Logan.
Logan has autism making him unable to wait for long periods in lines of people. His sensory needs are that he can’t handle the touch and smell of a lot of people in one area. He is physically unable to stand in line surrounded by people to wait for a ride without distress.
You will not be asked to show proof that your child has a disability but will be asked specific questions. Some cast members will also ask you what you expect the pass to do for you. Not all cast members do this.
My standard answer is :
It would make his visit far more enjoyable if we could get a time for the ride then return at said time to go in the Lightning lane. He would then have a minimal wait. He could focus his energy on managing all of his other sensory issues. Logan’s success is our whole family’s success.
They will scan your child’s magic band or ticket. They will take your child’s picture as well as ask you how many people in your party and how long you plan to stay. Every person in your party does not need to be there . However, you do need to have their magic bands or tickets.
The cast member will scan each magic band or ticket to link them to the DAS . You can have up to 6 people linked to the pass including the person with the disability. If you forget someone or don’t have their band at that time then you can add them later. Stop by guest services again to get that worked out. You only have to get the pass once for your visit.
If you have an annual pass, you simply return for them to rescan to get a new one activated every 60 days. They will scan the magic band/annual pass of the person the pass is linked to at that time. I found that they just renewed and didn’t ask loads of questions.
Having a scheduled time frame to return to a ride, gives you time to run to the restroom, grab a snack, go shopping, or even ride another attraction that has a shorter wait time. This gives our family the freedom to choose how Logan needs to spend his day so he can enjoy time in the parks. I’ll say it again. Logan’s success is everyone’s success.
My Disney Experience & the DAS
Now that you have one, what’s next?
You can only have one DAS return time at any given time in addition to the 2 prescheduled ones. When it’s return time, you go to the lightning lane with your party. The person the pass is for scans their magic band first followed by the others in the party. You will do the same thing at the second checkpoint. You are now free to get another time in the app after you ride.
You can have a DAS return time, the 2 prescheduled rides and any genie+ or Paid Lightning Lane at the same time. If you plan correctly, you won’t need to pay for the preferred rides. Use your DAS for those rides. Genie+ will help you have rides to do as well. BE SURE TO SCHEDULE IN DOWN TIME!
Previously, DAS pass guests would have to visit each attraction to ask for a return time. Now, with the new changes, guests will be able to make their DAS pass selections through My Disney Experience.
The option to walk up to a cast member at an attraction and ask for a return time is still an option, but quickly handling it on the MDE app is a nice, time-saving option. It also relieves the stress of asking for help or making your child feel uncomfortable.
These changes are a great step in lowering stress levels, making planning easier, and allowing families to enjoy an inclusive vacation together without a bunch of interruptions to their magical trip. What’s our motto? Logan’s success is our success.
The DAS doesn’t work for fireworks, shows, or most character meet and greets. The general rule of thumb is that if it’s listed under showtimes then you can’t use the DAS. Some cast members are nicer than others when asking.
Each park is different so prepare accordingly to get the most time and enjoyment out of each park with the least amount of stress for everyone. Sometimes, even with preparation and a DAS, your child is going to lose it. Leave immediately and don’t feel bad. We always say if we walk in the park then it’s a success. (Insert child’s name here)’s success is your success.
