Denied DAS? “Location Return Time” May Be an Option at Disney World

Being denied Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) doesn’t necessarily mean a guest must spend the day in standby lines. Some families have been able to request return times at individual Walt Disney World attractions, allowing them to wait elsewhere. In the My Disney Experience app, the accommodation has a name: “Location Return Time.”

Is Disney World bringing Disneyland Park’s Location Return Time service to Florida? Or is the app simply borrowing the name for something that’s been available for a while? People have reported similar accommodations since 2024, but Disney World has never published any services that include that name.

We’re writing about it now because of advice Jon, who goes by @m0bilej0n on X, received during his latest DAS application call. Thanks to Mariann for bringing this to our attention.

Jon’s child qualified for DAS before Disney tightened its eligibility rules in 2024. The service now focuses on guests whose developmental disabilities, such as autism, prevent them from waiting in a conventional queue for an extended period. Jon says his child has been denied under those criteria, despite having autism.

He continues to apply before each visit. During his latest video call, however, a Cast Member offered advice he hadn’t received before: request return times in person at each attraction.

According to Jon, the process works like this:

• Visit the attraction’s Lightning Lane entrance and request a return time.
• Have a Cast Member scan a MagicBand or Disney MagicMobile pass.
• Check the My Disney Experience app for the return time.

The big difference is the extra walking. Guests approved for DAS can request return times through the app from elsewhere in the park. Jon’s family has to visit each attraction to make the request. If this accommodation meets a family’s needs, why require them to walk to every attraction to arrange it?

Although the accommodation appears in My Disney Experience as “Location Return Time,” searching that exact phrase on Disney World’s website returned no results.

Disneyland Park offers an accommodation by the same name at select attractions whose older queues cannot accommodate guests with mobility devices or certain physical restrictions. It’s not offered at Disney California Adventure. That policy doesn’t mention autism or developmental disabilities.

Disney World hasn’t publicly explained its version of Location Return Time. Its published guidance instead describes Queue Re-Entry and Meet-Up, which usually require other members of the party to wait in standby. For Jon, Location Return Time has allowed his family to wait together outside the queue, a much better option for families who can’t split up.

We’re not sure whether every guest who could benefit from these in-person accommodations is being told about them. We hope they are. While requesting return times at each attraction is less convenient than using the DAS app feature, it gives some families a solid alternative.

Mariann agrees:

“This is a great option for families who would have historically qualified for a DAS. I hope that Disney continues to move towards greater accessibility so that all guests can enjoy the magic!”

Let’s hope Disney makes Location Return Time an official offering at Walt Disney World. And tells people about it.