Our Disability Access Service (DAS) Renewal Experience
Disney offers the Disability Access Service (DAS) as an accommodation to help individuals with significant developmental and/or cognitive disabilities, particularly autism, enjoy the magic of the parks. Individuals with an approved DAS can request an attraction return time through the My Disney Experience app and enter the queue through either the Lightning Lane or a specially designated entrance for a reduced (but not eliminated) wait time. Every 240 days, eligible DAS users must re-register for the service. Our recent DAS renewal went smoothly, but you should be aware that it’s not a rubber stamp process.
Meet the Bell family
I am part of a family of four that lives in Florida, loves Walt Disney World, and are happy annual passholders. We spend the majority of our free time and vacation money at Disney. Our oldest son Noah is 24 years old, profoundly autistic, and a Type 1 diabetic. Our youngest son is 21 and in college.
Noah struggles to process sensory input and has very limited communication skills. He lives with us, and we have legal guardianship of him. Noah neither reads nor writes, although he loves books and coloring. He requires constant care and supervision. Walt Disney World is his happy place and his DAS pass allows him to experience the magic in a safe and fun way!
Our DAS history
Noah has had the DAS pass since it was an orange piece of cardstock. The eligibility rules and procedures changed in the spring of 2024. Recently, renewal policies have been updated. When we initially reapplied with the new system, Noah’s DAS was issued for 120 days from the first day we used it. Disney has since extended the validity period of new or renewed DAS passes to 240 days. Our pass expired on September 29.
The renewal process
We planned to be in the parks on that day, so we tried to renew the DAS before our trip. This is against policy. The Cast Member (CM) was either unable or unwilling to look at it before September 30. They assured us that the DAS would still work on September 29. It did.
Yesterday, we decided to renew the DAS before our next weekend adventure. We opened the My Disney Experience App, selected Accessibility and Health Services, and then Disability Access Service (DAS). It took about 10 minutes before we were connected with a CM via Zoom.
Unlike our initial experience, the CM either did not have access to or did not care to look at Noah’s previous DAS records. We explained what Noah’s autism looks like at Disney, particularly the sensory challenges he experiences in crowds and loud environments, and our concerns with his impulsivity during periods of waiting.
We reversed the camera, and the CM tried unsuccessfully to engage Noah in conversation. After an awkward few moments, we reversed the camera again. The CM then asked us when our next trip was scheduled and updated the eligibility to start on the first day. It will be valid for 240 days. Our Zoom session lasted six minutes. The process itself was very straightforward. I have no concerns or complaints.
Summary
Disney is doing so many things right with the DAS. It was simple to apply for and then renew our pass on the My Disney Experience app. It’s also fantastic not having to stop at Guest Services upon park arrival. That being said, there is room for improvement, particularly when it comes to access. It’s my sincere hope that Disney will revisit eligibility criteria and expand DAS to be more inclusive.
Learn more about about Disney’s DAS services:
Read more: Our Disney Disability Access Service (DAS) Experience
