Disney's
Disabled Access Service Card (DAS)
Every year, guests of all ages visit Walt Disney World and have a
wonderful time enjoying everything Disney has to offer. However,
Disney World can be a challenging place to visit for many of those
guests due to a number of disabling physical, mental, or emotional
conditions. However, those guests needing special assistance need
not worry! Disney has long been known as a company committed to
providing all of their guests an equal ability to enjoy their theme
parks. For many years, Disney used a system called the Guest
Assistance Card (GAC for short). However, due to abuse, the GAC was
discontinued and replaced with a new program. In 2013, Disney Parks
(stateside) established a new system called the Disabled Access
System. The DAS allows those guests who, due to a disability, cannot
wait in Disney's traditional queues the opportunity to wait
elsewhere and return to a ride at a designated later time. The DAS
is NOT a "front of the line pass" nor should users expect "immediate
boaring" when using a DAS. The DAS is simply a tool to assist guests
with the process of waiting for attractions.
What is the DAS Card and Who Can Use It?
The Disability Access Service (DAS) Card is a tool provided at the
Walt Disney World® Resort and Disneyland® Resort Theme Parks to
enhance the service we provide to our Guests with disabilities. A
Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair
or scooter does not need a DAS Card. Depending on the attraction,
Guests utilizing a wheelchair or scooter will either wait in the
standard queue or receive a return time at the attraction comparable
to the current wait time.
The Disability Access Service, “DAS” Card, is intended for Guests
whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue
environment. This service allows Guests to schedule a return time
that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given
attraction. Once a return time is issued, Guests are free to enjoy
other theme park offerings such as meeting a character, grabbing a
bite to eat, enjoying entertainment or even visiting another
attraction until their listed return time.
Return times are valid until redeemed prior to park closing. Guests
may only have one active return time. As soon as an outstanding
attraction return time is redeemed, Guests may receive a return time
for the same or a different attraction. This service can be used in
addition to Disney FASTPASS® Service and Disney FastPass+ service.
Special Accommodations for
Specific Circumstances
The DAS card, with its virtual wait, will accommodate many of our
Guests with disabilities. We recognize, however, that our Guests
with disabilities have varying needs, and we will continue to work
individually with our Guests to provide assistance. In unique
situations, our Guest Relations staff will discuss special
accommodations for persons who are concerned the DAS Card doesn't
meet their needs (e.g., for those whose disability limits the
duration of their visit to the park or limits their choice of
attractions). All accommodations will be made in person, on site at
Guest Relations. We are unable to provide accommodations in advance
of a Guest visit.
How Does it Work?
Upon arriving at a theme park, head directly to Guest Relations.
Guest Relations may be located both inside and outside the park;
either location can issue a DAS. Once at Guest Relations, let the
Cast Member know that a member of your party needs a DAS Card. The
individual requiring the DAS must be present. The Cast Member will
ask what type of assistance is needed. This part can sometimes throw
people off. Many people will simply state the individual's condition
(i.e. "My child has Autism and can't wait in lines." or "My father
has severe anxiety and claustrophobia due to PTSD"). This type of
information is not useful to the Cast Member, since they are not
trained medical professionals. What they are looking for here is
what type of assistance is needed and why. For example: "My child
has Autism and due to his sensory issues, he cannot stand in a close
proximity of strangers without touching them," or "My father's PTSD
makes him anxious in enclosed queues so we would prefer to wait
elsewhere." Once the Cast Member determines that the individual is
eligible to receive a DAS, the registration process will begin.
The DAS will be issued for the length of your vacation. Annual
Passholders can receive a DAS that is good for 60 consecutive days.
The individual will be photographed so that the DAS cannot be used
by anyone else. If a child is not cooperative with photo taking, or
the parents do not wish their child photographed, a legal guardian
can be photographed in lieu of the child. A DAS will be issued for
use by an individual and up to five (5) accompanying family
members/friends. It is important to note that the DAS may ONLY be
used when the individual named on the card is riding with his/her
party.
Once the DAS has been created, head off to your first attraction!
Approach the cast member at the ride queue entrance. For rides that
do not have a queue attendant (such as the Teacups), try to get the
attention of the ride operator. If the attraction has a Stand By
wait time of 20 minutes or under, the DAS will provide near
immediate access via the Fast Pass line or the ride exit. If the
Stand By Line is longer than 20 minutes, the Cast Member will either
stamp or hand write the time at which you may return to ride, which
will be equal to the current stand by time MINUS 10-15 minutes. So,
if the Standby Line is 45 minutes, you will be given a return time
of approximately 30 minutes later. Once you have received your time
stamp, you are free to spend the time doing what you wish. You may
ride another ride, grab a bite to eat, use the restroom, or simply
find a quiet bench in the shade to pass the time. When your time is
up, head back to the ride and the Cast Member will direct you where
to go. Often, this will be the Fast Pass line. On rides that do not
feature Fast Pass, you will be directed through the ride exit area
and will board the ride within a couple of minutes.
The DAS, once issued, is good at all the major theme parks. The DAS
is not for use at the water parks or for Character Meet & Greet
locations.
The DAS can be used in conjunction with Fast Pass. Since the DAS
often places guests into the Fast Pass return line, using Fast Pass
is a similar experience. Guests are encouraged to use both the DAS
and Fast Pass+ in order to maximize the attractions that can be
visited each day. The major benefit to the DAS, particularly for
children on the Austism spectrum who have a strong need to "repeat
ride", is the ability to receive multiple return times for the same
ride in one day, which is often difficult or impossible to do using
Fast Pass.
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