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For years, the Disability Access Service (DAS) pass at World Disney World has been abused by guests faking disabilities to cut the line. From people faking irritable bowel syndrome to parents claiming their children had ADHD and couldn’t wait in line, the system is ripe with fraud.
In response to this abuse, Disney World began cracking down on the DAS pass system, requiring significantly more proof of a disability before issuing someone a pass. But that crackdown by Disney may have gone too far, as a Georgia mother found out.
Credit: Disney
Related: Guests Complain About Fraud With Disney’s DAS Pass System
Chrissy O’Neal held a video conference with a Disney guest representative to request a DAS pass. However, after the conference call, her original request was denied by representatives from Walt Disney World. She was told that a rented wheelchair or electric conveyance vehicle (ECV) would be her best option for getting around a Disney Park.
Walt Disney World communications said in a letter to O’Neal:
Although we realize your condition may not ordinarily require the use of a wheelchair or scooter. Rental wheelchairs, and Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs) are actually the best option for Guests with limited walking ability. Considering the size of our Theme Parks, as well as the potential length of our Attraction queues, using a wheelchair is really the only way to avoid long periods of walking or standing.
O’Neal took her story to Facebook, posting a video in which she removed her prosthetics, revealing that she is a double amputee. Her left leg is amputated below the knee, and all five toes on are amputated on her right foot.
Credit: Disney
She told Click Orlando:
I just thought if I told them I’m a double amputee that would be enough. I can walk fine, I just cannot stand still for long periods of time. I don’t know how I’m lumped into a group just like somebody who might have a sprained ankle. They said they can fix mobility issues by allowing me to rest.
Despite the backlash on social media, O’Neal still wasn’t granted a disability access service pass when she arrived at Walt Disney World. On her first day at the theme park, she spoke with a cast member in guest services, who could visibly see that she was a double amputee. However, her request was denied a second time.
Finally, O’Neal spoke with a supervisor at guest relations, who clearly saw she was not faking. He eventually granted her request for a Disney DAS pass for the entire time she was at the parks.
O’Neal said she could walk through the Disney Parks, but according to her doctor, standing still for long periods puts too much pressure on her remaining limbs.
Credit: Inside the Magic (Luke D.)
Disney World Disability Access Services
According to the Disney World website, the Disney DAS passes it on to guests who cannot have extended waits in lines. The DAS pass does not offer immediate access to the ride or attractions but provides the guests with a specific time to return for the attraction.
Guests can access their return time through the My Disney Experience App and can plan their day around the attraction return times. Guests are required to pre-register for the Disney DAS pass via a video conference call or in person at guest relations.
Guests with a DAS pass receive a one-hour return time for the ride or attraction and can book the return time in advance, which makes planning their day much more accessible.
What do you think about Chrissy O’Neal’s difficulties in receiving her DAS pass? Let us know in the comments.
Mobility issues are not a reason. Why can’t she sit in her scooter like others in scooters or wheelchairs?
I thought it was very clear that the DAS is not approved for mobility issues?
I have cancer and the medication I am on leaves me with neuropathy in both hands and feet. Its akin to when you hit your funny bone and you feel tingling and pain but in my situation it’s 24/7. It feels like I am walking on pins and I can’t hold anything cold and have no feeling in my fingertips. The chemo medicine also makes me very tired quickly. I was able to get a DAS pass. it was my first vacation with my kids since I had been diagnosed with cancer. I wouldn’t have been able to spend any time at the parks enjoying it with my kids if I didn’t have the DAS pass. Under HIPPA laws the parks are not allowed to ask you specifics about your medical issues. I think the park was wrong about the lady with the double amputation. Yes their are people who do take advantage. I am not sure how they can fix the problem. I have a trip coming up in March. How much time I am able to spend with my family enjoying the parks will depend on the DAS pass. If I don’t get it probably 50% of my time will be cut short and I will have to go back to the hotel because I get too tired to stand in line. Getting a chair isn’t the issue but think about driving around a scooter in MK during my kids spring break. That is a nightmare. I’ll be spending as much time trying to get through the crowds as I would be standing in line. No one wants to be sick or have to use the pass. I would rather not have a DAS pass and be healthy walking around the parks with my family. I just don’t have much of a choice and hope I am able to get it for my trip.
Whether you are in a wheelchair or scooter doesn’t matter. If you have a legitimate illness or disability, you should have a letter from your doctor stating you are unable to wait in line for long periods. If people had to show proof, there would be a lot less fraud when it comes to DAS. It’s special accommodations so you should have to prove you need it. Anyone disabled should not have a problem showing proof. My husband is in a wheelchair but is seriously ill and should not have to wait in long lines as a result.
Asking about someone disability is actually against the law. It’s really sad that people take advantage of truly disabled people. When we went to Disneyland Paris I had to produce my Government disabled proof and I, also, brought a letter from my doctor. The Paris parks doen’t have scooter rentals and Disneyland is out of rental scooters many times. What are we supposed to do?
When I’m headed to Disney, I always call ahead and rent a scooter for the entire time I am there. I don’t use Disney’s scooters, because there are other rentals off-site that are fare more reasonable. They deliver the scooter to your hotel and pick it up at a agreed upon time. I have osteo- and psoriatic arthritis. I can’t walk for very long, and I definitely can’t stand for long periods. I also have breathing problems and have to use oxygen all the time. But by using the scooter, I’m fine. The crowds are manageable (though many people aren’t very nice to people on scooters…guess they think we’re just lazy), but I manage. NOTE: the experience is a bit different when using a scooter…I much prefer being able to walk…but if you want to do Disney bad enough, you can figure it out.