DisneyFanatic.com The Latest News, Advice, and Perspective from Disney Fans for Disney Fans!
For years, guests who desperately needed Disney World’s Disability Access Service have complained about the rampant fraud in that program. In response to those complaints, Disney has decided to change the DAS program, but those changes will exclude most people with disabilities who need the Service.
DAS was previously defined to assist guests who have difficulty tolerating long queues due to a disability. The updated system is intended to accommodate "only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar," are unable to wait in long lines. pic.twitter.com/KGzijIFUvD
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 9, 2024
Related: Disney Denies Double Amputee DAS Pass, Then Shamed Into Relenting
This week, Walt Disney World announced that effective May 20, it will be switching to a new system for its Disability Access Service. Before this, the DAS program was open to guests who could not wait for extended periods in a conventional queue due to their disability.
However, these loosely defined qualifications led to rampant DAS abuse. In response to that, Disney World has changed the system to accommodate “only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar,” are unable to wait in long lines.
Walt Disney World guests who are requesting Disability Access Service are required to meet with a cast member for verification of their disability. Disney will work with Inspire Health Alliance’s health professionals to help Cast Members determine if the guest meets the eligibility requirements for DAS usage.
However, this new system will leave thousands of Walt Disney World guests unable to use the DAS system and force them to wait in long lines despite their disability.
Guests who do not have visible disability but will now have to wait in the standby line at a Disney World attraction took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about how the new system has left them out. These guests are no longer eligible for the DAS pass and must endure extended waits despite being eligible at every Disney park just yesterday.
Nicole Greensher, who used to be eligible for a DAS pass but no longer is, said on X:
I have decided it is easier to pay financially for my disability and this is what Disney wants me to do in reality. Of course this is wrong and goes against the ADA. But if I want to go to Disney I would rather pay for genie, than to get a DAS Pass, and have a cast member tell me that a girl that looks like me doesn’t look like there could be anything wrong with a disability… because that experience ruined my trip…. As they say cost and worth are two different things… it is easier for me to admit what Disney is doing is wrong, acknowledge to myself that I am going to pay them financially for the “DAS Pass” in the form of buying genie tickets…. in order to avoid the abuse that I have experienced in the past from cast members telling me “a girl that looks like me could not have something wrong.” It is just easier…. or I could take the money and go to Maui which would probably be cheaper.
And FWIW – the language on the website about people being banned from the parks if they lie to obtain DAS is not a new policy. It's been on the DAS website for over a year. pic.twitter.com/P0EkTM08GL
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 10, 2024
Her claim that Disney World is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) could potentially cause legal headaches for the Walt Disney Company and, more importantly, prompt a Federal lawsuit.
With Disney World and the Disneyland Resort soon making these changes to their DAS pass system, it is only a matter of time before the first lawsuit is filed, and the Walt Disney Company will again find itself back in court.
What do you think of Disney World and the Disneyland Resort changing its DAS system? Let us know in the comments.
Disney should just adapt the same system as Universal and call it a day. By doing so they would take the pressure off of themselves, get cast members out of the hot seat without denying people who really have need of assistance
I wish Disney World and Disneyland would take note of how Disneyland Paris handles their DAS. It was so easy and I provided proof of my disability. Was given a card that showed my level of disability. They also had marked entrances for people with a DAS card. It was wonderful
I had a DAS pass in 2015. I had no visible disability, but I get severe pain in my left leg if I stand for a period of time.(I taught 31 years on cement floors) Befor4e I got the DAS pass we were standing in line at the Haunted Mansion. I was popping Aleve, and Acetaminophen like candy. A friend suggested I get the DAS, I was great. However, later I ended up in a wheelchair. So I only used the first half of my trip.
I do think Disney is right in trying to tighten up their procedures, but I think they are going about it in a completely wrong direction and violating the disability rights of so many people. Certain illnesses and medications prevent people from staying in the sun too long, Respiratory illnesses have their own restraints that sitting in a wheelchair may not help, etc. Each person is different and requires something different and that SHOULD be the way Disney addresses it. Down the road Universal Orlando outsources their disability access to another company that requires proof of “eligibility” and type of needed accomodations. Sounds like Disney is trying to save money by not outsourcing, and find ways to drive people to have to not only purchase their Genie and FP services, but also now rent their mobility devices in the parks.
I believe that there can be another way, for example a doctors note that verifies non-visible disabilities, as Universal does. No one judges you on how you look, you submit the doctors note in the portal, go to guest relations with an ID and the rest of your party and you receive your card valid for a specific amount of time. Having to prove a disability that is not visible is against many laws/programs such as HIPA and ADA. Don’t look for more lawsuits Disney, honor the DAS if the person truly needs it, whether its a visible or invisible disability. That is not your call to decide, none the less a non-medical cast member.
My IBS is generally under control at home but flares when I travel resulting in chronic Diarrhoea which can strike without warning – requiring a fast trip to a restroom (or a change of clothing). In the past with the free fast pass system I was able to manage it, however since that is no longer available I would have to pay considerably more than others for not only myself but also my husband (so we can ride together) to get Genie plus so I can avoid the long wait in line – and the anxiety of a potential flare up which exacerbates the situation. Last year when we went we discovered that I could qualify for DAS (after the first 3 days of IBS issues) and it made the rest of the trip far more manageable. Ironically I am heading to DLP this summer and automatically qualify for their scheme due to my diabetes, go figure!