Using Disability Access Service (DAS) at Walt Disney World

Guest Blogger: Amy Van HornOctober 20, 2016Traveling with a family member who happens to have special needs isn’t always easy, but at Walt Disney World, my daughter truly feels special! In my opinion, Disney does a fabulous job of making sure my nine-year-old, who happens to have autism, has a magical vacation and gets to enjoy the parks just as much as any other guest. One of the ways they do this is through the Disability Access Service (or DAS) program.  We’ve been using it for years, and I can’t imagine vacationing without it. Here’s how it works:When we first arrive at the parks, we go straight to Guest Services to request access to DAS. My daughter may look like a typical little girl on the outside, but due to her disability, she has a lot of trouble standing in line, being patient and keeping her hands to herself.  For these reasons, she qualifies for access to DAS. There’s no need to bring a doctor’s note, and all of the Cast Members we have spoken to have always been very understanding and responsive whenever we have requested access to the services.Since we have an existing account, the Cast Member just verifies that my daughter has used DAS before and asks if there have been any updates or changes to her condition. She has a photo on file now, but the first time we requested DAS, they took her picture.  Then, they scan her Magic Band and ask which ride she would like a DAS time for first, and our family is off—just like that!The way that DAS works is that you are given a return time for whichever attraction you request, and that time is usually 10 minutes later than the current standby wait time. Once you have experienced that attraction, you can make another reservation with a Cast Member at the attraction. The person with the disability does not need to be present to make the reservation, although they must be with the party at Guest Relations when the DAS is obtained. We usually send Daddy to get our DAS time while we wait in the shade!We use the DAS in conjunction with our FastPass+ so that we very rarely have to wait in a long line. While we certainly expect our daughter to stand in shorter lines that she can tolerate, such as the line for Prince Charming’s Royal Carousel, having the opportunity to wait for other attractions in another location is very beneficial. For example, getting a time to return to Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train while we eat ice cream is a great way to keep our girl from having a meltdown that could potentially ruin our day.While DAS certainly doesn’t allow one to cut the line or get out of waiting, it does allow children who have trouble standing in line the opportunity to wait somewhere less stimulating, which can lengthen the amount of time a family can stay in the park.  This just adds to the magic and memories!