There’s no sugarcoating it: A trip to Disney World can be stressful. It doesn’t matter if you are a solo traveler or a family of six, there’s a lot to figure out.
Add a family member who has cognitive disabilities to the mix, and the day can be even more taxing. Yes, you can purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to reduce the amount of time you spend in lines, but it might not be enough for some. Fortunately, for those who qualify, Disney offers a free Disability Access Service (DAS) pass to reduce the wait times even more.
During a recent trip to Disney, my family was able to experience the DAS pass benefits firsthand.
Last month, my brother-in-law turned 40. With this round-number birthday, his one wish was to celebrate at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World. Due to his developmental disabilities, he’s not able to live by himself, let alone travel by himself. So to make him feel extra special for this birthday, my family packed our bags and made his wish come true.
Disney DAS overview
The Disney DAS pass is designed for guests who can’t wait in a traditional standby line. It used to be that this pass was intended for those with qualifying physical disabilities, developmental disabilities or health issues, but in early 2024, Disney changed the guidelines.
Now, the pass is intended only for guests with developmental disabilities. “This service supports guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time,” per Disney.
Using the My Disney Experience app, guests are able to secure a return time, which means that they don’t have to wait in the regular standby line. The return time is equal to the standby line posted wait time. So if there’s a 90-minute wait for a ride, for example, the return time will be 90 minutes from when ride access is requested. (In reality, it is the standby wait time minus 10 minutes.) During that time period, guests can relax on a bench, get a bite to eat or even enjoy another ride.
Related: The 17 best Disney World hotels for your 2024 stay
However, this is not an opportunity to skip the line completely. Guests can enter the ride through the Lightning Lane at any point after the secured return time. Depending on the ride, you still might have a slight wait, but the Lightning Lane line moves significantly faster. In our experience we didn’t wait more than 10 minutes for any ride.
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Our experience using the DAS pass
First steps
Before you begin the process, you must purchase your Disney park tickets. This means you need to purchase tickets before you know whether or not you qualify. Additionally, since up to three additional party members can utilize this service (for a total of four guests), you’ll want to ensure all guests are linked in the Disney app for a smooth process.
Qualifying for the DAS pass
To qualify for the DAS pass, you’ll need to register by speaking to a cast member via live video chat between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. EST. This can be done anytime between 30 days in advance through the day you arrive at the park. Additionally, the guest for which the DAS pass is being requested must be present during the conversation.
Three days before our visit, my brother-in-law and I called the live video chat. People suggested calling as early in the morning as possible to avoid a longer wait time. We called at 7:20 a.m. and waited exactly 35 minutes before it was our turn.
The Disney cast member asked us some basic questions, such as the name of the guest with the disability, our dates and the names of the guests in the party. At 8:03 a.m., we received a Zoom link and started the video chat. Due to my brother-in-law’s disabilities, I answered most of the questions. They asked questions such as “Why can’t he stand in line?” and “How does this affect other parts of his life?” and “What can be done to calm him down?”
I will admit it was a demoralizing process, as I had to call out my brother-in-law’s differences right in front of him. Fortunately, his situation is pretty cut and dry, so we were approved quickly.
However, with four members in my immediate family plus my brother-in-law (for a total of five guests), the cast member did need to get approval to exceed the four-guest limit to use the DAS pass in the park. Luckily, they granted us an exception but told us that this is not always guaranteed.
Since my husband is my brother-in-law’s legal guardian and we all have the same last name, I assume that helped. However, I’ve heard stories about families with more than four members not having the same luck. Our conversation with the cast member ended at 8:10 a.m., which meant the entire process took 50 minutes.
Related: These are the best times to visit Disney World
Truth be told, based on anecdotal statements I was reading on the internet, I was nervous that my brother-in-law might be denied the service, even though the pass is intended for guests just like him. Because of this, I made sure to be incredibly clear and focused on why he can’t handle a normal wait time in line; I explained how it can affect both him and others around him. Also, note that Disney doesn’t ask — or want — a diagnosis or doctor’s note. They approve solely based on how the disability affects someone not being able to wait in line.
If you aren’t approved for the DAS pass, Disney may offer other accommodations to help reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in line. The cast member you speak with regarding DAS approval should be able to walk you through these options.
Using the DAS pass at the park
Once you swipe your park tickets at the park entrance, the DAS pass option within the My Disney Experience app will appear. Within the app, you can immediately secure a return time. Any linked guest can request a return time within the app, however, the guest intended for the DAS pass must be the first to scan onto the ride. When the return time is available, the entire approved party can then use the Lightning Lane line.
You can only reserve one ride at a time. After scanning your pass for the reserved ride, you can then secure a time slot for a new ride. However, you do need to wait 10 minutes before the app allows you to request another ride.
Despite having the DAS pass, I also purchased a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for all five of us at $35 per person. Depending on the family makeup and the intended rides, this may not be necessary. I was very glad to have both at my disposal, though. This allowed me to have a ride reserved with both the DAS pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass simultaneously, reducing our time waiting around.
Additionally, my brother-in-law wasn’t keen on some of the scarier rides, so some of us could use the Lightning Lane Multi Pass to go on rides without him. (The DAS guest must be present when using the DAS pass.)
We found the DAS pass to work incredibly well. We did have an issue once when the pass didn’t register, thus preventing us from securing a new return time. Fortunately, a cast member was able to help us without problems.
Differences between DAS pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass
As previously mentioned, we had both passes during our one-day trip to Disney World. I wanted to make sure we got on as many rides as possible and were also able to cater to my brother-in-law and my two kids. If you’re eligible for the DAS pass and able to afford it, I’d suggest getting both. Just know that there are some main differences in how the systems work.
With the DAS pass, there’s no limit to the number of times you can secure the same ride. So if you have a favorite ride, you can use the pass as many times as you desire. With the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, however, you can only secure each ride once during the day. If you want to repeat the ride, you’ll need to stand in the regular standby line.
Additionally, the DAS pass only allows you to have one ride secured at any given time; the Lightning Lane Multi Pass allows you to have three rides secured at once. You can also pick three Lightning Lane rides and time slots in advance upon purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. With the DAS pass, there’s no opportunity to preselect a ride time.
Related: Is Disney Lightning Lane worth it?
The return time with the DAS pass is tied directly to the standby wait time, which means you have the chance to secure any ride you desire during the day. Not all rides participate in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass. You’ll even find that during peak times, it could be incredibly hard to snag a Lightning Lane spot on some of the more popular rides.
Differences between the disability passes at Disney World and Universal Orlando
During our trip to Orlando, we also spent a day visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.
Similar to Disney World, Universal also has its own disability pass called the Attractions Assistance Pass. The pass works similarly to Disney’s, where you have a return time based on the current wait time listed. However, it’s not limited to just those with a developmental disability. Instead, it’s for guests whose “disability prevents them from waiting for extended periods in a conventional attraction queue environment.”
This means if you have a physical disability or health issues, you could potentially qualify — whereas at Disney World, those disabilities aren’t eligible.
Universal also uses a different approval process. Guests must obtain an IBCCES Individual Accessibility Card through AccessibilityCard.org. This requires a doctor’s note confirming the disability and any specific needs.
However, Universal will ultimately determine the necessary accommodations based on the cardholder’s specific needs. We found the process incredibly seamless, and we preferred this approval method over that of Disney. With Universal, we didn’t have to wait on a Zoom call or be in the presence of the person who has the disability. We felt as though it was a more straightforward process and didn’t depend on a cast member ultimately determining a person’s eligibility.
Related: Here’s how to plan an epic trip to Universal Orlando Resort this year
Bottom line
Disney’s DAS pass proved to be invaluable, especially for my brother-in-law. It meant he could actually enjoy the Disney magic — a vacation he wouldn’t be able to experience without it. I know there are many disappointments regarding the ways the pass changed this past year. While I do wish they would change the approval process and include those with other disabilities, we found Disney to be incredibly helpful.
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