Disney is updating its Disability Access Services (DAS), and the changes are getting mixed reactions from fans.
On April 9, the company announced a change to its policy for guests using DAS, which has allowed guests with various disabilities to avoid long lines that can make visiting the parks difficult. The change goes into effect on May 20 at Walt Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland.
According to Disney’s website, DAS passes will now be reserved for “Guests who have autism, developmental disabilities, or similar conditions that prevent them from waiting in regular lines for long periods of time.” Disney has also reduced the number of people who can accompany guests who can use DAS to skip the lines: Groups will consist of immediate family members only, with a maximum of four people.
With this change, DAS will be automatically available to a more limited group of people, but Disney also says it will expand other support options for guests who need help navigating attraction queues. One of these updates is extending the DAS registration period for eligible guests from 60 days to 120 days before their park visit.
Disney will also work with its team of specially trained medical professionals from Inspire Health Alliance to assist Cast Members with the conversations necessary to determine a Guest’s eligibility for DAS on a case-by-case basis, if necessary.
A Disneyland official told People magazine last week, “Disney is committed to providing an incredible experience for all of our guests, including those with disabilities. That’s why we’re committed to offering a wide range of innovative support services to help our guests with disabilities have a great time during their visit to our theme parks.”
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Stock images of Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Matt Strohshane/Bloomberg via Getty
Since the announcement, people have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the news.
Natasha Caudill, a content creator and accessibility advocate who was born with a rare eye condition called congenital color blindness, told People that while these changes won’t stop her from going to the parks, they do change how she views the company. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Caudill’s condition limits her color vision and causes other vision problems, including rapid eye movement syndrome. Caudill said she has trouble being in bright light for long periods of time, so she uses DAS when she’s indoors or in dark places waiting for rides.
“We still don’t know why Disney changed the DAS pass,” said Caudill, 26. “People are speculating that too many people are lying to get the service.”
“I wish Disney had been more open about these changes. Although Disney World provides a warm and welcoming environment, as a disabled person, I now feel less welcome than before,” she continued.
Hannah Culp also took to TikTok to talk about how the changes will affect her family.
In the video, Culp explains how she uses DAS to treat Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes symptoms like dizziness, headaches and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“Now I’m told I need a wheelchair because POTS has left me disabled and if I stand for too long I pass out.
“That’s not an accommodation,” she added. “Accommodation is removing barriers to access. Telling me to buy a wheelchair is like telling me to spend $60 on an EVC, because there’s no way my tiny biceps, who have never pushed a manual wheelchair in their life, could push it 12 miles a day for five days.”
Disneyland stock image. Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort via Getty
Jessica Kiss, a frequent DAS user who is a physician and mother of two children with disabilities, shared her mixed feelings about TikTok’s update.
Kiss said she feels that park users who may abuse the DAS system make it “near impossible” for families like hers to effectively use the resource, such as her daughter, who has autism.
“The needs of people with autism are really complex. For example, with my older daughter, we had prepared her for this specifically,” Kiss says. “We talked about how long it would take for her to be able to do these things, and the fact that she wouldn’t be able to get on the rides right away,” Kiss adds. “But then when we got to the line and it turned out to be too much for her, now we have to deal with the tantrums and panic.”
“I know there’s no easy solution to this problem, but this isn’t unique to our family,” she continues.
Kiss hopes the DAS changes will help people with autism, but he expressed concern about how they will affect people with invisible disabilities. “It looks like they’re going to accommodate those disabilities, but it’s not clear how,” Kiss said. “It’s probably going to make it very difficult to accommodate.”
Once the new policy officially launches, Disney’s website will feature a variety of tools guests can use to plan their visit, enhance their experience and identify services they need.
Disney encourages guests to explore the website ahead of the release date so they can prepare for every aspect of their visit, including planning ahead, understanding parking and transportation options, choosing mobility devices, accessing attractions and checking hotel services.