Disney Guests Speak Out on Others Abusing Free Disability Service - Inside the Magic

When Guests visit Disney, one of the best things about the Parks is that when Guests go, Disney will do all they can to ensure that they are accommodated. One of the ways that they do this is with their DAS (Disability Access Service) system. 

What DAS does is allow Guests to pre-sign up on the My Disney Experience app or Disneyland App before arriving. Once they are here, they are able to make ride selections for themselves and their party. Guests can pick one attraction at a time, and instead of waiting in the line physically, they just need to wait virtually. Once their return time arrives, they can use the Lightning Lane entrance and scan in.

DAS is meant to aid those Guests who are unable to stand or sit in line for an extended amount of time, for any reason. Since the program relies on the honor system at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, however, some Guests are now speaking up with worry that others may be abusing the honor system privilege now that FastPass is gone and a paid Lightning Lane system is being used with Disney Genie+.

Reddit user Madison13164 posted a thread on the platform, which has garnered a ton of discussion.

Please, please, don’t abuse DAS. It’s meant to aid people that cannot wait in line without endangering themselves and others around them. It’s fully based on an honor system.

If you just want it to not have to wait in line just because, don’t apply for it. You’re hurting everyone who actually need it. Abusing a system that helps people with disabilities could lead to its removal (think ESA and airlines).

Be mindful to each other. That’s it lol. Y’all enjoy your trip

Edit: after all the personal attacks coming up, I’m done replying to comments. Have a good Sunday everyone!

Edit 2: I wasn’t expecting this post to blow up the way it did. Thank you so much for everyone that shared their experiences. This is what DAS is made for, and I hope it stays there for here. I do want to remind everyone that disabilities can’t be diagnosed by looks, there’s a lot of stuff going inside people that aren’t visible to the naked eye. So, please don’t judge. It was also never my intention to make everyone aware of its existence, and for that I apologize. Thank you for the awards. Have a good week everyone.

DAS is NOT a free replacement to Genie+. It’s there to aid people who fully need it from WaltDisneyWorld

In the comments, many Disney Guests were speaking on the system and how it has helped them enjoy their Disney experience much more. Many spoke on how the loss of the free FastPass system left them with no choice but to get DAS as they used just to use FastPass instead of having to ask for DAS. That being said, others are glad to see Lightning Lane being used as it allows DAS users to blend in with Disney Genie+ users. Although there is no issue with a Guest using DAS if they need it, not all Guests feel comfortable displaying that they need to use the system, especially since not all disabilities are physically apparent.

Disney describes DAS as: 

Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment and accessible experiences for our Guests. As part of this commitment, Disability Access Service (DAS) is a program offered at Walt Disney World theme parks to assist Guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.

Of course, just because DAS is free and relies on an honor system does not mean that you should use it on your next visit if you do not need to. Disney will also not give out DAS to a Guest with mobility issues if they are in a wheelchair or ECV and are able to sit in their vehicle for the duration of a line.

What do you think of this ongoing conversation? Let us know in the comments below! 

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