Changes to the DAS (Disability Access
System) at the Disneyland Resort
11/19/2014
First off what is
DAS. DAS is the system at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts intended
to help Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional
queue environment. It is not intended for those with
mobility issues only. Those with mobility issues in wheelchairs and ECVs will
go into regular Standby Lines where the lines can accommodate and into special
lines where they don’t. Everybody can use the FastPass and FastPass+ systems.
(Note: Disneyland was built before the ADA laws so some lines do not
accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs and Disney has long had policies in place to
accommodate. Disney California Adventure is ADA compliant so lines there will
accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs.)
Who will this
help? It will help those with cognitive and behavioral disabilities or those physical
disabilities that make confined spaces or long periods of confinement hard.
Some examples are Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Brain Injury and PTSD. If the person has
a medical condition of any kind that makes it so they legitimately can’t cope
for the length of time it takes to do a regular stand by line ask at Guest
Relations about the DAS.
How do you get a
DAS? Stop by City Hall or the Chamber of Commerce at Disneyland and Disney
California Adventure and discuss your needs with the Cast Member there. Take
the Tickets or Annual Passes for everybody in your group when you talk to them.
They will give you the appropriate level of help. They do not need or want a
doctors not or proof of disability. They will fill out a form explaining your
needs and take your picture. They will then link your DAS with your Ticket or
Annual Pass. (Before they use to print up a paper card. This system is new as
of 11/19/14.) It will be good for the length of stay or a maximum of 60 days.
When discussing your
need of a DAS with the Cast Member remember that mobility issues alone will not
qualify you for the DAS. You must tell them why you can’t stay in a
long line. If you can’t stand long they will suggest you get a wheelchair or
ECV and not give you a DAS. If you can’t do stairs they will say stay in the
regular line and tell the Cast Member at the attraction you need to bypass any
stairs on entrance or exit. Please do not lie and say you have ADHD or some
other issue if you do not to qualify. This just makes it harder for those that really
need the help to get it. Be honest and tell them truthfully the legitimate reason
you can’t be in line for over 30 minutes or so.
You are only
allowed to have one Return Time at a time with DAS. The Return Time is just
like a FastPass Return Time. The only difference is a DAS Return time is 10-15
minutes less than the regular Standby Line wait time for the ride you request
it for. Example: You ask for Space Mountain as your next Attraction. The
Standby Line for Space Mountain is 60 minutes long at that time. Your Return
Time will be for 50 minutes from the time issues. You can have only one Return
Time at a time. You can use the DAS system in conjunction with the FastPass
system. Unlike the FastPass your Return Time for DAS does not expire.
You will pick your
first attraction while at Guest Relations getting your DAS and be given a
Return Time to ride. After your first ride you can choose your next attraction
at any of Kiosks located around both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Anybody in the party can go to get the Return Time after the DAS is issued.
Just take all the tickets for everyone in your group who will be riding that
attraction when you go. You can get a Return Time for Attractions in either
park from any Kiosk.
The person named
on the DAS must ride the attraction for the party to ride. They will be
required to show their ticket for the party to ride. You will personally be
responsible to keep track of your return time. They will not give you any written
reminder. I suggest setting an alarm on your phone or watch, take a pad of
paper to write it down, make a note on your phone or send yourself a text with
your Attraction and Return Time information.
DAS is good for
the guest and up to 5 others or a party of 6. Larger groups can be accommodated
but you need to talk to Guest Relations for approval. You can change the number
of people in your group at any Kiosk that gives Return Times.
If you are unsure
if you need DAS or if you qualify for DAS ask the Cast Member at Guest
Relations. If you don’t think the DAS system will give you the assistance you
need then tell them what assistance you need and why.
Here is a list of
where the Kiosks are at this time:
For more
information check out the Disneyland website section on DAS:
After a long conversation
with Disney I found out that this same system is going to be implemented at
Walt Disney World sometime in the future. The date has not been set as of yet.
