Disney World offers a Disability Access Service (DAS) for visitors with a developmental disability, “like autism or similar,” who are unable to wait in a traditional queue for extended periods of time.

This service has changed significantly over the past year as Disney has updated its restrictions and registration process. Now, it appears Disney has updated the language surrounding DAS once again.

The Disney World website has a dedicated page for its Disability Access Service. Here, families can learn more about the service, including information on how it works, how to register, and where to look for frequently asked questions. As of October, the “Speak with a Cast Member” section of the website was updated with more information. This change makes the rules and requirements for video calls more explicit.

To utilize the Disability Access Service in the Disney parks, visitors must first speak with a Cast Member who determines eligibility for DAS. The Disney World website lays out the steps users must take to engage in a live video chat, highlighting rules including (but not limited to):

• The recording of this video chat is strictly prohibited
• The Guest requesting DAS either for themself or for someone else (e.g. a minor child) must be 18 years of age or older to register
• The Guest for whom DAS is being requested must be present during the video chat.

For comparison, this is what the old “Speak with a Cast Member” section looked like.

This change is not the first since Disney overhauled its DAS policy in 2024. In May, for example, Disney World extended the period during which its Disability Access Service (DAS) is valid. DAS is now valid for up to one year after approval. Prior to that, DAS was only valid for 30 days (with Disney extending it to 120 days and later, 240 days).

Originally, DAS was offered to those with a wide range of disabilities, but that is no longer the case. Before the 2024 changes, the service allowed those to enter the Lightning Lane line via a return time after they were approved for the service. Then, in May of 2024 at Disney World and June of 2024 at Disneyland, the service changed as Disney wanted to tackle the overuse of the service. The wording was adjusted to state that only select guests qualify for this service “due to a developmental disability like autism or similar disorder.”

This left many with non-developmental disabilities — but who might still benefit from the service — out of luck, and they were offered accommodations instead of DAS. These accommodations included being told to purchase Lighting Lane or talk to Cast Members at each attraction to see what accommodations they could provide.

We’ll be on the lookout for additional changes to Disney’s DAS program and more updates from Disney World and beyond. In the meantime, stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest news.

Learn More About Disney’s Disability Access Service HERE!

Are you planning a trip to Disney World? Let us know in the comments.

The post New Rules Added to Disability Access Service at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog.