Enhancing Your Disney Experience: What We've Learned from the DAS

Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming on its own. Planning a Disney vacation while considering a disability or chronic illness can make it even more so. Regardless of the situation you find yourself in, we want to help maximize the magic and reduce the stress throughout your Disney experience.

In this article, you’ll find the tips and tricks we’ve learned from using the Disability Access Service (DAS) in Disneyland, California Adventure, and Walt Disney World. 

Plan Ahead

Once you’ve booked your trip you can start researching all the DAS pass has to offer. While you still can purchase Genie+ along with obtaining a DAS pass, we believe the benefits from the DAS are substantial enough for this to be a place where you can see savings and recommend moving forward without the additional purchase of Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass.

You can get your DAS pass 30 days before your trip by setting up a virtual appointment with a Cast Member. They lay it out pretty clearly on their site about what you should do before your call, and what things you should know for your call. For example: who is in your party, specific park dates, etc. 

One of the benefits the DAS pass has to offer, in addition to the shorter queues, is the ability to select two attractions from a specific list that you can reserve per day (depending on availability). For instance, we reserved Toy Story Midway Mania and had a return time between 2pm and 4pm on that day. If you don’t show up during that time frame, you forfeit that pass. These two extra attraction bookings do not impact the bookings you do throughout your day. 

How the DAS pass works

Similar to Genie+, the DAS pass doesn’t allow you to skip the line, but it does hold your place in line. (i.e., if the wait for an attraction is 60 minutes, your return time will be around 60 minutes.) 

• You’ll enter through the Lightning Lane (LL) queue

• The person with the DAS pass will need to scan first to activate the pass for the rest of your party (this is where the process differs from Genie+)

• Once you scan your pass, you’ll see a blue light, indicating to the cast member that you’re using the DAS pass and not the traditional Genie+ LL

• Each remaining member of the party will scan through and the process for that reservation will be complete.

NOTE: Some of the more popular attractions may have a later return time than the current wait. For example, if it’s 1pm and the wait for a popular attraction is 120 minutes, your return may not be 3pm, but later. I think this is due to crowd sizes and other guests who have reservations through Genie+ and Individual LL. The good news is you can see the return time before you book, and you can decide if holding onto a return time for that long doesn’t mess up the plans you had.

You can check here for more details regarding Disneyland DAS.

You can check here for more details regarding Disney World DAS.

DAS party size limits

As of 2024, the DAS party size is three (3) additional people for a total of four (4) using one DAS pass. 

Using it in the Park

Once your whole party scans into the park, you can book your first attraction. You do not have to be at the ride or even in the appropriate land to book an attraction - so don’t wait! 

As of 2024, you have to wait 10 minutes after your whole party scans a DAS return time before booking another one. 

More than shorter Queue times

Disney’s main goal behind offering their DAS pass is enabling guests to avoid the lines when waiting in a line could be difficult for an individual. However, they have so many other services available like: private bathrooms, rooms for individuals with sensory issues, and the First Aid locations will even hold medications for you if needed! One thing we’ve noticed about Disney parks is they want EVERYONE to experience the magic, so they’ve done a great job at making sure individuals who may struggle have access to things that can help make their trip a pleasant one. 

Frequently Asked Questions.

Does the individual with the DAS pass have to be present for their party to ride?

Yes, they will need to scan their wristband or phone first to activate the reservation for the rest of your group.

Can someone else in the party book an attraction?

Yes. Since you are all linked in the App, the whole party can see the same thing, and can book attractions for the whole party. Just remember the one with the DAS pass has to be present to use the reservation. 

Does my whole party have to use the DAS pass? 

No. When you’re booking a return time, it’ll have you select which members of your party you want to book a return time for.

Can I book a return time if I don’t have a mobile device? 

Yes. A cast member at a Guest Relations can book reserve times for you if you don’t have a way to do it on your own.