Disney Adds New DAS Disability Pass Rules For Eligibility Call to Website

Teams at Disneyland and Walt Disney World have made changes to their Disability Access Service (DAS) web pages to clarify guidelines for the process to interview for the service.

DAS went through a large overhaul last year to cut down on overuse, abuse, and other issues that were starting to impact the effectiveness of the program. Since then, we at Mickey Visit have watched any changes to the DAS program very closely, as many guests have been hopeful for some type of loosening of these earlier strict regulations.

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Disney Clarifies Interview Rules for DAS on Website

Walt Disney World and Disneyland have updated the DAS web pages to clarify the details of the video chat interview process. This information is now prominently highlighted on the Disability Pass pages of each website. Walt Disney World requires guests to complete a video call to be eligible for the Disability Pass. Disneyland gives the option for either a video call or a visit to an accessibility booth in the Esplanade.

You can see the full text of the addition to the Walt Disney World page below and the differences between that text and the Disneyland version of the update in the following section. We know that Walt Disney World updated its page today, but it’s unclear whether Disneyland made the update today or earlier. These changes are meant to bring new clarity to the process at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. See details on the disability pass at Disney World and the disability pass at Disneyland in our guides.

Here is the text of the Walt Disney World version of the page:

When you’re ready to chat with a Cast Member to determine eligibility for DAS, you can engage in a live video chat using the “Request Live Video Chat” button below.

Make sure the device has a working camera and a microphone. You must review and accept the Terms & Conditions before requesting a live video chat.

Important things to note:

• Live video chat is available from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
• 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.
• If you’re not logged in to the Walt Disney World website, you’ll be prompted to log in.
• If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one before continuing.
• If you don’t have valid theme park admission, you’ll need to link valid theme park admission for each member of your party.
• Guests using a mobile device or tablet will need to download the Zoom application to connect to the video chat.
• Video chat is screen reader-friendly for Guests with visual disabilities and available with text chat for Guests with hearing disabilities.
• At this time, live chat is offered in English only.

Here's a look at the updated text on the page in the screenshot below on the Walt Disney World version of the page.

Key differences between Walt Disney World page and Disneyland page:

The Disneyland version of the page has almost the same rules and guidelines, but note a couple of key differences.

• Live video chat is available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Pacific Time.
• American Sign Language interpreter is available through Zoom for Guests who are deaf or have hearing loss.
• There is no mention of needing to download Zoom on the Disneyland page.

Many guests are still hoping for changes to the DAS policy that will loosen the strict eligibility requirements that have been established since May 2024. This updated language doesn't signify a major change that will impact the guest experience with DAS.

Disney Disability Program Continues to Change

Since the overhaul of DAS took place, we have seen Disney make adjustments to the program by making updates to the registration website. One of the more discussed changes we saw at the start of the year was removing “only” before the phrasing that DAS was for guests with “developmental disabilities or similar.” You can read more about that update in our initial coverage. But that language change didn't necessarily open up more eligibility to the program, despite some guests hoping that it would.

That change was followed by the most positive change we've seen in DAS, which was the extension of the validity period for approved recipients to one year. This was a large benefit for annual passholders, meaning they only have to renew their DAS when it's time to renew their annual pass. This was preceded by another positive change that extended the window to apply for DAS before the first day of their theme park visit to 60 days instead of 30 days.

So why did Disney change the language on the DAS website? It could be just to spell out the process with more clarity and to also emphasize the rule about not recording interviews. The DAS changes have been contentious, which resulted in a lawsuit being filed against Disney. This change isn't something that will impact guest experience in a drastic way, but it will make the process of applying for the DAS Disability Pass easier to understand.

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