Universal Disability Pass Tips & Guide 2025- Documentation Now Required!

The Universal Studios  disability pass is just one of many accommodations Universal provides for guests with disabilities. Universal Studios provides accommodations for guests that cannot wait in conventional lines with their Attractions Assistance Pass.

Recently Universal has made steps towards changing their disability pass program which has resulted in guests being required to provide documentation to verify any disability requests. I am a frequent visitor at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando and we stay up to date on all the most recent news impacting the parks.

Keep reading for the full overview of how the Universal Studios disability pass works at Universal, how to apply, and the new requirements. This article has been checked for 2025 for accuracy. 

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Universal Attractions Assistance Pass

The Attractions Assistance Pass at Universal Studios is similar to how the Disney Disability Access Service system works.

Guests with disabilities that qualify receive return times for attractions that are equal to the current standby wait time. Once it is time to return to the attraction, the guest and their group can access the Express Pass queue. For guests that struggle with waiting in conventional lines, the Attractions Assistance Pass allows guests to wait in a different area whether they enjoy another area of the park or sit down to rest until it's time to experience the ride.

You can only hold one return time at once and cannot reserve another one until you redeem the prior one or ask a team member to cross it out.

The Attractions Assistance Pass at Universal Studios uses just a sheet of paper and barcode to track your return times. This is far different than how Disney does it through their app. This paper will hold all your information for when you can redeem your next ride reservation including the barcode the Team Member will scan when you arrive to redeem it. Once you redeem your time you will be directed through the Express Pass queue. This is true for all attractions that have one- including those that do not offer Express at the moment like Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures and Bowser's Challenge at Super Nintendo World.

Universal Studios Hollywood Disability Pass- Documentation Now Required

Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando have just recently begun requiring guests requesting any attraction queue accommodation to obtain a IBCCES Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) by registering at www.accessibilitycard.org prior to their visit to the park.

The IAC registration consists of an online application that includes uploading the necessary documentation to prove the guest has a disability. Since the Universal Attractions Assistance Pass is considered an attraction queue accommodation, guests requesting this service must obtain an IAC card prior to their visit.

Previously, guests requesting approval for the Attractions Assistance Pass went to guest services with no documentation and had a conversation about their needs with a team member.

This rule is now in place so all guests will need to obtain the Individual Accessibility Card at least 48 hours prior to their arrival at the park. The theme park does not issue these cards and they can only be obtained via the website. Once a guest has met all the requirements and has been approved, someone from Universal Studios will contact them prior to their visit.

Who is IBCCES and why are they verifying documentation?

IBCCES stands for the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. They are a company that provides cognitive disorder training and certification for education, healthcare, corporate, and travel/entertainment professionals.

They are known for working with theme parks not just on verifying disabilities via documentation but also by providing evidence-based training and certification programs on understanding autism and other neurodivergencies.

Universal Studios Hollywood & Universal Orlando aren't the first theme parks to use this company to verify documentation of disabilities. Six Flags also works with this company to verify disabilities before guests can apply for their disability program.

Why is Universal Studios  using this program?

There are a few reasons Universal has switched to this process. First, this takes away the necessity to verify medical documentation (which is sometimes requested for certain accommodations) out of the hands of team members.

Another reason is that this may weed out those that may not be entirely honest about applying for the Attraction Assistance Pass.

There is also speculation that Universal might down the line seek certification to become an Autism Center through IBCCES. Six Flags went through this process last year and this would give Universal a nice edge with accessibility in the theme park industry especially as they compete with Disney. But this is purely speculation,

What type of documentation is required for the Universal disability pass?

The proof required when registering for an IAC is contact information and a statement from a medical provider, government entity, or educational support professional related to the accommodations requested.

Can Universal Studios Hollywood look at my documentation?

This card cannot be granted by Universal and team members will not look at any documentation due to medical privacy laws. The IAC process is essentially a way of using a third party to verify medical documentation that follows patient privacy laws.

If I'm approved for an IAC, am I approved for the Universal disability pass?

Receiving an IAC card does not guarantee approval for the Attractions Assistance Pass. This is still up to the discretion of the team member at Universal Studios. Guests will need to still have a conversation with a team member about their specific needs.

How long is the IAC good for?

The IAC is valid for one year and will need to be renewed after one year. The accommodations you are granted at Universal will also be valid throughout the duration of your IAC card. So for example, if you are approved for an Attractions Assistance Pass, then you will be given a confirmation number that will be good to use for an AAP for a year.

Does registering for a card cost money?

No, the IAC card is free.

While this may seem like a hassle, the process is pretty seamless and most guests with disabilities may already have easy access to documentation.

How to Apply for Universal Studios Disability Pass

The new documentation process for the Universal Studios disability pass has been stressful for many guests so here's the step by step break down. It's actually far less complicated than it seems! And once you are approved, you will keep the same accommodations for a year until it's time to renew.

1. Create your Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) on their website.
2. Be prepared to upload documentation from your medical provider along with their contact information. You will also be asked to disclose what challenges prevent you from waiting in a standard queue. Keep in mind that this step is just providing documentation, it's not an automatic approval process.
3. Once you finish your registration, Universal Guest Services will contact you at the email you used to register to set up a phone call. In some cases, they may just approve you for the Attractions Assistance Pass right away via email based on your documentation/needs.
4. If you are approved through Universal Guest Services, you will be given a confirmation number. Be prepared to present this confirmation number, your ID, and your Individual Accessibility Card at the park. There is an app for the IAC card to show the team member.
5. On your Universal day, go to Guest Services and show them your confirmation number, your ID, and your Individual Accessibility Card on the app. They will then give you your Attractions Assistance Pass (AAP) and explain to you how it works. And then you're all set!

Once you have gone through this process once, your approval remains good for a year (the same duration as your card) and when you arrive at the park you will show them the same information.

If you do not complete the first step of completing your IBCCES Individual Accessibility Card, then you will be denied accommodations at Universal. If you are planning a last minute trip, you need to still do this step. If you don't hear from Universal before you arrive, you can take your card to Guest Services and apply in person. But having this card is now required!

You can also call the Universal ADA Assistance line at (407) 224-4233 if they do not reach out to you prior to your trip. 

Using Universal Studios Disability Pass

Guests that qualify for the Universal Studios disability pass will receive a placard with the date, the guest's name, the number of people in the party, and a barcode.

Guests simply take the pass to each attraction they wish to experience and talk to the team member in front of the entrance. If the line is less than 30 minutes, guests can enter the Express Pass queue. If the line is longer than 30 minutes, the guest will be given a return time that is equal to the wait time of the ride. Once it is time to ride, guests return and access the ride through the Express Pass queue. Universal uses a written pass to keep track and the team member will write the return time down on the pass.

The pass may only be used for one attraction at a time. Unfortunately, attending peak season can find guests using the disability pass spending a lot of time waiting due to the crowds. An alternate suggestion is to also purchase the Universal Express Pass which allows guests instant access to the Express Line for attractions. Combining these two approaches can be a good way for guests with disabilities to maximize their time.

The standard Universal Attractions Assistance Pass provides access to the Universal Express pass queue so guests with disabilities do not have to wait long in the conventional queue.

Attractions Assistance Pass- Gold

There is another tier pass above this one (often referred to as the AAP Gold) that allows guests to be taken directly to the loading area when they come back to the attraction to redeem their return time. This pass is reserved for severe disabilities and is based purely on those needs so it's not given out often. At times, waits in the Express Pass can be as high as 20 minutes during peak times of the year. But most often, the wait time will be far less.

Can I Use Universal Disability Pass for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge?

This is easily the most popular ride at Universal Studios Hollywood right now.

Guests with disabilities can use their Attractions Assistance Pass to get a return time for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Keep in mind that this attraction reaches a long wait soon after the park opens. The earlier you ask for a return time, the better as it will eat up most of your time waiting to redeem it and you can't hold another return time at the same time.

Can I Use Universal Disability Pass for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure?

Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is not included with Universal Express Pass and the wait times for this ride can get as high as three hours on peak days of the year. This is easily the most popular ride at Universal Orlando right now. There is a separate queue built into the ride that will later likely be used for Express Pass when Universal decides to add it. But considering Universal hasn't added it yet, this may be a long way in the future yet. 

Guests with disabilities can use their Attractions Assistance Pass to get a return time for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This ride will eat up most of your time waiting to redeem so I suggest you go here first thing in the morning, get your return time, and the enjoy nearby rides with lower wait times in the meantime.

Is Disney Going to Start Requiring Documentation for DAS?

Anytime we see one of the major theme parks make a large change like requiring documentation for disability services, it's only natural to look at the other theme parks and consider if they will also make that change. 

Currently, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando, and Six Flags all utilize the Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) as a method to require documentation prior to applying for disability services that allow guests to access shorter ride queues. 

There are no plans from Disney as of now to move to this system. I personally do not see Disney making this change either as they have already have a well-trained system for how they provide accommodations for guests with disabilities. 

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