Disney's Disability Access Service pass made our trip to see the mouse significantly easier

19.12.2024 - 20:43 / thepointsguy.com

There's no sugarcoating it: A trip to Disney World can be stressful. It doesn't matter if you are a solo traveler or a family of six, there's a lot to figure out.

Add a family member who has cognitive disabilities to the mix, and the day can be even more taxing. Yes, you can purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to reduce the amount of time you spend in lines, but it might not be enough for some. Fortunately, for those who qualify, Disney offers a free Disability Access Service (DAS) pass to reduce the wait times even more.

During a recent trip to Disney, my family was able to experience the DAS pass benefits firsthand.

Last month, my brother-in-law turned 40. With this round-number birthday, his one wish was to celebrate at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World. Due to his developmental disabilities, he's not able to live by himself, let alone travel by himself. So to make him feel extra special for this birthday, my family packed our bags and made his wish come true.

The Disney DAS pass is designed for guests who can't wait in a traditional standby line. It used to be that this pass was intended for those with qualifying physical disabilities, developmental disabilities or health issues, but in early 2024, Disney changed the guidelines.

Now, the pass is intended only for guests with developmental disabilities. "This service supports guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time," per Disney.

Using the My Disney Experience app, guests are able to secure a return time, which means that they don't have to wait in the regular standby line. The return time is equal to the standby line posted wait time. So if there's a 90-minute wait for a ride, for example, the return time will be 90 minutes from when ride access is requested. (In reality, it is the standby wait time minus 10 minutes.) During that time period, guests can relax on a bench, get a bite to eat or even enjoy another ride.

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However, this is not an opportunity to skip the line completely. Guests can enter the ride through the Lightning Lane at any point after the secured return time. Depending on the ride, you still might have a slight wait, but the Lightning Lane line moves significantly faster. In our experience we didn't wait more than 10 minutes for any ride.

Before you begin the process, you must purchase your Disney park tickets. This means you need to purchase tickets before you know whether or not you qualify. Additionally, since up to three additional party members can utilize this service (for a total of four guests), you'll want to ensure all guests are linked in the