Last Updated on October 10, 2023 by Happily Ever Park Hoppers
What is a DAS Pass & How to use it?
Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort or the Disneyland Resort and looking for more detailed information on the DAS program? You’ve come to the right place!
What is a DAS Pass?
The Disability Access Service is a program that is offered at both the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. And is intended for Guests who have a hard time waiting in the conventional standby line for an extended period. If you or anyone traveling in your party would have difficulty waiting in the standby lines for an extended amount of time as a result of a disability, including non-apparent cognitive disabilities such as PTSD, Autism, Anxiety, etc., consider registering for the DAS program.
◾ Note: Disney recently made changes to the DAS program regarding Guests with mobility issues. Disabilities based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter do not need DAS.
The DAS pass allows the Guest to set up a time to return to a ride (after waiting a comparable time to the current wait outside of the queue) and avoid the standby line and enter through the attraction’s Lightning Lane. DAS passes are given out in a case-by-case situation but the majority of the time if a Guest relay to a Cast Member that waiting in an enclosed space for an extended period is not feasible, a DAS pass will more than likely be granted.
How to register for a DAS Pass?
You can register for DAS by one of two ways.
- You can pre-register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat between 2 to 30 days in advance of a park visit.
- In person once you arrive at any of the park’s Guest Experience Team kiosks or Guest Relations locations. Locations can be found at:
- City Hall at Magic Kingdom park
- The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park
- The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- The Guest Relations lobby (near Spaceship Earth) at Epcot
◾ If you do not pre-register and opt to register in person, you should go to one of the Guest Relations locations on your first park day and request assistance.
To pre-register:
First, you must have your theme park tickets linked and theme park reservations for everyone traveling in your party. Once you are with 30 days of your first park reservation day, you can Request a Live Video Chat with a Cast Member. The person who is applying for the DAS must be to be present (or a parent/guardian if under 18 years of age) for the Video Chat.
Once the Cast Member enters the Video Chat, the Cast Member will ask the person applying for the DAS (or their parent/guardian) a couple questions. You will be asked about your needs or the reason you are requesting DAS.
You will not be asked any medical questions or medical diagnoses. No proof of a diagnosis or doctor’s note is needed (or will even be looked at). This process is simply for the Cast Member to understand the needs of the person. And how the conditions of their disability affect them and their difficulty tolerating a conventional ride queue; not their full medical history.
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After you are pre-registered for DAS, you will be able to pre-select (2) ride return windows for each park reservation day. You will be asked to fill out a form with your top (3) ride selections at each park for each park reservation day. As well as your preferred time of the day (morning, afternoon, or evening). Then based on what is available, a Cast Member will add the selections to your My Disney Experience account. There you will be able to see what DAS Advance Selections you were given and the return time.
The only rides you can’t pre-select with the DAS Advance planning option, are the “tier 1” rides. Tier 1 rides are the top rides in each park, which are:
- Magic Kingdom – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train & Space Mountain
- Epcot – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Flight of Passage & Expedition Everest
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway,
◾ Note: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is NOT available for DAS Advance Selection or DAS Self-Selection. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind currently does not have a traditional standby line and the only way to access the ride is by joining a Boarding Group via the Virtual Queue or by purchasing the Individual Lightning Lane.
How to use a DAS in the parks?
Once you are in the parks, the DAS tile will appear on your My Disney Experience app when you tap the three little lines at the bottom of the app. From there you will be able to make a third DAS selection. This is known as the “Same-Day DAS Return Time Self-Selection Tool” (DAS Self-Selection for short). Unlike the DAS Advance Selection, with the DAS Self-Selection, you CAN get a return time for the tier 1 rides. From the Tip Board, when you tap the DAS tile, you will see a list of DAS-Eligible Options. When you tap on a ride, it will show you the posted wait time and the DAS return time.
When it becomes time to redeem your DAS selection, head to the ride’s Lightning Lane entrance. The DAS holder needs to tap in first. The Cast Member will confirm the DAS holder (when you register the DAS holder will have their photo taken for this purpose). Then all other members of the party with a return time will tap in.
After you’ve tapped into your current DAS selection (some rides have 2 touch points, so you’ll need to tap both) you will be able to select another ride return time. As the day goes on, you can continue using and requesting additional DAS return times, one after the other, until the parks close.
A few important notes:
- You must tap into the park before you can make DAS Self-Selections
- Once you’ve entered a park, if you leave and plan to return later you do not need to be in that park to request a return time
- If you plan to park hop you can’t make selections for rides in the second park until you’ve tapped into the second park
- There is no limit to the number of DAS selections you can make
- DAS Advance Selections and DAS Self-Selections are completely independent of each other.
- You DO NOT need to redeem your DAS Advance Selections to make DAS Self-Selections.
- The DAS holder must ride – if the DAS holder is not present or chooses not to ride, the rest of the party will have to wait in the standby line.
Can I use both DAS and Genie+?
Yes. If you have DAS and choose to purchase Disney Genie+, you can use them both.
Do you need to pay for Genie+ if you have DAS? No. You don’t “need” to pay for it.
Using Genie+ in conjunction with DAS does allow you to continue to “pre-plan” since you can stack Lightning Lanes. But more importantly. Know that the two features are completely separate from each other and one has no effect on the other.
Can I use both DAS and Rider Switch?
Rider Switch is a feature that allows your party to break up into groups if some of your party doesn’t want to ride an attraction or isn’t tall enough. When an adult that sits out with the non-riders but still wants to ride, this is when you would use Rider Switch.
Short Answer: Yes. Since typically DAS selections can only be redeemed when the person with the DAS is riding. However, more often than not. You will be allowed to use both for the adult that waited with the non-rider. Being allowed to use Rider Switch is at the discretion of the Cast Member at the attraction, always be kind and courteous when asking.
Helpful Tips when using Rider Switch with DAS:
- When making a DAS selection, select everyone in your party; even the non-rider(s).
- Your entire party should go to the entrance of the Lightning Lane and ask the Cast Member if you can get a Rider Switch for your non-rider(s).
**One last note. DAS stays active for 60 days. If you happen to return within those 60 days, you will be able to make DAS Self-Selections without needing to stop at a Guest Relations or request a Live Chat. After 60 days, you will need to re-register for DAS again.
If you have a specific question about DAS that I did not answer, please drop a comment below and I’ll do my best to answer.
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Kristin
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