IMPORTANT NEWS: Those threads have specific information about DAS at each park. This thread has some general information about DAS that applies to both WDW and the Disneyland parks. Anything you read about GAC on old DISBOARDS threads, on the Internet or in guidebooks is out of date and no longer applies.
ON October 9, 2013, the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) changed to DAS (Disability Assistance System). You can find out more about that on this thread for WDW:
and on this thread for Disneyland Resort
DAS works much differently than GAC did.
The only accommodation of DAS is being able to wait outside of line. You will still wait, but the majority of wait will be outside of lines, in a place you choose.
You can find more information about how DAS works in the threads linked above.
Where do I get a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities?
Post #3 of this thread has links to the online version of the Guidebook. Once you are in the parks, you can find the Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities with the other maps at the park entrance, at Guest Relations or at the ECV/wheelchair/stroller rental area. The Guidemap looks like the 'regular' park maps, but has additional information for guests with disabilities.
It's best to pick one up on each visit (or every few months, if you visit often) because things may change.
Can I write ahead of time and get DAS? Where do I request DAS?
No, you can't write or call ahead to get one. BUT, YOUCAN REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME BY VIDEO CHAT. SEE LINKS AT TOP OF POST 
Guests can register at the parks. Go to Guest Relations OR one of the Guest Experience umbrellas at a Theme Park and talk to the CM there about your problems and needs.
If you are requesting DAS for someone else (like your child, for example), that person does need to be with you when DAS is requested, even if they can't talk. The DAS is actually issued in the name of the person with a disability. That person does need to be present when DAS is requested and when it is used.
Most people go to Guest Relations in the parks to request DAS, but you MAY also be able to get DAS issued at the Guest Relations area located at the park, but outside of the gates. The only place guaranteed to issue DAS is Guest Relations inside the park.
DAS is not available at Downtown Disney, at water parks or at your resort; you need to be at a place with park Guest Relations CMs (the people at Downtown Disney and the resorts are not park Guest Relations CMs).
Do certain diagnoses qualify for DAS?
No.
Having any specific diagnosis doesn't qualify or not qualify someone for DAS; there is no list of "appropriate" diagnoses for DAS. Also, the CMs do not have medical training, so a specific diagnosis does not really mean much to them.
The DAS is based on needs that the person has related to a disability, not what their diagnosis is.
The diagnosis is not really that important because people with the same diagnosis can have very different needs.
DAS is given based on needs and the accommodations that meet those needs. This is not a Disney rule, this is the way that the ADA is written. According to the ADA, accommodations are not given based on the diagnosis or specific disability; they are given based on needs that are related to a disability.
For example, my youngest DD has cerebral palsy as her main diagnosis. Some people with cerebral palsy don't really need anything special; some might walk with a cane/crutches or use a wheelchair, but don't need anything besides an accessible line. Those people would not need a DAS.
Some people, like my DD, have additional needs that are not met just by having her wheelchair in line. I go to Guest Services and explain my DD's needs to the CMs there to get DAS issued to her to help meet her needs.
Do I need a letter from the doctor? If you choose to get a letter from your doctor:
No.
You don't need a doctor's letter and the CM is likely to not want to look at it, partly because the letters are often not very helpful to the CM.
Some people DO feel more confident asking for DAS if they have a letter, but a letter is not required. According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) you can not be required to provide proof of a disability.
You can choose to show proof, but can't be required. If you do have a letter, it should reflect your needs/problems related to your disability, not your diagnosis. (For example, a letter that says "My patient has xxxxxx and can't wait in lines. Please extend every possible consideration." is not helpful.) A doctors prescription has no legal standing and will not be honored, since WDW is not a medical facility.
- make sure it talks about the needs you have that you might require assistance with in the parks.
- realize that Disney CMs (Cast Members) can't help with transfers or personal care.
- be aware that some doctors might charge for an office visit to gather information for the letter or may charge to write the letter. Writing a letter does take some of the doctor's time. While many doctors may chose to do it as a service to their patients, some DIS posters have reported being charged for a letter. If this would be a problem for you, you will want to check it out ahead of time.
- be prepared that even if you bring a letter, CMs may not want to look at it at all.
I have a wheelchair, rollator, walker or ECV. Do I also need DAS?
Not unless you have other needs.
The CM can see the wheelchair, ECV or other mobility device and will know you need an accessible entrance/line/boarding area.
Some people need other things besides the mobility device; those people might benefit from DAS.
When CMs see a mobility device user present a DAS, some may start to expect everyone who is traveling with a mobility device to present a card. This is not how the system is supposed to work.
If you have any problems with access to the accessible entrances, first check the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities to make sure that you are in the correct place. If you still have problems, ask to speak with a supervisor.
I heard most attractions have special 'wheelchair' or 'disabled' entrances. Do they?
No.
At DISNEYLAND, many attractions were built without accessibility in mind, so they do have special lines/entrances, but are changing over as they renovate and build new attractions. DCA was built more recently and does have mostly accessible lines.
At WDW, most attractions have Mainstream Lines, which means that the regular line is wheelchair accessible. Animal Kingdom and the Studio were built with mostly Mainstream Lines and guests with special needs wait in the 'regular' line most of the time in those parks.
Magic Kingdom and Epcot were not built with Mainstream Lines, but they were added, as much as possible as attractions were added or renovated.
A few attractions at MK and Epcot have special entrances because their 'regular' entrance is not accessible. The Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities will tell you which attractions have a separate entrance and how to access it.
There are also some attractions in each park where part of the line is not accessible (sometimes because of stairs) or the boarding area for guests with disabilities is different. This is usually because of moving walkways or the 'regular' entrance being on one side of the ride track and the exit on the other.
For these types of situations, you will usually find a marked handicapped access point or a CM to direct you close to the 'obstruction' or boarding area. You will usually wait in the regular line until that point.
Moving walkways are usually slowed, not stopped; if you need it to be slower or even stopped, tell the CM. DAS is used for accommodation of waiting outside of lines, so showing DAS won't tell the CM what you need.
I don't want to use a wheelchair or ECV, can't I just get a DAS ?
It depends on your needs.
IN GENERAL, if you need to avoid stairs or need moving walkways stopped, those are handled by talking to CMs at the attraction. If there is a wheelchair accessible entrance or boarding area, they will direct you what to do.
If you have a problem with walking distances, it's important to know that using the wheelchair accessible entrances will usually not be a shorter distance to walk; there just won't be stairs. Many queues are very long and some have ramps going up and/or down. For example, the queue for Soarin' in Epcot is over 1/4 mile from the entrance to the boarding area and an equal distance to get out again!
Many people don't realize how far guests walk in a day at WDW, here's a thread from the Theme Parks Board where posters estimated how far they walked. The distances are why WDW recommends an ECV or wheelchair for people who are concerned about stamina or endurance.
My family actually measured the distances we walked each day on a trip in April 2013 - we averaged over 6 miles per day and some days were closer to 9!
How do I figure out what the needs are?
Think about what sorts of things happen in a day at the park and how they would affect the person with a disability. Those are the types of things you want to be able to discuss with the Cast Member at Guest Relations.
My child doesn't have a wheelchair, but needs to stay in the stroller. Is this allowed?
Strollers are not usually allowed inside buildings or in most queues, but can be if needed for a disability.
Guests using a stroller as wheelchair do not need DAS unless they have needs that are not met by having a stroller in line.
Some children require a stroller because they can't walk or just need to 'security of the stroller to help calm or help contain them in line. Some children have a special needs stroller that looks a lot like a regular stroller and could easily be mistaken for a regular stroller.
To use a stroller in lines, you will need a sticker tag from Guest Relations that allows the stroller to be used as a wheelchair.
A tag may be necessary even with large special needs strollers - in the past, most people who needed these owned them. An Orlando company started renting them out in 2008 and people have been renting them for their older children without disabilities who don't want to walk. Because of this, they may no longer be recognized as "Special Needs Strollers" without the sticker.
With a 'stroller as a wheelchair', you will be able to:
- take the stroller in all lines and buildings, even if strollers are not usually allowed
- use wheelchair entrances. Few attractions have actual 'wheelchair entrances.' Since most lines are wheelchair accessible in the regular line to the point of boarding, you will usually be in the 'regular' line. (see post 11 of this thread).
- use the stroller until boarding. The child may need to be removed to board a ride, but you can leave the stroller at the boarding area. You won't need to fold it, but should take anything of value.
- use the stroller in shows and sit in the wheelchair seating areas. The child may need to get out of the stroller and sit on an adult's lap if the stroller seat is too low. Most shows have limited numbers of wheelchair spots, so wheelchair spots are sometimes filled before other seats are filled.
- use wheelchair areas for parades. Wheelchairs and strollers are usually parked very close together across the front of the viewing area. If your child needs to be away from others, this may not work for you, or you may need to park behind the front row to get more space. Areas sometimes fill quickly, so arrive early.
If you have a park rental stroller, you will need a new sticker each day. If it is your own OR AN OUTSIDE RENTAL stroller, the sticker will be dated for the length of your stay.
I have problems with standing in line or with walking. Why did WDW suggest a wheelchair of ECV (motorized scooter)? With an ecv or wheelchair, you will always have a place to sit and can conserve energy for fun, instead of just getting around. There is information about ecvs/wheelchairs farther up in this disABILITIES FAQs. All atttractions are wheelchair accessible and most lines are also ECV accessible in the regular line.
Disney calls these "Stamina or Endurance Concerns" and the official response is to suggest a wheelchair or ECV.
If the person has problems with standing in line or with walking, a wheelchair/ECV would be a better solution than DAS. A trip to WDW or DL includes a lot more walking than just what you do in line. Even using DAS, there will most of the time be no place to sit while in line. The distance walked is not usually less with DAS than without one, so someone who is concerned about walking or standing would do better with a mobility device and/or planning their day to hit the most popular attractions at the least busy times.
Most of the lines where you will actually standing still for long periods are the lines for shows and movies. Because those 'load' large numbers of people at a time, people have to stand waiting for the next show to 'load'. Having a Fastpass or DAS won't change that - if each show is 14 minutes, you are going to be somewhere for 14 minutes. In many shows, much of the time in that place will be a preshow area. If you don't have a mobility device, you will generally be standing during that time.
Post 22 on page 2 of this thread has a list of attractions like that at WDW where guests will need to stand.
NOTE: The person renting or using a WDW park rental ECV must be over 18 yrs old and no passengers are allowed. WDW policy says that even with non-park owned ECVs, only one person is allowed on the wheelchair/ECV (no passengers).
We have 6 in our party; can we all use the DAS?
The DAS is for the use of the person whose name is on the DAS, for attractions that person is going on. So that person needs to be with when you use it.
DAS is usually given for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability). There may be some situations where you are asked to split into smaller groups. When that happens, it's usually because the waiting area or seating area for people with disabilities is too small/crowded for a large party. Sometimes a ride car only holds 6.
In certain situations, DAS may be given for more than 6 people - for example, if a family is 2 adults and 5 children, they would make an exception and give DAS for a total of 7. Anything over 6 people is an exception to the rule.
Do I need to get one for each park?
You can request DAS at any of the theme parks. You DO NOT need a new DAS for each park and the DAS is usually issued for up to 14 days for guests with short term park tickets, which is enough to be valid for your whole vacation. Guests with Annual passes may have DAS authorized for up to 60 days at a time (guests with shorter term tickets may also be authorized for 60 days).
The DAS issued at one park is valid at all parks, but the theme park DAS are not used at the water parks.
If I had DAS on my last trip, can I just bring it back and use it again? Or can I show the old DAS as proof that I need one again?
No.
DAS is now digital and is attached to Magicbsands or digital park tickets.
Previously, DAS was a card printed with the guest's name and picture on it. Even if you still have one, the paper DAS has an expiration date and is not valid after that date.
You can bring your old pape DAS back on another trip to show to CMs in Guest Relations. They should be able to use the number or QR code printed on the DAS to more quickly authorize DAS and link it to your Magicbsnds or park ticket. Be prepared to still answer questions about your needs if asked.
If i have DAS does that mean I go to the front of all the lines?
No.
THE only people who go to the front of lines are children with serious, life-threatening conditions who are on WISH trips. They have a special type of DAS, provided by Disney. They receive it through their Wish-granting organization.
DAS is not meant to be a pass that gives immediate access. It says that right on the information you will sign when DAS is authorized. What it does allow is waiting outside of the line.
In some cases, you may wait a shorter time than if you were not using DAS, sometimes longer and often the same amount of time, but since you are choosing where to wait, it will be in a place better suited to your needs.
In general, it tends to even out over the day so that the total time waited is generally going to be fairly similar to other guests.
Can I use DAS at restaurants to let them know my needs?
No.
DAS is used for attractions and are not used for restaurants. The information about DAS would not be useful to the CMs in restaurants.
If you have food allergies, there are some links to information in post 3 of this thread.
If you have specific needs for location or type of table in table service restaurants, tell the CM when you check in for seating.
What about Character Greetings? Can I use the DAS for those? Depending on what accommodations you need and what is available, you DAS is specifically NOT allowed to be used for celebrity meet and greets, special limited appearances by characters and special events, such as Star Wars and Soap Opera week.
In general, DAS is not used for character greetings that are outdoors. For those outdoor greetings, if you have specific needs, there is always a CM 'handling' the characters. That CM might be able to make some accommodations for your needs, but they have very few things available. The best that can be done might be for some members of your party to wait in line while the person with a disability waits outside of the line.
One example of these types of greetings would be the characters outside in Epcot in World Showcase.
If Fastpass is available, you will may be better off using Fastpass - if the wait is long, your DAS will be tied up and can't be used for anything else during the time you are waiting.
Check with CM at the entrance to explain your needs and find out what assistance may be available. Be aware though that many locations do not have any accommodations available.
What can I do to avoid or shorten our wait for attractions?
Fastpass is a good way to avoid waits in line and DAS is meant to work with Fastpass.
At WDW, Fastpasses can be arranged ahead of or on the day of your trip. Currently at a Disneyland, they are still using paper Fastpasses that are picked up on the day of your trip. When you report back to the ride at your fastpass return time, your wait will generally be 15 minutes or less.
Many people find that having a plan is very helpful for the person with a disability because they know more about what to expect when.
Also, even using DAS or Fastpasses, if you know where NOT to be can be VERY helpful; maybe even more helpful than DAS because it helps avoid crowds all over, not just in attractions. Getting into attractions with accommodations is only part of the solution.
If you are at a busy park, it is busy everywhere, which means longer waits for things like eating and using the bathrooms. The more people there are, the more difficult it becomes just to get around and to avoid all the general 'busy-ness' of the parks. That 'busy-ness' can be just as difficult for many people to deal with. Many people have reported good luck with www.easywdw.com, ww.touringplans.com, TourGuide Mike, or Ridemax, using their advice to avoid waiting for more than a few minute. Those sites have hints on tour planning to avoid busy areas.
There are also Smartphone apps (like for iPhone or Android phones) that include things like current waiting times for attractions in the park. One good one is put out by a company called Undercover Tourist. Disney also has one called My Disney Experience.
Last edited:
