DAS: New & Improved?
If you’re a fan of Walt Disney World, and a disability family, things just got…. Well…. Different.
The Disability Access Service (DAS) is a “pass” that allows a guest and their traveling party to clock in for an attraction & wait the length of the posted wait time (less 10 minutes) from anywhere- no standby line waiting.
While the previous method of only being able to set up the DAS at guest relations is still in place, there now is a virtual option to set up your DAS from home 2 to 30 days before your park day. but wait there’s more— the new virtual approval allows for you to choose 2 advanced reservations per day!!
FP+ lives on!!!
Well, I can pretend at least.
I’ll share the current process and the steps to get set up ahead of time so you can maximize the options available for your travel party!!
The first step, if you haven’t done so previously, is to create a My Disney Experience account. This is how you’ll use your DAS and register for it. You’ll want to make sure the tickets are linked to your My Disney Experience account for yourself and the entire traveling party.
Download this app for using DAS in the parks, but you’ll use the website for registering.
Mark your calendar for 30 days before your arrival date if you’re staying at a WDW resort or the LAST park day of your trip if you’re staying off property. My recommendation is to log on to your My Disney Experience account and click through some of these steps before your 30 day mark arrives so practice now to get acquainted.
You’ll want to use the My Disney Experience website for registering (not the app). Once logged in you can navigate to the menu button with the three lines on the left corner near the top.
Select help and rules and then the tab titled guest with disabilities.
Under the paragraph titled disability access service, select the blue highlighted “learn more” link.
Scroll down to the section titled “how it works”. You’ll want to select “show more” at the bottom of the intro. This will open lots more info and the option to select “Pre-register virtually with a cast member via live video chat.” That is your next step.
This time you’ll want to scroll pretty far down. Of course through each of these steps feel free to read through each bit of the details. But on your 30 day morning I recommend going quickly through each of these steps right at 7 AM Eastern time. Seriously, no time to delay at all! If you are even 5 minutes “late” your wait will be too long to be worth your efforts— trust me!
You will eventually come to a section where you’ll see a blue bar that extends across your mobile device with the words “terms and conditions”. Click there to be redirected to a new window to accept. This is a requirement before the actual virtual process and you can do this step ahead of time to save precious minutes the day of registration. If you are on the day of registration And have already accepted the terms and conditions at a previous time, you will skip that task and go straight to the next step.
If this is your first time walking through the steps, click on “terms and conditions” and check the box. The system will document the date you accepted & then you can click the “BACK” button.
You’ll be directed back to the previous screen—Scroll slightly past the terms and conditions tab you previously selected. You’ll see a tab which says “Request live video chat”, again with the blue background. Don’t let the red alert of long wait times deter you. It shows up in the first few minutes of the day.
Yes, you will experience long wait times no matter when you try, but 7am ET exactly is the least wait and perhaps the only time you can enter the que with any hopes at all of speaking with a cast member.
You’re almost in que!! A new window appears that shows what looks like a text thread. Surprise, that’s exactly what this is! But no sound alerts and if you miss a “text” your chat will end and you will be starting over ( no pressure right?!) Ummm did I mention you need really good WIFI?!!
Select “START” to enter the queue. Finally!!!! You will receive automated prompts and updates prior to actually texting with a cast member. This period of waiting for a cast member to respond is the longest. It can be several hours so keep your device charged, screen visible, & stay logged in.
3 step process
While the rest of the registration process is simply following a conversation between yourself and a cast member let’s look at some tips to make this process as easy as possible. Be sure that you’re in an area with very good Internet or Wi-Fi. These steps can be lengthy so you would not want to lose connection during critical times in the process only to have to have to start over.
I have found there are three sections during this process.
The first one is the agent obtaining your trip information and details of what you need from this chat. When connected, the agent will introduce themself and ask how they can help. You’ll simply request to begin the virtual process of obtaining an advanced DAS. They will send you a short form to complete (this opens in a separate window) including your MDE account info & your trip reservation number. The agent will then put you into the next que which will connect you with a cast member that can begin your video chat.
This is the point where you want to be present with the DAS eligible guest if that isn’t you. Luckily it isn’t necessary for the DAS eligible individual to be present during the entire process or wait time. This is the moment however you want to arrange for them to sit with you. Once connected with an agent for a video chat, they will request permission to begin and the following moments are much like a FaceTime conversation. Disney is not allowed to ask for disability or diagnosis. They do ask how having a disability access service pass would impact your trip. Things they are looking for to approve an access pass is seeing that standing, waiting, or moving through a standby line could present medical issues for a guest. Because lines are equipped to allow wheelchairs and scooters, mobility is not a definitive acceptance.
The agent will need to know the other members of the party so they can all be connected to the DAS. Only up to six individuals can be on one DAS reservation. More can be connected to a DAS account but only 5 people in addition to the eligible guest can reserve a return time or make advanced reservations. Have those names prepared.
Once the chat is complete (it is only a couple minutes long) they will take the guests photo for record keeping for use in the parks. It will be linked to their account and show up each time that guest is scanned into a Lightning Lane—This is to ensure the system is being used with integrity. Now is a great time to also ask any questions you may have about DAS or its features in the park.
3. Next you’ll be put into a third que which is our final section of this process. This will be a connection with an agent from the planning department who can help you with making it 2 advanced attraction reservations per park day. I highly recommend that you have already planned the two attractions per day that you would like to focus on. Also consider what time of day you would most like to have these reserved. The agent once connected, will pull up your park reservations. Remember you need to have in place not only linked park tickets but also reserved park reservations.
The agent will ask what two attractions you’d like based on the park that is reserved for your first day. These attractions cannot include ones that are paid attractions through the Lightning Lane option currently offered. That includes two headliner rides per park listed below.
Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Space Mountain
Epcot: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Animal Kingdom: Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest
Hollywood Studios: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey’s Runaway Railway
For example, if your first park day that is 30 days out is Magic Kingdom you may select Peter Pan and Splash Mountain. The agent will then give you three time options per attraction. You may then choose between those times for a one hour window.
This routine will continue for each subsequent park day through your entire trip.
These are the attractions you CAN choose from:
Once all reservations are complete, CONGRATS you are done with the virtual advanced system!!!
It does take quite a large amount of effort and time. I found it to be nice having part of our day ready for us at arrival. As a fan of the previous FP+ system, it made me feel more at ease about the planning of our touring.
I would say it is to be determined if this will play out as an extremely helpful method or a waste of time. I know with long wait times it will not be possible for all families which is an incredible miss for Disney. I hope they will continue to improve the method because I see wonderful potential.
Look for an upcoming blog of how to use DAS in the parks and my strategies!
