Monday, October 7, 2013

Disney news: Updated info on the new Disability Access Service Card, replacing the Guest Assistance Card


A whole lot of parents have been awaiting more news about Disney's new Disability Access Service Card, which is replacing the Guest Assistance Card as of Wednesday, Oct 9, at Disney World and Disney Land. When I talked with a spokesperon a couple of weeks ago, she assured me that the new program would be accommodating because, as she said, "We get that needs of individuals vary dramatically, and that one size doesn't fit all."

I got an email over the weekend with updated info on the new program, shared below. It really does seem like Disney will continue to accommodate varying types of special needs. I was particularly relieved to know that a child will not have to ride an attraction at the exact return time; Max sometimes has an issue with transitions, and timeliness is not one of his charms. He also doesn't like a whole lot of rides because the noises and the dark scare him (at Disney World, it basically boiled down to the Tomorrowland Speedway), so if he ends up having a thing for one particular ride when we visit Disneyland in December it's looking like he could go on it repeatedly without needing multiple passes.

What are your thoughts on the latest news? Share below! And, of course, have a MAGICAL day.

Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment and accessible experiences for guests.

On October 9, the process that provides access to attractions for guests with disabilities, known as the Guest Assistance Card, will be replaced with the new Disability Access Service (DAS) Card. Guests will request the new card at Guest Relations and DAS Cardholders will receive a return time for attractions based on the current wait time. The DAS Card is designed to provide the special experience guests have come to expect from Disney. It will also help control abuse that was, unfortunately, growing at an alarming rate.


We believe that the DAS card, with its virtual wait, will accommodate many of our guests with disabilities.

However, we also recognize that our guests with disabilities have varying needs, and we will continue to work individually with them to provide assistance that is responsive to their unique circumstances.

While each situation will be handled individually at Guest Relations, following are two examples of accommodations that could be offered based on a guest’s needs:

For a Guest whose disability enables them to be in the park for only a limited time, the Guest might be offered an accommodation that enables them to use the DAS Card in conjunction with access to a number of attractions without having to obtain a return time.

•   Another potential accommodation, based on a Guest’s unique needs, might include providing access to a favorite attraction multiple times in a row without having to obtain a return time.

If you need more information or have specific questions about an upcoming trip, please send an email to disability.services@disneyparks.com. If you are planning a vacation in the next few months, please include a contact phone number and the best time for us to reach you.

Image: Flickr/ross_hawkes 

36 comments:

  1. I like this idea. It does not come across as unfair and is accommodating.

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    1. It's certainly unfair to the NT kids that are waiting in line to ride even once, while another child rides repeatedly, with no wait, as many times as he or she wants to.

      Given this information, changing from GAC to DAS was pointless - some of the same abuses will be permitted.

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    2. I think you've missed the point here. This is not an across-the-board accommodation, this is going to be on a case-by-case basis, as the need arises. This is definitely a switch from the old system, and hardly pointless.

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    3. Ellen, the problem is that there is no way to verify this, just as there wasn't in the old system. Any parent can take their child to Guest Services, tell them that their child "needs" to loop on the rides, and Disney has painted themselves into a corner where they can't say no. I could walk in and say my daughter "needs" to loop, and because they legally can't ask for proof (which I agree with, BTW - no one should have to publicly explain their medical history to a CM that isn't a medical professional), I could get that accommodation.

      Same with limited time in the park - I could go in and say that we can only stay for three hours, and with no way to prove otherwise, voila! I've got front of the line access to all the attractions. Even if I stay all day and into the night.

      Why did so many people want the GAC, even ones that really didn't need it? Because it provided an advantage - shorter lines, looping the rides, etc. The DAS, as originally announced, was a real disincentive to the cheaters - if I still have to wait 90 minutes, what's the point? By now saying "Just kidding - just tell us you need it, and we'll give you front of the line and unlimited looping on rides", Disney has re-introduced an incentive to scam the system.

      Aside from all of that, there is still an issue of basic fairness. As I posted below, if it were limited to two immediate rides on an attraction, that wouldn't be so bad. Still not really fair, but reasonable. But unlimited looping? No one, child or adult "needs" to ride the same ride over and over and over with no wait.

      Now, if Disney is going to seek to enforce this in a different way, by limiting the looping, that would be more fair to everyone. Say a child can have 10 "loops" total for the day. Two on five rides or five on two rides, or you get the idea.

      Same with front of the line. If someone says that they can only be in the park for three hours, because that's all their child can handle due to sensory or physical issues, fine - give them front of the line for the next three hours, but after that, if they are still in the park, they need to utilize the DAS as originally announced - wait for the ride but in an alternate, comfortable area for the DAS holder.

      The key is that everyone is in Disney to have a good time, and I realize that it is more difficult for people with disabilities and their families. However, in accommodating those needs, there has to be a balance that isn't resulting in a continuously negative experience for the non-disabled, who are also trying to have a good time with their families.


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    4. Big disagreement that someone shouldn't have to verify their disability. Whats wrong with having to provide a note or form from a doctor stating you have a disability? Doesn't have to say what it is, just that it is a disability that would effect you due to hear, or fatigue, or behavior problems. This policy is screwing legitimately disabled people due to them being politically correct by not demanding proof.

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    5. Dan-I brought a doctor's note with us to Disney...I see no problem with having to supply proof. : )

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    6. Hi my daughter has been to Disney for 7 tears. She has severe cerebral Palsy and Autism. This is the only vacation we can take with her. We too bring a doctors' note that Ella can't wait and has severe behaviors and can only ride very few things she is not scared of. I am not opposed to bring the doctor's note of my daughters condition and limitations. I agree this would help get rid of abuse!!

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  2. Sounds good. We used the prior system before my daughter could walk and it worked well. I was surprised we didn't have to prove we needed it, which was nice. Except for Disney princesses having Mom issues, I kinda love Disney.

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  3. When I went to Disney World, that was the only time I forgot I was in a wheelchair. You didn't have to worry about wheelchair access, because they always have a different way to go in to the rides and everything. Awesome.

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  4. I think its great that they are willing to still give assistance but even though my child is severely autistic, I will make her come off after one go , it is very unfair of her to ride 4/5 times in succession, with other youngsters looking on.

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    1. I agree with you, bonjen3. I can only imagine that some people are going to blow their stacks watching kids not having to get off rides time and again. There are several rides that mine would ride for hours on end, but we've worked so hard not to get 'stuck' on things, that once or twice in a day will be enough!

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  5. Emma's in a wheelchair and cannot walk. It is a LOT of work to get her in and out of her wheelchair and then transfer her into the rides. At other parks we've been to they allow her to ride 2x in a row without getting off and waiting again. It works a charm and my back REALLY appreciates it. It seems to me like they are making accommodations for children based on individual needs which is good. And it is always up to the parent to really know their child and only use what they need.

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    1. I totally agree with you. I can't imagine how exhausting it would be to lift a child or young adult in and out of rides.

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    2. Kristina, twice in a row wouldn't be so bad, but I've waited with my daughter at WDW while a child rode Dumbo seven times while other kids waited to ride once and only once. We've watched kids ride Peter Pan, Snow White (when it was still open), Tea Cups, Indy Cars, Buzz Lightyear, etc., anywhere from three to five times, all while the other kids are waiting to ride only once. And all of that after moving to the front of the line and waiting no more than five minutes to begin with.

      If there could be a limit of no more than twice, it still wouldn't be fair, but it would be much fairer than it is now, and than it will apparently continue to be.

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  6. BeeGees, perhaps that could be a teaching opportunity for your children. If you look at that specific moment and ride in question, then it isn't "fair" that your children have to wait while the child in the wheelchair gets to go first. When you take a broader perspective, then it isn't "fair" that your children can walk while the child in the wheelchair can't. Give your children the choice of which "perk" they want, and maybe they will handle the wait a little better. It works for our typically developing children.

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    1. Thank you, but no. I'm not going to try to make my children feel guilty because they don't have a disability.

      Accommodations that provide equal access are necessary and right. Accommodations that provide vastly superior access are wrong.

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    2. Beegee you are a jerk

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    3. I don't think BeeGee is a jerk, from what I am reading, she is one of the few on her how has a valid point. A handicapped child should not be given 'perks' while 'normal' children have to stand around and watch. This is at DW as well as any other place I take my kids. You want my child to feel guilty for not being handicapped? Do you really think this is the way to teach empathy? BTW, I have both handicapped children and 'normal' children.

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  7. We don't make it about guilt, just about compassion in this world that will never be perfectly fair all the time to everyone so take a moment to look at the broader picture before you start complaining that someone's piece of this particular pie might be a little bit bigger.

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  8. I agree, life will never be perfectly fair,or even generally fair - that's life!

    But a child riding an attraction eight or ten times with no wait, while other children wait an hour or more to ride just once is not a case of the piece of pie being a little big bigger. It's giving the pie to one child and letting him gorge on it for an hour while the other children watch and wait for a chance to even get a single piece. And then telling the other children, the ones that had to wait for that single piece, "Sorry, you don't deserve to have as much as he did."

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    1. Beegee,

      I would trade you in a heartbeat for a normal kid. You are jealous of accommodations for disabled kids.

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    2. Really? I now understand were children are learning bullying! You are a bully to children who can not speak for themselves. Shame on you!! Get over yourself!!!

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  9. BeeGees I would give anything to not have to depend on the new card and wish more then anything my daughter could stand in line for a long period of time..it's not easy walking in my shoes as a mom and we are very limited to where we can vacation with our one daughter. We have never rode a ride over and over again...we are a one time ride and move on... we have gone to Disneyworld several times and spent most of our days by the pool or in the room because of the long waits (this was prior to discovering the GAC). We only discovered the GAC 2 years ago...my daughter was able to finally ride a few rides and get the same enjoyment that most children get when they are at Disneyworld...To watch her face light up was priceless. I am a seasoned mom of 6 (4 grown boys and 2 little girls) I know what it's like on the other side of the fence...when my child waited in long lines and other children got right on due to disabilities...I used that time to explain to my boys how lucky they were to be healthy enough to stand in the line and wait. I'm proud that my 26 year old has compassion for children with disabilities (like his little sister) and now teaches SN. How sad for your children that you consider the new DAS an entitlement.

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    1. Congrats on using the system as it was meant to be used...
      BTW
      I think BeeGee's said that as long as DAS was an accommodation that "provide[s] equal access" it is "necessary and right" while "Accommodations that provide vastly superior access are wrong" (the latter accommodation was how many people used GAC).

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    2. Chasing Dreams Photography, I wish that you had bothered to read what I wrote before responding to things that I didn't say.

      I have no problem with the DAS as originally announced - everyone waits,but DAS holders don't have to wait in line. While not the "Golden Ticket" that the GAC turned into over the years, it still provided an accommodation for children or adults that simply can't,due to the disabilities, wait in a hot,crowded,noisy line.

      What I do take issue with is the idea that anyone with a DAS can now also request multiple rides on the same attraction with no wait, and FOTL access because they *might* have limited time in the park. These two changes make the DAS ripe for the same kind of abuse that plagued the GAC. There are ways for Disney to curb this abuse, and I'll be interested in seeing if they actually attempt to do so, or if this change from GAC to DAS was just a huge waste of time and effort.

      As for your final comment, not only was it factually incorrect (I've never said I see the DAS as an entitlement), it was incredibly condescending.

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    3. BeeGee's... I feel unbelievably sad for you and even more for your children! I pray that one day, you will see the error of your ways and get over yourself!! Walk just one day in the shoes of any of the moms and dads on this comment thread and my bet is you just may find that heart that has obviously shriveled up inside your body. It hurts my soul to hear adults, especially parents with children, setting such a hurtful and uneducated example for the generation that will be the peers of my 7 year old son with Cerebral Palsy. You made me lose a little more faith in ever seeing a tolerant and educated world. I am so very sorry for you! Domsmom

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    4. BeeGee's....Trust me I read your post...ALL OF THEM!!! Maybe "YOU" should go back and reread your post before responding. You come across as a very angry and sad person. Why in the world would you come to a blog that you apparently have a problem with and be so nasty...if you don't like the post on this blog and disagree to point of being angry then why read it? If you have a problem with Disney's system then write to them. Why would you be so mean spirited towards parents of children with disabilities. No where does this blog post suggest abusing Disney's system or using it in a deceptive manner but that's all you continue to talk about. How does posting here help your cause? If you want to fight the system then go to the source. Does attacking other people who clearly have no control over the system make you feel you better??? Does arguing with parents who clearly are using the WDW system appropriately get you any where?
      If you truly have issue with what Disney is doing then write to them and express yourself.
      As for looping rides...WDW is a BIG place with tons of rides. If little Johnny is riding Dumbo all day that only frees up the teacups. My daughter gets fixated on things...something we work very hard on. Do you really think that parents of SN children, ones who become fixated on one ride, really want to spend all day riding Dumbo!!! Quite frankly it sucks when there are many other awesome attractions to see. Be happy you and your child CAN enjoy WDW at it's fullest. Rather then behave bitterly and crying over fairness like a 2 year old...or as you put it "It's giving the pie to one child and letting him gorge on it for an hour while the other children watch and wait for a chance to even get a single piece." maybe you should educate yourself a little on SN's and how difficult day to day activities can be for the children/parents with disabilities...and then count your lucky stars you don't have to deal with it.

      **Now I'm being condescending**

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  10. I was at Disneyworld from 10/8-12 and saw the new policy in action. It SUCKS! I talked with a woman on a bus who had child with CP and an autistic one. Disneys plan was for her to have to go to each ride and sign up for a time, similar to a fastpass. She can only keep the kids in the park for a few hours, so that means they can only stay for a few rides now. I loved it at one point, while I was in customer relations I saw a lady with a handicapped child arguing with an agent over the new policy, but while they were doing that the child was kicking the agent from his wheelchair! I talked to her later and she showed me the new book they gave her. It has his picture on it, and a "log" where each ride they went to the operator had to sign when they originally went there, when there appt was, and what time they showed up. This is to prevent them from signing up for more than one ride at a time! Can you imagine this poor mother taking this child through regular lines kicking everybody?
    It's a shame Disney had to be politically correct by not asking for proof of disability so they could adequately police a great policy for people who needed it, instead of really crewing them.
    The biggest policy they need to change is to stop allowing every fat older age person (it was mostly woman) to rent an electric scooter. It was ridiculous to see all these people on (and overflowing) their scooters everywhere.

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    1. Are you able to look at these 'fat overflowing women' and know what their disabilities are? Can you tell by looking at them what made them 'fat' and so deserving of your scorn? I do not think you took the time to understand BeeGee, and even if you had I would not put much value in your thoughts since you are so ready to criticize other people like the 'overflowing fat people'. Don't you see that as discrimination and undeserved?

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    2. Dan, It is wonderful that you have developed the ability to look at a person and know what their disability is. In fact, you seem to be able to tell a lot about a person including their diet and the health problems that contribute to their weight. I'm sure you would not be a hypocrite and be critical of a group of people or be mean to fat overflowing women unless you were able to tell that they are just lazy and have brought all this on themselves.

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  11. So the new das is a great accomidation for guests that really need it. Saying you cannot stand in line is not a disability. saying you cannot walk is not a disability. its just a challenge you face and a mobility issue whichj disney ahs accomidations for. there is no such pass except fastpass to get you to front of line access. learn it and embrace it because change is coming and this is most beneficial to guests who really need an accomidation and so even if someone does try and cheat the system they still have to wait regardless. THAT WAS THE MAIN ISSUE BEFORE.

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    1. Your thinking makes almost as much sense as your english and spelling!

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  12. It was hard to read BeeGees comments. Sad to know there are parents out there like her, looking disdainfully at you because their kid can't stay on a ride or go twice. She has no clue that it's not only about the kids - it's about the parents. She and parents like her should be forced to lift 50 lbs up and down dozens of times a day and see how their backs fare.

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    1. How do you know what other parents are going through just because their kids look 'normal'? Almost every parent has struggles of some kind. True, parent's of handicapped children face many challenges that often make their lives more emotionally and physically difficult. But you should never put down another person unless you truly know what they have to deal with. My life was much more physically challenged with my 'normal' children than it now is with my SN child.

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    2. The GAC was never, ever intended as a skip to the front of the line pass -- though as a PERK, it often worked that way. The GAC was intended to provide the ACCOMMODATIONS that folks with disabilities are entitled. The new system does that too -- but just happens to cut down on the perks.

      A kid (let's call him Bobby) with autism riding a favorite ride 5x in a row without a wait is a perk, regardless of how you look at it. He's having an empirically better experience than the NT kids. Period.

      Should kids (NT and with special needs) be taught compassion? Yes, of course! Would Bobby's parents prefer he have the ability to cheerfully wait in line like NTs? Probably! Is Bobby's life harder, on a day to day basis, than an average NT kid? Yes! On this we likely agree.

      Is Bobby entitled to a BETTER theme park vacation than a NT kid, simply because of his special needs? No. Is Bobby entitled to MORE fun at Disney because he (possibly?) has less fun than the average NT kiddo the rest of the year?? I'm guessing your answer is "yes! My special snowflake has so little happiness he deserves every drop at Disney! More than other kids who enjoy friends, school, a zillion everyday activities!".

      My (unpopular/unpalatable to you) answer is no. If for no other reason that there's no fair way to quantify a "hard" v "really hard" v "cushy" v slightly "cushy at this moment" life on an individual, person-by-person basis in order to pro-rate the amount of fun to the amount of difficulty in every single Disney visitors' life in an equitable manner. It's be stupid to even try. And the Make a Wish Kids who have DEMONSTRABLY exceedingly difficult lives already get (and deserve!) insta-preferential access to everything Disney offers, including character visits (as well it should be!!).

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  13. I can't help but feel sad to read BeeGees comments and realize there are parents out there looking disdainfully at you and you child as you are trying to have a good time. The fact she defends her view so strongly shows how narrow minded people can be. She has no clue how this helps parents - not just the kids. Parents like her should be forced to lift and lower 50 lbs a dozen times a day for a couple months and see how their backs fare. She and parents like her teach their children to dwell on their own injustice instead of others.

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Thanks for sharing!



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