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.
For more information on this new card, please visit http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disney-parks-disability-access-service-card-fact-sheet/
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
Image: Flickr/ross_hawkes
