What IS A DAS Pass
The DAS Pass, or Disability Access Service, is a service that Disney offers to guests with disabilities to help them better enjoy their visit to The Disneyland Resort. With it, you request return times from Cast Members at Guest Relations Podiums situated throughout both parks, as well as at the main Guest Relations locations, which are City Hall in Disneyland Park and Chamber of Commerce in California Adventure. A return time is basically a FastPass, you use it the same way when arriving at the specified attraction.
This is a direct quote from the Disneyland website regarding their Disability Access Service:
DAS is intended for Guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a conventional queue environment. This service allows Guests to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction. Once a return time is issued, Guests are free to enjoy other theme park offerings such as meeting a Character, grabbing a bite to eat, enjoying entertainment or even visiting another attraction until their listed return time. Return times are valid until redeemed prior to park closing. Guests can only have one active return time at a time. As soon as an outstanding attraction return time is redeemed, Guests can receive a return time for the same or a different attraction. This service can be used in addition to Disney’s FASTPASS® Service.
How To Obtain A DAS Pass
The process to obtain a DAS Pass is very simple. In my experience it has been very smooth and stress free. All you have to do is go to the main Guest Relations locations, which are City Hall in Disneyland Park and Chamber of Commerce in California Adventure.
You will speak to a Cast Member and they will get you set up. You do not have to disclose any information you are not comfortable sharing, all you need to do is clearly explain why and how the service would benefit you, in accommodating your disability. If you are eligible for the service, they will move on to the next step of the process.
First the Cast Member will explain how to use the service, give you a disability specific park map and show you on the map where to locate the Guest Relations Podiums throughout both parks. I always ask them to circle where the podiums are, for easier reference later. They will next take the picture of the person in your party who has the DAS Pass, and scan everyone’s tickets, to link the DAS Pass to them. After that, they will set you up with your first return time, and off you go!
How To Use A DAS Pass
When you are given a return time, it will be for the same amount of time as the current wait time for the attraction. For example, if Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has a wait time of 45 minutes, your return time would be redeemable after 45 minutes from when you got it. You are still waiting the same amount of time, you just aren’t physically standing in the queue. Then you can take that time to sit down and take a break, get something to eat, shop, or really whatever you would like to do.
But unlike a FastPass, there is no end time for a DAS Pass return time. It is valid until the park closes. You are also able to use the DAS Pass and FastPass in conjunction together. For example, my favorite ride is Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, so I got a DAS Pass for the attraction, then I used MaxPass to get a FastPass to ride the attraction again, so I was able to ride the attraction multiple times in a row.
The DAS Pass is also able to be used to obtain return times for attractions that don’t have FastPass. If used wisely, you can ride more attractions in a lesser amount of time. A great example is Peter Pan’s Flight, this is an extremely popular attraction, with consistently long wait times. I like to get a return time for this attraction, and ride another one in Fantasyland with a shorter wait time, and then come back and redeem the return time and go right onto the ride.
It is also important to know that you may only have one active return time at once. When you use it, you can then obtain another from a Guest Relations Podium, or in the main Guest Relations location. You also must know that when you arrive at the attraction to redeem a return time, the guest with the DAS Pass must be present. However, another member of your party is able to get a return time without said guest, as long as they have all the tickets for everyone in the group.
Exclusions
A Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter does not need DAS. Depending on the attraction, Guests utilizing a wheelchair or scooter will either wait in the standard queue or receive a return time at the attraction comparable to the current wait time. For some attractions at the Disneyland Resort, these Guests will go directly to an alternate entrance. Guests with additional needs should discuss them with Guest Relations.