Disney Changes Policy For Guests With Special Needs
MIAMI (CBSMiami) — A program that allowed guests with special needs skip the long lines at attractions in Walt Disney parks in Florida and California has been retired.
On Wednesday, Disney's Guest Assistance Card program was replaced with the Disabled Assistance System (DAS).
The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) program made headlines after it was reported nationwide that some guests who would hire a disabled "guide" to pose as a family member and allow their party to skip ahead in line. Another problem was that too many people without disabilities were using it to get front of the line access.
Under the new DAS guests with special needs be allowed to return to rides at a certain time, similar to the parks' Fastpass system.
"Return times will be set to the current stand-by wait time for the ride or show, so that there's no time advantage to using DAS over waiting in line. Also, visitors with disabilities must be present and ride in order for others in their party to be admitted through the DAS return line," according to Themeparkinsider.com.
Unlike the Fastpass, however, the DAS would be issued only at Guest Relations offices and would only allow guests to reserve one ride during any particular time slot.
"Guests using wheelchairs will not be required to use the DAS program, as they were not required to under the Guest Assistance Card [GAC] program," according to Themeparkinsider.com. "They can continue to use wheelchair-accessible queues or to get return times for alternate entry (usually through the exit) from cast members at an attraction entrance."
