Disney Parks Will Crack Down on Disability Scammers
Alex Gherzo | Apr 11, 2024 |
Disney does not appreciate being scammed. The New York Post reports that Disney’s American theme parks, Disney World and Disneyland, are updating their rules to make it harder for guests to take unfair advantage of their Disability Access Service program, or DAS. DAS allows qualifying parkgoers to have their place in line at rides saved while they go somewhere more comfortable instead of standing in the hot Floridian or Californian sun for an hour or more. It appears people have been faking disabilities to get in on this program, going shopping or eating while their spot in line for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is saved. While only “a small percentage” of guests should need to partake in DAS, the program’s usage has tripled in five years, according to Disney officials who spoke to park enthusiast and Nexstar employee Scott Gustin. Those who try to scam the DAS program will be banned from Disneyland and Disney World and lose “Annual Passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and other park products and services” with no refund.
According to Disney officials, DAS usage in the parks has tripled over the past 5 years. I hope these changes will help reduce misuse of the system that has negatively impacted the experience for guests who truly need the service. pic.twitter.com/GLJdDht7tP
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 9, 2024
A friend of mine recently took his family to Disney World for the first time, and he told me that he saw plenty of people scamming the DAS program. And it’s easy to see why if you’ve ever been to Disney World. You spend at least an hour waiting in an enormous line to go on a thirty-second-long ride, and then you get to do it again and again – and that’s if you go off-season. Still, I get why Disney wants to crack down on this; it’s a bad look for the parks, especially if so many people notice it happening. (On the other hand, if people are eating and shopping instead of waiting in line, Disney would probably make more money if they left it alone. Not that I’m saying they should; I’m just thinking.) To enforce the new rules, Disney will ask guests to “enroll in the program via a virtual video meeting with Inspire Health Alliance,” as opposed to providing documentation that they really do suffer from whatever condition they claim to have. Apparently, this used to be done by cast members; gee, I wonder why so many scammers got away with it. I mean, they had Goofy conducting the interviews.
