Hey there, hi there, Stephanie! Welcome to planDisney!
Your visit to The Happiest Place on Earth is exactly one month away! I’ll bet you can already imagine the sweet scent of gingerbread drifting down Main Street, U.S.A., and the soft glow of festive lights twinkling across the resort. The
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are truly a time when every moment feels merry and bright!
Now, let’s talk about
Disability Access Service (DAS). This is a wonderful option designed for Guests, such as those with developmental disabilities, who may have difficulty waiting in a traditional attraction queue.
To answer your first question: yes, you’ll need to purchase a valid theme park ticket before registering for DAS. Your tickets must be linked to your
MyDisney account—which usually happens automatically if you purchase them through your own account—before you can begin the registration process. Once that’s done, you can
register for DAS by having a live conversation with a Disneyland Resort Cast Member. This can be done either through a live video chat before your visit or in person at the
Accessibility Services Kiosk near the Main Entrance Esplanade. Just keep in mind that the Guest requesting DAS must be present during that conversation.
As for how it works, DAS is completely separate from
Lightning Lane passes. Guests using DAS can make attraction return time selections directly in the
Disneyland mobile app on the day of their visit. Simply tap the menu (☰) button, then select the Disability Access Service (DAS) tile to request an attraction return time. The return time is comparable to the current standby wait—however, instead of waiting in the physical line, you’re free to enjoy other parts of the park, meet characters, grab a snack, or take a break. When it’s time to ride, your party will enter through the attraction’s Lightning Lane entrance (or main standby queue if Lightning Lane is not offered for that attraction), with the Guest registered for DAS scanning in first.
Meanwhile, Stephanie,
Lightning Lane Multi Pass and
Lightning Lane Single Pass are paid services available to all Guests that allow you to select from available attraction return times throughout the day. With this option, you can make selections right in the Disneyland app and enter your chosen attractions via the Lightning Lane entrance once it’s your turn. It’s also worth noting that Guests who are enrolled in DAS are welcome to purchase Lightning Lane passes in addition to their DAS registration if they’d like to combine both experiences for even more flexibility during their visit.
Stephanie, I hope your upcoming trip gives you everything you’ve been wishing for—a few quiet moments to take it all in, a few surprises that make you laugh, and that unmistakable Disneyland magic that follows you home.
See ya real soon!
Cody