Magical greetings, Jennifer, and welcome to planDisney! Your trip may still be off in the distance, but it's never too soon to start wishing, dreaming and planning ahead. Thanks for asking your question about the
Disability Access Service, more commonly referred to as DAS.
It sounds like you may already be familiar with the process to register for DAS and that you've been able to use it in the past. You probably already know how much comfort and convenience it can give Guests and their families who are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time due to a developmental disability such as autism.
You'll be able to request a live video chat with a Cast Member beginning 60 days in advance of your park visit. On the video chat, the Cast Member will have a conversation with you and your son about his needs and will discuss recommended services with you. If DAS is provided after the Cast Member has determined eligibility, you and your son will complete the registration process, which will be for him and up to 3 additional party members. Please keep in mind that he must be present for the chat and must experience all attractions for which a DAS return time is reserved.
All of this information is based on the latest details as of today and is subject to change. I recommend bookmarking the DAS page I linked above so you can keep an eye on any changes between now and the time to request the live video chat.
In addition to DAS, there are many other wonderful services available for
Guests with special needs. There is a wealth of information available to help you prepare for your trip including this
Accessibility Planning Guide. I have found this to be a great resource when needing to find quiet areas for a member of my family to take a break and relax away from the crowds. There's also helpful information in there about using attraction queue meet-up or re-entry if DAS is unavailable.
You could also think about purchasing
Lightning Lane Passes. These can be used even with DAS for more options to minimize wait times. With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you'll be able to hold up to three Lightning Lane return times as opposed to only one with DAS. This will give you a total of up to four return times in play with the potential for even more if you add on Lightning Lane Single Pass. Plus, your attractions photos are included with Lightning Lane, which I love to help capture those priceless memories.
Jennifer, I hope this has been helpful to you as you begin planning for your trip. Visit us again if you have other questions we can help with.
Grab hold of your dreams!
Melanie