Walt Disney World on Tuesday updated its policies for punishing guests who fake disabilities in order to skip lines, implementing lifetime bans from its parks.
Guests caught lying about having a disability to abuse the Disability Access Service (DAS) program will be banned for life from Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.
“If it is determined that any of the statements a guest made in the process of obtaining DAS are not true, the guest will be permanently barred from entering the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, and any previously purchased Annual Passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and other park products and services will be forfeited and not refunded,” the new entry on its FAQ web page reads.
The program allows people with disabilities to register a virtual spot in line, then wait elsewhere until their appointed time. Not all disabilities qualify for the DAS program, but guests who have difficulty waiting in lines, including those with a “developmental disability like autism,” can make use of the program.
Disney has overhauled the DAS program, and implemented additional changes, including a requirement that guests enrolling in the DAS program attend a virtual video meeting with Inspire Health Alliance experts before their visit. Medical documentation of a disability is not required, but the health professionals will evaluate whether the guest needs a DAS pass.
Existing DAS members will be required to reapply in order to filter out abusers. Disney officials told Nexstar’s Scott Gustin that DAS usage has tripled over the past five years.
The new rules enter effect on May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland.
Story via TMX