Disney changes theme park rules after visitors pretend to be disabled to avoid queues

GettyImages-481127342.jpg

Disney theme parks are changing their rules after visitors abused its Disability Access System (DAS) by pretending to be disabled to avoid queuing for rides.

It has published new guidelines for the service and threatened anyone caught playing the system will be thrown out and barred from coming back.

The system was set up to help people who “are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period or time” and currently allows guests to reserve a time to arrive at a ride and skip the queue when they get there, avoiding waits that can be more than an hour.

But the changes mean its benefits will now be limited to a guest’s “immediate family” or group of up to four and guests will have to attend a virtual video meeting with health experts to prove they meet the the requirements for a DAS pass.

The rules come in on May 20 at Walt Disney World in Florida and on June 18 at Disneyland in California.

Disney’s website warned anyone caught cheating “will be permanently barred from entering 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 numbers of people applying to join the system has gone up in recent years and Len Testa, the co-author of the Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, told The Washington Post: “The system has always had some level of questionable use, if not abuse.”

He said Disney “knew that the system was under more stress than it could handle”.

Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here.