Disney Denies DAS to Child With Autism as Tightened Eligibility Draws Criticism

Overview

• Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that a mother posted online saying her son, who has autism and severe ADHD, was denied Disability Access Service approval after Disney’s interview screening.
• Disney says it tightened DAS after consulting medical experts to stop widespread abuse and now limits approvals mainly to guests with developmental disabilities who cannot tolerate conventional queues.
• Families and disability advocates say the updated process uses uncomfortable video interviews and requests for personal medical details that can feel invasive and exclude people with invisible or episodic conditions.
• Disney points to alternative options such as mobility devices, return-to-queue suggestions, Cast Member accommodations on a case-by-case basis, or paid Lightning Lane access, but critics say those options can be impractical or impose extra cost.
• Advocacy groups and affected guests are escalating pressure through social media posts, formal complaints and legal or shareholder actions, and the controversy could prompt further policy reviews or regulatory scrutiny of Disney’s accessibility practices.