Disney threatens lifetime ban for those who lie during Disability Access registration

Disneyland guests who lie during the registration process for the park’s updated Disability Access Service program will be permanently banned from “The Happiest Place on Earth" and its sister park in Orlando.

(KTLA) - Disneyland guests who lie during the registration process for the park’s updated Disability Access Service program will be permanently banned from “The Happiest Place on Earth" and its sister park in Orlando.

On Tuesday, both parks unveiled changes coming to their DAS programs, which aim to curb the widespread misuse of the widely used program that results in longer attraction queues and backed-up Genie+ lanes for guests.

Officials hope the changes, which go into effect on June 18 at Disneyland and May 20 at Walt Disney World, will allow guests who need the service to use it.

Under the frequently asked questions section on the Disneyland website, officials warn those thinking they can cheat the new system:

“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 website didn’t state how those abusing the system would be caught, but its likely that cast members across the parks will be the first line of defense, the Orange County Register reported.

The DAS program is widely popular at both coastal resorts, with usage tripling over the past five years, Disney officials told Nexstar’s Scott Gustin.

Nexstar is the parent company of KTLA 5 News.

Here’s what guests need to know about the new changes:

• DAS Advance pre-arrival attraction selection will no longer be the default offering for all DAS guests.
• Unless it’s a family, DAS parties can only have a max of 4 people.
• DAS enrollment eligibility will increase from 60 to 120 days.
• Current DAS guests will need to re-apply.

Disneyland recently updated its DAS website and noted that guests planning to use the program and will be visiting the resort between April 9 and June 17 should note that:

• Pre-arrival conversations to determine eligibility for DAS will be available 2-30 days before your visit.
• In-person conversations to determine eligibility for DAS will be at Guest Relations locations.
• Guests can book up to two one-hour return windows for select experiences using the DAS Advance planning option.

The popularity of DAS increased over the years likely due to “Disneyland line hack” videos posted on social media. These videos show guests how they can use the program to skip the line without paying for the Genie+ service.

The DAS program was previously designed to assist guests with difficulty tolerating long queues due to a disability. Under the updated system, however, the program is intended to accommodate "only those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar," are unable to wait in long lines.