Disneyland has put disability cheats on notice that if they lie about having ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety or any other disorder to get free Lightning Lane line-skipping passes they will be kicked out of Disney theme parks in the United States forever.
The Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts on April 9 updated the Disability Access Service programs that offer assistance to theme park visitors with developmental disabilities like autism and other neurodivergent disorders.
The changes go into effect May 20 at the Walt Disney World resort and June 18 at the Disneyland resort with the goal of limiting the Disability Access Service program to guests who legitimately require the services, according to Disneyland officials.
Disneyland spells out the dire penalties for lying during the registration process under the Frequently Asked Questions section of the updated DAS page on the theme park’s website.
If caught, DAS cheats will be permanently barred from the Disneyland and Disney World resorts and all daily tickets and annual passes will be forfeited without refund, according to the DAS websites for both parks.
How would Disneyland catch a disability fraud? Disneyland doesn’t say, but Disney cast members would likely be the first line of defense, backed up by the digital trail left by using the Disneyland app for Lightning Lane access. There are also security cameras covering virtually every corner of the park and security guards monitoring suspicious activity.
In 2023, Disney World cracked down on third-party tour guides selling unauthorized services including Genie+ and Disability Access Service, according to the Disney Tourist Blog. The unaffiliated tour guides who serve as in-park escorts have been stopped by Disney World managers, issued trespassing notices by local police and indefinitely banned from the Florida theme park resort, according to the Disney Tourist Blog.
Tales of DAS abuse and tips for cheating the system are rampant on social media.
Twitter user Wildest Ride recounted how friends use false claims of irritable bowel syndrome to fraudulently acquire Disability Access Service passes at Disney theme parks.
“Obviously not a large sample size, but of the four people I know who have a DAS pass, 3 of them claim it’s because they have IBS — which they told me personally they don’t, they just don’t want to wait in line,” Wildest Ride wrote on Twitter. “Seems like anything to prevent abusing ADA is a win for everyone.”
The Disability Access Service has become the most widely requested service at the Disneyland and Disney World resorts with the volume of guest usage more than tripling over the last five years, according to Disneyland officials. Disneyland and Disney World are taking steps to preserve the DAS program now because the trend is only expected to continue.
