Disney Reportedly Cracks Down on DAS and Third Party Tours

Many disabled Guests utilize Disney’s Disability Access Service in order to have a positive experience in the parks. However, Disney is reportedly cracking down after it saw an uptick in people requesting the service. The connection between DAS and third party tours may surprise you.

Disney Tours

Have you ever seen a Cast Member in a plaid vest escorting a group of people to the front of the line? That is a VIP tour guide, and those Guests pay big money to receive the best possible park experience.

These tour guides provide snacks, front row seats for shows, and private transportation to the parks. Pricing can range anywhere from $200 to $800/hour depending on the time of travel.

I don’t know of many people who could afford that, so oftentimes Guests hire third-party tour guides to come tour the parks with them. They receive planning services ahead of the trip and in-park touring for a fraction of the cost of a Disney tour guide.

Trespassing

According to Insider, many third-party tour guides received trespass notices from Disney. One such guide recalls how he was pulled out of line by security while waiting to enter the park with his clients.

Disney told him he was permanently banned from all Disney Parks but could appeal one year later. Why? Because he conducted unauthorized commercial activities on property.

And, he’s not the only one. Several other third-party guides tell Insider they received similar notices. They are distraught because they have been able to earn a living for years and years with no issue. The guides want to work with Disney for a solution but are receiving no response from Disney.

The Connection Between DAS and Third-party Tours

So, how does DAS come into the picture? A Disney spokesperson told Insider that A) they are serving trespass notices because of the unauthorized activity, and B) there is an uptick in abuses of DAS and other services, “which impede park operations.”

Many of the guides Insider spoke to said the third-party tour industry does not always act ethically (ie: many ask clients to lie about a disability). Instead of putting in the work to get Genie+ return times and have a really great touring strategy for clients, these guides are relying on DAS to help them get through the parks.

Looking Toward the Future

Many of these tour guides have lost their park privileges indefinitely, and that has to be a tough pill to swallow. Their clients are now scrambling to figure out how to manage their Disney vacation without the service they paid for.

It also makes me wonder if/how Disney will change DAS in the future. They have already given it a major overhaul, with changes like requesting return times in the app and pre-registering. Will Disney make it harder for Guests who truly need the service in an attempt to stop the abuse?

What are your thoughts? Have you ever used a third-party tour guide? Do you think Disney will continue to make changes to DAS to prevent mistreatment? Let us know in the comments below. And, be sure to share this post with a friend.