Disney World’s newly revamped Disability Access Service (DAS) program is facing fresh criticism amid a surprising shortage of Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs) at Magic Kingdom. As the theme park enters its busiest season, the problem has become particularly acute, with disabled guests finding themselves without the mobility assistance they need.
Disney’s DAS Overhaul: A Shift Toward Stricter Policies
Disney World’s Disability Access Service has long been seen as an essential program for guests with disabilities who struggle with long lines. It allowed them to avoid physically waiting in queues, instead joining virtual lines and returning to attractions when their time arrived. However, the program underwent significant changes in 2024, leading to many guests who previously qualified for DAS being turned away.
A recent study shared at the IAAPA Convention revealed troubling consequences for disabled visitors, including increased anxiety and a decline in park attendance. The research, conducted by Professor Barbara Burgess-Lefebvre and Johnna Lefebvre, indicates that many disabled guests are now unable to access DAS despite using it in the past.
As this controversy continues to unfold, many guests who no longer qualify for DAS have been encouraged to use ECVs as a solution. Unfortunately, with the park’s heightened holiday crowds, ECVs have become increasingly difficult to secure.
An Unfortunate Irony: ECV Rentals ‘Sold Out’ at Magic Kingdom
As if the DAS changes weren’t enough, theme park photographer Bioreconstruct recently shared an image of a sign at Magic Kingdom notifying guests that all ECVs were sold out for the day. Guests were offered the option to join a waitlist, but the underlying issue remains clear: many visitors who are no longer eligible for DAS now find themselves without an alternative means of mobility.
Sign seen at Magic Kingdom offering guests an option to join a waitlist for ECV. pic.twitter.com/xrNACsRY11
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 5, 2025
ECVs are often considered a helpful option for disabled guests who have trouble standing for long periods or walking long distances. Yet, as demand for these vehicles has soared, Disney’s inability to meet that demand paints a troubling picture. The shortage of ECVs highlights the irony of Disney’s decision to restrict DAS eligibility, only to fall short in providing an adequate backup option for those who can no longer rely on DAS.
Disability Advocates Demand Immediate Action
Disability rights advocates are growing increasingly vocal about the shortcomings of Disney’s revised access policies. The DAS Defenders coalition, made up of over 17,000 members, has criticized Disney’s policies as discriminatory and exclusionary. A recent petition calling for changes to the DAS program has gathered over 33,000 signatures, with many supporters urging Disney to restore the service to its previous, more inclusive guidelines.
“There’s a clear disconnect between what Disney claims and what guests are actually experiencing in the parks,” said a DAS Defenders spokesperson. “Rather than solving the problem of access, these changes have created more barriers and left disabled guests without viable options.”
Can Disney Fix This?
While Disney has made some adjustments in response to criticism, including extending the DAS registration period and enhancing Cast Member training, the recent ECV shortage points to a broader problem within the company’s accessibility efforts.
With the high demand for mobility devices and the limitations of the new DAS policies, many guests are left feeling abandoned. Some disability advocates suspect that the changes to the DAS program are motivated by financial concerns, steering guests toward expensive alternatives like Lightning Lane passes.
For now, it’s unclear whether Disney will fully address these concerns. Until the company finds a way to balance accessibility with the increasing demands of its ever-growing visitor base, disabled guests may continue to face difficulties at Magic Kingdom.
In the meantime, it’s a bitter irony that the park’s most recent access solutions may be just as inaccessible as the problems they were designed to solve.
Part of the problem is that there are guests who really don’t need ECVs who rent them for convenience, Too bad proof of need isn’t and can’t be required,
And just WHAT proof do you think is acceptable? I’m guessing that neither you nor any of your family have any disabilities, visible or invisible. Your disgusting ableist comment is why so many guests with disabilities feel unwelcome at Disney parks.
I recently rented, then bought a scooter for use at Disneyland (and other venues that require a lot of walking). I use a cane after spinal surgery and increasingly problematic arthritis that causes a lot of foot pain. The surgery left me with back pain as well. The back pain was mitigated with DAS – which I can no longer get. The foot pain is helped by using a scooter to traverse the parks; I can now stand in lines with less trouble. And I walk a fair amount; I can park the scooter and walk through shops and dining venues. I’m happy to have it, as the arthritis will only get worse. So exactly what kind of PROOF should I have had to present in order to rent the scooter, pray tell? Have you ever heard of privacy laws?
And yes, you entitled, judgmental twit, I DO use it for convenience. The convenience of being able to get from one side of the park to the other in less than the hour it would take me without it. I sure hope you never need any kind of aid for a disability. The irony would be overwhelming.
Maybe a document from a physician and not some letter you wrote or just your word.
My granddaughter is 14 yo and has been diagnosed with multiple health issues, including POTS – Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (increased heart rate & dizziness are just a couple of the symptoms) & Impaired Thermoregulation (body’s inability to regulate its temperature). My daughter always rented a scooter for her from a place outside of the parks. She was previously getting the DAS for rides that she could not take the scooter in the line. Our last trip in December she could not get it. We rented scooters from her and myself (because it has been 10 years since my last visit and I have gained weight and have arthritis in my knees and feet.) I fractured my hip in 2014 and walked on it for 2 months before finding out it was fractured. Since that time, I cannot stand for long periods of time in one place. I’ll admit that I had to learn how to drive the scooter, but I would stay behind my granddaughter so that I wasn’t running anyone over. When I could, I wouldn’t use the scooter. I did find that the lines that allow a scooter to go through are not scooter friendly. The turns are very difficult to maneuver around. If they aren’t granting the DAS for people that use scooters, they should have adapted the lines to make it easier for them to go through. There were times that I didn’t use the scooter – visiting the resorts with the Gingerbread displays. Doing the Christmas Tree trail at Disney Springs and going to the lobby & back from our room. I don’t have anything from a doctor to show that I have arthritis, BUT my granddaughter has a letter from her team of doctors at Shands in Gainesville that list and describe all of her issues. My daughter has submitted that when she applied for the DAS prior to December. She was still turned down. IF they are turning down the DAS for people in order to get them to use the lightning lane, then Disney is wrong for doing that. Also Disney is not taking into consideration those on the Autism Spectrum. I read a story after the DAS change about a woman with her son who is on the Spectrum. Without the DAS, they were unable to go on a lot of rides that they would normally been able to. I think Disney needs to look at the ADA compliance regulations again and fix what they broke. If they can’t keep up with the number of ECV’s that are going to rented due to so many people no longer able to get a DAS pass, then someone didn’t look into this or plan this right.
No company is reponsible to supply you with equipment you need to.function in life. There are companies you can rent from. I qualify for DAS but do not use it. I am responsible for myself.
Seriously? This person is completely correct people who DO NOT need them will use them to gain an advantage in the lines.. same as people using wheel chairs in the airport so they can board first.. you twit
Wow, calm down Sparky. I, for one, agree with people providing proof for need. How hard would it be for you to obtain a note from your Doctor indicating your need as I am sure you do in order to get a handicap placard? Privacy law? What does that have to do with anything? So you are wanting Disney just to take your word for need? If your need was valid you would be waving that certificate of need. Wouldn’t that be awesome in a perfect world where no one lied to obtain an edge. I wish that Disney would put in a private lane for scooters. I have been ran into by someone using one that does not know how to use the scooter or worse yet does know how to operate but feels so entitled that they insist everyone get out of the way or get ran into which resulted in my having to go to First Aid with a chunk of my back ankle missing. The person actually yelled at me for being in their way stating “it is not my fault Disney makes the shop aisles so narrow”. Why so defiant? I think signatures should be obtained to outlaw these scooters, altogether. So, in essence, try to see the other side of the coin you self-absorbed, entitled twit. How does that feel?
I know you just got attacked by this lady losing her mind, but I agree with you. It does seem (and yes I’m making an assumption, I don’t care) the scooters are highly overused and the system abused. I think proof would be logical. Those who are using a scooter shouldn’t be tiffed to show proof. If ashamed or afraid of judgement, why use a scooter anyway? It’s a visual indication of a disability. The argument makes no sense. There needs to be something in place to prohibit lazy people from just scooting along in the damn way who do NOT have a legitimate disability. Sick of everyone whining and wanting handouts, pity, everything. It’s ridiculous. And this is not directed to disabled folk, believe me. I don’t wanna hear any “ableist” nonsense. Ugh.
I was able to use DAS in the past due to several health issues with knees, neck, hip, etc and now that it no longer available to me I haven’t been back to the parks. I renewed my Annual Pass hoping this issue would be resolved but NO it isn’t resolved. I will not be renewing my Annual Pass as it is too inconvenient to struggle with my Pride GoGo mobility scooter and then have to spend hours in queue with people getting made when I have to make turns with the scooter it is so tight that it holds up the line. I haven’t enjoyed Disney in a long time and it is now time to get the cord.
If you have all those issues you don’t need to be going to an amusement park.
I usually rent mine from an off site place it is much cheaper and it gets delivered to your hotel to pick up when you get there.
Those things are a danger to the public, people don’t know how to drive them and they will run you over with them. I think they should be outlawed in amusement parks and on cruise lines. I have seen more people use them to cart children around, pile merchandise on, and as soon as they get to a ride they miraculously are cured and can run on the ride.
As a person myself who sometimes would need one I have never used one. I have a handicap placard however feel at the park I need to be able to move around. I was there two weeks ago and was often almost run over by someone with a scooter. I have epilepsy and know that disabilities are not often seen. Some people are extremely obese and cannot walk and use the scooter to maneuver themselves. Someone may have had a recent heart attack and should not be walking. So my thought is maybe you shouldn’t be in a park setting if you should not be walking. It’s easy for us to sit back and judge or assume if we don’t know the whole story. As I don’t want someone to judge me. I tried to be what I call a courteous park patron when I am in the parks. I try to be considerate of the people around me. I don’t feel that the majority of the people in the world are like that anymore, they’re not considerate they don’t care about the people around them. Most people in the world are only out for themselves.
So sick of entitled people. The world owes you nothing and Disney offers more accomodations than the law requires. It’s simple if the parks are not a fit for you and your disability it’s on you to make it work or stay home. I don’t ask for anything special for my disability. It’s not everyone else’s problem. I also don’t expect cross fit to not do classes because I am not well enough to attend.
I have been going to Disney since it opened in 1971. Over the past 50 years, I have aged just like everyone else and have developed several disabilities that make a day in Disney a hardship on me and require the use of a scooter in order to get through a day in Disney. I don’t feel that I am one of those entitled individuals who should have an ECV available for me. Yes, there are individuals who don’t need to have that ECV but feel entitled, which in my opinion is unfair to those who are truly disabled and need that ECV. After not being able to obtain an ECV several times, I bought a second hand one at a medical supply store not to have to depend on Disney. We call it my Disney Lamborghini.
Someone told me that my overweight lazy ex boyfriend was using a scooter that he rented at a local amusement park, just because he’s lazy and doesn’t feel like walking around. He’s just turned 50 and has nothing wrong with him, he’s entitled and totally lazy and thinks the world owes him something. People like him don’t deserve scooters, people who legitimately need them for medical reasons do. I have arthritis but I manage to walk everywhere, even if it takes awhile. Lazy doesn’t mean it’s ok. It makes me insane that someone like that takes away from someone who needs it.
Two years ago, while in line for Rise of the Resistance, I was quite literally ran down by an ECV. I was very seriously injured and the rider jumped off and offered to let me use her ECV for the rest of the day if I wanted to. Obviously, she didn’t need it. I, however, had my vacation ruined because of the injuries I sustained. Instead of a vacation I was in the hospital with broken bones and lacerations. So I agree that there should be a limit on who is using these conveyances and they should be trained in their use so no one else ends up injured. Can you imagine if she’d run over a child instead of an adult?
We saw an entire family group of 14, including teenagers, all riding the ECVs together around EPCOT on a busy day. People were scurrying to get out of their way like a gang of bikers were coming through. One of our group was in one due to a knee injury he got that morning and when we returned it at the end of our time at EPCOT there were none left except the one we returned so you know people who needed these were left without. We ordered one from a company nearby that evening for the rest of our trip. So, if you need them plan ahead and if you don’t need them leave them for those who do. If there’s nothing in place to show who does need the DAS or ECVs then it will get abused by those thinking they are entitled to it. Just like Reasonable Accommodations at work, there should be something to submit from your Dr. privately ahead of your trip.
This is a big issue there have been many times, we get to the park and there are no ECV’s. My husband I’d 72, wears a leg brace (he had polio). I have had to push him in a wheelchair, not easy at Epcot with the different inclines, Animal Kingdom is worse. I am also upset with Disney Springs, they used to be when you got off the escalator. Now you have to walk a ways to get one. He has to walk because they won’t give it to me. I inquired about the lack of ECV’s and was told due to the ones rented outside, they can only have so many in the parks. A lot of this is due to the people that don’t actually need them. On several occasions we have seen couples taking turns riding.