Walt Disney World has updated its Disability Access Service (DAS) system again, providing significantly more detail about the live video registration process and clarifying several technical and eligibility-related policies for guests using the accommodation.Credit: Inside the MagicThe most recent changes, made quietly to Disney’s official DAS webpage, aim to improve transparency and help qualifying guests better prepare for their trip. These updates come after more than a year of controversial reforms to DAS eligibility criteria, including a much narrower definition of who qualifies and the removal of in-person registration as an option.While the latest revisions do not alter the fundamental eligibility guidelines, they do offer additional guidance—and some convenience—for guests navigating what has become one of Disney’s more scrutinized services.Key Updates to DAS Video RegistrationCredit: DisneyPerhaps the most notable update to the DAS system is the expanded description of how video registration via live chatworks.Guests are now provided with a step-by-step guide to complete the video call and what to expect during the process. The registration system remains online-only and is conducted through a live video chat with a Disney Cast Member—a process many guests have found confusing or inaccessible in the past due to vague explanations or unclear requirements.Here’s what’s newly clarified in the updated DAS page:Registration hours: Video chat is available daily from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET).Recording prohibited: Guests are explicitly prohibited from recording the video session.Age requirement: Anyone requesting DAS must be 18 or older if applying for themselves or on behalf of someone else.Presence required: The guest for whom DAS is being requested must be present during the video call.Zoom required on mobile: Mobile users must download the Zoom app to complete the chat.Disney account required: Guests must be signed into their My Disney Experience account, with valid park admission linked for all members of their travel party.Accessibility support: The chat system is compatible with screen readers and offers text chat for guests with hearing disabilities.Language limitations: The chat is currently available in English only.These detailed additions replace the previous, more limited description of video registration and bring much-needed clarity for families preparing to request DAS before their park visit.Streamlined DAS Registration ProcessCredit: Lee (myfrozenlife), FlickrIn addition to the updated tech requirements, Disney has reorganized and refined the DAS registration instructions to simplify the process. While the steps remain mostly the same, the order and structure now better reflect how guests move through the system.The current steps are:Pre-Register via Video Chat: Guests may begin registration up to 60 days before their park visit. Same-day video registration remains available if guests forget or are unable to register in advance, but there is still no in-person registration option at the parks.Eligibility Interview: During the video call, a Cast Member will speak directly with the guest who needs the service to determine if DAS is the right accommodation. DAS is available only to guests who meet the eligibility criteria, typically those with developmental disabilities like autism who cannot wait in a traditional queue.Photo Requirement: If approved, a photo will be taken of the DAS-registered guest, and the accommodation will be linked to their My Disney Experience account.Party Size Limitation: DAS can be used by the registered guest and up to three additional party members, for a maximum of four guests per return time.Understanding How DAS Works In-ParkFor guests unfamiliar with how DAS works at Disney parks, it is important to note that it is not a front-of-line pass. Instead, DAS provides guests with a virtual queue system, where they are given a return time equivalent to the current standby wait for an attraction.During this wait, guests are free to explore other areas of the park, eat, rest, or visit other attractions. After redeeming a DAS return time, they can request another after 10 minutes, either through the app or by visiting a Guest Experience Team location.Program Validity ExtendedAlongside the technical updates, Disney has also officially extended the validity of approved DAS registrations. Previously, DAS access lasted for 60 days or the length of the ticket (whichever was shorter), but recent changes now make DAS valid for up to one calendar year.This improvement means that qualifying guests—particularly Annual Passholders or those who visit multiple times a year—will no longer need to go through the video chat process before every visit, reducing the overall workload for both Cast Members and guests.A Program Under ScrutinyCredit: DisneyDAS has undergone significant changes in the past year, many of which were met with public backlash. In early 2024, Disney implemented stricter eligibility rules after years of guest complaints regarding misuse and abuse of the system. While the intention was to preserve DAS for those who genuinely need it, the new policies excluded many disabled guests who previously qualified.For example, individuals with physical conditions, terminal illness, or temporary impairments are now expected to use other accommodations, such as rider switch or mobility device access, instead of DAS. The narrow focus on developmental disabilities—specifically autism and similar conditions—remains a point of contention.In response to criticism, Disney made a small but symbolic change earlier this year by removing the word “only” from the DAS eligibility description. The revised language reads:“DAS is intended to accommodate those Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”Though subtle, this change may offer slightly more discretion to Cast Members during the eligibility interview process, but no major expansion of the criteria has been announced.Disney’s most recent DAS updates focus less on changing eligibility and more on clarifying procedures, improving access for those who qualify, and ensuring guests know what to expect before their visit. By detailing the video registration process and expanding the pre-registration window to 60 days, Disney appears to be responding to guest feedback on accessibility, confusion, and the need for better planning tools.However, for those who no longer qualify under the stricter DAS rules, these improvements offer little relief. As the conversation around theme park accessibility continues, DAS remains a lightning rod issue—one that Disney will likely continue to refine in the years ahead.The post Disney’s Disability Policy Changes Again, No Filming and More Rules Added appeared first on Inside the Magic.