Disney to ban queue-jumpers pretending to be disabled

VISITORS to Disney resorts who falsely claim to be disabled to jump queues for rides will be banned for life, the park announced as it overhauled its rules.

The theme park’s Disability Access Service (DAS) is introducing a more rigorous registration process and is limiting the number of issues which qualify guests for quicker access to rides.

In the past five years, the number of potential visitors who have requested help from the DAS has tripled.

Len Testa, co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, told The Washington Post: “The system has always had some level of questionable use, if not abuse.”

Disney said the system was originally intended for “guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability”. But the new guidelines state the disability access programme is “intended to accommodate a small percentage of guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period or time”.

Disney has warned that there will be consequences for those caught misusing the DAS programme.

“The guest will be permanently barred from entering 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,” its website states.

The benefits of DAS will be limited to a guest’s “immediate family”, or a group of no more than four unrelated people, according to Disney’s website.

Unlike other theme parks in the US disabled visitors will not need documentation to verify their status, but will be assessed by health professionals.

The rules will be introduced on May 20 at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, and on June 18 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.