Das and Univeral passes- our experience.

Question

Hello my beauts - I’m back in the UK & I will try and finish those trips reports, safe to say a great time was had by all - I think we are done with Disney now for a while, but the boys loved universal so perhaps that will be our new spot going forward! So as promised - DAS chat! Ok Disney … Teddy has autism and ADHD & is 10 , it’s pretty manageable day to day but he can get really overwhelmed and anxious, we have always had DAS before and it’s been a breeze to be honest, this was of course all new and I’ve seen all the horror stories, I decided I would apply for this in Epcot. It’s my favorite park, the guest relations is always pretty quiet and it feels like our ‘ home park ‘ ( I’m a certified anxious girlie myself so it felt very overwhelming and I wanted to make it as easy as I could for me !) I arrived about 9 and spoke to the umbrella guys , they took me inside where a obviously disabled lady ( wheel chair/ oxygen tank situation ) was SOBBING, she had been declined and the CM’s were trying to console her, but she was so upset & it was awful to witness ! I was nearly crying and was not looking forward to my call…there was also a whole ‘ think tank ‘ of employees in the centre discussing the DAS passes and how it was working/ not working, which was obviously terribly by the sobbing women In front of them !! My cm was lovely and told me not too worry and then it took about 40 mins to get online …basically my phone decided I was still in the Uk, because I bought a package thing through EE, so it kept bouncing me back to the UK Disney site , not the US one which I needed to be able to use for the link to the call. The cm’s ( all 4 of them, by this point ) managed to get around this by downloading chrome to my phone and going through that ( tips for the uk lot there ) I had to answer a couple of tick box questions and then because I was calling from the park , I was moved to the top of the que to speak to someone , it was like a 3 min wait . I spoke to a CM , who was nice but clearly didn’t give a shiz, I didn’t need to explain teds diagnosis ( which of course I did , because how can you not !) but they did ask how his condition stops him queuing .i explained it all, waffled one and gave wayyyyy too much Info and they just cut me off and said he could have it ….the only probed was they would only give it to 4 of us, not 5 as per their policy ( my mom was no5 ) I was like, what if you have a bigger family ? Us adults can juggle things around , but kids can’t …again didn’t give a shizzzzz…so the Epcot CM , told me to explain each time we used Das to the cm on the gate that we had an extra person and they SHOULD let us in …you can imagine how this went …all kinda ok until we got to rise , they wernt happy to let us through , bit didn’t make it too uncomfortable..slinky , argument at the gate, but let us ride.FOP, so bloody rude and upset my mom & was just a bit of an awkward situation on all the rides ! In comparison, my mom has a condition that affects her bowel and is waiting for an op for the bag, we knew Disney wouldn’t touch this , so she took on universal …literal night and day, she did her form online, she uploaded her discharge papers from recent hospital stays , her medication ( a pic ) and some info off the NHS app, I believe she was asked to supply a letter from the drs who wanted 100 quid and 30 days to do this , but thankfully the info she shared was suffice. She had a call with universal who asked her how her condition would effect her trip and she explained , they issued her a temp pass , which we swapped for the paper one when we arrived in the park , much easier and less stressful then Disney for sure and covered all of us , no problem! The card seemed a little out of date and they were pretty strict with the big rides, time wise, but it worked really well& she was we told that her pass would be ‘ active ‘ for a year !l back in Disney I was in AK , again in their guest services and there was a mom travelling with her, again very disabled son , he was in a wheelchair, non verbal and obviously needed a lot of assistance and care, she was also turned down which was disgusting , she was crying her eyes out too, the cm who was with her was equally upset and just wanted to help her , it was awful to see & so open, I feel like the CM’s were going to help her , but I’m not sure how , but you could see how gutted they were ! So there you have it …if your child is Neuro diverse, it seems to be fine .Anything else , a hard pass, 4 people can only be on one pass and universal was a head and shoulders winner. It’s a stressful process either way. But my beloved Disney should be ashamed, hopefully things will continue to evolve and get better so that all guests can continue to enjoy the magic , if not universal is gonna be even more jam packed next year !!

Answer

This trip report provides a detailed comparison between Disney’s DAS (Disability Access Service) and Universal’s temporary disability passes, highlighting real-world experiences for families traveling with neurodiverse children or adults with medical conditions.

Disney DAS Experience

The process at Disney, particularly at Epcot, can be stressful and overwhelming. Your experience shows that even with prior experience, the DAS setup may cause anxiety both for guests and cast members. The system allows a DAS pass to four guests per child with a disability, which can be limiting for larger families. Communication at the ride gates can sometimes be uncomfortable if the fifth guest tries to use the DAS, especially on popular rides like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash.

DAS application is done in person at Guest Services or online via the Disney app, but technical issues (like phones connecting to the wrong regional site) can complicate the process.
Cast Members (CMs) are generally helpful but constrained by strict rules, which can create awkward situations when your group size exceeds the four-person limit.
Neurodiverse children generally receive accommodations without much question, but it is less straightforward for complex family arrangements or adult medical needs.
The overall DAS system at Disney can be inconsistent and stressful, especially for first-time users or those with large groups.

Universal Pass Experience

Universal’s temporary disability pass system appears far more streamlined and accommodating, especially for adults or children with medical conditions. The process can be completed online, allowing documents such as medical discharge papers, medication lists, and doctor’s notes to be submitted. Universal issues a temporary pass which can be converted to a physical paper pass at the park.

Universal’s system covers the entire party without strict limits, making it easier for larger groups.
Time restrictions on big rides exist, but the process is clear and less confrontational than Disney’s.
The passes are valid for a year, offering flexibility for future visits.
The online pre-approval reduces stress at the park and avoids long wait times at guest services.
Medical documentation requirements are more reasonable and adaptable, allowing NHS or similar international documentation to suffice.

Key Observations and Recommendations

If traveling with a neurodiverse child, Disney DAS works fine but requires patience and understanding that the system is limited to four guests per pass.
For adults or children with medical conditions, Universal’s system is superior in ease of use, flexibility, and coverage of the entire group.
Disney may require in-person interactions and can be inconsistent, which can be emotionally taxing, especially if other disabled guests are experiencing difficulties simultaneously.
Universal provides a more compassionate and organized approach, reducing stress and making park visits smoother for families with medical needs.

Conclusion

While Disney DAS can accommodate neurodiverse children effectively, families with complex medical needs or larger groups may find Universal’s disability pass system much easier to manage. Overall, Universal is more user-friendly, better prepared for pre-arrival setup, and more flexible in its policies, making it the recommended choice for those who prioritize simplicity and inclusivity for all guests.