How to Use DAS at Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea

If you or someone in your group has a disability or condition that makes it difficult to wait in long lines, Tokyo Disney Resort offers a system to help make your visit more enjoyable. It’s called the Disability Access Service (DAS). Here’s what you need to know to use it.

Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

An important note for regular Disney travelers; there are some key differences in how the Disability Access Service at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea works – particularly in how you register and use it once you’re inside the park. So, even if you have used DAS in the parks in the US or Paris before, read on…

What Is the Disability Access Service?

The Disability Access Service (DAS) at Tokyo Disney Resort is designed to help guests who have difficulty standing in long queues due to physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, or developmental and mental health conditions.

Rather than physically waiting in the main line for attractions, DAS allows eligible guests and the rest of their party to wait for their turn elsewhere and then return at a designated time to ride with a much shorter wait in the actual queue.

It doesn’t allow you to jump queues; you still wait the same overall amount of time as everyone else, but you can do it comfortably, without standing in a queue with lots of other people.

How the Tokyo Disney DAS Differs from the U.S. System

If you’ve used the DAS at Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World in the United States, don’t expect the system at TDR to work the same way. Here’s what’s different.

1. You Can’t Register in Advance

In the U.S., you must pre-register for DAS online before your trip via a video call with a Cast Member.

At Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, it’s all done in the park when you get to your first ride.

2. It Does Cover Physical Disability

Back in 2024, the US parks changed the wording on the DAS to say it was ‘only’ for those living with developmental conditions like autism, which attracted a lot of criticism from those with physical issues that also make it hard to stand in lines.

The word ‘only’ has now been dropped from the US DAS literature, but physical disability is still not discussed on the official pages. At Tokyo Disney, however, both are covered; although some physical conditions may fall under another system called the Separate Wait Service – more on that in a minute.

3. You Do Need to Show Proof

At the US Parks, your video call serves as the screening tool to determine eligibility for DAS. At Tokyo Disney Parks, you will need to show paperwork confirming potential eligibility.

4. You Don’t Book Return Times Via the App

At US Parks, once you register for DAS, you make your ride requests through the app. This is not the case at Tokyo Disney Resort; you need to physically visit each ride you want to use the service on.

Who Can Qualify for DAS

It’s available to both Japanese and international guests who find it challenging to wait in the regular queue due to a physical or mental disability.

You do not have to enter the park using the specific Disabled Person’s Ticket to apply for DAS.

From now on, I’ll refer to the person who would like to use DAS as the main guest.

What DAS Doesn’t Cover

Temporary conditions like broken legs, pregnancy, or being of advanced age, all of which can still make waiting in line uncomfortable. However, don’t despair, there is a similar service that covers these conditions called the Separate Wait Service.

What Proof You Need

To use the Disability Access Service at Tokyo Disney Resort, you’ll need to present documentation showing that the main guest has the disability or medical condition you’re talking about.

While the paperwork required here is clear for Japanese guests, the rules aren’t as straightforward for international guests.

Officially, the Tokyo Disney webpage says the service is available to ‘Guests holding either of the following certificates issued by the local government of Japan. Physical Disability Certificate, Mental Disability Certificate, Medical Rehabilitation Handbook, Recipient Certificate for Welfare Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities – Guests from outside Japan are requested to present a certificate equivalent to those listed above.’

But many international guests face the problem that their health services don’t issue ‘certificates of disability,’ so, what do you need to produce instead? Thankfully, many of the 30,000 members of my Tokyo Disney Facebook group have successfully used the service and have explained what paperwork they provided.

• Doctor’s letters explaining the condition and why it affects the guest’s queue-waiting ability. This is the most common method used and is usually accepted without issues.
  • The letter must be on an official letterhead
  • It should mention the person by name
  • Carry the original document
  • It doesn’t need a Japanese translation
  • Recommended even if you have other documentation
• Government disability benefits letters showing receipt of disability payments
• Official disability cards issued by your home country’s government

The Cast Member might also ask for photo ID to confirm that the person the letter mentions is in your group, but as it’s the law to carry your passport in Japan, you should have this on you anyway.

How to Register for the Disability Access Service

You do this once you’re in the park – but, contrary to what might sound logical, you don’t do it at Guest Services. Here’s what to do instead…

• Go to Your First Ride: Find the Cast Member at the entrance. You can also apply at the formal character greeting areas in each park. Find a list of locations is here.
• Tell the Cast Member You’d Like to Register for the Disability Access Service: The Cast Member will likely ask a few questions about your situation and the number of people in your party.
• Show Your Documentation: Present your disability certificate, letter, or ID. The Cast Member will review it and confirm your eligibility. They’ll then take a photo of the person eligible for DAS.
• Present the Park Tickets for Everyone in Your Group: The Cast Member will link the DAS to your park tickets or passes, so everyone in your group can enter the attractions together when it’s time. If anyone isn’t there, they won’t be registered, so don’t take the main guest off to register while the rest of the family grabs breakfast or anything.

How to Use the Disability Access Service at Each Attraction

Once you’ve registered, you’re set to get on the rides using the service, but there’s still a process to go through at each ride or greeting area.

Step 1: Go to the Attraction Entrance

When you reach an attraction you’d like to ride, go to the Cast Member at the entrance and let them know you’d like to use the Disability Access Service.

Show your park tickets or smartphone with your digital pass so they can check your registration.

Step 2: Answer The Questions

The Cast Member will provide information on boarding the ride and what may be required in the event of an emergency to ensure the main guest is safe and able to evacuate. Assuming everything is all okay, you’ll move to the next step.

Step 3: Receive a Return Time

The Cast Member will check the current standby wait time and give you a return time equal to that. For example, if the ride has a 60-minute wait, you’ll be asked to return in 60 minutes.

You don’t need to wait right next to the ride – you’re free to explore, eat, or rest during that time.

Coming Back to the Ride

You’ll get an alert when your window of time to return to the ride begins. Head to the ride now.

Go back to the same entrance and show your tickets again.

Show the pass of the main guest first, as that will ‘unlock’ the DAS boarding for everyone.

The Cast Member will scan them and direct you to a designated entrance, often the accessible or priority entrance. Note – this does mean you’ll most likely miss a lot of the theming in the queue and perhaps some preshows.

From there, you’ll typically wait just a few minutes before boarding. Have Fun!

A Few Rules to Remember

• The main guest and up to five additional companions can use the DAS service on rides. At character greeting areas, it can be the main guest and up to nine others.
• There is no limit to the number of rides you can use DAS on, but you can only hold one DAS return time at a time. Once you’ve used it, you can book another.
• The official rules say you can’t ride a ride twice using DAS (however, one of my group members said they have done so and not been challenged, so definitely give it a try.)
• The registered guest must ride for the rest of the group to use the DAS. If they choose not to ride, the group can’t use the return time.
• An adult must accompany the main guest on each ride. As Disney travel bloggers, Dohertys In The Magic found out, this can cause problems if you are traveling as a group of three with one adult using DAS, if the third person is too young to be left on their own, if they don’t want to ride, or are too small to do so, so just bear this in mind.

Using DAS With Premier Access or Priority Passes

Disney Premier Access and the 40th Anniversary Priority Pass are two ways to reduce your queuing time in the parks. You can use DAS with them, but the process is slightly different.

Register for DAS as above, but when you have a DPA or Priority Pass for the ride, you don’t go and get a return time. Instead, arrive at the ride during the window shown on your DPA or Priority Pass, then show your DAS registration. You will then be taken in via the DAS applicable entrance.

Related Read: Tokyo Disney’s ‘queue-reducing’ system explained.

Other Tips

That’s the basics, but the following tips will help things go even more smoothly.

Make Sure You Have Wi-Fi

There is no public wifi in the park. You need to use the app to check wait times, to use mobile ordering, and you’ll also need to show your DAS registration in the app and possibly use Google Translate when you arrive at each ride to secure your return time. You’ll only be able to do all of this with your own internet connection. If you’re not sure how to get online in Japan, have a look at our guide explaining your options.

I use Ubigi e-SIMs on my trip – check out their best-selling Japan plans here.

Copy These Phrases

While some case members will speak English, or you can use Google Translate, having these three phrases saved to show Cast Members will save everybody time and impress them with your efforts.

• I need to apply for a Disability Access Pass. I have a letter from our doctor.

障害者アクセスパスを申請する事必要があります。私の医師からの診断書を所持しています。

• We have registered for a Disability Access Pass. May we have a return time for this ride, please?

障害者アクセスパスを登録しました。この乗車の戻る時間を教えていただきますか？

• It is our time to return with our Disability Access Pass.

障害者アクセスパスがが持って戻る時間になりました。

I’ve put the phrases in a downloadable PDF (above) that you can print or save to your phone to use on the day. Sign up here to download your copy.

And no, I didn’t translate these myself – my Japanese isn’t that good. Instead, credit and thanks go to the fabulous Jonelle Patrick for her translations. Jonelle is an author who lives part-time in Tokyo – if you’re looking for some fantastic novels set in Japan to read before your trip, hers are my favourites.

Have a Power Bank

You’ll be using your phone a lot, and I find Google Translate can drain the battery a bit faster than normal. I use this Anker Power Bank, which isn’t too heavy, but if you get stuck, you can rent power banks in the park.

Do Not Be Late Back

You have a short window to return for your ride entry, but don’t miss it, or you won’t be allowed in. After I published this, one of my group members said ‘you need to emphasise the ‘don’t be late thing’ – so, here I am emphasising it. Being on time is very important in Japanese culture – lateness is very rude, so it makes sense that they would be strict on this.

Be Patient and Polite

Cast Members are incredibly kind and accommodating, but the process can take a few minutes at busy rides. A smile and a thank-you in Japanese – arigatou gozaimasu if you don’t know it already – goes a long way.

Related Read: 8 Essential Phrases to Learn Before Your Japan Trip

And, I think that’s everything you need to know. If you do have further questions though, please head over to the Tokyo Disney planning Facebook group, where someone will help you. Lots of people in the group have used DAS.

Sharing is caring!