You can hold one active DAS return time and one Lightning Lane reservation simultaneously. DAS is free; Lightning Lane is a paid service. Both systems can be combined for maximum efficiency.
If you’re eligible for DAS and also considering Lightning Lane, understand this: DAS and Lightning Lane are separate systems you can use at the same time. You can hold one active DAS return time while also holding a Lightning Lane reservation, effectively lining up two rides at once, which is the single biggest strategic advantage of combining both systems.
What DAS and Lightning Lane Actually Are#
Disability Access Service (DAS) is a free accessibility accommodation for guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, cannot wait in a conventional queue for an extended period. Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass are paid services that let any guest skip the standby line at select attractions. These are completely separate systems — DAS is not a version of Lightning Lane, and Lightning Lane is not required to use DAS.
DAS is free. Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass are paid add-ons.
How DAS Return Times Work#
When you request a DAS return time at an attraction, you receive a return time comparable to the current standby wait. If Space Mountain has a 60-minute standby wait, your DAS return time will be roughly 60 minutes from now. You can wait anywhere in the park — grab lunch, shop, rest in air conditioning — then return to enter through the Lightning Lane entrance. DAS return times are not limited to a specific window and are valid until the park or attraction closes for the day.
DAS does not eliminate the wait. It relocates it. You’re not skipping to the front of the line immediately; you’re waiting roughly the same duration everyone else waits, just not in the physical queue.
You can hold one active DAS return time at a time. Once you redeem your DAS return time, you can request another 10 minutes later. Importantly, all DAS return times are requested same-day, after you enter a park — there are no advance attraction selections to book before your trip (the pre-2024 “advance selections” feature has been discontinued).
The Critical Interaction: Holding DAS and Lightning Lane Simultaneously#
Here’s what most guests miss: you can hold one active DAS return time and one Lightning Lane reservation at the same time. They don’t conflict.
Say you request a DAS return time for Test Track that comes back around 2:50 PM. While waiting out that time, you can book a Lightning Lane Multi Pass reservation for Frozen Ever After at 2:30 PM. You’ll ride Frozen first, then head to Test Track when your DAS return time arrives. You’ve effectively managed two attractions during the same hour.
This is the most powerful way to combine the systems. Use DAS for one attraction, Lightning Lane for another, and alternate throughout the day. (Note: you can also hold one DAS return time and one virtual queue boarding group at the same time for virtual-queue attractions.)
Registering for DAS#
Eligibility is determined through a live video chat with a cast member, available as soon as 60 days before your visit (or same-day, also via video chat — there is no in-person registration option). Once approved, DAS is valid for the length of your ticket or up to 1 year, whichever is shorter. The registered DAS guest plus up to 3 additional party members (4 total) can use each return time, and the registered guest must be present and experience the attraction.
Crucially, you do not pre-book any specific attractions in advance. After you enter a park each day, you request your first DAS return time in the My Disney Experience app, then request subsequent return times one at a time throughout the day.
Strategy for a Busy Day#
Once you’re in the park, request your first DAS return time for the park’s most in-demand attraction — the kind that commands a 90+ minute standby or sells out for Lightning Lane Single Pass. Then use Lightning Lane Multi Pass for moderate-demand rides like Big Thunder Mountain or Haunted Mansion, and keep requesting in-park DAS return times for the remaining headliners.
Rotate between requesting DAS return times and booking Lightning Lane reservations. Never let yourself hold zero of either. As soon as you redeem a DAS return time, request your next one 10 minutes later. As soon as you use a Lightning Lane reservation, book your next one in the My Disney Experience App.
Prioritize the rides that will have the longest waits by midday rather than attractions with short waits or shows with frequent showtimes.
What DAS Is Not#
DAS is not a “front of the line” pass. You do not walk up to an attraction and board immediately. You receive a return time and wait elsewhere. The wait duration is comparable to standby — you’re just not standing in the queue itself.
DAS is not a substitute for Lightning Lane if you don’t have a qualifying disability. It’s an accessibility accommodation, not a perk or upgrade.
Cost Summary#
DAS is free for eligible guests. Lightning Lane Multi Pass pricing varies by park and date. Lightning Lane Single Pass is priced per attraction and per person. Check current pricing in the My Disney Experience App before your visit, as costs fluctuate based on demand.
If you’re eligible for DAS and willing to pay for Lightning Lane, combining both systems gives you the most flexibility on a busy park day. If you’re only using DAS, stay on top of requesting new return times throughout the day to maximize the attractions you experience.
ParkSwiz is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company or its subsidiaries.
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