Disney's Accessibility Policies Leave Guests With Disabilities Feeling Priced Out
A trip to Walt Disney World comes with many expenses, but some costs are not optional for everyone. Guests who need assistance navigating the parks may be charged extra for wheelchair rentals and other accommodations.
The daily rate for wheelchair rentals at Disney's theme parks is $12, while a multi-day rental costs $10 per day. However, guests must pay a refundable $100 deposit when renting a wheelchair at water parks or Disney Springs.
In recent years, Disney has tightened its Disability Access Service (DAS) requirements, leaving some guests without the same accommodations they previously received. DAS allows eligible guests to receive a return time based on an attraction's standby wait, allowing them to spend that waiting period elsewhere rather than in the traditional queue.
Guests who don't qualify for DAS may need to use the standard standby queue unless another accommodation applies. This can lead to additional costs when using Disney's Lightning Lane service, which allows guests to bypass much of the traditional standby line for participating attractions.