I can't speak to the liklihood of whether your friend can get a
DAS or not, as I get a DAS for other reasons. However, I do have RA and am well-acquainted with stiffness and pain that can develop if joints stay still for too long {and "too long" doesn't have to be that long clock-wise). The long distances walked at Disney also create their own problems for me because my joints just dont like all that walking, and for me it also flares up other issues.
Part of my solution to these problems is that I use an
ECV at the parks [I do not need one at home]. I rent from an outside vendor so I have it available to and from the resort as well as at the resort if needed.
I have written elsewhere on the Dis about the independence an ECV gives me. Basically, it lets me set the pace, adapt, and enjoy the day with minimal discomfort.
Since riding too long or walking too long are both problems, what I do is typically drive the ECV to an area [e.g. tomorrowland] and park it. Then walk to the attractions in the immediate area. Then back to the ECV and move to the next area. If I am having a bad stretch, I can use the ECV into each accessible attraction - the nice thing with that is I can stop, stand up and move around, then get back down and ride it... the mixing up helps just enough. If an attraction line is insanely long, we skip it and try to come back later when it is shorter. We use our Fastpass selections for the attractions we REALLY do not want to miss, and take advantage of extra magic hours and staying late in the parks. Also, we have at least a basic plan for touring the park and try to do rides that are close to each other instead of zig zagging all across the place (and thus walking even more). We don't always stick with the plan, but we at least start out with it ;-) The ECV also gives a place to rest when the rest of my part go off on a ride I can't go on [I don't do most roller coasters as they are too jarring].
Also, we take advantage of special events like
MNSSHP and
MVMCP. We use them primarily to ride rides with next to no wait time, to be in the park when it is dark (no sun ! yeah !!), and for the parade and fireworks. For MNSSHP we will also do some trick or treating, but don't dress in costume. One our next trip in December, the only time we are going to the parks is once to MK for MVMCP and once to Typhoon lagoon. The rest of the trip is enjoying the resorts and a
Disney Cruise.
Now for me, I also do get a DAS, for other reasons, but to be honest at most will generally only use it two or three times in a day. Some days it won't even get used at all.
SW
ETA: the other nice thing with the ECV is if I need to be walking, my sister can always ride it for a bit ;-) Just make sure any prospective drivers are adults and have practiced a bit with it so they have an inkling of how to use it safely. In a line, I will sometimes get off it and just do some "walking in place" for a bit, then once the lines has moved several feet, get back on and move it forward.s Also, while seated on the ECV, there is a suprising amount of exercise one can do that will keep most joints fairly happy. I found a couple good videos about doing exercises while seated (including one for Tai Chi while seated on an airplane) and have found doing some of them from time to time on the ECV [or at work, or on the bus, or... etc etc] is very helpful.
