Class-action Lawsuit Filed Over Changes to Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS)

[Evita_W]

um, well....I am just going to gracefully say that you have clearly never been in this situation, and I would never wish it on anyone. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming as you literally have no control over what is happening.

Yes, many, including DH feel the same way, honestly the new system is very taxing mentally and physically for many and that's the problem. There are ways to better balance this.

 

[OurBigTrip]

The tick is in how the law is enacted and does depend on how the trip is booked. If booked entirely in Florida, i.e. you go there and buy everything in person, you are correct; however, if you book a trip online as a California resident, then it may apply (not every situation does, but that would be for the courts to decide), even in Florida. It is a nuance many miss.

No, it wouldn't.

One state can't enforce their laws in another state - that's ludicrous. State laws don't follow people when they travel to other states.

I realize that California sometimes think that the rest of the country has to follow them, but we actually don't.

 

[EACarlson]

No, it wouldn't.

One state can't enforce their laws in another state - that's ludicrous. State laws don't follow people when they travel to other states.

I realize that California sometimes think that the rest of the country has to follow them, but we actually don't.

California is of the belief that if you do any business in CA, that they can impose their regulations on your company as a whole. Until struck down by a federal court, that is the way that the laws in CA operate. It would take Disney being fined by CA for not complying in FL and Disney countersuing CA in federal court for relief.

 

[OurBigTrip]

California is of the belief that if you do any business in CA, that they can impose their regulations on your company as a whole. Until struck down by a federal court, that is the way that the laws in CA operate. It would take Disney being fined by CA for not complying in FL and Disney countersuing CA in federal court for relief.

Yay for California, but a park in Florida isn't going to follow the orders of a California state court ruling based on a California law and a California lawsuit against only the locations in California.

 

[Evita_W]

No, it wouldn't.

One state can't enforce their laws in another state - that's ludicrous. State laws don't follow people when they travel to other states.

I realize that California sometimes think that the rest of the country has to follow them, but we actually don't.

But they do it already, don't believe me? If you are trying to cancel something that you signed up for online and they tell you that you have to do it in person, change your address to a California address with them and you can now magically cancel online. Why? Because our laws require them to do so, even if the company exists in another state. That law has far more reaching effects than people understand.

 

[Evita_W]

Yay for California, but a park in Florida isn't going to follow the orders of a California state court ruling based on a California law and a California lawsuit against only the locations in California.

But again, it already is happening with many businesses, see my previous post.

 

[OurBigTrip]

But they do it already, don't believe me? If you are trying to cancel something that you signed up for online and they tell you that you have to do it in person, change your address to a California address with them and you can now magically cancel online. Why? Because our laws require them to do so, even if the company exists in another state. That law has far more reaching effects than people understand.

Enforcing actions online in CA is very different than enforcing a law on the ground in Florida.

Not going to happen.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

At the end of the day, Disney is not required by law to offer DAS. They are only required to follow the ADA, and they do.

 

[BrightMorningStar]

So, if I'm disabled (I'm not), or a member of any other type of protected class, I'm not entitled to be free from discrimination in the things I enjoy doing, only the things I need to be doing? Is that the point you're making?

I am not the OP, but I did not read anything that was an attack on a protected class of people. I believe what is being said is that DAS is not required by law. That is an extra that Disney offers, however there is nothing state or federal saying they have to. If there was, it would be offered everywhere. Movies, stores, malls, many places of entertainment, etc do not offer DAS or anything like it. Disney is required to follow the ADA, which they do. Granting people access to skip the lines without a fee is not required and it is not discrimination not to do so.

 

[Evita_W]

I am not the OP, but I did not read anything that was an attack on a protected class of people. I believe what is being said is that DAS is not required by law. That is an extra that Disney offers, however there is nothing state or federal saying they have to. If there was, it would be offered everywhere. Movies, stores, malls, many places of entertainment, etc do not offer DAS or anything like it. Disney is required to follow the ADA, which they do. Granting people access to skip the lines without a fee is not required and it is not discrimination not to do so.

There is a lot more gray area here than you may think. A theme park is something unique, not like a movie theater, stores or malls, which each offer their own forms of accommodations based on what someone needs to be able to access their venues. A DAS would not be required at any of these because they don't have queues like a theme park, except for certain special events like certain product launches and when those do occur, most venues do offer some form of accomodations for those who can't wait in line due to a disability. A theme park has queues which actually do prevent guests with certain disabilities from being able to access the attractions due to length of line (wait times or physical length or both), line design (i.e. stairs or too narrow), etc. that does necessitate something like a DAS in order for people with certain disabilities to access the attractions. Now, there can be various methods to handle this, but simply saying wait in a 60 minute+ line does by its very nature prevent some people with certain disabilities from being able to access the attractions and the ADA does say that a method must be provided to allow them to access the attraction, which would mean some way to bypass the 60+ minute line in this example. Now that isn't to say they can't be asked to wait elsewhere, but a mechanism must exist if it prevents someone with a disability from accessing the attraction due to their disability.

 

[lanejudy]

I believe what is being said is that DAS is not required by law. That is an extra that Disney offers, however there is nothing state or federal saying they have to.

DAS as it exists at Disney parks is not necessarily required in the exact form. However some form of accommodation must be offered. Disney can’t say “we have ramps and wide doorways, that’s all we’re required.” Other accommodations just aren’t specified and left to each business to accommodate in a manner that meets the need and works for their operations.

 

[OurBigTrip]

DAS as it exists at Disney parks is not necessarily required in the exact form. However some form of accommodation must be offered. Disney can’t say “we have ramps and wide doorways, that’s all we’re required.” Other accommodations just aren’t specified and left to each business to accommodate in a manner that meets the need and works for their operations.

It's really a hard nut to crack, given that that an accommodation has to be both necessary and reasonable. So, even if a court were to rule that the DAS is necessary for all of the people in the lawsuit, there is little question in my mind that Disney has the data to show that it wouldn't be reasonable given the impact to operations.

Personal opinion, but I don't see the court agreeing that all of the people in the lawsuit need DAS, given the alternate accommodations that are being offered. I also roll my eyes at the complaints about having to disclose their medical information publicly, when prior to the pre-approval process they always had to do that.

I haven't even heard yet whether or not the classes and sub-classes have been certified.

 

[lorenae]

I let my AP expire last year (hurricanes, three in less than a year and some other things meant I couldn't go), and I'm very nervous about what this means for me. I look fine, but have autism, a brain injury, and physical and sensory issues. I always had DAS in the past, and when asked why I esplained my challenges in the queues. Last time I went, I didn't need DAS as my family worked as 'blockers" giving me space and headphones and much of the time I was able to do the ride or I waited outside in a quiet place. Not all rides, like I can't handle the line at all in Frozen, maybe not even with DAS. I'm fearful to even buy a new AP as I don't know how I can possibly do it without DAS.

Since I don't have a current ticket, is there any way to guess if I could mange this?

 

[lanejudy]

Since I don't have a current ticket, is there any way to guess if I could mange this?

No, they won’t discuss DAS without having a ticket.

This thread is specifically about the lawsuit. We have a couple other threads that might give an idea of people’s experiences. Both are long (very long) maybe just look at the last couple of pages.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...as-guidelines-start-5-20-wdw-6-18-dl.3946534/

https://www.disboards.com/threads/das-changes-coming-wdw-may-20-dl-june-18-2024.3943880/

 

[Evita_W]

Personal opinion, but I don't see the court agreeing that all of the people in the lawsuit need DAS, given the alternate accommodations that are being offered. I also roll my eyes at the complaints about having to disclose their medical information publicly, when prior to the pre-approval process they always had to do that.

prior to pre-approval, you had to disclose it ONCE at guest relations, not at every attraction, there is a distinct difference there and that is a key point that will likely be brought up with this lawsuit. The alternative accommodations are not truly viable for a large chunk of these guests, that doesn't mean that DAS or something similar is the only viable accommodation; however, it may the only viable one that currently works.

It's really a hard nut to crack, given that that an accommodation has to be both necessary and reasonable. So, even if a court were to rule that the DAS is necessary for all of the people in the lawsuit, there is little question in my mind that Disney has the data to show that it wouldn't be reasonable given the impact to operations.

Except any lawyer worth anything is going to point to the Premier Lightning Lane pass and multiple lightning lane or whatever it is called and show that if people are willing to spend $$$, it becomes magically workable and point out that if those programs didn't exist, the DAS would be completely workable. They can demonstrate this with many non-Disney parks where the system works quite well, even at extremely busy parks like Universal, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, annd Six Flags/Cedar Fair parks etc. all have similar programs, each with their own variations of course, but similar in concept and it works there, providing DAS like access to most disabled guests. A good lawyer will also bring up the very suspicious timing of the lightning lane changes with the changes to the DAS program.

I am not saying what way things will go, I am simply saying a decent lawyer will bring up these points and they would be valid challenges to Disney's so called data showing the impact to operations.

 

[OurBigTrip]

prior to pre-approval, you had to disclose it ONCE at guest relations, not at every attraction, there is a distinct difference there and that is a key point that will likely be brought up with this lawsuit. The alternative accommodations are not truly viable for a large chunk of these guests, that doesn't mean that DAS or something similar is the only viable accommodation; however, it may the only viable one that currently works.


Except any lawyer worth anything is going to point to the Premier Lightning Lane pass and multiple lightning lane or whatever it is called and show that if people are willing to spend $$$, it becomes magically workable and point out that if those programs didn't exist, the DAS would be completely workable. They can demonstrate this with many non-Disney parks where the system works quite well, even at extremely busy parks like Universal, Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, annd Six Flags/Cedar Fair parks etc. all have similar programs, each with their own variations of course, but similar in concept and it works there, providing DAS like access to most disabled guests. A good lawyer will also bring up the very suspicious timing of the lightning lane changes with the changes to the DAS program.

I am not saying what way things will go, I am simply saying a decent lawyer will bring up these points and they would be valid challenges to Disney's so called data showing the impact to operations.

People don’t have to give details at every ride, just ask about accommodations id they need to leave the line or can’t wait in the line

As for you second part about people who pay for LLs, Disney shouldn’t have to forego income in order to give DAS to everyone who wants it. They are a for-profit business after all.

Not to mention, if Disney got rid of paid LLs tomorrow, and gave out the DAS like they did before, i.e,, anyone who asked for it, they LLs would be too long for many people who need it to even use it.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Can we PLEASE stop pretending that a place like Dollywood or Silver Dollar City, which, while I’m sure are lovely, have anything to do with crowds at Disney? I took 2 seconds to google crowds at Dollywood and on the busiest crowd day that I could find here (https://queue-times.com/en-US/parks/55/calendar) - July 3rd at 86% capacity (“packed”) only had 4 rides with average wait times over 40 minutes, all of which seem to be water rides. Silver Dollar City on a 90% day was similar (https://queue-times.com/en-US/parks/10/calendar/2025/07/01).

I’d also note that Disney has been considered “quiet” for most of the summer. Is it hot? Absolutely. But average wait times have come down there a lot as well, which should help to mitigate a lot of the NEED (as opposed to “need”) for DAS.

 

[Evita_W]

People don’t have to give details at every ride, just ask about accommodations id they need to leave the line or can’t wait in the line

As for you second part about people who pay for LLs, Disney shouldn’t have to forego income in order to give DAS to everyone who wants it. They are a for-profit business after all.

Not to mention, if Disney got rid of paid LLs tomorrow, and gave out the DAS like they did before, i.e,, anyone who asked for it, they LLs would be too long for many people who need it to even use it.

Actually, based on DH's experience, the CMs end up asking a lot of details, including asking for medical information and it becomes very tiring and time consuming. No, they shouldn't be doing that, but the reality is that they do.

Why should those who need accommodation have to pay extra money just to be properly accommodated and that is precisely what is happening now.

And history has proven that if they eliminate Lightning Lanes and went back to the old DAS system, the system would not be overwhelmed, sorry, but actual real experience taught us that.

 

[Evita_W]

Can we PLEASE stop pretending that a place like Dollywood or Silver Dollar City, which, while I’m sure are lovely, have anything to do with crowds at Disney? I took 2 seconds to google crowds at Dollywood and on the busiest crowd day that I could find here (https://queue-times.com/en-US/parks/55/calendar) - July 3rd at 86% capacity (“packed”) only had 4 rides with average wait times over 40 minutes, all of which seem to be water rides. Silver Dollar City on a 90% day was similar (https://queue-times.com/en-US/parks/10/calendar/2025/07/01).

I’d also note that Disney has been considered “quiet” for most of the summer. Is it hot? Absolutely. But average wait times have come down there a lot as well, which should help to mitigate a lot of the NEED (as opposed to “need”) for DAS.

Which is precisely why I also mentioned Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks, who have much longer wait times, but the reality is that Dollywood and Silver Dollar City actually have a lot of people go through, but also have very efficient operations. Basically they have designed and managed their parks to ensure lower wait times through various means, including have tons of entertainment, which Disney has not done as of late, in fact if anything, Disney is doing things to increase wait times.

And remember, it isn't always about the actual time spent waiting, sometimes it is as much about queue design as it is the wait time. For example, there can be too many switchbacks for someone to handle in the standard queue, but not in the Lightning Lane queue or a queue could be designed to be very loud, like Indiana Jones at DLR, by using the alternate entrance you can bypass a significant chunk of that queue, which can be helpful even if the wait time is low. People always assume the DAS is just about the amount of time in line, but it really isn't, there is a lot more that goes into it. Now, here is where it gets tricky, those that go frequently enough can know what to ask for in order to be accommodated; however, let's say it's the first trip for someone with issues that would be aggravated by these situations, they would have absolutely no clue, get overwhelmed and could end up leaving the park in tears after a single attraction and yes, DH has seen that happen, so please understand this is much more than just wait times.

 

[mistysue]

Actually, based on DH's experience, the CMs end up asking a lot of details, including asking for medical information and it becomes very tiring and time consuming. No, they shouldn't be doing that, but the reality is that they do.

Why should those who need accommodation have to pay extra money just to be properly accommodated and that is precisely what is happening now.

And history has proven that if they eliminate Lightning Lanes and went back to the old DAS system, the system would not be overwhelmed, sorry, but actual real experience taught us that.

I don't believe history would prove that at all. History of how the DAS overwhelmed the system was the entire problem in the first place. Too many people are disabled for every person needing any accommodation at any given time to get a DAS. And it's getting worse, as people are now getting diagnosed where in years past everyone was ashamed to admit problems. As it is, MOST people in the parks at any moment are part of a group where someone has a legitimate reason to get some level of accommodation by standards that have been used in recent years. Many won't ask for it unless things get bad- a reality which we've already lived through a couple years ago when standby lines were constantly grinding to a standstill.