Disney has had a lawsuit filed against them over the new Disability Access Service (DAS) that was put in place in Oct. of 2013. The lawsuit states that the policy put in place actually discourages guests with disabilities from visiting the theme parks in Anaheim and Orlando.
Disney has denied those claims.
A number of complaints have been filed by guests over the new system that took away the old Guest Assistance Card (GAC) system and replaced it with a FASTPass-like system.
The suit was filed last week in U.S. District Court for Central District of California, and it alleges that the DAS policy was put in place to discourage guests with disabilities.
This new DAS policy was put in place due to the abuse that the old GAC system was getting. Some people were literally hiring people with disabilities to go with them to the parks, get one of the GAC cards, and use it to get to the front of lines for attractions.
The suit details the new DAS policy and says that guests receive a card that will have a photograph on it and head to different attractions for a “scheduled return time.” Even then, the suit says that guests with disabilities are not guaranteed to get on the attractions immediately.
In the lawsuit, it is suggested that Disney possibly put the new DAS policy in place to discourage families of autistic children from visiting the parks due to the fact that they may disrupt the “magical Disney experience enjoyed by Disney’s nondisabled guests.”
Disney has released a statement regarding the claims in the DAS lawsuit:
“Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests.”
The company said it complies fully with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act.
SMHH!!!! Disney certainly could have devised a better POLICY for their DISABLED GUEST!! Why don’t you DISNEY Have a diverse team of disabled people on your payroll along with your people and allow THEM to come up with a POLICY?? Hey Disney I’m also waiting to see if your ever gonna come up with a Disabled Prince and Princess?? What are you waiting for?? ijs
Just to let you know, Disney actually worked hand-in-hand with numerous autistic awareness groups to devise the new DAS system.
Disney DOES have a team of disabled people assessing the program. My family is one of those (and not being paid to do so). Two of my family members are suffering from severe cerebral palsy and are wheel chair bound. Disney has asked for feedback from them and although some of the currently adjusted “new” program is not working out, the kinks are being addressed. Everyone needs to remember that this issue and now major inconveniences are due to some awful people blatantly taking advantage of a program Disney offered to help make families with disabilities feel more comfortable in the parks.