NEWS: Disney Shareholders Set To Vote on Changes to Disability Access Service

In May 2024, Disney World made changes to its Disability Access Service Pass (DAS), including limiting it to “guests who, due to developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.” This sparked controversy within the community, as guests with physical disabilities who were previously included in the pass were now excluded with the changes.

The Walt Disney Company is now planning on including a proposal for the Disability Access Service Pass in the 2026 proxy after withdrawing the exclusion request previously made. A shareholder vote will be used to address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance concerns and mounting operational risks.

The proposal was submitted by a shareholder to call for an independent review of the Disability Access Service Pass changes and the board-level oversight of related risks. This proposal does not mandate specific operational changes or reinstatement of prior policies, but instead asks Disney to retain an independent expert to review the impacts of the DAS changes and to ensure board-level oversight of disability access risks and provide transparency on the subject.

The Disability Access Service Pass requires guests to pre-register virtually, and if they are approved, guests have access to DAS on their My Disney Experience app. From there, they can book attractions and wait for them virtually without having to stay inside the physical queue. Guests wait the same amount of time, but virtually, and then are able to return to the queue using the Lightning Lane entrance.

There is currently a pending class-action lawsuit that alleges discriminatory exclusion under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Make sure you keep following AllEars for more information on what you need to know before your next Disney World vacation.

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