Disneyland's Attempt to Reduce Abuse of Disability Services Led to Discrimination Against Those With Physical Disabilities, Lawsuit Claims

A new lawsuit claims Disneyland's efforts to prevent abuse of its Disability Access Service (DAS) led to discrimination against visitors with physical disabilities.

Disneyland's DAS program was initially designed to help disabled guests avoid long waits by granting return times for rides. However, increased awareness and social media exploitation led to a surge in DAS use, prompting Disneyland to tighten eligibility criteria in mid-2024, restricting access primarily to guests with developmental disabilities.

On February 10, Trisha Malone, a physically disabled woman from San Diego, filed a class action lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Inspire Health Alliance, the East Bay Times reported.

The lawsuit alleges that Disneyland's new screening process unlawfully excludes individuals with physical disabilities, violates privacy laws by soliciting sensitive medical information in public settings and coerces visitors into signing waivers before applying for DAS.

Disney has defended its updated DAS program, arguing that it fairly accommodates disabled guests. However, the lawsuit has sparked wider discussions about accessibility at Disneyland, with critics claiming the new system places undue burdens on physically disabled visitors.

Malone is seeking policy changes and at least $4,000 per violation in statutory damages.