A California resident filed a class action lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and the Resort this week. The company’s new process for requesting accommodation claims it violates the guest’s rights of privacy and equal access requirements.
Disney strengthened disability access services in all parks in April, excluding all conditions other than developmental disorders like autism, cited an unsustainable increase in program requests. The service previously allowed many disabled guests to sit outside the line during the listing wait time before bringing the quick line forward.
The lawsuit argues that the new eligibility requirement is “discriminatory and arbitrary” and excludes guests with disabilities.
Plaintiff Trisha Malone is a San Diego resident who applied for the service after the change came into effect last June. She was rejected despite providing information indicating that she could not wait on the regular line, according to the lawsuit.
Three Walt Disney World guests applied for the Disabled Access Service and were denied talking to the Tampa Bay Times in December. They said they took part in a lengthy interview while applying for a service that made them feel pressured to disclose their diagnosis. Before the changes came into effect, Orlando resident Mary Benhart said Disney employees asked a few questions before approving the family.
No lawsuits have been filed in Florida disputing this policy.
The California lawsuit alleges that Disney changes violate the state’s civil rights and medical confidentiality laws and violate federal guidelines. The lawsuit is also named by Inspire of Health Alliance LLC, a healthcare company that helps guests determine whether they qualify for disability access services.
When Malone applied for disability services, Disney employees and nurse practitioners with Inspire Health Alliance asked Malone specific questions about her personal health, and she violated California law. We requested that you provide private medical information.
Disney has a list of alternative accommodations on a website that is available to all guests. So the company reminds guests that they don’t need to explain to Parks employees why they use those accommodations.
Alternatives include having healthy members of the party lined up in line until the disabled guests reach before they can meet with other parties. In addition, some vehicles allow guests to use systems similar to fault access services. You can also request a return time and then use the quick line. However, the list of these vehicles is not published on the Disney website.
The California lawsuit alleges that the alternative accommodation “difficult to provide equitable access and instead placed additional burdens,” violating the California Business and Occupation Code.
The lawsuit may pose logistical challenges and discriminate against people struggling to communicate because of disabilities when asked to ask a disabled guest to wait outside the ride before meeting the party. They claim that coordination with sexual cast members is necessary.
On the other hand, requiring an attraction return time option often puts pressure on guests to publicly disclose their disability to Disney employees with each lawsuit. A guest who spoke with the Tampa Bay Times said he was embarrassed and worried, putting pressure on him to publicly justify the need for accommodation.
A study by Barbara Burgess Lefebvre, a researcher at the Robert Morris University theme park, found that 90% of families who used Disney’s disability access services were far more worried before and during their visit to the park. It has been revealed that they are reporting that this is the case. Thirty-five percent of the 300 people surveyed said they had mentioned the visit in full foreword.
