topic Re: Disney Lawsuit in Community Chat

Disney Lawsuit

JJsMom — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:14:28 GMT

What do you think of this? I am not sure how Disney is violating the ADA when they are issuing Disability Access Service Cards (see bolded paragraph below).

Lawsuit: Disney parks don't do enough for autistic kids

ANAHEIM – How do you let visitors with autism, who sometimes have great trouble waiting in line for theme park attractions, go to the front while thwarting other guests who cheat?

Disney said it tried to solve the issue in October with a new policy, igniting furor from some quarters.

Last week, 16 families with autistic children filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, which includes Anaheim’s Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, saying the new policy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The suit, which was filed in Los Angeles, seeks an unspecified amount of money and a policy reversal. It says the current policy has become too narrow and doesn’t even allow individualized exceptions for some guests, based on the severity of their disabilities.

Disney officials dispute that take, saying other disabled guests have said that they can work with the new policy.

Other Southern California theme parks have similar policies.

Previously, Disney guests with disabilities and their groups would get a pass allowing them to skip the line on most rides. But at least some people apparently cheated, hiring disabled tour guides or using Disney cards that had been given to someone else – an issue highlighted by NBC-TV’s “Today” show.

The new system, which Disney says is meant to stop such abuses, gives guests a Disability Access Service Card, with a photo ID. It works somewhat similar to the park’s FastPass system: Guests get assigned times and can come back for the ride, bypassing the traditional queue.

Disabled visitors, and up to five guests, can get one special pass with a specific time to board, as well as the regular FastPass tickets at the same time.

“It does (violate the law), because the new system doesn’t provide an individualized assessment,” said Eugene Feldman, one of two lawyers representing the plaintiffs, who are not named in the lawsuit to protect the children’s privacy.

Disney officials say they do assist visitors, depending on their specific needs.

“Our Disability Access Service is designed for guests who, due to certain disabilities, cannot tolerate extended wait times at attractions,” Disney said in a statement. “In circumstances where the service might not meet guests’ needs, we work individually with guests to ensure we are able to accommodate them.”

“Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests,” the Disney statement said. “We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit.”

When the policy change prompted discussion on unofficial Disney blogs, many disabled guests, and especially parents of autistic children, complained and started petitions to dismantle the rules.

Disney officials reached out to the Autism Society of America after the complaints began, said Scott Badesch, the society’s president and chief executive. Some members were chosen at random to go to Disney parks to give feedback without knowing how their reports were being used. He said Disney was open to input.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disney-608785-guests-policy.html

Re: Disney Lawsuit

esmerelda — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:20:29 GMT

A crock. More evidence of the entitled society. I didn't even read it. Someone saying someone else didn't do enough for them is all I needed to read.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

Cakers1 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:20:41 GMT

I think Disney is doing all it can possibly do to assist all with disabilities.

They are reaching out and trying to resolve the wait time issue as best as they can.

And yes, I've been there with a disabled person and have no complaints.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

Puzzle Piece — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:28:03 GMT

I think it's a Nuisance suit.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

bathina — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:29:30 GMT

Not sure how much different the new disability access card is when compared to the prior policy. The new card has the picture of the disabled person to stop folks from fraudulently cutting the line. I don't understand the big deal.

Sounds like something that will be thrown out of court.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

MomOf4 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:36:31 GMT

Nobody works harder than Disneyland to accomodate everyone, able bodied and disabled. There are always people who will look for someone to sue that has deep pockets.

I think this particular lawsuit should be thrown out.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

scotttie — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:40:14 GMT

I am so tired of lawsuits.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

reese2 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:45:02 GMT

I think it's ridiculous. What more can they do?

Re: Disney Lawsuit

straykatz — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:45:36 GMT

The photo ID is not an unrealistic requirement by Disney...afterall it does cut down on the fraudulent use giving more access to those truly disabled.

I too feel this is a nuisiance suit.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

Love my grandkids — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:47:23 GMT

I TOTALY agree with every single one of the previous posts! It's a crock of bee ess.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

Irshgrl31201 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:52:15 GMT

When my daughter was 14 in around 2003 she broke her tib fib about 2 months before our planned vacation to Disney.

We went ahead with our vacation even though she would switch off between crutches and a wheelchair. She wasn't supposed to put even an ounce of weight on it as she had titanium rods in the center or her bone until it healed. It never occurred to me to call ahead and make special arrangements, we just decided to go and go around the park until she got tired and do what we could. On our very first ride a Disney employee game to get us and put us in front of the queue and gave her a special band I think for every ride we went on after that. I don't think I ever have been treated so well and so caring by any other place I have gone to. They really catered to my daughter and while it was absolutely wonderful I thought to myself, I wonder how many people scam them every year by bringing someone with a handicap and taking advantage of this wonderful program they have . A couple of years ago I read what a problem they have with that. It is a real shame that people ruin it for so many others.

That being said, I think Disney has done everything right and I think this case will be thrown out. Life is never a perfectly level playing field but I think Disney has done everything in their power they can to ensure that every child will be able to enjoy their visit. A parent cannot expect a business to do everything for their child that they would in their own home.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

betty423 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:10:51 GMT

We used the alternate access card in the past for our special needs child. It allowed us to skip the long line and go onto the fast pass line. Because Disney was so accommodating, we chose to vacation there frequently. With the new policy, rather than moving at your own pace with the alternate access card, you are assigned one attraction an hour, using the fast pass line. My guess is that some parents don't like the wait between rides as it may be too long a stretch of downtime for their autistic children. We are concerned about that as well. However, we are going off season and taking the kids out of school in the hope that the lower attendance combined with the new disability pass will help us do more than a ride an hour. If not, it may be our last trip. We will see.

It will be interesting to see how this law suit goes.

Betty

Re: Disney Lawsuit

DoneTryin — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:18:05 GMT

Now I understand why there are so many lawyers in this country.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

stilltamn8r — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:19:48 GMT

It IS hard for some autistic children to wait in lines- heck it is hard for lots of adults and non autistic children to wait in lines-

I have been going to Disneyland since 1960, and always waited in lines, many times in blazing sun..That is what you do at Disney- Now that I have an autistic grandson, the question is, I guess, "will he get to have the Disney experience that we all had?"...

Probably not..which is sad.. but, that is the way it is...

Re: Disney Lawsuit

maryebrown_1 — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:20:55 GMT

This lawsuit is totally frivolous! I've been to WDW several times and the staff there bend over backwards to do their best for all visitors! I hope the Judge dismisses the suit and sanctions the Plaintiff's attorneys for filing this bunk.........

Re: Disney Lawsuit

MickD — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:26:40 GMT

Frivolous and a waste of time. I think Disney does a fantastic job in accomodating all people including those with disabilities.

Re: Disney Lawsuit

betty423 — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 02:09:47 GMT

One thing that ran through my head when I read the article is that these people must be very confident to sue a power house such as Disney. It will be interesting to see if this goes anywhere.

Betty