Disney Guests Reportedly Discriminate Against Disabled Visitor

Disney Guests sometimes can be inconsiderate of their fellow Park visitors, as this Disneyland Resort Guest shared recently.

The Disney Parks, no matter where in the world, are known to be inclusive and try to allow everyone, no matter their background, able-ness, culture, or identity to enjoy their Disney experience and get a feel of the Disney magic. In order to make this happen for differently-abled Guests, every Disney Park offers the DAS to let all Guests have as seamless an experience of a Theme Park as possible.

Related: Disney Fans Express Frustrations Over Bad Decorum At Parks

Unfortunately, while Disney makes this effort, sometimes things don’t go so well because of how other Guests treat DAS-using Guests.

u/Straight_Most6598 shared their unfortunate experience using Disneyland’s Disability Access Service  on Reddit,

I used DAS for the first time and was really nervous about navigating it. I have invisible disabilities and look completely able-bodied; however, what I experience can be absolutely debilitating and make it impossible for me to enjoy the parks with/like everyone else.

I hyped myself up then got a return time for Peter Pan and went to the exit to redeem. Literally as soon as I was about to go through the turnstile, a woman loudly started complaining about me to her party and how “I didn’t have a wheelchair” and “don’t look disabled.”

I was so upset that I started panicking and almost had a full on meltdown on the ride until my friend talked me through it. 

Related: Guest Called Out for Taking a Photo at Disney Park

Guests in the comments were very supportive of the OP and comforted them. U/MamaDragonExMo shared,

Here’s the kicker about that asshole woman’s comments. We just signed up for DAS. I have one teen who is an ambulatory wheelchair user (they have arthritis and winter is brutal on their body) and one who is high functioning autism, but has some awful sensory issues around crowds. My wheelchair user does NOT qualify for DAS, but instead mobility services. My teen with autism is our DAS pass user. My grandson is Type I diabetic and he too qualifies for DAS. It’s not about being in a wheelchair and her comment was ignorant and ableist.

I’m so sorry you had to hear her say such a stupid and ignorant remark.

Related: Advice That Disney Cast Members Wish All Guests Would Take

It’s always important to remember to treat fellow Guests with kindness and consideration, considering we don’t always know the full story behind a Guest’s need for using DAS while also doing our part to maintain the family-friendly environment of the Parks. The Walt Disney Company provides DAS services at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort as well as Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida.