Disney shareholders delivered a decisive answer Wednesday on whether to investigate the company's controversial disability access program.
How the DAS Program Got Here
The controversy dates back to early 2024, when Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort significantly tightened the eligibility requirements for the Disability Access Service. Updated guidelines on both resort websites narrowed the program's scope to guests whose ability to wait in a conventional queue is affected by “a developmental disability like autism or similar.” Disney also capped approvals at one year, requiring guests to reapply after 365 days through a live video chat with a third-party medical professional.
The changes arrived after Disney replaced its free FastPass system with the paid Lightning Lane (formerly Genie+) program. This made DAS significantly more valuable to anyone who qualified, since it allows users and their party to book a return time through the app and wait elsewhere in the park before returning via the Lightning Lane. For a family of four already spending over $100 per day on Lightning Lane access on top of base ticket prices, the appeal of DAS access is obvious, and Disney argued the program had been widely abused as a result.
Critics pushed back hard on the remedy. Among the complaints: Disney allegedly advised some denied guests to practice waiting in line at home, rent mobility equipment, or re-enter a queue by rejoining family members already waiting — a solution that falls apart in a crowded theme park and excludes solo visitors entirely.
Proposal 7
Shareholder Erik Paul responded to the backlash by introducing Proposal 7, calling for a “Review and Report on Disability Inclusion and Accessibility.” The resolution asked Disney to hire a third-party investigator to examine the updated DAS policies through a legal, financial, reputational, and enterprise risk lens, and to report the findings to shareholders. It stopped short of demanding any specific policy changes.
Paul framed the stakes in his supporting statement:
“Accessibility policies influence brand trust, customer loyalty, regulatory exposure, guest safety, and repeat visitation. When policies are misaligned or inconsistently implemented, the resulting impact extends beyond guest experience to operational and reputational risk.”
Disney initially sought permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission to exclude the resolution entirely, calling it “materially false and misleading” and arguing that it “relates to the Company's ordinary business operations.” That effort was rendered moot when the SEC adopted a new policy removing the requirement for Disney to seek the agency's approval before excluding resolutions. Disney ultimately agreed to put the measure to a shareholder vote after Paul released a pointed statement:
“Disney has long told stories where the powerless rise, villains fall, and wrongs are made right. Its brand is built on magic, inclusion, and the belief that every voice deserves to be heard. Yet now, in a twist worthy of its darkest tales, the company risks becoming the villain of its own story—using newfound power to silence the very shareholders it should be listening to. Disney now faces a clear choice: live up to the values it sells to the world, or step into the role of villain silencing the disabled community.”
Shareholders Say No
At The Walt Disney Company's annual shareholders meeting on March 18 — the same gathering that officially named Josh D'Amaro as CEO — Proposal 7 was put to a vote and rejected. Roughly 5% of shareholders voted in favor of the third-party investigation, leaving the overwhelming majority aligned with the company's position that the review was unnecessary.
Disney had urged shareholders to vote against the proposal as recently as early 2025.
A class-action lawsuit filed in 2025 by a Disneyland Resort guest challenging the 2024 policy changes remains active, with legal proceedings still ongoing.
Which version of the Disability Access Service at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort did your family prefer? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments.
As a person with a disability–use a wheelchair–I thought the review by an independent third party was a good idea. When at the parks I use a scooter and if possible to ride an attraction, transfer to a wheelchair like Jungle Cruise. A lot of my favorite rides were closed off from me like Pirates of the Caribbean and Twilight of Terror after being in line up to the point of being able to get on the ride without knowing it was not accessible. The entire parks attractions need reviewed so that all can enjoy them, not just the line issue. I was part of the 5% of the shareholders voting for the resolution and would ask for a review of all the attractions not just the issue of the lines.