A brand new shareholder proposal made on behalf of DAS Defenders is looking on the corporate to fee an unbiased and public evaluate of its Incapacity Entry Service coverage modifications. The group contends that restrictions to this system have contributed to decrease theme park attendance at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This covers the shareholder proposal, alongside a recap of DAS modifications this 12 months, and our commentary.
As fast background, Disney overhauled DAS at Walt Disney World final Might. In response to the corporate, the modifications have been due largely to abuse, misuse, and proliferation of this system’s use–with issuances of DAS tripling from 2019 to final 12 months. For extra in regards to the specifics of the overhauled DAS, see Incapacity Entry Service (DAS) Adjustments at Walt Disney World FAQ.
The brand new system has now been in place for effectively over a 12 months, and there have been direct impacts for disabled friends in addition to oblique ones for all friends. To the latter level, we’ve written lots in regards to the affect of the DAS modifications on wait instances at Walt Disney World. Most just lately, in Is Lightning Lane Multi Cross Nonetheless “Price It” at Disney World? Suffice to say, standby traces are shorter and quicker transferring, with wait instances being decrease year-over-year on account of the DAS crackdown.
We’ve additionally coated the studies from readers and different friends making use of for lodging at Walt Disney World, lots of whom have had unfavorable experiences with the brand new course of. We proceed to obtain common reader feedback to this impact, which comes as no shock given there are likewise viral social media posts about DAS, none of that are constructive.
Suffice to say, even over 18 months later, the DAS overhaul stays controversial. It’s additionally a delicate topic that’s private because it’s make or break for some friends making an attempt to expertise Walt Disney World. There have been studies of friends who beforehand had DAS being denied and suggested to make use of various lodging, a few of that are new–or are revised and highlighted extra prominently.
The most recent growth isn’t simply the shareholder proposal made on behalf of the DAS Defenders, but additionally the traction it’s beginning to acquire with the mainstream media. With background out of the way in which, right here’s the total textual content of the shareholder proposal:
Shareholder Proposal Supporting Assertion
Disney’s model and monetary stability are below pressure from underperforming movies, rising park prices, client boycotts, and waning belief. On the February 2025 quarterly name, Disney reported that the Parks and Experiences division skilled “decrease volumes” tied to attendance (Newsweek, 2025).
A major contributor is the corporate’s current overhaul of incapacity lodging at its parks. The modifications have prompted unfavorable press protection, social media critique, a pending class-action lawsuit, and studies of consumers canceling holidays and passes. Mishandling incapacity entry dangers eroding visitor loyalty, client spending, and finally shareholder confidence.
The disabled group is among the fastest-growing world demographics. In the USA, 1.2 million extra folks reported figuring out as disabled in 2021 in comparison with prior years, with numbers projected to rise additional (Burgess-Lefebvre, 2024).
A survey introduced on the 2024 Worldwide Affiliation of Amusement Parks and Sights Conference discovered that over 85 % of disabled Disney friends reported being unlikely or refusing to return to Disney Parks as a result of Incapacity Entry Service (DAS) modifications (Burgess-Lefebvre, 2024).
Whatever the consequence of the present class-action lawsuit, Disney stays uncovered to further authorized claims, regulatory scrutiny, and model harm. Different firms have confronted multimillion-dollar settlements below accessibility-related actions.
Future liabilities might embrace expensive settlements, operational disruption, and weakened market positioning. Current firm selections are usually not solely straining Disney’s backside line, they’re exposing the model to escalating client backlash, together with boycotts.
With world tourism to the USA in decline, competitors for worldwide vacationers has intensified. Disney’s repute for accessibility has been a differentiator in attracting guests who plan journeys centered on dependable lodging. Erosion of that repute reduces competitiveness in a tightening market.
Commissioning an unbiased evaluate of accessibility requirements throughout all Disney operations would show management, validate greatest practices, and spotlight areas to handle gaps and mitigate danger. Clear analysis assures shareholders that Disney is actively managing compliance, competitors, and fiduciary duty—defending the “magic” that sustains its model.
Shareholder Decision
Shareholders request that Disney fee an unbiased evaluate, performed by a professional third social gathering, of the corporate’s accessibility and incapacity inclusion practices.
This evaluate ought to assess authorized, monetary, and reputational dangers; consider Disney’s insurance policies towards worldwide accessibility requirements and opponents; and establish alternatives for management enchancment.
Shareholders additional request that the Board present a public abstract and inside briefing on the findings to make sure accountability and transparency.
Disney Intends to Exclude Shareholder Proposal
In a response letter, the Walt Disney Firm wrote that it intends to exclude from its proxy supplies for its 2026 annual assembly of shareholders, the aforementioned shareholder proposal.
Disney additional requested that SEC advise the corporate that it might not advocate any enforcement motion if it excludes the proposal, on the idea that the shareholder proposal is materially false and deceptive in violation of Rule 14a-9, (ii) Rule 14a-8(i)(7) of the Alternate Act on the idea that the shareholder proposal pertains to the Firm’s strange enterprise operations, or (iii) Rule 14a-8(i)(10) of the Alternate Act on the idea that the Firm has considerably applied the Proposal.
Disney additionally argues that the proposal is materially false and deceptive in violation of Rule 14a-9. We’re not going to recap the total response, because it accommodates numerous legalese and redundancies, however in a nutshell, Disney argues that any attendance lower was attributable to hurricanes. Furthermore, park operations are strange enterprise and never topic to shareholder micromanagement; that they’ve already executed their due diligence on this, and there’s no responsibility to reveal any nonpublic data.
You possibly can learn Disney’s full response (which contains the unique proposal) right here.
DAS Adjustments in 2025
There have been 4 modifications to Incapacity Entry Service this 12 months. The latest of those was that Walt Disney World Added New Guidelines for DAS Name Eligibility.
Specifically, that the visitor for whom DAS is being requested have to be current through the video chat. Moreover, that the recording of this video chat is strictly prohibited. There have been different tweaks, however nothing significantly consequential.
Previous to that, each Walt Disney World and Disneyland prolonged the validity interval for Incapacity Entry Service upon a visitor being accepted into this system to at least one 12 months or the size of the ticket (whichever is shorter). Previous to this as much as 365 day window, DAS was legitimate for as much as 240 days earlier than re-registration.
That made DAS extra handy for Annual Passholders and different regulars, whereas additionally including a layer of predictability. It got here proper as the primary wave of DAS Annual Passholders would’ve been up for renewal, so it additionally eased the burden on Disney’s processing of requests.
One other main change was the extension of the DAS registration window to 60 days previous to their park go to, which additionally occurred on each coasts. Beforehand, the method might start no before 30 days previous to your go to. That occurred again in early February.
That extension was aimed toward making it simpler for friends to plan round DAS and probably cancel or modify their holidays if they don’t obtain DAS as an lodging.
Going from 30 to 60 days resulted in a negligible improve in DAS purposes, but it surely doesn’t materially change the equation on approvals. It was all about decreasing friction for friends who apply and are denied DAS, because it put the earlier-applicants exterior of the penalty-free cancellation interval.
Disney additionally revised its coverage language to take away “solely” from the Incapacity Entry Service eligibility standards to probably broaden the qualifying friends.
As we identified on the time, that probably concerned involvement from a military of attorneys, and even then, its motivations and outcomes are open to interpretation and debate. My greatest guess is that Disney desires to melt the perceived limitations within the coverage amongst potential candidates.
To make it seem much less harsh or stringent, to encourage friends apart from these with developmental disabilities to use for DAS. It might be a method of unofficially increasing the scope of eligibility with out making any substantive modifications to the coverage or overhauling this system but once more.
Whereas we’ll by no means know for certain what prompted the “solely” change or what end result it’ll have on the ratio of approvals to denials, our view is that it’s pretty consequential within the amount of DAS issued regardless of being solely a single phrase.
The motivation for the “solely” change may’ve been the Incapacity Entry Service Class Motion Lawsuit Filed In opposition to Disney Parks. The criticism depends closely on the presence of “solely” in Disney’s earlier DAS coverage, and a requirement letter from final December that preceded the lawsuit.
I might additionally add that there all the earlier modifications in 2025 got here proper across the time of that lawsuit. In any other case, Walt Disney World has been fairly quiet as to the Incapacity Entry Service program. Every time DAS does make headlines, the corporate provides a superficial assertion about their dedication to offering an incredible visitor expertise to all, and their robust observe document with accommodating disabled friends. There’s been little or no past that–every part else has been quiet coverage tweaks on the official web sites.
Our Commentary
From our perspective, the large ‘story’ stays the non-news and lack of fabric modifications during the last 7+ months. Between DAS now being over a 12 months outdated and the shortage of significant modifications since its anniversary, it might appear Disney has settled into a cushty coverage place with this system.
The information cycle has largely moved on, which isn’t to say that there isn’t nonetheless outrage or heartbroken friends, however that they’re not garnering as a lot consideration or unfavorable protection. The most recent AP headline about modifications to DAS at Walt Disney World and Disneyland may change that, however our guess is that it’ll not. Extra probably, it’ll deliver consciousness of the modifications to a brand new, extra informal viewers.
As for the shareholder proposal, it’s an attention-grabbing angle to get the DAS modifications again into the newscycle and attain a brand new extra mainstream viewers. However actually, I can’t see it going anyplace past that.
Even assuming, arguendo, that the shareholder proposal is included in proxy supplies (versus being excluded)…there’s no method it’s being authorised. Anybody who has listened to the annual conferences is aware of that there are numerous politically-charged and area of interest causes introduced.
All of them are summarily shot down with out a lot in the way in which of additional dialogue. There’s completely no cause to consider the destiny of this one could be any completely different. Whereas we strongly consider Disney ought to do a greater job at discovering a center floor, it’s arduous to see this as one thing with which shareholders–particularly massive institutional ones with essentially the most sway in votes–would concern themselves.
As we’ve coated in earnings name studies and crowds protection, attendance was down year-over-year (by about 1%), however that was largely attributable to hurricanes ($120 million disclosed losses). In the meantime, the parks proceed to set income information and resort occupancy continues to rise. Proper or improper, that’s what issues to shareholders–this proposal could be DOA even when it weren’t excluded.
With that mentioned, we as soon as once more reiterate our place that Disney ought to discover a center floor and make the method extra humanizing. If something, they need to do that exactly as a result of DAS modifications don’t garner the identical type of consideration, so reform might be achieved with out inducing as a lot abuse.
The corporate has an exemplary repute for visitor service and lodging. The necessity for DAS reform was completely comprehensible, as there was rampant abuse exacerbated by social media, entitlement, and Disney creating an incentive for DAS scammers by monetizing line-skipping through Lightning Lanes.
There’s no un-ringing that bell and going again to Nineteen Nineties or 2000s variations of lodging. The world is a unique place. Disney can not chill out its guidelines an excessive amount of, or else danger a return to the system being scammed.
Nevertheless, there have been heartbreaking tales of DAS denials, lots of which have gone viral for good cause. These have made clear {that a} extra versatile and humane strategy providing larger discretion to Forged Members is perfect.
This strongly instructed that Disney went too far with the DAS overhaul; the pendulum swung from one excessive to a different, and there was numerous collateral harm amongst disabled friends who wanted DAS and have been denied below the overly-stringent system.
Cranking the DAS dial to its most setting hasn’t simply eradicated the scammers, it has harm friends who’re truly disabled. It’s time to recalibrate from the extremes to the middle.
Finally, we don’t anticipate any main modifications to DAS at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Nor will we view there being any chance of success with the shareholder proposal. There may be not going to be one other overhaul to Incapacity Entry Service, absent the aforementioned class motion lawsuit or different litigation prevailing.
That taking place is extremely uncertain–Disney has been sued over each single iteration of those lodging, and I’ve but to seek out any document of them shedding on any rely. I can’t see something completely different about this lawsuit; if something, Disney may have the ability to higher argue that traces and crowds are inherent to the theme park expertise.
The corporate has already endured a prolonged PR hit over these modifications, there’s zero likelihood they’ll voluntarily endure that once more with one other overhaul. What, if something, does occur might be a gradual trickle of rule relaxations. However with no main modifications within the final 5 months, even that’s now trying more and more unlikely.
The obvious change we’d wish to see is a “humanizing” of the interview, not simply expanded guidelines and insurance policies for the mechanics of that course of. We’ve heard from many readers who’ve been denied, and there’s a phrase that has been used repeatedly to explain the method: interrogation.
Whereas we are able to admire how worrying this course of is for Forged Members and the verbal abuse they take for disgruntled friends, there’s a greater method of dealing with the method that feels much less adversarial. Even when the letter of the DAS insurance policies isn’t going to alter, the corporate nonetheless ought to stay as much as its repute by discovering a gentler method to deal with the method.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study accommodations on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part you might want to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Ideas on the shareholder proposal for an unbiased evaluate of DAS modifications at Walt Disney World and Disneyland? Hopeful that additional modifications might be made that lead to elevated approvals for many who actually want DAS whereas maintaining abuse low? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of the modifications or coverage as a complete? Please attempt to keep on matter–we’ve seen a few of these DAS feedback sections get heated and private. Focus on the coverage itself, not others’ use (or lack thereof) of it.
