Disney Changes Disability Policy

            Disney theme parks have always offered a special pass for people with disabilities to go on the attractions. People and families have said that waiting on long lines is hard for children suffering from different disabilities, so having a special pass to cut lines has always been helpful. Starting in the next month, Disney is revoking the current policy that lets these visitors skip the long lines.

            “Instead of giving visitors with disabilities and their family members a card that allows them to go directly onto rides, the guests will be given a scheduled time period to return to get faster access to the attraction.”

            Effective on October 9^th, the process will change to make a more equal opportunity to get on the rides for all park-goers.

            The main reason for this change was due to the fact that some people would hire those with disabilities to walk with them into the park and help them skip lines for the attractions.

            Already people have started to petition to have this policy changed because of the inconvenience it causes to people with disabilities waiting on lines.

            I chose this article because Disney is supposed to be the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ and you wouldn’t think that park-goers would use disabled people just to get on a ride faster. That part of the article was what really jumped out at me, how could someone not feel guilty about using a disabled person for his or her own benefit. I agree with the new policy in order to stop families from using disabled people as “tour guides”, however I don’t think that this is a fair action for those families that need the special treatment for their children. One woman had said that she booked a trip to Disneyland for her disabled son but now the new rule has changed everything for him, making the park nearly impossible.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-disney-changing-policy-for-guests-with-disabilities-20130923,0,463601.story