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Disney petitions to stop 30 autism lawsuits

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ASPartOfMe
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13 Oct 2018, 2:25 am

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/disney-petitions-to-stop-autism-lawsuits-from-going-to-court

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The Walt Disney Company has filed a petition to stop trials for 30 lawsuits filed on behalf of parkgoers with severe autism from going to court. The plaintiffs claim that the iconic theme parks’ system of “appointment times” for those with disabilities fails to sufficiently accommodate their needs and often leads to upsetting “meltdowns,” though Disney claims that every factor that could trigger a “meltdown” are beyond their control.

Back in August, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts was smacked with the lawsuits, which resulted in a 65-page ruling after courts reviewed the 30 consolidated cases involving Disney parks in Florida and California.

The proceedings allege that parkgoers with autism have suffered “meltdowns” or their routines were disrupted while waiting for rides, and that Disney’s current “appointment time” program for those with disabilities fails to accommodate their needs.

As per current policy, Disney allows visitors with disabilities to get a special card giving them an “appointment time” to get on a ride with little to no wait. The card allows them to get unlimited “appointment times” throughout the day and allows them to get on rides immediately if the wait is less than 15 minutes, Fox News reported at the time.

To impose such a standard on Disney and — inevitably — the many other places customers have to wait — sports arenas, restaurants, grocery stores, malls, doctors’ offices, movie theatres, and other theme parks — is thus not only untenable but also incompatible with the way places of public accommodation have operated for decades,” Disney said.

Legal representation for the iconic theme park further argues that the court’s initial ruling “assumes that Disney somehow has the ability, let alone legal obligation, to prevent meltdowns with instant and unrestricted ride entry,” Disney said in court documents.


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SocOfAutism
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13 Oct 2018, 8:24 am

Interesting. I wonder how it’ll turn out.

I have never been to Disneyworld. I’ve never seen the point. It seems like it would be crowded and a lot of walking.

What do Disney veterans think? Is there a way to make it more tolerable for autistics?



LoveNotHate
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13 Oct 2018, 1:12 pm

I found this from 2013 ...

Disney phased out a previous program in 2013 that allowed people with disabilities to go to the front of the line. The program received national headlines from wealthy visitors who abused the system by hiring guests with disabilities to skip lines.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/busines ... story.html

Disney World vows action after report of wealthy hiring disabled to skip lines
https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/us/disne ... index.html

Young Turks rallying against the Evil 1%ers doing this

Apparently, disabled people could make $130/hr doing this.


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EzraS
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14 Oct 2018, 4:02 am

SocOfAutism wrote:
Interesting. I wonder how it’ll turn out.

I have never been to Disneyworld. I’ve never seen the point. It seems like it would be crowded and a lot of walking.

What do Disney veterans think? Is there a way to make it more tolerable for autistics?


Shades and earphones for me. Plus because of my other disability they put me in a wheelchair for such places, so I manage not to be too affected.



RetroGamer87
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14 Oct 2018, 11:58 pm

Why all the fuss over the Tackiest Place on Earth?


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Chronos
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15 Oct 2018, 1:36 am

Sometimes everyone has to wait. What Disney can do though would be to have a designated waiting room where those with disabilities can wait comfortably. However some parents are just going to have to face the fact that amusement parks are not always the best place for someone on the spectrum.



EzraS
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15 Oct 2018, 1:46 am

Agreed. I'm not going to insist on being in a place I can't tolerate. It's always been up to me and my folks to make accommodations for me beyond what the amusement park has already provided, which in my opinion is plenty already.



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02 Dec 2018, 12:35 pm

LoveNotHate wrote:
I found this from 2013 ...

Disney phased out a previous program in 2013 that allowed people with disabilities to go to the front of the line. The program received national headlines from wealthy visitors who abused the system by hiring guests with disabilities to skip lines.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/busines ... story.html

Disney World vows action after report of wealthy hiring disabled to skip lines
https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/us/disne ... index.html

Young Turks rallying against the Evil 1%ers doing this

Apparently, disabled people could make $130/hr doing this.


Holy crap, I am no good at amusement parks (Meltdowns, prone to getting lost), but I'd honestly totally do that for 130$ an hour.


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02 Dec 2018, 7:58 pm

I live in Florida. I have been obliged to go to Disney World twice by family who I was willing to accommodate because of their interest. It is a terrible place for anyone, not just auties. I don't know why anyone would want to go there. When you enter, you first have to walk down a "street" filled with "old-timey shoppes" that sell all kinds of disney junk at exorbitant prices. The lines are too long for every ride, every where. You are a hostage to food stalls where the cheapest drink is $5. It is a cesspool of commercialism.

Don't ask me what I really think about it. :mrgreen:

If I had an autie child I would no more bring him/her to Disney than I would push them in front of a car.


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