A mobile billboard displaying messages from disabled individuals negatively affected by recent changes to Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) will circle Disneyland Resort and D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this weekend.

Mobile Billboard Protests Disney’s Disability Access Changes

The DAS Defenders, a group of disability advocates formed in response to Disney’s DAS updates, reached their fundraising goal for the mobile billboard last month. Their goal is to put their message directly in front of fellow Disney fans and executives attending the D23 event.

The mobile billboard will travel around Anaheim on Friday, August 9, and Saturday, August 10. It will pass the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center where D23 takes place, as well as Disneyland Resort.

In a press release, DAS Defenders stated the “billboard campaign highlights the negative impact recent changes to DAS have had on disabled guests and their families.”

The campaign asserts that the new policy contradicts Disney’s “key” values of safety and inclusion, and advocates for a return to inclusivity. It aims to remind Disney that its magic should be accessible to all. The new DAS policy, focusing narrowly on developmental disabilities, excludes many who relied on DAS to safely visit Disney parks. The previous policy accommodated guests who had difficulty tolerating extended waits in conventional queue environments due to various disabilities. Now, cancer patients, many people with autism, veterans with PTSD, and individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Guillain Barre, seizure conditions, rare diseases, and more, are left out. 

The billboard features “Wish We Were Here” postcard designs by artist Ad Michaeli (ArtByElldor on social media). Messages from the disabled community include:

• “I almost died for my country; I can’t risk dying for a theme park. Have fun for both of us. Stacy, Proud Vet” 
• “I felt unwelcome in the parks with my walker. I left in tears and haven’t been back. Love, Becca”     
• “Why do theme parks think I’m a burden? Love, Riley”
• “Hi Grandma! Wish I could make memories with you, but I’m not safe in long lines. Love, Your Grandson”

The DAS changes went into effect at Walt Disney World in May and Disneyland Resort in June. The update restricts the service to guests who “due to a developmental disability like autism or similar disorder, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.” Many guests with autism have reported being denied. Guests with other disabilities have been told to purchase Genie + / Lightning Lane or practice waiting in line at home.

In addition to excluding many disabilities, the policy seems to introduce untenable solutions for disabled individuals. When applying for DAS, guests that were denied have been instructed by DAS team members to leave tightly packed queues and work through the crowd to return to their place in line, once their “issue” has resolved. Issues that may include fainting or Crohn’s flairs.   

Other recommendations from DAS team members include a new variation of rider switch that separates children or disabled adults from caregivers for extended periods while part of the party waits in line and the disabled guest attempts to join later. Guests have also reported insensitive or unsafe suggestions from DAS team members such as renting an ECV for low vision, “planning their day better,” or leaving the line to have a seizure. The group also opposes the requirement to purchase non-refundable tickets or annual passes before applying for DAS. The pre-purchase of non refundable park admission, hours-long waits to apply for DAS, intrusive and lengthy video chats, and a confusing application process add to the stress of changes for guests.

Annual Passholder Angie Porter, who has multiple physical and neurodivergent disabilities, said, “I was actually on the video call for over three hours, in the park. I was passed from cast member to ‘medical professional’ to coordinator and back around again, just to be denied. What a colossal waste of time and extremely draining. And I was a loyal Disney fan.”

“Disney makes movies that highlight disabled characters and yet many of those characters would not even qualify for usable accommodations in the parks,” said Shannon Bonadurer, a long-time Disney fan and disability advocate. “These decisions just aren’t lining up with who they say they are.”

Disabled characters that the DAS Defenders have previously cited include Nemo, Dory, Bo Peep, Mama Coco, and Mama Odie.

The DAS Defenders Facebook group has over 11,600 members. Their online petition, which will be featured on the billboard, has over 29,000 signatures. Sign the petition at change.org/disabledaccess.

Below is a video of what will play on the mobile billboard.   

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