das defenders News - WDW News Today

DAS Defenders Sponsors Florida’s First Historical Marker for Disability Rights Advocate

August 1, 2025

A person stands by the Beverly Chapman historical marker, holding a sign, with trees and a building in the background.

Grassroots disability justice coalition DAS Defenders, founded in response to Disney Parks changing their Disability Access Service, sponsored Florida’s first historical marker honoring a disability rights advocate. Beverly Chapman Historical Marker The marker is dedicated to Beverly Chapman, “a visionary leader whose work reshaped access, inclusion, and opportunity in Florida and across the country.” It’s … Read more

BREAKING: Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Disney & Inspire Health Over Changes to Theme Park Disability Access Service

February 23, 2025February 10, 2025

A statue of a man and a mouse in front of a castle at a theme park. The man is waving and the mouse stands beside him.

Following many months of controversy, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Inspire Health Alliance in the state of California over changes that were made to the Disability Access Service (DAS) at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort. DAS Class Action Lawsuit The class action suit … Read more

Universal Has Dialed Back Their Disability Access Policies, Will Disney Follow?

September 25, 2024

A tall, ornate castle with blue spires and clock on the main tower set against a blue sky.

With Universal’s recent decision to stop requiring disabled guests to apply for an IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC), we must wonder if Disney will also change their controversial disability access policies. Universal Stops Accessibility Card Requirement We learned this week that Universal Orlando Resort no longer requires the IAC to receive accommodations at the parks. They … Read more

Disability Advocates Take Over Mobile Billboard Near D23 and Disneyland in Protest of DAS Changes

August 8, 2024

A message reads, "I almost died for my country; I can't risk dying for a theme park. Have fun for both of us! Love, Stacy, Proud Vet." An image shows a person in uniform hugging a child. A QR code and accessibility icons are visible.

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 … Read more

DAS Defenders Reach Fundraising Goal for Billboard at D23

July 18, 2024

The DAS Defenders group of disability advocates plans to have a mobile billboard appear in Anaheim during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. The DAS Defenders, who formed in response to Disney’s controversial Disability Access Service changes, hope the billboard will spread the word about their concerns and get their message directly in front of … Read more

DAS Defenders Organizing Disability Visibility Events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World

July 15, 2024

Colorful amusement park ride with rocket-shaped vehicles in the foreground and a fairytale castle with blue turrets in the background under a clear blue sky, capturing the magic of Disneyland, where summer discounts offer an even more enchanting experience.

In the wake of changes to Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS), the DAS Defenders group is organizing disability visibility events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort this month. Disability Visibility Day with DAS Defenders at Disney Parks DAS Defenders are a group of disability advocates who started the petition “Stop excluding disabled people from … Read more

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Cast Member Costumes Revealed & More: Daily Recap (5/30/24)

May 30, 2024

A collage of four themed images: a rainbow Mickey Mouse hat, people on a water ride, a statue of a man with a mouse character, and a lightsaber hilt in sand serves as the perfect daily recap.

We spotted Cast Members wearing their Tiana’s Bayou Adventure costumes, a petition started by DAS Defenders has hit 16,000 signatures — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Thursday May 30, 2024. Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom New Merchandise Other Walt Disney World News Disneyland Resort Disney Cruise Line Entertainment and Media WDW … Read more

DAS Defenders Petition Reaches 16K Signatures as Disabled Individuals Feel Excluded From Disney Parks

May 30, 2024

Disney’s updated Disability Access Service (DAS) went into effect at Walt Disney World earlier this month and will go into effect at Disneyland Resort on June 18. Updates to DAS were ostensibly to prevent non-disabled guests from taking advantage of it after “overuse” of the service in the past few years, but disabled individuals are … Read more

Petition by Disabled People Opposes Disney’s ‘Discriminatory’ Disability Access Service Updates & More: Daily Recap (4/16/24)

April 17, 2024April 16, 2024

Disabled people speak out against Disney’s announced changes to the Disability Access Service, the U.S. Coast Guard conducts a medivac of a pregnant passenger aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, and Walt Disney World teases a new Stitch Annual Passholder magnet — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Tuesday, April 16, 2024. … Read more

Petition by Disabled People Opposes Disney’s ‘Discriminatory’ Disability Access Service Updates

April 16, 2024

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park

Disabled people are speaking out against Disney’s announced changes to the Disability Access Service (DAS) via the “DAS Defenders” coalition. DAS Defenders Reject Disability Access Service Changes The coalition, comprised of over 140 individuals from the disabled community and their supporters, wrote in a letter to Disney that they are “deeply concerned about the recent … Read more