People with disabilities who visited a Disney park were provided a pass that permitted bypassing the long lines and almost immediately accessing the ride or attraction. This program came to a swift end once abuses were spotlighted in several television news programs. People with disabilities would get their pass, then "escort" people with them to the front of the lines for a fee. The stories that garnered most attention, and anger, were those that focused on wealthy families hiring "guides" to attend the park with them--the guides were not Disney employees or "docents" but, instead, people with disabilities who would get the family to the front of the lines.
Disney ended this method of accommodating and uses their "Fast Pass" program instead. For each ride, you receive a Fast Pass that will give you a time to return to the ride or attraction and gain access. If your Fast Pass is for one hour, you return in one hour, with no to minimal waiting.
Mothers of children with autism and developmental disabilities filed a lawsuit a couple of days ago against Disney (A.L., by and through D.L., as Next Friend et al v. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts US Inc.), alleging violation of the ADA. The plaintiffs allege that Disney discriminates against people with autism (and similar disorders) by making them wait in long lines, which is impossible for them to do as a function of their disability.
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