For millions of families, a Disney Parks vacation is not just a trip. It is a carefully planned experience that often requires months of preparation, significant financial investment, and in many cases, detailed coordination around accessibility needs.Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort have long positioned themselves as leaders in inclusive guest experiences, and for families with members who have disabilities, the parks’ accessibility programs have historically been a meaningful part of what makes a Disney vacation possible at all.The Disability Access Service, known as DAS, sits at the center of that promise. The program allows eligible guests to book return times for attractions rather than waiting in conventional standby queues, letting them experience the rest of the park in the meantime. For guests who genuinely cannot tolerate long waits due to a disability, DAS is not a perk. It is the difference between being able to visit the park at all and not. That is why the 2024 changes to DAS eligibility — which significantly narrowed who qualifies — have generated a level of sustained controversy rarely seen around a Disney policy shift. At the company’s annual shareholder meeting on March 18, 2026, new CEO Josh D’Amaro was asked directly about the program. What he said, and what shareholders voted on that same day, tells a clear story about where Disney stands right now.What Josh D’Amaro Said About DASCredit: DisneyThe question came near the end of the shareholder meeting: “Would Disney consider restructuring the Disability Access Service program to ensure it benefits everyone who needs it?”D’Amaro did not give a yes or a no. He acknowledged the weight of the issue directly, saying that “accessibility is deeply personal and for many families, our services for guests with disabilities, they make it possible to enjoy our parks together.” He added, “Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests, especially those with disabilities — it’s foundational to who we are.”On the current program, D’Amaro defended the approach that has been in place since 2024: “It reflects really extensive work that we’ve done with accessibility experts and medical professionals, all in an effort to better understand individual needs and then really thoughtfully match guests with the right levels of support.”He also emphasized the individualized nature of the current system: “It’s important to us that we have individual conversations with families, and that we have a broad range of accommodations that our cast members can recommend through these individual conversations.”D’Amaro left a small window open for future adjustment. He closed his statement by saying, “As we look ahead, as we always do, we’ll continue to listen, we’ll learn and apply expert guidance as we evaluate these accommodations over time, and we’ll always be focused on providing great experiences and designing these services to support our guests.”The change was implemented under D’Amaro’s leadership as Chairperson of Disney Experiences, which makes his response to the question carry particular weight. He is not distancing himself from the decision. He is defending it while leaving room to evolve.What Changed in 2024 and Why It Became ControversialBefore 2024, DAS eligibility was broader, and the program had become a significant point of concern for Disney from an operational standpoint. When Disney replaced free FastPasses with the paid Lightning Lane system, DAS took on new value. The service allows users and their parties to book a return time through the My Disney Experience or Disneyland Resort app, then wait elsewhere in the park before returning to use the Lightning Lane entrance. For a family of four, Lightning Lane access can cost over $100 per day on top of base ticket prices, so it is easy to understand why demand for DAS grew.Disney acknowledged internally that the program was being misused. The 2024 update restricted eligibility to guests with a “developmental disability like autism or similar” who “are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.” That language cut out a significant population of guests with physical disabilities who had previously relied on DAS.The backlash was immediate and sustained. Critics of the change pointed to cast members reportedly suggesting that denied guests practice waiting in line at home, rent wheelchairs or scooters, or re-enter the queue by rejoining a family member ahead of them. That last suggestion has obvious practical problems in a crowded theme park, and it excludes solo visitors entirely.Disney has made incremental adjustments since the rollout, including extending the service’s validity period and adding clearer information about the required video call process, but the core eligibility restrictions have remained in place.Shareholders Voted Against an Independent InvestigationCredit: Inside the MagicDisney shareholder Erik Paul introduced what was designated as Proposal 7 at the March 18 meeting, formally titled “Review and Report on Disability Inclusion and Accessibility.” The proposal asked Disney to retain a third-party investigator to assess the updated DAS policies from legal, financial, reputational, and enterprise risk perspectives and report the findings back to shareholders. Importantly, it did not demand that Disney change the program itself.Paul framed the stakes in pointed terms: “Accessibility policies influence brand trust, customer loyalty, regulatory exposure, guest safety, and repeat visitation. When policies are misaligned or inconsistently implemented, the resulting impact extends beyond guest experience to operational and reputational risk.”Disney initially sought permission from the Securities and Exchange Commission to exclude the resolution entirely, describing it as “materially false and misleading” and related to “ordinary business operations.” A policy change at the SEC made that path unnecessary, and Disney ultimately allowed the vote to proceed while urging shareholders to reject the proposal.They did. Roughly five percent of shareholders voted in favor of Proposal 7. The proposal failed by a wide margin.A class-action lawsuit filed in 2025 by a Disneyland Resort guest over the DAS changes remains ongoing. That legal proceeding is the most significant external pressure currently bearing on Disney’s position.What This Means for Families Planning a Disney VacationFor families with members who rely on accessibility accommodations, the shareholder meeting outcome changes nothing immediately. The current DAS program remains in place with its 2024 eligibility requirements. Guests must qualify based on a developmental disability, complete a video call with a third-party medical professional, and reapply annually.If someone in your family was eligible under the previous DAS guidelines but was denied under the updated criteria, D’Amaro’s comments suggest the door to future adjustment is at least nominally open. His language about continuing to “listen” and “evaluate” is deliberately noncommittal, but it is not a flat refusal to revisit the policy.For families who do qualify under current guidelines, the program works as described and remains a meaningful tool for navigating the parks. For families navigating the gap between old and new eligibility, the individual accommodation conversations D’Amaro referenced are worth having directly with Disney guest services before your visit, as the range of available support extends beyond DAS itself.We will continue following the ongoing class-action lawsuit and any updates to DAS eligibility or guidelines as they come. If you are planning a Disney vacation and have questions about current accessibility options, our guide to Disney Parks accessibility accommodations is a solid place to start. It is updated regularly and breaks down everything currently available beyond DAS for guests who need additional support.The post New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Gives State After Blocking Disability Program appeared first on Inside the Magic.