Report Sparks Backlash Over Disney Guests Hiring Disabled People for Line Access

A post on a parenting forum is sparking outrage after a woman revealed her husband planned to hire a disabled person to help their family bypass ride queues at Disneyland Paris.

The man in question allegedly offers his services online for just over $100, promising a “seamless and fun” day by using his disability access pass for line-skipping privileges.

The woman, conflicted by the proposal, turned to Mumsnet for advice ahead of their upcoming trip to France in October. Her post quickly went viral, prompting hundreds of comments—many of them critical.

“I didn’t even know these things existed,” she wrote. “I’ve not been to DLP [Disneyland Paris] for a number of years, but apparently it’s a thing that people go with their disabled parents just so they can skip queues for rides and to see characters etc.?”

Despite calling the idea “mad” and “beyond unethical,” she asked whether others had tried it and whether she should go along with her husband’s plan.

A History of Loopholes and Backlash at Disney

“I would be thoroughly ashamed of my DH if he suggested this,” one user replied. “To think that some people would be so deceitful and scheming is profoundly depressing!” Another added, “People like your husband are the reason getting the pass I’ve legitimately used for years is now near impossible. Absolutely disgusting.”

Others pushed back more cautiously. Some likened the arrangement to buying a fast-track pass, while one commenter wrote, “It’s obviously very ethically questionable, but at the same time I commend the chap on his entrepreneurialism.”

Using disability access to skip lines isn’t a new tactic. In the early 2010s, reports surfaced of wealthy guests at Disney parks in the U.S. hiring disabled individuals to serve as guides, allowing them to use alternate entrances and avoid long waits. In response, Disney retired its Guest Assistance Card system in 2013 and introduced the Disability Access Service (DAS), aimed at reducing abuse while maintaining support for eligible guests.

Under the DAS system, guests who qualify—primarily those with developmental disabilities—are assigned return times equal to the current standby wait, allowing them to avoid physically standing in line while still waiting the same duration.

New Policies, Familiar Tensions

In 2024, Disney tightened DAS eligibility requirements. The revised policy, now in place at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the U.S., focuses largely on guests with developmental disabilities such as autism. Applicants must complete a virtual interview with Disney’s Accessibility Services Team. Group sizes under a single DAS registration were also reduced.

The move prompted backlash from disability advocates. A class-action lawsuit filed in California argues the changes discriminate against people with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses and infringe on guest privacy. Disney has maintained that the changes were necessary to protect the system’s integrity from further misuse.

At Disneyland Paris, a similar—but separate—system is in place. Guests can apply online for a Priority Card one month ahead of their visit. While it doesn’t offer instant access, it does allow quicker entry for those with long-term or qualifying conditions.

For guests who don’t qualify under any access program, Disney’s official line-skipping options remain available—at a premium. Lightning Lane Premier Passes range from $129 to $449, depending on the day and park. Private VIP tours, starting at $450 per hour, allow near-unlimited expedited access.

Critics argue the pricing model has turned time into a commodity. Whether paying a stranger or the company itself, line-skipping has become a transactional experience—one that raises ongoing questions about fairness, ethics, and what kind of guest experience Disney really wants to sell.