It’s the happiest place on Earth, “where dreams come true and magic comes to life.”
You probably have already made the Disney connection as the quote comes from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts’ mission statement.
Many have experienced Disney before, and know that part of the experience includes waiting in a long line or two. When we visited, my family and I waited for an hour and a half for a five minute ride. The wait was annoying, but doable.
However, sometimes it’s not as doable for everyone. Some Walt Disney park guests have physical or mental disabilities that require special accommodations. In the past, Disney Parks and Resorts offered a Guest Access Card for those with special needs to bypass long waits for rides.
Unfortunately, people abused the policy. In a September statement, President of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations Meg Crofton said, “Our current program for providing access to attractions for guests with disabilities has been abused and exploited to such an extent that we are no longer able to effectively sustain it in its present form.” 
This abuse and exploitation has come in the form of some park guests reportedly hiring mentally or physically disabled people to accompany them to a Disney park, using their condition to help them move to the front of the line and allowing them to go on more rides in a shorter amount of time.
The dignity of a human person is not worth getting to go on more rides. While the disabled individual might have enjoyed the pay, using someone based on what he or she can do for you is wrong— especially if it is using someone else’s disability to get ahead.
Other Disney-goers observed families accompanied by disabled children or adults who didn’t have to wait in the long lines and felt cheated. However, from my personal experience with autistic family members, people with certain disabilities don’t do well in high-stimulating social situations. But at least the former disability policy allowed families to see their loved ones enjoy the Disney parks, even if they might have only been able to experience it for a short amount of time.
The new Disability Access Service Card offered is like a Fast-Pass ticket. A family member can go to a ride, get a ticket that gives a time to return, and then they can spend their waiting time (usually around 50-60 minutes depending on the other line times) in other areas of the park. When the family returns to the ride, they will only be allowed on if the disabled guest is present. In the past, any family member could get on a ride faster if they had the proper pass.
I’ve read many responses from parents whose children have disabilities. Overwhelmingly, parents are not pleased with the new system because they can only possess one ‘fast-pass’-type ticket at a time. While the person with the special needs does not have to wait in line, they must wait for their return time to come elsewhere in the park. Then, once they get off the ride, all or part of their family has to go get a return pass for another ride, making their days as long if not longer than someone without visible or invisible needs.
What I can’t get over is that people abused the former system. I find the lengths people will go to in order to skip ahead incredible.
No one person is more valued than another. No matter how much money offered, it is morally wrong to pay for someone to use their disability for personal gain. Capitalizing on another’s disability is stripping them of their basic human dignity because we all have the same worth and deserve respect no matter what.
Disney says it will work with disabled guests to serve them the best way possible. Even in Minnesota, far away from Disney theme parks, it is important to remember this example and respect others’ human dignity. We all have different needs and some require special attention. Our needs are what make us human.
Caroline Rode can be reached at rode8318@stthomas.edu.