Disney Sued by Annual Passholders Over Pandemic-Era Changes to Reservation System

A crowd is shown along Main Street USA in front of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on March 12, 2020. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Walt Disney World passholders have filed a lawsuit against the company over a parking reservation system that had been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lawsuit was filed Oct. 18 at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Orlando Division by two plaintiffs who have been Disney passholders for several years.

Both individuals claim to have bought premium passes without “blockout dates,” which refer to days when passholders are not allowed to visit the parks due to high attendance. In 2020 during the pandemic, a park reservation system was added by the company, and the system is still in effect.

According to the lawsuit (pdf), the two plaintiffs believed the new reservation system would be temporary and would end once concerns about the pandemic eased.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, passholders were not subjected to the reservation system. But since Disney continued to follow the system, they were “forced to reluctantly agree” to the new terms, the lawsuit states.

“Disney has altered the Platinum Pass and Platinum Plus Pass terms so dramatically that they do not even resemble the original agreement bargained for by Plaintiffs.”

“By implementation of the Park Pass System, Disney has effectively subjected Platinum Plus Passes and Platinum Passes to Blockout Dates, because the pass holders are subject to days and times in which their passes cannot be used,” the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial and are seeking class-action status.

In a statement to News 6, Disney said the company had been upfront with the passholders about updates made to the services and offered refunds if required. Disney accused the lawsuit of mischaracterizing the passholder program.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Disney for comment.

Past Case, COVID-19 Lawsuit

A similar case was filed against Disney in California in 2021 by a passholder who claimed to have bought a Magic Key Pass without blockout dates but was later restricted from visiting the park.

In March 2022, Disney tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a federal judge allowed the case to move forward.

In another lawsuit against Disney, three employees accused the company of refusing to grant exemptions to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Three employees who requested exemptions on religious grounds were punished and fired, according to the lawsuit.