WASHINGTON — The Walt Disney Company withdrew its request to exclude a shareholder proposal on disability accommodations from its 2026 proxy statement, according to an SEC filing submitted today by Disney’s counsel, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.
The proposal, submitted by shareholder Erik G. Paul, calls for an independent review of Disney’s controversial 2024-2025 changes to its Disability Access Service (DAS) and board-level oversight of related risks to shareholder value.
A Growing Crisis for Shareholders
Disney’s narrowing of DAS eligibility has created escalating operational, legal, and reputational challenges:
- Pending litigation: A class-action lawsuit alleges discriminatory exclusion under the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Sustained negative coverage: National outlets, including USA Today, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, NBC News, and Business Insider, have reported on guest complaints
- Safety concerns: Recent incidents, including a violent altercation at Disneyland that resulted in a guest requiring stitches, have highlighted tensions linked to alternative queueing arrangements in which disabled guests denied DAS accommodations are instructed to have companions hold a spot in line, a practice that can be misinterpreted as line-cutting.
- Market exposure: Disabled travelers and families represent a significant portion of the 70+ million disabled adults in the U.S., a demographic controlling substantial discretionary travel spending
What the Proposal Requests
The shareholder proposal does not mandate specific operational changes or reinstatement of prior policies. Instead, it asks Disney to:
- Retain an independent expert to review the impacts of DAS changes
- Ensure board-level oversight of disability access risks
- Provide transparency to shareholders on findings
Why This Matters to Investors
Advocates supporting the proposal argue that Disney’s current approach to disability accommodations creates preventable risks that may devalue shares through legal exposure, reputation damage, and alienation of a substantial consumer demographic. The withdrawal of Disney’s SEC exclusion request means shareholders will now have the opportunity to vote on whether the company should address these concerns systematically.
The proposal will appear in Disney’s 2026 proxy materials for shareholder consideration at the annual meeting.
