Disney Faces Backlash Over White Cane Policy
A visually impaired guest visiting Shanghai Disneyland on September 3 had her white cane confiscated by staff, sparking outrage and raising questions about Disney's accessibility policies.
Mrs. Song, who was visiting the park with her boyfriend, said a staff member questioned whether she needed to use her cane in crowded areas, citing the number of people in the park. She reported the incident to Guest Services on the same day but felt that the matter wasn't resolved effectively.
The situation became more complicated when Inside the Magic contacted Shanghai Disney Resort customer service and was told that white canes were treated as 'sticks' and could only be brought inside with prior approval from staff. However, the park later clarified that visually impaired guests do not need to give advance notice before bringing or using a white cane.
The incident highlights ongoing issues with accessibility at Disney theme parks. In 2010, visually impaired annual passholders filed a class-action lawsuit against Disney for failing to provide equal access, including accessible maps and adequate viewing areas. More recently, guests have reported inconsistent experiences with Disney's advertised disability access services.