Disney shareholders have now voted on the proposal related to changes to the Disability Access Service (DAS) at Disneyland and Walt Disney World during the Walt Disney Company’s annual shareholder meeting. Advocates of the proposal have been anxiously awaiting the results of this vote, which would call for a company review of the recent DAS changes.
The results of this vote follow the introduction of the proposal requesting that the company review the recent DAS changes. Disney had already issued a recommendation to shareholders on how the board believes the proposal should be addressed after initially reversing the effort to block the proposal. Now that the results are in, let’s get into the vote on the DAS shareholder proposal. At Mickey Visit, we report on Disney news like the major discounts and perks for Disney World hotel guests this summer and the reopening date of an anticipated attraction.
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DAS Disability Shareholder Proposal Vote Results
DAS was significantly restructured in 2024 in an effort to curb overuse, misuse, and other issues that were beginning to weaken the program’s effectiveness. As a result, many guests who were previously eligible for these accommodations became ineligible after the changes.
One of the most recent responses to this overhaul was the shareholder proposal supported by disability advocates.
The proposal “urges The Walt Disney Company to assess the legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with its controversial Disability Access Service (DAS) overhaul.” A vote in favor of this proposal would require Disney to commission an independent third-party review of its accessibility and disability inclusion practices, evaluating risks, comparing them against standards and competitors, and sharing the findings publicly and internally. The annual shareholder meeting for The Walt Disney Company was on March 18, 2026, at 1 PM ET, and shareholders finally voted on the DAS proposal.
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A shareholder spoke about the new proposal in a statement on the call. Here’s what was shared by the advocate for the proposal:
Walt Disney said, “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” That promise built one of the most trusted brands in the world. For more than a century, Disney stories have shaped culture because they reflect a core value of this company, inclusion. As Bob Iger himself said, one reason Disney’s storytelling has such a meaningful and positive impact is because it embraces inclusion, acceptance, and tolerance.
The disability community is one of the fastest growing demographics in the world. These are not fringe guests. They are families planning multi-generational vacations, loyal customers who invest extraordinary time, coordination, and resources to make a Disney trip possible. Accessibility for disabled guests is not charity. It is not politics. It is smart market positioning, responsible brand stewardship, and sound risk management. And right now, there are warning signs.
A recent study found that 85% of disabled Disney guests surveyed said they are unlikely to return because of recent accessibility changes. That is not noise, that is a strategic signal. We are already seeing tightening consumer spending, raising competition for travelers, and leadership acknowledging lower park volumes tied to attendance, as well as a class action lawsuit. At a moment like this, we can’t afford to erode one of Disney’s most powerful brand promises that everyone belongs and is welcome. An independent review of accessibility practices is not an admission of failure, it is leadership.
It shows shareholders that the board takes risk management, brand strength, and guest loyalty seriously. Disney magic is not only created in films, it is created in how people feel when they walk through the gates. Protecting that magic means protecting the people who believe in it. I urge you to support this proposal.
The preliminary report on the vote for the item states that only 5% of shares approve the proposal and so the proposal did not pass. Three total shareholder proposals were not approved during the shareholder portion of the meeting.
Why Did Disney Shareholders Vote No?
This is disappointing news for disability advocates who were in favor of this shareholder proposal. But this wasn’t unexpected, as it is rare for investors not to follow the board’s recommendation unless there is a strong governance or financial concern. In this case, Disney’s board had previously argued that the company already reviews accessibility policies internally and that the proposal was unnecessary. The board argued that the proposal would not add meaningful value for shareholders and would require resources without providing new or useful information, leading it to unanimously recommend a vote against the proposal.
Since shareholders were recommended by the board to vote no, it’s not surprising that a majority followed that guidance.
Shareholder proposals typically gain more support when the issues are clearly affecting financial performance or shareholder value. While the proposal argued that the new limitations on DAS were affecting park attendance, a claim Disney denied in its response, many investors may have viewed the issue as outside the company’s core financial priorities. Other investors also might have felt that Disney leadership should retain discretion over how the parks manage their accessibility programs.
Some shareholders might also agree with Disney’s position that tightening eligibility was necessary to preserve the program for guests with developmental disabilities. Disney has repeatedly stated that the program experienced significant misuse, which prompted the 2024 changes.
Most shareholder proposals at large companies typically receive low support, especially if they do not involve major issues like corporate governance, executive pay, or broader environmental and social policies.
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