The two plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against Disney World regarding Annual Passholder reservations wish to remain anonymous due to backlash from Disney supporters and a judge isn’t buying it. A report from Florida Politics details the order from the judge, who said that the lawsuit could be dismissed “without further notice” after the two plaintiffs were concerned about backlash from the online Disney community and a perceived threat to their safety.
Simply listed as “M.P.” and “E.K.” in the lawsuit, the two women are worried about backlash after the online Disney community negatively reacted to their lawsuit when it gained attention back in October. Online comments were generally negative towards the lawsuit after many fans thought that the lawsuit could result in the removal of the Annual Pass program, or result in price hikes and modifications as seen with the Disneyland Magic Key program after a similar lawsuit.
One woman expressed concern for her minor stepson, who might face ridicule due to his connection to one of the plaintiffs. Another plaintiff expressed concern for her tenants, who live in a rental property attached to her name. Court records said that “angry supporters of (Disney) have taken to the internet and online social media to express their frustrations with Plaintiffs, leaving Plaintiffs fearful of what will come next ….The online bullying, harassment, and hateful comments amplify Plaintiffs’ need for anonymity.”.
The judge in the case was not buying the concern, saying noting that the lawsuit didn’t involve sexual assault allegations where anonymity was more common. The judge instead concluded that the concerns were “more akin to the fear of personal embarrassment”. The judge warned that the “case is subject to being dismissed without further notice for both a violation of the Court’s Order and a failure to prosecute”.
Currently, most tiers of Walt Disney World Annual Passes are unavailable for purchase after sales were paused more than a year ago.
The original lawsuit claimed that the reservation system was unfair to Annual Passholders. The reservation system effectively blocked Passholders from visiting a park if they were unable to secure a free reservation. This functionality, the lawsuit claimed, was predatory and it exploited some of Disney’s biggest fans.
While the Disney Park Pass system was initially introduced as a way of managing attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro was an early fan of the system, noting that the Park Pass system was “here to stay” all the way back in August 2020. Since then, executives at The Walt Disney Company have praised the Disney Park Pass system as a tool of yield management that allows them to maximize revenue at the theme parks while providing lower wait times and a more pleasant experience for guests.
Reservation dates for the Disney Park Pass system at Walt Disney World have been extended into early 2024, and there is no indication that Disney has an appetite to get rid of the reservation system completely.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!