TAMPA, Fla., (WFLA) — Disney World is known for being the happiest place on earth, but one Tampa Bay, Florida, family says the magic is gone after their son couldn’t get the accommodations he needs.
ToniLynn McElreath is an annual Disney pass holder and enjoys taking her 3-year-old twins to Magic Kingdom. One of those twins, Luke, has a feeding tube.
“One of the common things with this condition is or having a feeding tube is you vomit frequently, especially if you are overstimulated,” she said.
In the past, the McElreath family has had access to Disney’s Disability Access Service Pass (DAS). That was until this year.
“We went through the renewal process, and we were denied,” McElreath said. “So, I went for the first time yesterday and had to wait in the normal queue, and we were in line for Prince Charming’s Carousel, and Luke vomited.”
Had they had service pass, McElreath said they could have known exactly when they would arrive at the attraction, allowing them to better prepare Luke for the experience.
“We could make sure that he’s had a feed, and his stomach was empty for us to be able to get onto that ride,” McElreath said. “So that way, if he gets overstimulated and starts gagging, there’s nothing in his stomach to throw up.”
However, Disney recently updated the rules regarding the DAS pass, and the McElreaths no longer qualify.
“DAS is intended to accommodate only those Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar disorder, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time,” the company states.
McElreath said she understands why the rules were changed.
“I understand people take advantage of some of these programs,” she said. “We were ones who never took advantage.”
The mother of two said having the pass made the experience more enjoyable for her son and the entire family.
“It’s sad that they’re almost taking the magic away from us,” she said.
Nexstar’s WFLA reached out to Disney World for comment and did not immediately receive a response. According to Disney’s website, they “have an unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment.”