Disney settles $9.5M lawsuit over misleading ‘All-Access Passes’.

The‌ Walt Disney Company Settles $10 Million Lawsuit Over “All-Access Passes”

The Walt Disney Company has agreed ⁤to ⁣pay out ‍nearly $10 million in settlements to ticket⁢ buyers ‌who purchased ⁤”All-Access Passes” only to discover that they were more like “Some Access Passes.” This settlement, if approved by the court, will bring an end‍ to over 18 months of litigation⁣ surrounding a⁢ class-action lawsuit ⁢filed in 2021, according‍ to CNN.

A‌ Nightmare Experience

Jenale Nielsen, one of the⁢ ticket ⁣buyers, filed the lawsuit after spending almost $1,400 on a ​”Dream Key” pass that turned ‍out to ​be a nightmare. She‌ was promised that the pass would grant her access ​to the ​parks ⁢on any day. However, when she tried to book a visit to Disneyland’s Anaheim, California,​ parks in November 2021, she discovered that half of the days were blacked ‌out.

After further investigation, Nielsen realized that she could purchase additional⁤ tickets for ⁣the days her “Dream Key” pass wouldn’t cover. This indicated that the park wasn’t at capacity,⁢ but she still couldn’t enter using her pass. Feeling misled, she filed a lawsuit the following month, claiming that thousands ⁣of others may⁢ have had a similar experience at the happiest place ⁣on earth, according to Western Journal.

Settlement Details

The settlement proposal ⁤suggests that over 100,000 people may be part of the affected class. Disneyland ​officials have expressed satisfaction that the matter has been resolved. However, final approval from a judge is required to seal the deal and ⁤determine all‍ the terms, as stated by University‌ of California, Los Angeles, law professor ‍David Marcus.

Under the terms of the ⁤settlement ⁢proposal,⁢ class members will be eligible ⁢to receive $67.41 each ​from Disney. However, it may take several months for the payments‌ to‌ be⁣ distributed. Pass-holders will be notified‍ about the settlement soon, and a hearing⁤ will be held to finalize the agreement. Only after the judge’s final approval can people expect to ⁢receive ⁣their compensation, according to CNN.

The ​Fine Print

The “Dream Key” pass, launched in 2021 for $1,399, promised “admission to one or both theme parks every ​day of the year,” according to ‌the Disney website. However, the fine print revealed ⁣that the number of park reservations that could be ‌held at a time was subject to availability and other rules and restrictions.

The newer version, called the “Inspire Key,” sells‌ for⁢ $200 more and offers reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks ‌on most days‍ of the year, subject to ⁣availability and pass blockout dates.

Disney’s Challenges

While attendance ⁢at Disney’s theme parks has been ‌strong in the ⁢post-pandemic era, disappointing streaming revenue has caused the company’s stock price to decline by over 57 percent from its March⁤ 2021 high, according to Western Journal.

Sources:
CNN
Western Journal

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