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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