Disney had a means of providing something to guests needing special assistance. Back before you had all the technology, guests who couldn't wait in line could get a pass book from guest relations that would allow them to visit attractions and be given a return time to avoid the wait.
As the technology advanced, they still had the book but you had do a little pre-planning and couldn't just walk into guest relations and ask for it.
Then the abuse started. People who didn't need it were using it to "skip the lines" and worse, local tour operators were directing their clients (for a fee) in how to game the system.
Disney changed the system to one that more closely aligned with the technology; you could pre-register and then go through a sort of screening process (Disney was always very mindful about asking specific questions about disabilities, but wanted to know if waiting in line posed a problem, and wanted to see the person who would be using it). The guest would then be able to book some lightning lane attractions for their visit that would mostly avoid lines.
Only…. These tour operators are not all good people. And they found more loopholes to exploit, thus giving their guests a means (once again) to cheat the system.
Disney responded yet again by threatening these operators. But, social media spread the "how to" far and wide.
So Disney had to change course and revisit the program. They further restricted who could use it and how many attractions it could be used on, etc.
Which caused some people to cry foul. Right or wrong they are saying Disney is discriminating against them. And are suing in California (such a suit would go nowhere in Florida, and would face resistance on the national level).
I suspect the endgame will be that Disney makes another change. What that will look like, who knows?
To me, a solution where one person waits in line and the guest with be disability catches up at the end may be the simplest one. Though I do see that using some technology may be helpful - perhaps you wait in a virtual queue, but it has to be nearby the attraction and the wait time is as though you stood in line and then you join the queue at the end.
It eliminates more of the system abuse and levels it for everyone. You can still purchase the lightning lane if you choose. But this is a free option that changes the paradigm.
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