Big changes are coming to the Walt Disney Company soon, thanks to a new CEO taking over in just a few short weeks.

Cinderella Castle

Josh D’Amaro will take over the role earlier than planned, on March 18th, 2026, when the company hosts its Annual Shareholder Meeting. While this is big news in and of itself, we’re also expecting to learn more about the CEO transition, along with other changes coming to the Walt Disney Company as a whole.

The Walt Disney Company’s 2026 Annual Shareholders Meeting will take place on March 18th at 10 AM PST. During this meeting, we’ll learn more about the company’s leadership, financials, strategy, and direction. Shareholders will also vote to elect 10 members to Disney’s Board of Directors, as they do every year at this meeting.

©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters

Notably, though, Disney is also set to include a vote on a new Disability Access Proposal. Previously, the Walt Disney Company withdrew a request that wanted to exclude a shareholder proposal regarding disability accommodations in the theme parks.

Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) system has undergone several changes over the last several years. These changes have not been without their controversies, but this new proposal could enact even further changes

Rider Switch sign at Space Mountain

This request will impact the 2026 proxy statement, according to an SEC filing that was submitted by Disney’s counsel, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP. The new proposal was submitted by shareholder Erik G. Paul. This proposal calls for an independent review of Disney’s changes to the DAS system that were made over the last few years.

Walt Disney Company Headquarters ©LA Times

The proposal also calls for the review to focus on board-level oversight that can be related back to risks to any shareholder value connected to these changes. If you’ve never used the DAS system or understood it, Disney describes it as a system “intended to accommodate those Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.”

This system’s largest change came on May 20th, 2024, in Disney World and June 18th, 2024, in Disneyland. The change was that Disney partnered with Inspire Health Alliance to assist with its DAS approval process, which impacted a large number of DAS users. This switch included many policy changes and new rules, which is where the controversy came from.

Disability Access Service Pass in 2021

Shareholders and curious minds can review the Definitive Proxy Statement for the meeting ahead of it taking place here. We’ll be tuning into the meeting and sharing everything you need to know, so mark your calendars!

Expedition Everest

We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from the shareholders meeting and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more!

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What are you hoping Disney announces during the shareholders meeting? Let us know in the comments below.