People who paid nearly $1,400 for an annual pass to Disneyland will begin receiving checks in the mail this month for a $9.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused Disney of misleading customers by believing that the program contained “no blackout dates”.
More than 100,000 people who purchased the Dream Key annual pass between August 25 and October 25, 2021 will receive about $67.41 each, a small fraction of what they paid for the card. According to the settlement agreement, payments should arrive by mail or electronically beginning in mid-June.
The lawsuit was filed in November 2021 by a California woman who said she purchased a Dream Key pass to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, assuming the pass would allow her to make reservations for any day of the year . But when she tried to reserve appointments in November in October 2021, she discovered she was unable to do so, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit states that Disney “apparently limits the number of reservations available to Dream Key Pass holders in order to maximize the number of day and other passes” it could sell to Disneyland visitors.
In addition to park admission, the now-discontinued Dream Key Pass offered up to 15 percent off “selected food” and up to 20 percent off “selected merchandise.”
The plaintiff, Jenale Nielsen, paid $1,399 for the pass, the lawsuit says. According to the agreement, she will receive a payment of $5,000. Her lawyer did not comment on the settlement.
The two parties agreed to resolve the dispute in July 2023 to avoid a trial. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts denied any wrongdoing or liability in agreeing to the settlement. Disney and Disneyland Resort did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Settlement administrators automatically send checks to class members’ last known mailing addresses. Some passport holders may have chosen to receive payment digitally. The payment method selection process was completed in January.
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2024-06-15 13:10:49
www.nytimes.com
