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Parents of autistic children have sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over a new policy that requires their children to wait longer for rides.

(Nick Ut, Associated Press)

Families with autistic children filed a lawsuit this month against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, saying that a new policy designed to deter line jumpers harms their kids and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The lawsuit, according to a story in the Orange County Register, takes issue with the new "disability access service card," which gives families with autistic kids a return time to enter a ride – but doesn't give them immediate access to the ride, as the previous "guest assistance card" did.

Many autistic kids have extreme difficulty waiting in line.

Disney did away with the previous system last fall in the wake of widespread attention to its abuses – which included wealthy families hiring guests with disabilities as "guides" to give them quick access to rides.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, is seeking a policy reversal as well as an unspecified amount of money, according to the Register.

In a statement, Disney said it had "an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests."

Meanwhile, Ohio families with autistic children had varied reactions to the new policy when it went into effect in October (see story: cleveland.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/11/to_curb_abuse_disney_changes_p.html).