A former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Cast Member was allegedly fired for taking leave that was already approved.

Disney Cast Member Fired After Taking Leave

In a Human Resources Director article, they share that a custodial Cast Member has filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. in the Middle District of Florida on September 25, 2026. The lawsuit brings six claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Florida’s Civil Rights Act.

According to the Cast Member, she was employed as a back-of-house utilities custodial worker in May 2023. In May 2024, she submitted paperwork requesting medical leave for gender-affirming surgery – five months ahead of the scheduled procedure.

In the complaint, it is alleged that the company did not notify her of her FMLA rights until October 2024, past the five-day window the statute requires.

She was later approved for short-term disability through February 9, 2025, and underwent two surgical procedures during that period, the filing states. She returned as soon as her leave was up.

In May 2025, another complaint was made stating that the worker experienced a flare-up of anemia and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The Cast Member requested intermittent FMLA leave and a reasonable leave accommodation for those conditions. Her intermittent leave was approved on May 31, 2025, according to the filing.

By mid-June 2025, the Cast Member had noticed she was accumulating attendance “points,” the company’s demerit system for missed shifts, and she contacted HR to inquire.

Her manager informed her that the company’s HR department made an error on her first surgical leave request, and she still had to attend work despite her leave being approved.

On July 6, 2025, the Cast Member was sent a termination letter from HR that was effective immediately, according to the filing. The stated reason for termination was attendance points, the ones that accumulated during her approved leave.

In her complaint, the Cast Member is alleging that her termination was driven by her disability and her use of protected leave. She claims that the timing of her termination and use of leave proves the connection between her protected activity and the termination.

At the time of termination, the Cast Member has no history of attendance, performance, or disciplinary issues unrelated to her medical leave.

The filing also claims the company failed to provide reasonable accommodations and engage in the interactive process required under the ADA, as well as discouraged the use of leave and failed to restore her to her position after her return.

The Cast Member filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Relations in March 2026 and was granted the right-to-sue in June 2026.

She has demanded a jury trial and is seeking back pay, liquidated damages, compensatory and punitive damages, front pay, reinstatement, and attorneys’ fees, according to the filing.

What do you think of this situation? Let us know on social media.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Cast Member Sues Disney; Lawsuit Alleges Fired for Taking Pre-Approved Leave appeared first on WDW News Today.