The U.S. Division of Justice is accusing a number of main theme parks of failing to accommodate individuals with disabilities in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Act.
The company sued United Parks & Resorts Inc. over a coverage banning rollators and different wheeled walkers with seats. The corporate owns or licenses theme parks together with SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place, amongst others.
The ADA requires theme parks to permit these with disabilities to make use of mobility aids like walkers in pedestrian areas, the Justice Division stated. The coverage prohibiting sure walkers, which took impact at some United Parks properties in November 2025, retains people with disabilities — together with kids — from accessing the parks, in line with the lawsuit filed this month within the U.S. District Courtroom for the Center District of Florida.
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The Justice Division launched an investigation into United Parks late final 12 months over the walker coverage after receiving complaints from individuals with disabilities concerning the ban at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando. Company indicated that the one possibility they had been provided to entry the theme parks was to pay for mobility aids that weren’t acceptable for his or her wants.
Round that point, the lawsuit signifies {that a} wheeled walker ban was added at Discovery Cove Orlando and insurance policies at SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando had been up to date to mirror that complimentary rollators with out seats or wheelchairs can be found to those that arrive with a mobility help that isn’t permitted.
“Rollators with seats can pose a security concern when not used correctly, significantly when somebody is seated and the system is pushed by one other particular person. Regardless of reminders and former steps, together with requiring signed waivers, we continued to see misuse and safety-related incidents. For these causes, rollators with seats will not be permitted,” the up to date insurance policies indicated.
The Justice Division stated that the coverage stays at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove Orlando, however Busch Gardens Tampa Bay eliminated the wheeled walker ban from its web site this month.
Since launching its investigation, the Justice Division stated it continues to obtain complaints together with one from the mom of an 8-year-old whose pediatric posterior walker was denied by SeaWorld Orlando regardless that it was chosen by the kid’s medical staff. As a substitute, the kid was provided an adult-sized rollator with out a seat or a wheelchair, neither of which had been acceptable.
“The ADA requires theme park firms like UPR to supply company with equal entry, no matter capability,” stated U.S. Lawyer Gregory W. Kehoe for the Center District of Florida who introduced the go well with. “This criticism reinforces our dedication to holding public lodging within the Center District of Florida accountable once they have interaction in incapacity discrimination.”
The Justice Division is in search of a court docket order forcing United Parks to change its insurance policies and prepare its workers on the ADA. As well as, the federal government needs a civil penalty and damages for affected people.
United Parks stated it disagrees with the Justice Division’s claims.
“The coverage at concern was carried out to handle repeated security incidents involving misuse of rollators with seats and was designed to boost visitor security whereas persevering with to supply accessible choices for all company. We provide various mobility gadgets without charge to make sure company can totally take pleasure in our parks,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “We consider our strategy is in step with the necessities of the ADA and displays our dedication to offering a protected and inclusive expertise.”