Doj Sues A Seaworld Park Saying Its Ban On Walkers Violates Federal Law

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued United Parks & Resorts, nan genitor institution overseeing SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, claiming that nan company’s caller prohibition of circumstantial wheeled walkers and rollators violates nan Americans pinch Disabilities Act.

The ineligible action follows months of scrutiny regarding nan company’s argumentation updates, which national prosecutors allege person unfairly restricted entree for guests who trust connected nan circumstantial mobility aids. A rollator is for illustration a walker but includes a built-in seat.

According to nan lawsuit, nan restrictions implemented by United Parks & Resorts efficaciously barred various individuals, including children and veterans, from accessing nan parks.

The Justice Department further alleged that nan institution imposed unfair rental fees connected guests pinch disabilities who arrived pinch nan now-prohibited devices and refused to reasonably modify its policies to forestall discrimination.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of nan Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division addressed nan filing successful a general statement, noting that nan ADA requires adjacent entree for group pinch disabilities and that taxable parks specified arsenic SeaWorld are nary exception.

“Under my leadership, nan Division is committed to defending nan authorities of each Americans pinch disabilities, arsenic nan rule requires,” Dhillon stated.

The suit seeks a tribunal bid that would compel United Parks & Resorts to cease discriminatory practices, update its policies to align pinch national rule and supply ADA training for its unit members.

Additionally, nan DOJ is seeking monetary damages to compensate individuals affected by nan argumentation and is demanding that nan institution salary a civilian punishment to vindicate nan nationalist liking successful eliminating disablement discrimination.

FOX 35 Orlando has reported connected nan developments of this argumentation alteration since it was first implemented successful November 2025.

Shortly aft those first reports, nan Department of Justice announced it would motorboat an investigation into imaginable ADA violations pursuing a surge of complaints from nan public.

United Parks & Resorts has defended its stance, maintaining that nan argumentation was created pinch impermanent information successful mind.

In a news release, nan institution said, “United Parks & Resorts disagrees pinch nan claims asserted successful nan Department of Justice’s title and will respond done nan ineligible process.

“The argumentation astatine rumor was implemented to reside repeated information incidents involving misuse of rollators pinch seats and was designed to heighten impermanent information while continuing to supply accessible options for each guests. We connection replacement mobility devices astatine nary costs to guarantee guests tin afloat bask our parks. We judge our attack is accordant pinch nan requirements of nan ADA and reflects our committedness to providing a safe and inclusive experience.”

The contention began erstwhile SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens and Aquatica Orlando updated their online guidelines to prohibition rollators and wheeled walkers equipped pinch seats, while still allowing models without seats.

At nan clip of nan change, SeaWorld Orlando told FOX 35 that nan determination was based connected information concerns regarding really nan devices were being used.

“We are committed to providing a safe, accessible, and inclusive acquisition for our guests and Ambassadors,” institution officials said successful a November statement. “To support this, we person precocious updated our guidance regarding rollator and wheeled walkers pinch seats. These devices tin airs a information interest if not utilized successful accordance pinch shaper requirements, which strictly prohibit utilizing them arsenic a wheelchair.”

The charismatic argumentation listed connected nan SeaWorld website further explained nan restriction, stating, “For nan information of our guests and employees, rollator walkers pinch seats connected them are not permitted astatine SeaWorld Orlando. Alternative individual proscription options, including modular wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs), are available. Walkers without a spot are permitted.”

While nan parks connection rental options for wheelchairs and electrical scooters that typically scope from $40 to $100 per day, nan institution has since adjusted its messaging and offered definite accommodations for those affected by nan ban.

Under nan updated procedures, SeaWorld Orlando stated that guests who arrived pinch a prohibited walker aliases rollator would person their instrumentality stored successful a unafraid area and would beryllium provided pinch a complimentary wheelchair aliases a seatless rollator walker for usage during their visit. The permitted walkers provided by nan parkland see a brake bar, foam-rubber grips and a mini basket.

Despite these accommodations, nan argumentation has faced important pushback from regular visitors.

In November, FOX 35 said pinch Nancy Schwartz, a predominant impermanent who relies connected a wheeled walker pinch a seat.

Schwartz described an acquisition wherever she was permitted introduction 1 time but denied nan adjacent owed to nan caller rules. She expressed disappointment complete nan abrupt change, noting that nan parkland is 1 of her favourite places to visit, peculiarly during nan vacation season.