{"id":207656,"date":"2026-03-27T00:09:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:09:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/207656\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T00:09:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T00:09:11","slug":"u-s-department-of-justice-sues-seaworld-over-disability-rights-violation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/207656\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Department of Justice sues SeaWorld over disability rights violation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Credit: Photo via SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.<\/p>\n

The Orlando-based theme park SeaWorld has landed itself in some pretty hot water with the federal justice department over alleged violations of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against SeaWorld\u2019s parent company, United Parks & Resorts, over the company\u2019s recent ban on guests\u2019 use of wheeled walkers with seats. The policy change officially took effect in November 2025. SeaWorld argues on its website that such walkers \u201ccan pose a safety concern when not used properly, particularly when someone is seated and the device is pushed by another person.\u201d<\/p>\n

The federal justice department, however, believes this policy violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), stating in its lawsuit<\/a> that United Parks & Resorts \u201cmay impose legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation, but those requirements must be based on actual risks and not on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations about individuals with disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DOJ\u2019s lawsuit names United Parks & Resorts and its subsidiaries \u2014 including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and Aquatica \u2014 as defendants in the suit. It comes after the DOJ first announced<\/a> it would be investigating the company over the policy change back in November after receiving \u201cnumerous\u201d complaints from people over the ban on wheeled walkers (sometimes called rollators).<\/p>\n

The suit also alleges that United Parks & Resorts sought to charge guests $40 to $100 for \u201c[a]lternative personal transportation options.\u201d After the DOJ announced its investigation, however, the company changed this language on its parks\u2019 Accessibility pages to offer \u201ccomplimentary\u201d alternatives (free of charge), according to the suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,\u201d U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement Thursday. \u201cThis complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. justice department is urging the court to declare that UPR violated the ADA, require that UPR change its allegedly discriminatory policy, award monetary damages to individuals \u201caggrieved\u201d by UPR\u2019s failure to meet ADA requirements, and assess a civil monetary penalty of $118,225.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc., including parks such as SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at civilrights.justice.gov<\/a>, or by calling the Department\u2019s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)),\u201d the DOJ states in its announcement of the lawsuit.<\/p>\n

SeaWorld and Discovery Cove are already facing allegations<\/a> of unfair labor practices by their unionized divers, who voted unanimously to join the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30 last year. <\/p>\n

Earlier this month, SeaWorld was also sued<\/a> by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the Sesame Street brand, over allegations that SeaWorld failed to pay outstanding royalties to the nonprofit and has failed to meet its contractual obligations, NBC News reported.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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