Justice Department Sues SeaWorld Over Wheeled Walker Ban
Summary
The Justice Department has sued United Parks & Resorts Inc. (UPR), which operates SeaWorld and other theme parks, alleging its policy banning wheeled walkers with seats violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lawsuit seeks to end the discriminatory policy, modify park practices, and obtain monetary damages and civil penalties.
What changed
The U.S. Department of Justice, through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, has filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. (UPR), the owner of SeaWorld and other theme parks. The lawsuit alleges that UPR's policy prohibiting guests from using wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, stems from numerous complaints by individuals with disabilities who were denied park access with their mobility aids. The suit also claims UPR imposes impermissible surcharges and fails to make reasonable modifications to its policies.
This action requires UPR to cease its discriminatory practices, revise its policies to comply with the ADA, and provide ADA training to its staff. The Department is seeking court orders for injunctive relief, monetary damages for aggrieved individuals, and a civil penalty to address the public interest in eliminating disability discrimination. Affected individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination are encouraged to file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division.
What to do next
- Review and modify policies regarding mobility aids to ensure ADA compliance.
- Train staff on ADA requirements and non-discrimination for guests with disabilities.
- Consider potential claims for damages if discrimination has occurred.
Penalties
Monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals and a civil penalty to vindicate the public's interest.
Source document (simplified)
News
Press Release
Justice Department Sues SeaWorld and Other Theme Parks over Wheeled Walker Ban
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Share For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (collectively, the “Department”) filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. and its subsidiaries (UPR), alleging UPR’s policy banning guests with disabilities from using wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). UPR is a global theme park and entertainment company that owns, leases, or operates twelve parks and experiences in the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando.
“The ADA requires equal access for people with disabilities, and theme parks such as SeaWorld are no exception,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under my leadership, the Division is committed to defending the rights of all Americans with disabilities, as the law requires.”
“The ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “This complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations, including UPR and its theme parks. The ADA requires UPR to permit individuals with disabilities to use manually powered mobility aids, including walkers, in areas open for pedestrian use.
The Department sued UPR based on complaints from many people with disabilities alleging UPR would not allow them to enter its parks with their wheeled walkers with seats. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that UPR’s policy banning wheeled walkers with seats prevented children, veterans, and other individuals with disabilities from accessing the parks, facially violating the ADA. The civil complaint also alleges that UPR imposes impermissible surcharges on guests with disabilities in the form of rental fees and refuses to reasonably modify UPR’s policies, practices, or procedures, where necessary, to avoid discriminating against guests with disabilities.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to force UPR to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA, and to train its staff on the ADA. The lawsuit also seeks monetary damages to compensate aggrieved individuals subjected to UPR’s discrimination and demands UPR pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
If 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 www.civilrights.justice.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)). For more information on the ADA and the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.ada.gov or www.justice.gov/crt.
Updated March 26, 2026 Component Civil Rights Division Press Release Number: 26-291
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