DOJ sues SeaWorld parent company over ban on rollators

The Justice Department has sued United Parks & Resorts, the company that operates SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, alleging its policy banning wheeled walkers with seats at its parks violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in the Middle District of Florida, says the company barred guests with disabilities from entering parks with manually powered mobility aids such as rollators and other wheeled walkers with seats, denying them equal access in violation of Title III of the ADA.

United Parks & Resorts is a theme park and entertainment company that operates 12 parks and experiences in the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando and Aquatica Orlando.

According to the complaint, the government sued after receiving complaints from multiple people with disabilities who said they were not allowed to use their wheeled walkers with seats inside the parks. The lawsuit says the policy affected children, veterans and other guests with disabilities.

The Justice Department also alleges the company imposed unlawful surcharges on guests with disabilities by requiring them to pay rental fees and refused to make reasonable changes to its policies and practices when needed to avoid discrimination.

“The ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,” U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement. “This complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.”

The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring United Parks & Resorts to stop the alleged discrimination, change its policies to comply with the ADA and train its staff on the law. It also seeks monetary damages for affected individuals and a civil penalty.