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DOJ Sues SeaWorld Parent Company Over Rollator Ban at Florida Theme Parks
A major accessibility fight is now rolling into the courts. The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that it has filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts, alleging the company’s ban on wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit applies to UPR’s U.S. parks and experiences, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando.
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According to the DOJ, the policy prevented guests with disabilities, including children and veterans, from entering the parks with mobility aids that the government says should be permitted in pedestrian areas under the ADA. The lawsuit also alleges UPR imposed improper surcharges on disabled guests through rental fees for alternative devices and failed to make reasonable policy modifications when needed. Federal officials are seeking a court order requiring policy changes, ADA staff training, monetary damages for affected individuals, and a civil penalty.
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United Parks & Resorts has pushed back on the claims, saying the wheeled walker ban was introduced in November 2025 because of safety concerns tied to misuse of rollators in the parks. The company says it offers alternative mobility options, including wheelchairs and ECVs, at no charge, and maintains that its accessibility policies comply with the law while also protecting guest safety. That means this case could become an important test of how theme parks balance accessibility and operations, with potentially significant implications for guests visiting some of Florida’s biggest attractions.
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