Justice Department sues SeaWorld and other theme parks over wheeled walker ban

FLORIDA — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts Inc. (UPR), alleging the company's policy banning wheeled walkers with seats at its theme parks violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The lawsuit targets UPR and its subsidiaries, which own or operate twelve parks in the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando and Aquatica Orlando. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida filed the complaint in federal court.

"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.

The lawsuit stems from complaints by people with disabilities who said UPR would not allow them to enter its parks with their wheeled walkers with seats. The complaint alleges the policy prevented children, veterans and other individuals with disabilities from accessing the parks.

 The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations and requires companies like UPR to permit individuals with disabilities to use manually powered mobility aids, including walkers, in areas open for pedestrian use. The civil complaint also alleges UPR imposes impermissible surcharges on guests with disabilities through rental fees and refuses to reasonably modify its policies to avoid discriminating against guests with disabilities.

The lawsuit seeks a court order to force UPR to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, modify its policies to comply with the ADA and train its staff on the law. The Justice Department also seeks monetary damages to compensate affected individuals and demands UPR pay a civil penalty.

People who believe they have been victims of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc. can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at or by calling the department's toll-free information Line at 1-800-514-0301.