DOJ Sues SeaWorld Owner Over Ban on Mobility Walkers at Theme Parks
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against United Parks & Resorts, the company behind SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, alleging its parks unlawfully banned certain mobility devices used by guests with disabilities.
Filed March 26 in federal court in Orlando, the complaint claims the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by banning wheeled walkers with seats, known as rollators, beginning in late 2025. The restriction, officials say, prevented people with mobility impairments from entering and navigating the parks.
United Parks & Resorts operates theme parks across the United States, including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove. Officials say these venues qualify as public accommodations under the ADA, meaning they must provide equal access to their services.
According to court filings, the company introduced the restriction in November 2025 and applied it across several Florida parks. Visitors using rollators with seats were told they could not enter with those devices, even when prescribed by medical professionals. Parks instead offered alternatives such as standard wheelchairs or electric scooters, often available as rentals at additional cost.
Federal officials say visitors had been allowed to use these mobility aids in the parks for decades before the restriction was introduced.
The lawsuit describes multiple incidents involving park visitors. One involved a child who relied on a medically prescribed walker but was turned away and offered alternatives that did not meet the child’s needs. Another involved two military veterans who were stopped at the entrance and told they could not use their walkers inside the park. One used a wheelchair against medical guidance, while the other left rather than enter under those conditions.
Additional instances described in the filing involve visitors required to rent alternative equipment, which federal officials say imposed additional costs on individuals with disabilities.
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses open to the public to provide equal access to their services. Policies that exclude people with disabilities are only allowed when they are necessary for safety and based on actual risks, not general concerns or assumptions.
Businesses must also allow the use of mobility aids, including walkers, in areas open to the public and adjust their policies when needed to ensure access. Businesses are not required to make those changes if they would fundamentally alter how the service operates or create a legitimate safety risk.
Justice Department officials say the restriction does not meet ADA requirements. The filing says the ban is overly broad and not based on individualized safety assessments, relying instead on general concerns about misuse.
Federal officials also challenge policies that exclude people who rely on these devices and say they limit participation in park activities and access to services offered to other guests.
The government is seeking a court order requiring United Parks & Resorts to change its policies, along with monetary damages for affected individuals, a civil penalty, and training and compliance measures.
The case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
