Latest news with #WaltDisneyParksandResorts
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida man says he suffered "catastrophic injuries" from Disney ride
A Florida man is suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alleging he sustained "permanent catastrophic injuries" after riding a water park slide in Walt Disney World Resort in 2021. Eugene Strickland is seeking $50,000 in damages against the theme park giant in a lawsuit filed May 29 in Orange County, Florida. Those damages stem from physical and mental injuries Strickland claims he suffered while riding on the Downhill Double Dipper (DDD) at Disney's Blizzard Beach water park on July 31, 2021. Strickland, who weighed 334 pounds at the time of the incident — 34 pounds above the water ride's allowable weight limit — alleges in the lawsuit that he was dislodged from his Disney inner tube, as a result of the ride's "exhilarating speeds," a reference to the ride's description on the Disney World website. "Disappear into a black hole and plummet 50 feet downhill at exhilarating speeds," a description of the high-speed water ride on the park website reads. "Hurtle through darkness, then emerge just in time for the big splashdown." After becoming separated from his inner tube, Strickland landed forcefully on the slide's plastic surface, causing him to sustain "serious bodily injury," such as "disability, scarring, disfigurement," the lawsuit states. Other alleged injuries include "mental anguish" and the "loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life." Strickland claims the theme park is at fault for his injures, stating in his lawsuit that Disney had a "duty to warn him of dangerous conditions at the DDD high-speed water slide premises." Disney did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. Strickland is seeking legal damages and a trial by jury. The wonderfully weird world of artist Luigi Serafini Fans turn out for estate sale at home of Tom Petty Audra McDonald responds to Patti LuPone's "not a friend" comment
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mom says giant wave at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon left her injured and she wants $2m
A mom from New York is suing Disney for $2 million after claiming she was injured by a wave at the park's Typhoon Lagoon waterpark. Kimberly Panetta alleges she was waiting for her 4-year-old daughter to come down a small waterslide in the children's portion of the Florida park in April 2022 when she was "violently struck by a sudden and forceful wave," according to the lawsuit. Panetta claims a "mammoth wave" knocked her to the ground and dragged her along the concrete, causing her serious and permanent injuries, the lawsuit says, according to ClickOrlando. 'It pummeled her, and her body skidded across the cement or gunite, causing serious 'road rash' or scrapes that were severe and deep,' Panetta's lawsuit says, noting that her injuries have made her self-conscious about her appearance since the incident. The lawsuit says that "prior to this accident or incident, [Panetta] would be able to wear clothing that exposed her legs, now keeps her legs covered and must tolerate being hot and uncomfortable as a result thereof." The lawsuit says Disney should have installed barriers to protect people from being knocked around by waves. There are no naturally occurring waves at Typhoon Lagoon. The park does have an attraction called the Surf Pool, which Disney says is the largest wave pool in North America. The pool is reportedly capable of generating up to six-foot swells that surfers can ride. Panetta is accusing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts of negligence and is asking for $2 million, according to court records. 'As a result of this incident, (Panetta's) vacation was ruined, and she was stuck limping around applying bandages, salves and creams, and was forced to avoid swimming and enjoying planned visits to the parks,' the lawsuit says. Disney was also sued over the waterpark in 2023 by a woman accusing the company of negligence after she suffered a "painful wedgie" while riding the Humunga Kowabunga, the park's fastest and steepest waterslide. She said the incident left her suffering from internal injuries. Another woman sued over Typhoon Lagoon in 2024. She reportedly suffered brain damage after taking a water tube down the same slide. In her lawsuit, she says she was knocked unconscious during the ride and that she nearly drowned in the pool at the bottom of the slide.
CBS News
28-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Long Island man suing Disney World Resort restaurant wants recipes for meal wife ate before she died
The widower of a Long Island physician who died after suffering an allergic reaction at a Walt Disney World Resort restaurant says he wants the recipes and ingredients for the meal his wife ate before she died. Jeffrey Piccolo filed a motion earlier this week as part of his wrongful death lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. Doctor dies from allergic reaction after eating at Disney Springs restaurant Piccolo's wife, Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan, died from an allergic reaction in October 2023 after eating at the Ragland Road restaurant in Disney Springs. According to the lawsuit filed by Piccolo, Tangsuan told the waiter she was highly allergic to dairy and nuts, and the waiter guaranteed several times that certain foods could be made allergen-free. The lawsuit says after eating at the restaurant, Tangsuan began to have difficulty breathing while she was shopping. She then collapsed and used an EpiPen on herself while 911 was called. Tangsuan later died, and the cause of death was determined to be anaphylaxis. According to the lawsuit, elevated levels of dairy and nuts were found in her system. Piccolo is seeking over $50,000 in damages. Disney initially tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, saying Piccolo had agreed to an arbitration clause prior to Tangsuan's death when he signed up for its streaming service Disney+ and when he bought tickets to a Disney World park. But just days later, Disney reversed course and said it would not seek arbitration. "At Disney, we strive to put humanity above all other considerations. With such unique circumstances as the ones in this case, we believe this situation warrants a sensitive approach to expedite a resolution for the family who have experienced such a painful loss. As such, we've decided to waive our right to arbitration and have the matter proceed in court," Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro said at the time.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Disneyland visitor launches class-action suit over new, stricter disability passes
Last July, San Diego resident Trisha Malone applied for a disability exemption at a booth just outside the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. The Disability Access Service, or DAS, pass she wanted would have allowed her to avoid waiting in time-consuming lines for popular Disney rides. Malone met with personnel representing Disney for her DAS application interview. In that public setting, they solicited private medical information from the disabled woman. After a short exchange, Malone was rejected, as her disability did not meet new, stricter DAS standards. That denial was detailed in a 32-page class-action complaint Malone filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts along with partner Inspire Health Alliance in Orange County Superior Court on Monday. Malone's complaint claims Disney breached confidentiality and invaded her privacy, and violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act and several California civil rights codes. The woman's attorneys claim in the complaint the new DAS pass standard 'unlawfully excludes individuals with other disabilities.' The complaint did not provide any details on the plaintiff's disability. Read more: Disneyland touts a lifetime ban for disability cheats. That's not what's worrying some park-goers She is asking Disney to revert to a previous, less restrictive version of DAS pass enforcement. She is also looking for statutory damages, restitution and the cost of attorney's fees. Her attorneys did not respond to a phone call requesting comment. A Disney spokesperson who asked not to be named said the park strives to provide a great experience for its disabled visitors. 'Disney offers a broad range of effective disability accommodations and has worked extensively with experts to ensure that our guests' individual needs are properly matched with the accommodation they require, and we believe the claims in this complaint are without merit,' the spokesperson said. Disney's DAS pass is not a license to skip waiting. Rather, it provides a pass holder a return time for an attraction, where they'll be placed in line with those who have paid for express, or Lightning Lane, access. In April, Disney announced it was changing the DAS qualifications. The new wording noted that the DAS program, then the most popular at the park, was 'intended to accommodate those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.' Read more: Disneyland fans with disabilities enraged by changes: 'We had the worst day ever there' The changes went into effect May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland. Older standards were much broader, for guests 'who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.' Disney said that as a result of that language, the program's usage tripled between 2019 and 2024. It's these older standards, however, that Malone is requesting. Malone is suing on behalf of several unnamed disabled clients denied a DAS pass since June 18. She included Inspire Health Alliance, which the lawsuit claims provided nurse practitioners who collaborated with Disney staff to determine DAS pass worthiness. Malone's attorneys argue in the complaint that requiring guests to undergo a screening process with eligibility criteria that disproportionately affect individuals with physical disabilities is contrary to California's Unruh Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA. Read more: Disney no longer magical to guests denied Disability Access Service Unruh bans discrimination by California businesses based on age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin and a variety of other factors. Disney has maintained in previous interviews with The Times that it offers many accommodations for its disabled guests. Those include a sensory experience guide to indicate which parts of the park have loud noises, darkness and bumpiness, which rides are fast and which lift off the ground. Disney also offers sign language interpreters, wheelchair and scooter rentals, assistive handheld captioning and video captioning on some rides, and dialogue and narration of scripts on others. As for ride waiting, Disney offers a 'return to queue' process, which allows a party to hold a place in line for a guest with disabilities. There are a few other similar options, including a 'location return time' accommodation offered to those in wheelchairs. Malone's attorneys said those accommodations 'failed to provide equitable access and imposed undue burdens, logistical challenges, emotional distress and safety risks." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
12-02-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Disneyland visitor launches class-action suit over new, stricter disability passes
Last July, San Diego resident Trisha Malone applied for a disability exemption at a booth just outside the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. The Disability Access Service, or DAS, pass she wanted would have allowed her to avoid waiting in time-consuming lines for popular Disney rides. Malone met with personnel representing Disney for her DAS application interview. In that public setting, they solicited private medical information from the disabled woman. After a short exchange, Malone was rejected, as her disability did not meet new, stricter DAS standards. That denial was detailed in a 32-page class-action complaint Malone filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts along with partner Inspire Health Alliance in Orange County Superior Court on Monday. Malone's complaint claims Disney breached confidentiality and invaded her privacy, and violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act and several California civil rights codes. The woman's attorneys claim in the complaint the new DAS pass standard 'unlawfully excludes individuals with other disabilities.' The complaint did not provide any details on the plaintiff's disability. She is asking Disney to revert to a previous, less restrictive version of DAS pass enforcement. She is also looking for statutory damages, restitution and the cost of attorney's fees. Her attorneys did not respond to a phone call requesting comment. A Disney spokesperson who asked not to be named said the park strives to provide a great experience for its disabled visitors. 'Disney offers a broad range of effective disability accommodations and has worked extensively with experts to ensure that our guests' individual needs are properly matched with the accommodation they require, and we believe the claims in this complaint are without merit,' the spokesperson said. Disney's DAS pass is not a license to skip waiting. Rather, it provides a pass holder a return time for an attraction, where they'll be placed in line with those who have paid for express, or Lightning Lane, access. In April, Disney announced it was changing the DAS qualifications. The new wording noted that the DAS program, then the most popular at the park, was 'intended to accommodate those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time.' The changes went into effect May 20 at Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland. Older standards were much broader, for guests 'who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.' Disney said that as a result of that language, the program's usage tripled between 2019 and 2024. It's these older standards, however, that Malone is requesting. Malone is suing on behalf of several unnamed disabled clients denied a DAS pass since June 18. She included Inspire Health Alliance, which the lawsuit claims provided nurse practitioners who collaborated with Disney staff to determine DAS pass worthiness. Malone's attorneys argue in the complaint that requiring guests to undergo a screening process with eligibility criteria that disproportionately affect individuals with physical disabilities is contrary to California's Unruh Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA. Unruh bans discrimination by California businesses based on age, ancestry, color, disability, national origin and a variety of other factors. Disney has maintained in previous interviews with The Times that it offers many accommodations for its disabled guests. Those include a sensory experience guide to indicate which parts of the park have loud noises, darkness and bumpiness, which rides are fast and which lift off the ground. Disney also offers sign language interpreters, wheelchair and scooter rentals, assistive handheld captioning and video captioning on some rides, and dialogue and narration of scripts on others. As for ride waiting, Disney offers a 'return to queue' process, which allows a party to hold a place in line for a guest with disabilities. There are a few other similar options, including a 'location return time' accommodation offered to those in wheelchairs. Malone's attorneys said those accommodations 'failed to provide equitable access and imposed undue burdens, logistical challenges, emotional distress and safety risks.'
