The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing several major theme parks of failing to accommodate people with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The agency sued United Parks & Resorts Inc. over a policy banning rollators and other wheeled walkers with seats. The company owns or licenses theme parks including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Sesame Place, among others.
The ADA requires theme parks to allow those with disabilities to use mobility aids like walkers in pedestrian areas, the Justice Department said. The policy prohibiting certain walkers, which took effect at some United Parks properties in November 2025, keeps individuals with disabilities — including children — from accessing the parks, according to the lawsuit filed this month in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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The Justice Department launched an investigation into United Parks late last year over the walker policy after receiving complaints from people with disabilities about the ban at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando. Guests indicated that the only option they were offered to access the theme parks was to pay for mobility aids that were not appropriate for their needs.
Around that time, the lawsuit indicates that a wheeled walker ban was added at Discovery Cove Orlando and policies at SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando were updated to reflect that complimentary rollators without seats or wheelchairs are available to those who arrive with a mobility aid that is not permitted.
“Rollators with seats can pose a safety concern when not used properly, particularly when someone is seated and the device is pushed by another person. Despite reminders and previous steps, including requiring signed waivers, we continued to see misuse and safety-related incidents. For these reasons, rollators with seats are not permitted,” the updated policies indicated.
The Justice Department said that the policy remains at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove Orlando, but Busch Gardens Tampa Bay removed the wheeled walker ban from its website this month.
Since launching its investigation, the Justice Department said it continues to receive complaints including one from the mother of an 8-year-old whose pediatric posterior walker was denied by SeaWorld Orlando even though it was selected by the child’s medical team. Instead, the child was offered an adult-sized rollator without a seat or a wheelchair, neither of which were appropriate.
“The ADA requires theme park companies like UPR to provide guests with equal access, regardless of ability,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida who brought the suit. “This complaint reinforces our commitment to holding public accommodations in the Middle District of Florida accountable when they engage in disability discrimination.”
The Justice Department is seeking a court order forcing United Parks to modify its policies and train its staff on the ADA. In addition, the government wants a civil penalty and damages for affected individuals.
United Parks said it disagrees with the Justice Department’s claims.
“The policy at issue was implemented to address repeated safety incidents involving misuse of rollators with seats and was designed to enhance guest safety while continuing to provide accessible options for all guests. We offer alternative mobility devices at no cost to ensure guests can fully enjoy our parks,” the company said in a statement. “We believe our approach is consistent with the requirements of the ADA and reflects our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive experience.”
