DOJ lawsuit puts SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay mobility-device rules under federal scrutiny

Federal action focuses on rollator-walker restrictions at major Central Florida theme parks

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil-rights case examining whether mobility-device rules at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando comply with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The action centers on restrictions affecting “rollator walkers,” a category of wheeled walkers that may include a built-in seat.

Federal officials said the inquiry began after receiving complaints from guests with disabilities who reported being unable to access the parks without their rollators. The complaints also alleged that alternatives offered by the parks did not meet individual mobility needs and, in some cases, required guests to pay additional charges for substitute devices.

What the ADA standards require for mobility aids in public accommodations

Title III governs discrimination by “public accommodations,” a category that includes theme parks. Federal ADA regulations provide that public accommodations must permit individuals with mobility disabilities to use wheelchairs and “manually powered mobility aids,” including walkers, in areas open to pedestrian use. The rules also restrict the use of eligibility criteria that could screen out people with disabilities unless those criteria are necessary to provide the goods or services.

In the federal notice initiating the case, officials also highlighted a regulation that can prohibit surcharges tied to accessibility, including situations where a person with a disability must pay extra to obtain a usable accommodation.

How SeaWorld describes its rollator-seat policy and the alternatives it offers

SeaWorld Orlando’s published accessibility guidance states that rollators with seats are not permitted. The document describes the basis for the restriction as a safety concern tied to improper use, specifically situations in which a person is seated while another person pushes the device. The guidance also states that the park has continued to observe misuse and safety-related incidents despite prior efforts, including requiring signed waivers.

The same guidance states that guests may use personal rollators that do not have seats and that the park provides, at no cost, a park-issued rollator without a seat or a wheelchair for guests arriving with a device that does not meet the policy. It further states that the non-permitted device can be checked and held while the guest uses a park-provided alternative, and that seating is available throughout the park.

What is known—and not yet determined—about the federal case

At this stage, federal officials have not announced findings on whether the parks’ practices violate the ADA. The government’s notice describes the inquiry as a fact-gathering process and requests a meeting with company representatives to obtain information about the policy and its implementation.

The case is directed at United Parks & Resorts Inc., the operator of SeaWorld-branded and Busch Gardens-branded parks and related attractions. The federal action specifically names SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Aquatica Orlando as parks referenced in complaints involving rollator walkers with seats.

• Focus of the case: restrictions affecting rollator walkers with seats and whether they unlawfully limit access.
• Key factual question: whether the restrictions are justified under ADA standards and how alternatives are provided in practice.
• Status: investigation and legal review underway; no federal conclusions announced.

The outcome will likely turn on how the policy operates at the entrance, what devices are disallowed, what alternatives are offered immediately, and whether any added costs or conditions effectively limit equal access for guests with mobility disabilities.