The US Department of Justice has sued SeaWorld parent company United Parks & Resorts, claiming that its policy banning guests with disabilities from using wheeled walkers with seats, including rollators, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The lawsuit alleges that United Parks & Resorts' policy, which took effect in November 2025, prevents children, veterans and other guests with disabilities from accessing its theme parks, therefore violating the ADA.
It also alleges that the company imposes unfair rental fees on guests with disabilities who arrived with rollators or similar and refuses to reasonably modify its policies to avoid discrimination.
“The ADA requires equal access for people with disabilities, and theme parks such as SeaWorld are no exception,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a statement.
"Under my leadership, the division is committed to defending the rights of all Americans with disabilities, as the law requires."
The lawsuit seeks a court order that would force United Parks & Resorts to stop discriminatory practices, update its policies to align with federal law, and provide ADA training for its staff members.
In addition, it seeks monetary damages to compensate people affected by the policy and is demanding that United Parks & Resorts pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.
In a statement, United Parks & Resorts said it "disagrees with the claims asserted in the Department of Justice’s complaint and will respond through the legal process".
It added: "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. We believe our approach is consistent with the requirements of the ADA and reflects our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive experience."
Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the Sesame Street brand, has also sued United Parks & Resorts, alleging that it has not been paying royalties and that it shortened the operations of a Sesame Place theme park with limited notice.
Images courtesy of United Parks & Resorts
