A guest's visit to a popular Walt Disney World hotel has resulted in a new lawsuit against Disney.
The legal complaint was filed in Orange County, Florida, and centers on an alleged slip-and-fall accident at Disney's Riviera Resort, one of the newer hotels at Walt Disney World.
Opened in 2019, Disney's Riviera Resort is a Disney Vacation Club property inspired by the French and Italian Riviera. The resort is connected to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios via the Disney Skyliner and is home to the character dining experience at Topolino's Terrace.
According to the lawsuit, however, a routine visit to the resort ended with serious injuries.
Lawsuit Alleges Water Created Dangerous Condition
The complaint alleges the incident occurred on June 28, 2024.
According to the filing, the plaintiff was attending a character breakfast at Disney's Riviera Resort and was lawfully on the property as a business invitee.
The lawsuit states that at around 11 a.m., she was walking through an interior hallway toward the restaurant area.
While moving through the corridor, she allegedly encountered water that had accumulated on the floor near a drinking fountain.
According to the complaint, the drinking fountain was located in a busy interior hallway next to a restroom.
The plaintiff alleges she slipped on the water and fell to the ground.
The lawsuit states she struck her head, neck, back, shoulder, spine, and other parts of her body during the fall.
According to the filing, she immediately experienced pain, headaches, disorientation, and other symptoms.
The complaint further alleges that her “serious bodily injuries” included “orthopedic, neurologic, cognitive, and neuropsychological injuries, together with resulting damages.”
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000.
According to the filing, the plaintiff continues to face medical expenses and has been recommended for shoulder surgery.
Complaint Claims Disney Knew About the Issue
A central claim in the lawsuit is that the water accumulation was not a one-time event.
According to the complaint, water routinely collected in the area because of the drinking fountain's location and the number of guests passing through the hallway.
The filing alleges the condition was recurring and foreseeable.
The lawsuit further claims Disney knew, or should have known, that water regularly accumulated in the area but failed to adequately address the issue.
According to the complaint, Disney failed to inspect and monitor the area, remove the water, maintain the space in a reasonably safe condition, or provide warning signs alerting guests to the alleged hazard.
The plaintiff also argues that the condition was not open and obvious.
The Riviera Resort lawsuit follows several other recent guest injury claims involving Walt Disney World property.
In December, a negligence lawsuit alleged a guest suffered permanent injuries after tripping over a raised walkway paver at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
That same month, another lawsuit alleged a guest tripped on trolley tracks near Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. Disney denied liability in that case and argued that the guest failed to exercise reasonable care for her own safety.
The Riviera Resort case remains pending.
Do you think Disney does enough to keep guests safe at its resorts and theme parks? Share your thoughts in the comments.
