Walt Disney World Resort is facing legal action after a guest was allegedly injured while riding the Downhill Double Dipper water slide at Blizzard Beach in July 2021. The incident has led to a lawsuit filed by Eugene Strickland, who claims negligence on the part of Disney, and is now seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
The lawsuit states that Strickland, who weighed 334 pounds at the time, opted to ride the slide despite exceeding the posted weight limit of 300 pounds. According to court records, Strickland boarded the ride in an inner tube, which led to what the lawsuit describes as a “catastrophic sequence of events.”
The Incident Unfolds
As Strickland descended the high-speed slide, known for its exhilarating speeds, the lawsuit alleges that Strickland became airborne due to the design and velocity of the ride. The lawsuit reads, “While sliding down… (Strickland) became momentarily airborne as a result of the ride’s ‘exhilarating speeds’ and design, resulting in Disney’s inner tube becoming forcibly, suddenly and unexpectedly dislodged from underneath (Strickland’s) body.” Strickland then crashed onto the hard plastic surface of the slide, suffering what the lawsuit describes as “permanent catastrophic injuries.”
Though medical specifics are not outlined, the lawsuit accuses Disney of neglecting its duty to ensure safe conditions for park-goers, particularly regarding the enforcement of weight limits and overall slide safety.
Claims of Negligence and a Demand for Damages
The lawsuit places the blame on Disney’s failure to adequately enforce weight restrictions, arguing that the company had a responsibility to ensure the slide was safe for all guests. As a result, Strickland’s legal team is seeking damages of more than $50,000, highlighting what they consider a preventable incident caused by Disney’s negligence.
At this time, Disney has not issued an official response to the lawsuit or the allegations of negligence. Legal experts are closely monitoring the case, which could shed more light on the specifics of the incident and the resort’s safety protocols.
Blizzard Beach’s High-Speed Attraction Under Scrutiny
The Downhill Double Dipper slide is one of Blizzard Beach’s standout attractions, offering visitors the thrill of racing down a steep drop before splashing into a pool below. As a high-speed, popular ride at the park, it attracts a large number of visitors annually. However, incidents like this one raise important questions about safety measures and whether Disney is adequately enforcing its ride restrictions.
This lawsuit comes amid growing attention to theme park safety, as incidents like Strickland’s have led to a renewed focus on the role that park operators play in protecting guests. With Disney facing increasing scrutiny, the outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for how the company approaches safety on its rides, especially those with clear weight limits.
As the case progresses through the legal system, Strickland’s team is determined to hold Disney accountable, arguing that the incident was entirely avoidable. For now, the case highlights broader concerns about ride safety at major theme parks and could lead to changes in the industry’s approach to guest safety in the future.
So if Disney were to really enforce the weight limits, they would need to monitor it at the entrance of the attraction by pulling people out of line who may look to exceed the limits by weighing them, which knowing the litigious nature of people would probably also lead to a lawsuit for publicly weight shaming the individual, hard to see a good outcome when one individual has to mess things up for the rest by not following established rules.