Disney World Legal Battle Ends After Guest Claims Ride Left Him Permanently Injured
A lawsuit involving a Walt Disney World water park has come to an end more than five years after the incident that started it.
Eugene Strickland has voluntarily dismissed his lawsuit against Walt Disney World after previously claiming that a ride on Downhill Double Dipper at Blizzard Beach left him with “permanent catastrophic injuries.”
The incident happened in July 2021, although Strickland did not file his lawsuit against Disney until May 2025. The case remained active for more than a year before he moved to dismiss it in October 2026.
One detail surrounding the incident also attracted attention: Strickland reportedly weighed 334 pounds when he rode Downhill Double Dipper, exceeding the waterslide’s posted 300-pound weight limit.
What Allegedly Happened at Blizzard Beach
Downhill Double Dipper is one of Blizzard Beach’s more intense waterslides. Two guests can race alongside each other on separate slides while riding inner tubes down a roughly 50-foot hill.
According to Strickland’s lawsuit, something went wrong during his trip down the slide.
He alleged that the speed and design of the attraction caused him to become “momentarily airborne.” Strickland claimed the inner tube then suddenly moved out from underneath him, causing his body to land on the surface of the waterslide.
The lawsuit blamed Disney for the incident and alleged that Downhill Double Dipper had “dangerous conditions.”
Strickland claimed the accident resulted in “permanent catastrophic injuries.”
When he filed the lawsuit in May 2025, he sought $50,000 in damages and accused Disney of negligence and failing to maintain a safe premises.
However, the circumstances surrounding Strickland’s decision to ride the attraction included its posted weight restriction. He reportedly weighed 334 pounds at the time, putting him 34 pounds above the slide’s 300-pound limit.
Lawsuit Against Disney Is Dropped
The legal battle will no longer move forward.
On October 2, 2026, Strickland filed to voluntarily dismiss his claims against Walt Disney World.
Under the dismissal, both sides will cover their own attorney fees and legal costs.
No reason was provided for Strickland’s decision to drop the case. Because of that, it isn’t clear what ultimately led to the lawsuit’s dismissal.
The decision nevertheless ends a lengthy timeline that started with a trip to Blizzard Beach in July 2021.
Nearly four years later, Strickland took Disney to court over the incident and alleged that the company was responsible for the injuries he said he suffered.
About 17 months after filing that lawsuit, Strickland has now chosen to dismiss it voluntarily.
The case therefore ends without his negligence claims continuing through the legal process, closing another unusual legal dispute involving an attraction at Walt Disney World.
