Guest Ignored Blizzard Beach’s Weight Limit, Leading to $50K Lawsuit After Injury on Popular Slide
Walt Disney World Resort is facing a lawsuit after a guest allegedly suffered serious injuries while riding the Downhill Double Dipper water slide at Blizzard Beach in July 2021. The incident, which led to Eugene Strickland filing a lawsuit, has sparked concerns about the safety protocols at the resort’s popular attractions.
The lawsuit claims that Strickland, who weighed approximately 334 pounds at the time, decided to ride the high-speed slide, despite the ride’s posted weight limit of 300 pounds. Strickland boarded the ride in an inner tube, and according to the legal filing, his descent down the slide led to a series of unfortunate events. The lawsuit details that Strickland became airborne during the ride, which caused the inner tube to become unexpectedly dislodged. This caused Strickland to land forcefully onto the hard plastic surface of the slide, resulting in “permanent catastrophic injuries,” as described in the lawsuit.
The Incident and the Resulting Lawsuit
The legal filing accuses Disney of negligence, arguing that the company failed to enforce proper safety measures, especially in regard to the ride’s weight limit and the maintenance of safe conditions on the slide. The lawsuit demands over $50,000 in damages, claiming that Disney neglected its responsibility to prevent such a dangerous incident.
The case draws attention to potential gaps in Disney’s safety protocols, particularly regarding ride restrictions and the overall design of attractions like the Downhill Double Dipper. Despite the claim of injuries, Disney has yet to release a public statement addressing the allegations made by Strickland or any specifics about the incident.
Will Disney Win?
The Downhill Double Dipper slide is one of Blizzard Beach’s most popular attractions, known for its exhilarating speeds and steep drop. While Strickland’s lawsuit centers on the dangerous conditions and the lack of enforcement of the weight limit, it also raises concerns about the overall safety measures at high-speed rides within the park. This incident underscores the importance of addressing both the physical design of such attractions and the rigorous enforcement of posted safety rules.
While Disney is known for its emphasis on guest safety, this lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about the enforcement of ride restrictions, particularly as theme parks continue to grow in size and popularity. The case is likely to draw more attention to the safety practices of other major parks and could potentially lead to increased scrutiny in the industry regarding ride management and accident prevention.
As the lawsuit continues to make its way through the courts, many are looking to see how Disney will respond to these concerns and what actions they will take to ensure the safety of future guests. This case could serve as a pivotal moment for both the resort and the industry, setting potential precedents for future ride safety measures.
Seriously the guy needs to take responsibility for not following directions, he would be quite upset if they weighed him before he got on
You are 100 percent correct. He has proably sued others rather than working.
He is responsible for himself,he would of seen the signs and still went ahead , would he have sued if he was told “you’re too fat too ride” ? probably claim for hurt feelings. SMH
Rotunda L’Ardass disobeyed the rules. He is owed nothing.
Frivolous lawsuit – there are weight restrictions for a reason. If you choose to ignore them, then that’s on you. If they weighed you publicly and told you you couldn’t ride, you would be claiming discrimination. Whatever happened to taking responsibility for your own actions?
Gimme a break! When is this fatty and others like him going to take responsibility for their own stupity?
It is not as if Disney has a weight scale alongside the ride entrance (that would open up a totally different lawsuit). It’s not a height restriction situation. Disney relies on its guest’s to be responsible and follow guidelines and restrictions. This man went on the ride knowing he was above the weight restriction and took his own chances. He needs to acknowledge his own negligence. It is not Disney’s fault he was hurt. This is not the same situation as the young boy who died on a ride at a nearby park because he exceeded the weight restriction. His safety seat buckle did not connect and the ride should’ve immediately stopped. This is a wholly different situation. Sir… accept your own negligence.
There is no way that this lawsuit should even proceed. It should be thrown out with any and all court cost being the responsibility of the person suing. Maybe Disney should build a different slide to accommodate people like this. Instead of ending in a splashdown pool it could empty into a salad bar!
If you decide to ignore weight or height restrictions that are posted, then you are responsible for any and all injuries that occur. People need to be responsible for their own actions, and stop blaming others. This case should be thrown out, period.