Judge throws out Disney Segway lawsuit

A judge from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has thrown out a lawsuit against Walt Disney World aimed at forcing the resort to allow guests with disabilities to ride Segway Human Transporters in its theme parks. U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell dismissed the suit after agreeing with Walt Disney World's stance that none of the three plaintiffs who sued had any standing to do so, because none of them expressed intentions on visiting the resort in the near future. "We asked for dismissal and the court agreed it was appropriate," said Jacquee Polak, acting vice president of Walt Disney World. "We provide a variety of accommodations to guests with disabilities, which allow them to fully enjoy our theme parks." The three plaintiffs sued WDW in November, arguing that Disney violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by forbidding guests from using the upright scooters within its parks. One of them has multiple sclerosis, another has Lou Gehrig's disease and the third lost his foot in a 1999 accident; all cannot walk and say they now rely on Segways for mobility. Disney contends that Segways raise concerns over guests being able to safely maneuver the 2-wheeled vehicles through the crowds at its parks, and says it has no way of knowing whether a guest has had adequate training on the vehicle before entering a park. Disney World has previously been pressured by other groups to allow Segways in its parks. [via The Disney Blog]