Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
A day at Disney Springs has now turned into a legal fight.
Walt Disney World Resort faces no shortage of lawsuits every year, ranging from ride-related complaints to slip-and-fall cases across hotels, water parks, and walkways.
Credit: Disney
Some are quietly dismissed. Others move further into Florida’s court system and reignite broader conversations around guest safety at one of the world’s busiest vacation destinations.
The latest complaint centers on Disney Springs, the sprawling retail and dining district that attracts millions of visitors annually with restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and branded shopping experiences tied to Disney World.
Among the district’s busiest stops is Vivoli il Gelato, the long-running dessert location known for oversized sundaes, Italian-style gelato, milkshakes, and outdoor seating in The Landing area of Disney Springs.
Credit: Disney
Now, that seating area sits at the center of a newly filed lawsuit.
Lawsuit Targets Disney Springs Seating Area
Court records filed in Orange County on May 15 accuse Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. and Vivoli Orlando LLC of negligence following an alleged incident at Vivoli il Gelato on June 4, 2024.
According to the complaint, Laura McDonald and Brandon Kilbourne were customers seated outside the venue at the time of the alleged accident.
The lawsuit claims Kilbourne stood up from a table connected to multiple chairs before the allegedly unsecured furniture suddenly flipped over.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs allege both guests suffered “serious injuries” during the incident.
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The complaint further alleges the companies failed to properly inspect, maintain, and secure the seating area involved.
Court filings also claim the allegedly dangerous condition remained in place for “an unreasonable length of time” before the incident allegedly occurred.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding $50,000, alleging “pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, and aggravation of a previously existing condition.”
Disney World Continues Facing Guest Injury Lawsuits
The Disney Springs lawsuit arrives during another busy stretch of legal challenges tied to alleged guest injuries across Walt Disney World Resort.
Earlier this year, Disney responded to a complaint filed by Kentucky resident Rhonda Smith, who alleged she suffered permanent injuries after tripping near the trolley tracks on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom.
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According to court filings, Smith claimed the embedded rails created dangerous gaps and uneven walking surfaces that led to her fall in October 2025.
Disney denied liability in its response, arguing the trolley tracks were “open and obvious” and that guests are expected to use reasonable care while walking through the park.
Another recent case centered on Typhoon Lagoon’s Humunga Kowabunga water slide.
A judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice in January 2026 after a guest previously alleged she suffered “severe and permanent” injuries on the attraction following what attorneys described as a “painful wedgie.”
Credit: Disney
Disney has also faced legal scrutiny outside the parks themselves.
In late 2025, Florida resident Luisa Hanfling filed a separate complaint tied to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village after allegedly slipping near the Samawati Springs Pool area earlier that year.
That lawsuit similarly accused Disney of failing to maintain safe conditions for guests visiting the resort.
Have you ever experienced a safety issue during a visit to Walt Disney World Resort?
