Disney Cruise Passengers Blinded by Excessively Bright Theater Lights
A passenger on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas has filed a lawsuit against the company after she fell down the stairs in the ship's theater. The incident occurred during the second night of a four-night Thanksgiving voyage last November.
Cynthia Manning, a Florida resident, claimed that she was 'temporarily blinded' by excessively bright stage lights pointed directly into her eyes as she entered the Walt Disney Theater on the 4,000-passenger vessel. The theater has a capacity of 1,274 people and hosts Broadway-style shows, including a production of The Little Mermaid.
The complaint states that Manning was severely injured while descending the stairs in the theater due to several 'dangerous and/or defective conditions', including uneven steps, inadequate lighting, and missing handrails. It also accuses Disney of failing to correct the intensity and alignment of the stage lighting, which led to Manning's fall.
The lawsuit claims that the issues with the theater have existed since the vessel was launched in 2022, giving Disney enough time to take corrective measures. However, there were no caution signs or cones placed in the area where the incident occurred, and no warning was given to passengers about the blinding stage lights.
Manning is seeking a money judgment to be determined by a jury, including economic damages for medical expenses, non-economic damages for pain and suffering, and court costs. Her attorney, Eric Rice of Morgan & Morgan, stated that 'our goal is to secure justice and ensure this does not happen to others in the future.'