Disney Sued Over Little Mermaid Ride Design Flaw

A Pennsylvania woman is suing Disney after she suffered a fractured fibula while waiting to board the Little Mermaid ride at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in August 2024. Deborah Montgomery, 61, was using an electric mobility scooter to navigate the park when her left foot got wedged in a six-inch crevice between the floor and a cave wall.

The complaint alleges that the crevice was caused by excessive running and cross slopes, exceeding applicable codes by four to seven times. This design flaw created a hazardous condition for guests using electric scooters, which are now commonly used in Disney parks offered through affiliate vendors.

Montgomery's lawsuit accuses Disney of failing to provide a safe means of ingress and entrances, inspect or maintain the pathways leading to the embarkment platform, and allowing the design and construction of the pathways to have a 20 percent running slope at the area under the crevice. This is four times greater than the permissible slope of 5 percent.

Montgomery's husband, Matthew, has also joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff, claiming loss of consortium due to Disney's negligence and carelessness. He alleges that he has suffered from lost sleep, career and earnings suffering, and loss of life's pleasure.