The Walt Disney Company is a massive corporation that employs hundreds of thousands of people, and Walt Disney World is a huge Resort that welcomes millions of visitors per year. Due to this, Disney is constantly dealing with lawsuits filed by Guests who visited The Most Magical Place on Earth. Guests will sue for various things and sometimes Disney will quietly settle and pay medical expenses and other times the cases are dropped as Disney proves they are not close to being at fault.
Recently, a woman filed a lawsuit against The House of Mouse for a fall that she took while visiting Disney’s BoardWalk. The woman claims that the injury happened in October 2020 — just a few months after Walt Disney World Resort reopened after its pandemic closure — but she filed the lawsuit earlier this year with the Orange County Court.
Disney’s BoardWalk can be found in the EPCOT resort area and can take Guests to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The BoardWalk is home to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, a number of delicious restaurants like Flying Fish Café, and fun activities for families. Guests can also walk around Crescent Lake and get to Disney’s Yacht Club and the Beach Club.
On or about October 19, 2020, the Plaintiff was an invitee at the aforementioned Boardwalk Resort owned, managed, controlled and/or maintained by Defendant when Plaintiff tripped and fell over decaying woods beams and uneven walking surface where the wooden boardwalk met the concrete walkway.
As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant’s breach of its duties, [the Plaintiff] suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, aggravation of a pre-existing condition, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care and treatment, loss of earnings, and loss of ability to earn money. The losses are either permanent or continuing and Plaintiff shall suffer the losses in the future.
The plaintiff is suing Disney Vacation Club Management and claiming negligence on DVC Management’s part. The plaintiff claims that the company was negligent in the following ways:
a. Creating the condition which caused Plaintiff’s injury; b. Failing to timely and properly inspect its property for potentially dangerous or unsafe conditions, including the one previously alleged; and c. Failing to warn the Plaintiff of an unreasonably dangerous condition; d. Failing to exercise reasonable care in the maintenance, inspection, repair, or warning of the premises; e. Failing to provide adequate and reasonable maintenance of the property, including but not limited to any fixtures; f. Failing to provide proper lighting on the subject premises; g. Failing to provide reasonably safe premises in other ways which may be determined through discovery.
The woman and Disney Vacation Club Management are still currently in litigation on the lawsuit.
This is not the first injury lawsuit filed recently against Disney. A woman slipped and fell at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in 2020 and died of blunt force trauma, and her cousin is suing Disney. Another family filed a lawsuit on behalf of their young son, who injured his hand on a metal sign at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports and had to have several fingers amputated.
Another woman who is suing Disney claims that she went down a Disney World hotel slide, hit the bottom of the pool, and now suffers injuries that will last the rest of her life. A different woman has decided to sue Disney, claiming she was injured when an electric scooter ran into her while she was in a Park. Anyone can rent a scooter at a Disney Park, so scooter injury lawsuits are not all that uncommon.
Disney’s practice is to not comment on pending litigation.
We’re gearing up to make a seaside splash at Disney’s BoardWalk! Over the next few years, we’ll be bringing new enhancements and offerings to life along this beloved, turn-of-the-century promenade – from a charming new lobby design and nearby coffee bar to delectable dining options, refreshed guest rooms and other special touches.
Waterside strolls will be extra special with storybook sweet treats and dreamy desserts at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, a new table service restaurant and bakery that’s sure to delight. Expected to open in 2023, this restaurant will offer both savory and dessert menus, along with afternoon tea service, in a whimsical atmosphere that complements the magic of the idyllic charm of Disney’s BoardWalk that Guests know and love.
And with this new sweet spot on the horizon, the BoardWalk Bakery will become a new sandwich shop for Guests to enjoy a bite along the water’s edge, joining other current food and beverage locations like BoardWalk Ice Cream.
Through the doors of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, light and airy touches will reinvigorate the lobby, lounge and guest rooms, carrying the seaside breeze right inside. Just off the lobby, a new coffee bar with artisanal beverages and quick bites will be available to-go or in newly refreshed seating spaces inside or outdoors.
The Disney Resort hotel experience is a special part of what makes each Walt Disney World vacation truly memorable. As one of 31 themed resorts in the Disney Resorts Collection, Disney’s BoardWalk offers something for everyone – from shopping and dining to entertainment and recreation. We look forward to sharing new details about these enhancements at the resort as they become available.
Calling all Disney foodie fans! We previously shared the exciting news that select Walt Disney World Resort restaurants were finally returning to operation. After closing its door in March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this favorite Disney Resort restaurant has officially reopened!
Disney is on a reopening roll and we hope it just keeps coming! Disney Park Trams are back in operation, several Disney Resort restaurants are reopening, spa services at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort are returning, and exciting entertainment like the date reveal for Magic Kingdom’s “Festival of Fantasy” Parade are all making a comeback.
If you’re a fan of incredible dining, this Walt Disney World restaurant should be on your must-do list. That’s right, it’s time to head on over to the BoardWalk where you’ll find Flying Fish! From some of the best seafood we’ve ever had to the perfectly good steaks, this contemporary American restaurant on Disney’s BoardWalk has opened its doors after well over 650 days of being closed.
Disney Cast Members are celebrating the return as well! Walt Disney World Cast and Community took to Facebook on January 27 to share, “Back on the boardwalk! Cast Members are ready to “sea” you at Flying Fish, which reopens today at Disney’s BoardWalk! Congratulations on bringing back another favorite experience for our Guests.”
Jeff Vahle, the President of Walt Disney World Resort, took to Instagram to share some photos of the reopening with the note, “Flying Fish is back! I was excited to join Culinary Director Lenny DeGeorge, Executive Chefs Andy Larkin and Tony Deluca, Chef Tim Majoras, and the rest of the team as they welcomed their first Guests today. We’re so excited to be opening this back up for our Guests to enjoy. Thanks to our Food & Beverage Cast Members who made it happen and congrats to everyone involved!”
If you’ve never dined at Flying Fish restaurant before, you’ll want to be aware that reservations 60-days in advance are highly recommended, plus, there is a dress code for the Signature Dining experience. Men must wear khakis, slacks or dress shorts and collared shirts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition. Sport coats are optional. Women must wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses, or dress shorts. Jeans may be worn if in good condition.
In other words, this is a Disney signature restaurant that you’ll want to clean up for after a Disney Park day. Go ahead and leave the tank top, flip-flops, and swimsuits back in the Resort room.
Disney describes Flying Fish as “Seasonal Fare, Perfectly Prepared” with “Savor a sophisticated interpretation of nostalgic seaside meals—our menu exudes pure epicurean genius. Step inside and discover a warm, welcoming ambiance that defines luxury dining. Unexpected details—in our impeccable décor and menu—are sure to impress Guests. Each delicious dish is more mouthwatering and visually stunning than the next… we’ve fire-roasted gourmet seafood into fine art.”
“Peer into the open kitchen from your exquisitely set table and watch our master chefs create one culinary masterpiece after another using the freshest ingredients—choose from a variety of succulent specialties that might include perfectly seared scallops and slow-roasted pork belly.”
During dinner, indulge in a diverse selection of handpicked wines chosen to complement the cuisine, as well as our signature cocktails. Be sure to treat your sweet tooth to an assortment of seasonal desserts for an unforgettable mealtime finale!”
Visiting Walt Disney World over the Easter season? You’re in luck! Disney has announced they will offer Resort Easter Egg Displays at select Walt Disney World Resorts. Check out the line up below as you begin planning your Easter visit!
Resort Easter Egg Displays: Our talented pastry chefs have created eggs-travagantly detailed pieces of sweet edible art that will be on display at various resort locations.
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort – Lobby area (available for viewing Mar. 26-April 4)
Disney’s Grand Floridan Resort & Spa – Lobby area, concierge level, and Grand Floridian Café lobby (available for viewing Mar. 15-April 4)
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort – Carriage House (available for viewing Apr. 1-11)
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort – Beach Club lobby, Yacht Club lobby, Ale & Compass Restaurant, The Market at Ale & Compass (available for viewing Mar. 18-Apr. 4)
If you are staying on Disney property, deciding which resort to stay at can have a huge impact on your stay. Each resort has its own unique qualities that you need to take into account and factors which must be looked into to ensure you have the best time possible. Some of those factors are
cost
location
dining options
transportation options
party size/room size
amenities
Disney offers 3 types of resorts that while they have their own uniqueness, they are similar in a lot of ways.
Deluxe Resorts
The Disney World Deluxe Resort Hotels are the highest tier of on-site Disney hotels, and understandably so.
Aside from the luxury of the resorts themselves, distance to parks and ease in transportation is a huge benefit of the Disney deluxe resorts. A majority of them are significantly closer to one or more of the Disney parks. Also, there’s a wider variety of transportation options, from boats to monorails.
Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian Hotels are all just a monorail ride away to Magic Kingdom. The Polynesian and Grand Floridian also offer boat access to Magic Kingdom (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge too).
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn are within walking distance (or a boat ride) to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the closest deluxe hotel to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Another great perk of the Disney deluxe resorts is that they offer both quick-service and table-service dining options. Many of the Disney World deluxe resorts even have character dining. For example, The Contemporary has Chef Mickey’s and the Grand Floridian has 1900 Park Fare where characters are constant.
The Disney deluxe resort hotels offer the most recreation options.
At the Magic Kingdom and Boardwalk hotels, boat rentals are a fun option for a relaxing day around the resort. Depending on which you choose, you’ll have a basketball, volleyball or tennis courts to play on — or a combination of the three!
Each of the Deluxe hotels has multiple, gorgeous pools and a hot tub for you to enjoy.
There are 8 Deluxe resorts;
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
There are also 12 Deluxe Villa resorts;
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Moderate Resorts
Moderate Resorts tends to have more variety in terms of amenities, layout, dining, and transportation options in comparison to Value resorts, but certainly, don’t have all the bells and whistles of Deluxe resorts.
As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” Moderates resorts are a great middle-ground.
All Moderate resorts offer bus transportation to and from the theme parks. Unlike Value resorts, Moderates have multiple bus stops throughout each resort (with the exception of Port Orleans – French Quarter). This means that you won’t have to walk too far to catch a bus.
Port Orleans Riverside
Boat transportation is available at the following resorts: Fort Wilderness has a ferry to Magic Kingdom, while French Quarter and Riverside share ferry service to Disney Springs.
Moderates are some of the largest resorts at Disney World. Port Orleans – French Quarter is the one exception, as it is a relatively small resort by Disney World standards.
Each resort feels like its own world, spread out and away from the bustle of the park. It feels as though you are staying in an all-inclusive resort island; buildings/areas are separated from one other with walking trails and water features are found throughout the properties. Unlike most Disney World properties, you get more of a sense of tranquil isolation.
Cabins @ Fort Wilderness
One downside to the larger, spread-out Moderate resorts is that choosing a room location becomes an important factor. Rooms closer to the lobby, main pool, and dining areas are often more expensive and in higher demand. However, securing a better location means that you won’t have to walk as far to dine after a long day at the park.
Caribbean Beach
All Moderates have both a quick-service restaurant and a table-service restaurant. The one exception is Port Orleans French Quarter (no table service option). However, this isn’t really a problem because guests can easily walk to Boatwright’s Dining Hall (Port Orleans – Riverside).
Moderate resorts have a great selection of pools. Moderates have additional features like water slides and hot tubs.
There are 5 Moderate resorts;
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Value Resorts
Disney Value resorts are the most affordable, budget-friendly lodging on Disney World property.
Value Resorts are some of the furthest Walt Disney resorts from the parks.
All-Star Movies
The good news is the guests at Value resorts can easily access all of the Disney World theme parks via free Disney transportation. The downside is that the only transportation option available to Value resort guests is bus service (ie, no direct monorail or boat access).
However, buses operate through the day and transport guests directly to and from every Disney World theme park. Bus stops are conveniently located in the front of each resort.
As far as Disney World resorts go, Value Resorts are the most “Disney-ish,” kid-friendly resorts in the park. Each resort has its own overall theme, with each building/wing of a resort themed around a Disney movie, musical style, sport, decade, or some other specific element.
For example, All-Star Sports has a “surfing” wing, All-Star Movies has a “Toy Story” wing, and Art of Animation has a section of family suites themed after “Finding Nemo.” These themed areas and elements are lots of fun – for kids and adults alike!
Art of Animation Big Blue Pool
While the exterior of each building exudes a lot of character with fun themes and icons of Disney personalities, the interiors have minimal decor. For the most part, the rooms are basic and no-frills.
Standard room size at Pop Century and the 3 All-Star resorts are 260 square feet, while Art of Animation is 277 square feet. This compares with roughly 314 square feet at moderate resorts. Maximum occupancy is 4 people (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib).
While none of the Disney Value resorts have water slides, each has their own themed-pools.
Pools at Value resorts tend to be a little smaller than the pools at Moderate and Deluxe resorts. However, there is one notable exception: Art of Animation’s Big Blue Pool is the largest pool at Disney World.
Each of the 5 Disney Value resorts has their own food court. These meals count as Quick Service meals.
None of the Disney Value resorts offer Table Service meals.
