Disney is being sued by a dog trainer who brings service dogs to the parks. If you’ve been to Disney Parks, then you’ve probably seen plenty of service dogs as many trainers bring them to the parks to expose them to crowds. One trainer however, has filed a lawsuit in Orlando federal court this week alleging discrimination and retaliation by Walt Disney Parks and Resort.
Susan Grill claims that the cast members, Disney security, and managers harass her when she brings her dogs to the parks. Grill, who has epilepsy and migraines filed a complaint in May 2017 with the Florida Commission on Human Rights, and she believes Disney is retaliating against her for filing it, the lawsuit said.
Disney allows service animals — a dog or a miniature horse trained to help their owners with disabilities, according to Disney’s definition — at most places within its Orlando theme parks and hotels, according to its website.
“This person’s complaints were already reviewed by the Florida Commission on Human Rights, which found that no unlawful practice occurred,” a Disney spokeswoman said in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, in February 2017, Grill took a stroll around Disney Springs with three poodles. Grill often trains her dogs at Disney to adjust them to crowds. “All three were well-behaved and were wearing clearly labeled gear identifying them as ‘service dogs,’” the lawsuit said.
Two Disney security guards stopped her and told her she could not train her dogs on Disney property, the suit said. An Orange County deputy sheriff who also approached her demanded to see the dogs’ certification papers and said the poodles were “fake,” the suit says.
Disney security told Grill she couldn’t leave until their case was closed — which made her feel intimidated, she said in the lawsuit. A Disney Springs manager allowed Grill to stay but warned she was forbidden from returning with the dogs. Grill tried to argue, and the manager told her to leave immediately, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit alleged Disney’s head of security told Grill “…If she did not want people to grab her service dog and scream curse words at her, then she should not bring her service dog to the Disney Parks,” the lawsuit said.