'Stampede' on Main Street USA: Woman suffers 'permanent injuries' by crowd rush at Disney, lawsuit says

Guests stroll along Main Street at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux).

A Pennsylvania woman sued Walt Disney Parks and Resorts over what she says was a “stampede” down Main Street.

Debra O’Steen is demanding at least $50,000 from Disney in a lawsuit filed on Aug. 12 in state court in Orlando, Florida .

The three-page complaint said that on June 25, 2024, O’Steen was walking on the Main Street of Magic Kingdom when the theme park was “packed and extremely busy” ahead of an “event,” which the complaint does not identify.

“Defendant was having an event starting soon and a crowd of people rushed Plaintiff and knocked her over in a stampede in the Main Street,” the complaint says.

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The incident caused “permanent injuries,” including “permanent injury to her body,” lost earnings, and “loss of ability to lead and enjoy a normal life,” the complaint alleges.

“Losses are permanent or continuing and Plaintiff will suffer in the future,” the filing says.

O’Steen argued that Disney was negligent in failing to keep the crowd controlled, failing to maintain safe premises, and failing to warn her about the dangerousness of the situation.

The plaintiff said in her filing that as a result of her injuries, she has suffered mental anguish, lost wages and medical expenses.

O’Steen also noted in her complaint that she was a “ business invitee ” during the time of the incident. This common designation refers to individuals who are invited to enter or remain on property for the purpose of doing business with the landowner. Florida, like most states, affords the greatest degree of legal protection to business invitees and requires landowners to correct or warn business invitees of known dangers. Landowners are also expected to maintain premises in reasonably safe condition, and to warn business invitees about dangers that a reasonable visitor might not recognize.

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O’Steen has asked for a jury trial and is represented by Morgan & Morgan.

Representatives for the parties did not immediately respond to request for comment.

You can read the full complaint here .

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