A New Jersey child suffered whiplash during Peter Pan’s flight, according to a new lawsuit filed this week by his father against Disney.
Daniel Blanco said his child was riding the iconic Magic Kingdom attraction on May 18 when the ride malfunctioned and stopped unexpectedly.
“When the ride operator announced that it would resume service, the ride shook violently, causing Plaintiff’s head to strike the ride,” the more than $50,000 lawsuit filed Monday in Orange Circuit Court said. “The whiplash was not part of a normal ride. It was a malfunction and caused Plaintiff severe and permanent injuries.”
The complaint does not specify what the injuries were.
Blanco is represented by Morgan & Morgan, which declined to comment for this article. It is unclear how old the minor child was. This ride is family-friendly and has no height restrictions, so it’s fun for all ages.
Disney World did not report anyone seriously injured at its attractions on May 18, based on state injury reports, but the parks have strict rules that require them to disclose injuries. Theme parks are only supposed to publicly acknowledge an incident if someone is injured or falls ill during an attraction and requires hospitalization for at least 24 hours.
Eight people have been injured at attractions since 2006, according to theme park injury reports. However, it is worth bearing in mind that millions of people visit Magic Kingdom every year.
In a recent incident, a 4-year-old boy with a chronic illness suffered a seizure after riding in a vehicle in 2019. Two adults suffered seizures and chest pain while riding the vehicle. Most of the accidents occurred on moving platforms where vehicles are being unloaded. According to reports, in 2009 a 74-year-old woman lost her balance on her unloading belt, hit her head and broke her wrist.
The classic ride, based on a children’s movie, has been open since 1971.
Morgan & Morgan is also suing Disney over injuries to another Disney World visitor. Last month, WDWNT reported on a woman who filed a lawsuit after a monorail door slammed shut, trapping her until other passengers rescued her. Rebecca Vanturini is suing for more than $50,000 for injuries sustained in the March incident. The lawsuit is still pending.
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