Pennsylvania Woman Sues Disney Cruise Line After Tripping and Falling over Unmarked Platform Step in Scat Cat Lounge Aboard Disney Treasure
Kelly McCoy, a resident of Pennsylvania, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Magical Cruise Company, Limited, doing business as Disney Cruise Line, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 6:26-cv-01089-AGM-DCI, alleges that McCoy suffered severe and permanent injuries after tripping over an inconspicuous, unmarked platform step inside the Scat Cat Lounge aboard the Disney Treasure on June 9, 2025.
Cruise Passenger Injured Inside Scat Cat Lounge Due to Dim Lighting and Concealed Flooring Elevation Changes
According to the complaint, the incident occurred while McCoy was traveling as a paying passenger aboard the Disney Treasure. While attempting to locate seating inside the vessel’s Scat Cat Lounge, she encountered a dimly lit space with limited walkway room for passengers. As she navigated the lounge, she tripped and fell over a low platform step located near the stage. The lawsuit asserts that the platform step featured the exact same design and pattern as the surrounding flooring surface and completely lacked any distinguishing markings. Because of the identical design patterns and the dim illumination within the venue, McCoy was unable to distinguish or appreciate the sudden change in floor elevation. The complaint states that the hazard was not open or obvious, leaving the passenger with no way of knowing that an unsafe flooring condition existed before her sudden fall.
Disney Cruise Line Accused of Prior Knowledge Regarding Inconspicuous Stage Steps and Passenger Tripping Hazards
The lawsuit alleges that Disney Cruise Line had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous flooring condition within the lounge. McCoy’s legal team claims that the cruise line custom designed and constructed the area without proper regard for passenger safety, failing to account for anticipated crowds, limited walking space, and the venue’s intended purpose. Furthermore, the complaint points out that Disney specifically acquired knowledge of these dangerous elevation risks through routine cleaning, regular inspections, and prior personal injury incidents involving similar tripping hazards across its fleet. To support the claim of prior notice, the lawsuit references a previous maritime case, Colon v. Magical Cruise Company, Limited, where a passenger was injured after tripping over an inconspicuous step near a dimly lit stage aboard the Disney Wonder. McCoy asserts that because the unmarked platform step on the Disney Treasure is a permanent fixture, the cruise line had ample time to identify, warn against, and correct the hazard through the exercise of reasonable care.
Complaint Alleges Negligent Lounge Design, Dangerous Flooring Material Selection, and Lack of Safety Markings on Disney Treasure
In addition to failing to warn passengers, the complaint alleges that Disney was negligent in the overall design, construction, and material selection for the Scat Cat Lounge. The lawsuit notes that Disney custom built the lounge to its own specifications and maintained ultimate control over the design plans, giving it the right to inspect, approve, or reject layout details and flooring materials. McCoy argues that Disney and its construction personnel failed to consider the inherently unsafe nature of the uniform flooring pattern on the stage platform and surrounding walkway. The cruise line allegedly failed to comply with industry safety standards, including ASTM F 1166 standards governing changes in floor levels open to passengers. By selecting matching floor materials for different elevations and failing to incorporate visual safeguards or safety markings, the cruise line allegedly created a deceptive architectural trap for unsuspecting guests.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Right Arm Fracture, Medical Bills, and Lost Vacation Value Following Cruise Ship Fall
McCoy brings three distinct counts of negligence against the cruise line: negligent failure to warn, negligent design, construction, and selection of materials, and general negligence. She asserts that Disney breached its non-delegable duty to provide passengers with reasonable care under the circumstances. As a direct result of the fall, McCoy sustained severe injuries, including a right arm fracture. The lawsuit notes that her physical injuries, physical handicap, pain, mental anguish, and loss of life enjoyment are permanent and continuing in nature, meaning she will continue to suffer impairments into the future. Additionally, the fall caused her to lose wages, suffered an impairment to her overall working ability, and completely stripped her of the benefits and value of her vacation, cruise, and transportation costs.
Contact a Cruise Ship Lounge Injury Lawyer Today if You Were Hurt in a Trip and Fall Accident on a Vessel
Cruise ship passengers who suffer serious injuries due to hidden elevation changes, unmarked steps, or dangerously dim lighting in shipboard lounges and theaters may be entitled to financial recovery under maritime law. Cruise operators have a strict legal obligation to maintain reasonably safe walkways and to clearly mark or warn passengers about any structural hazards that could cause foreseeable harm. If you or a loved one experienced a similar trip and fall incident while traveling on a cruise, reaching out to an experienced maritime attorney can help you protect your rights.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
