Disney has got to be one of the single best places you can go and spend a vacation. Especially when you've got your kids with you. But, things aren't always straight out of the movies. And after one tourist allegedly had a pretty bad experience with bed bugs, he's taking Disney to court.
As reported by the Daily Mail, David Besse filed a lawsuit on March 31 accusing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts of two counts of negligence. The suit was filed in Florida's Orange County Circuit Court.
Besse alleges that he was "bitten numerous times by cimicidae ('bed bugs'," during a visit on May 15, 2022. He is now seeking damages in excess of $50,000. The crux of his claim is that Disney never properly trained their staff so bed bugs wouldn't infest rooms.
The lawsuit reads, "As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's [Disney's] negligence, Plaintiff... suffered scarring, bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life, medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of the ability to earn money, financial loss, and property damage."
Translated from legalese... he says the bed bugs messed him up pretty badly. The lawsuit added that Besse's losses "are either permanent or continuing".
Videos by Wide Open Country
Just How Bad Are Bed Bugs?
Well, they're pretty darn frustrating at the best of times. According to the Mayo Clinic, while bed bugs don't carry disease on their own, their bites can cause itchy allergic reactions.
The symptoms of bed bug bites are pretty similar to most other insect bites. Think inflamed itchy red spots. The reaction to them can differ, though - while some people don't suffer too bad with them, others get quite bad allergic reactions and can suffer with blisters or hives.
They're pretty sneaky creatures, too. Bed bugs can be found in clothing, luggage, in and around bedding, anywhere where or around people tend to sleep. They also spread this way, too. The most common way they spread is through travelling on clothing or luggage.
The worst part? They don't care about the environment - so even if your house (or your hotel room) is lovely and clean, they might still be there. It's recommended to check in and around bedding and check for shed skin and rust-colored spots in order to find them.
