A Florida guest has filed a Disney World bed bug lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, seeking more than $50,000 over bites he says he suffered during a 2022 stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. David Besse filed the complaint in Orange County Circuit Court on March 31, 2026, accusing Disney of negligence for failing to inspect rooms and take basic steps to prevent an infestation.1People. Guest Sues Disney World for Over $50K After Alleged Bed Bug Infestation
What Besse Says Happened at the Resort
Besse checked into Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort on May 15, 2022, and says he was “bitten numerous times” by bed bugs during the stay.1People. Guest Sues Disney World for Over $50K After Alleged Bed Bug Infestation The property is one of Disney’s “Value” category hotels, built for budget travelers and high guest turnover.2Inside the Magic. New Guest Lawsuit Claims He Was Bitten by Bed Bugs at Disney World’s All-Star Sports Resort
His complaint describes lasting harm from the bites: “scarring, bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life,” plus medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage.3Toronto Sun. Disney World Resort Sued Over Alleged Bedbugs Infestation The filing calls those injuries “permanent or continuing.”4NDTV. Guest Sues Disney World Resort Florida for $50,000 Over Bed Bug Infestation
How Disney Allegedly Fell Short
The complaint brings two counts of negligence against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, arguing the company failed in its duty to keep the resort safe and sanitary.5New York Post. Disney Accused of Negligence in $50K Bedbug Lawsuit Three specific failures are alleged:
- Housekeeping and maintenance staff were not trained to conduct regular room inspections for signs of bed bugs.
- Disney did not use insecticidal dust in rooms and hallways as a preventative measure.
- Beds were not equipped with active mattress liners or encasements, which the complaint describes as standard tools in the hospitality industry.
Besse’s filing calls his injuries the “direct and proximate result” of those oversights.6The Independent. Disney Lawsuit Bed Bugs Orlando
Why a 2022 Stay Can Still Be Sued Over in 2026
The gap between the alleged incident in May 2022 and the March 2026 filing raises an obvious question, and the answer turns on a change in Florida law. In 2023, House Bill 837 shortened the statute of limitations for general negligence claims from four years to two, effective March 24, 2023. Because Besse’s claim arose before that date, the older four-year deadline still applies, giving him until May 15, 2026 to file. His March 31, 2026 filing beat that deadline by about six weeks.7JP Sherman Law. What Is the Statute of Limitations for Negligent Security in Florida
What Florida Law Requires of Hotels
Florida Statute §509.221(7) requires public lodging establishments to take effective measures to prevent vermin, including bed bugs, from entering or breeding on the premises. When an infestation occurs, the operator must fumigate, disinfect, renovate, or take other corrective action until the pests are eliminated.8Bed Bug Law. Florida Hotels Duty to Prevent Bed Bugs
Florida courts also recognize a “special relationship” between innkeepers and guests that creates a duty to protect guests from unreasonable risk of physical harm. Evidence that management knew or should have known about an infestation, through prior complaints or inspection records, is often central to a negligence claim.8Bed Bug Law. Florida Hotels Duty to Prevent Bed Bugs
Earlier Disney Bed Bug Cases
Besse’s suit is not the first bed bug claim against Disney. In 2019, Louisiana couple Ashley and Robert LaCombe sued after staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort in April 2018, alleging bed bug bites led to an infestation in their home back in Louisiana. They sought more than $75,000, and Disney said at the time it would “respond appropriately in court.” The public record does not show how that case was resolved.9Orlando Sentinel. Family Sues Disney, Says Bedbugs Bit Them at Resort Then Went Home With Them
A California guest, Ivy Eldridge, sued the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim after a 2018 stay she said left her with severe rashes and forced her to throw away personal belongings. Disney settled that case for $100,000, with payment fulfilled in early May 2022. Eldridge’s attorney, Brian Virag of MyBedBugLawyer Inc., called the settlement a “first for the company.”10CBS News Los Angeles. Disneyland Hotel Pays $100,000 to Settle Bedbug Lawsuit11Sacramento Bee. Disneyland Hotel Bed Bug Settlement
Where the Case Stands Now
As of mid-2026, the Besse complaint requests a trial by jury, but no hearings have been scheduled and Disney has not filed motions or issued a public response to the allegations.12WDWNT. Guest Suing Disney Claims They Were Bit by Bedbugs at All-Star Sports Resort Besse’s attorney has also not commented publicly.13AllEars.Net. Guest Sues Disney World for Permanent Damage From Bed Bug Bites If the case moves past early motions into discovery, it could force Disney to turn over internal pest control protocols and maintenance records for the All-Star Sports Resort.2Inside the Magic. New Guest Lawsuit Claims He Was Bitten by Bed Bugs at Disney World’s All-Star Sports Resort