The Loo Review

Chapter 509.221(2)(b) of the Florida Statutes

This statute provides an exception to the law requiring the bathroom facilities for a restaurant to be in the same building as the restaurant. The statute exempts theme park [FN88] restaurants from this requirement so long as the bathrooms are “reasonably accessible” to the restaurant facilities.

Chapter 553.5041 of the Florida Statutes

This statute is part of the Florida Americans With Disabilities Accessibility Implementation Act. It permits theme parks, which provide “continuous attendant services” directing disabled persons to accessible parking, to have eight-foot wide disabled parking spaces in lieu of the twelve-foot wide spaces required by statute. [FN89] Chapter 553.5041 also exempts theme parks from the requirement that each handicapped parking space include an eighty-four inch high sign designating the space as reserved for the disabled so long as the theme park provides a designated lot or area for disabled parking, and the signage at the entrance to the lot indicates that it is reserved for disabled parking. [FN90] Disney has taken advantage of this exemption and the parking *16 lots for each of its theme parks have large, well-marked disabled parking lots close to the entrances of each theme park. [FN91]

Chapter 565.02(6) of the Florida Statutes

This statute permits operators of a theme park to obtain a “master” liquor license for the operation of its on-site bars rather than having to obtain an individual license for each bar. [FN92] An additional tax is imposed for this privilege.

Chapter 616.242(10)(A) of the Florida Statutes

This statute exempts large theme parks, such as Disney, from the permit, inspection, and accident reporting requirements imposed upon fairs and amusement parks. [FN93] The exemption applies to any theme park, which employs at least 1,000 full-time employees and maintains full-time in-house safety inspectors. It would be difficult to argue that this statutory exemption provides less assurance of safety at Disney than other amusement parks. Indeed, the contrary is likely true; Disney’s in-house safety inspectors are likely more thorough than the inspectors from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, who inspect non-exempt amusement parks and fairs. [FN94]”