An Orlando man says a stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort turned from vacation to horror show after a run-in with bed bugs, and he is now suing Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for negligence. The lawsuit, filed in Florida’s Orange County Circuit Court, stems from a May 15, 2022, visit and seeks more than $50,000 in damages for what the complaint describes as scarring, medical costs, and lost earnings.
According to The Independent, the suit, filed in March, claims plaintiff David Besse was bitten numerous times by cimicidae ('bed bugs') and asks for a jury trial. The complaint says Besse suffered ongoing physical and emotional problems and accuses the resort of failing to carry out basic room inspections and standard pest-control procedures.
What the lawsuit alleges
The filing aims at the resort’s maintenance and housekeeping practices, arguing that staff were not adequately trained to conduct frequent and thorough room checks, according to Inside the Magic. It also alleges the hotel failed to use insecticidal dust, an active mattress liner, or mattress encasements that can help prevent or control bed-bug infestations.
Besse is seeking compensation for "scarring, bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish" along with medical expenses and lost income, the complaint states, per Inside the Magic. The case effectively asks a jury to decide whether Disney did enough behind the scenes to keep pests out of guest rooms.
Health risks and hotel guidance
Doctors say bed-bug bites are usually intensely itchy and tend to show up in lines or clusters, although the insects are not known to spread infectious diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic. That does not make an encounter pleasant, but the primary concerns are skin irritation, scratching, and, for some guests, a lingering sense of unease every time they pull back hotel sheets.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies bed bugs as "public health pests" and urges a mix of vigilance and prevention. Travelers are encouraged to inspect mattress seams, keep luggage off beds and floors, and use protective encasements and integrated pest-management tactics to prevent and control infestations, according to the EPA.
What's next
The lawsuit requests a jury trial, and like many pest-related cases in the hospitality industry, it could either quietly settle or move into discovery, a phase that might require disclosure of the resort’s internal pest-control records, observers note in coverage by Inside the Magic. As of publication, WDW News Today reports that Disney has not issued a public statement about the claim.
Tips for travelers
Pest-management specialists and federal health officials advise travelers to give their room a quick once-over before unpacking. That means checking mattresses, headboards, and luggage racks for live bugs, black specks or shed skins, and snapping photos of any suspicious bites or possible evidence. For a detailed checklist on prevention and treatment for both guests and hosts, the EPA’s bed-bug guide offers step-by-step recommendations; see the EPA for more information.
