Woman Sues Disney Over Anaphylactic Reaction at Magic Kingdom and 3-Day Hospital Stay

A Rhode Island woman has filed a lawsuit against Disney, claiming she suffered a severe allergic reaction requiring hospitalization after being served a contaminated salad at the Be Our Guest restaurant in Disney World, Orlando, Florida. Twenty-five-year-old Mae Bodziony and her family allege that Disney disregarded her warning about a life-threatening tree nut allergy and showed indifference during her subsequent three-day hospital stay, failing to check on her well-being.

The family’s lawsuit, filed on July 3 in Orange County Circuit Court, highlights the significant financial and emotional toll of the incident. The suit states:

This unexpected turn of events required the family to adjust their plans and incur extra costs for the extended car rental and flight change fees. Additionally, the hospital charges amounted to over $40,000. Moreover, the entire family experienced extreme emotional distress as they wondered if Mae would survive.

The medical emergency occurred on August 19, 2024, at the Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurant. Bodziony informed her server of her allergies and ordered from the allergen-free menu, with the server assuring her the food would be safe. “The server brought bread and salad to the table, which the server assured the family was nut-free,” the lawsuit details. However, immediately after finishing the salad, Bodziony’s “lips became itchy,” leading her to take Benadryl. Her reaction quickly escalated causing her throat to swell, and she realized she was experiencing anaphylaxis, prompting her to use her epinephrine auto-injector.

Following the reaction, a staff member escorted Bodziony and her family to a room designated “The Beast’s study” to await an ambulance. The lawsuit suggests this move was deliberate, stating, “The family felt that they were brought to the Beast’s study because the manager wanted to move Mae to a less public place to use her EpiPen.”

Bodziony’s condition continued to worsen at AdventHealth Celebration Hospital in Kissimmee, requiring “additional epinephrine, intravenous steroids, Pepcid, and Benadryl.” She was admitted for close monitoring and experienced multiple “rebound reactions” (biphasic reactions) over the next two days, necessitating further medical intervention.

Bodziony was eventually discharged on August 23, 2024. The lawsuit claims that Disney did not contact the family regarding Bodziony’s condition or offer assistance until their travel agency intervened.

This incident is not Disney’s first encounter with such legal action; in 2024, the company was sued after a woman with severe food allergies died following a meal at Raglan Road, an independently operated restaurant at Disney Springs. That wrongful death lawsuit remains pending.

We are relieved to hear Ms Bodziony survived her ordeal by administering her epinephrine when she first suspected anaphylaxis. Everyone who has been prescribed epinephrine should carry two doses and administer the first when anaphylaxis is first suspected.

We do warn our readers that Benadryl (diphenhydramine) has fallen out of favor for use during allergic reactions, as the drug can mask symptoms of anaphylaxis. If you currently take Benadryl, we recommend discussing alternatives with your allergist.