EXCLUSIVE: Parents of three-year-old launch $20M lawsuit against Disney Cruise Line after crew 'failed to intervene' when their daughter was 'excessively groped and sexually abused onboard by older girl in Princess Leia costume'

 The parents of a 'traumatized' three-year-old girl are suing Disney Cruise Line for $20million claiming crewmembers failed to intervene as the youngster was sexually abused in an on-board youth club, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The toddler was enjoying a week-long voyage on the flagship Disney Fantasy when she was 'excessively groped and sexually touched in her private parts' by an older girl dressed in a Princess Leia costume, according to court filings.

Her ordeal lasted for an 'extended period of time' and was in 'plain view' of one or more counselors who failed to see what was happening or step in, say the parents, listed as John and Jane Doe in the harrowing complaint.

They are suing the Walt Disney Company subsidiary for neglect, alleging that staff were not properly licensed and lacked the necessary skills and training to look after young kids.

Vermont parents, identified as 'Jane' and 'John Doe' (pictured) have launched a $20million lawsuit against Disney Cruise Line claiming their young daughter (pictured) was sexually abused during a January 2020 trip

Vermont parents, identified as 'Jane' and 'John Doe' (pictured) have launched a $20million lawsuit against Disney Cruise Line claiming their young daughter (pictured) was sexually abused during a January 2020 trip 

The parents allege the toddler, pictured, was 'excessively groped and sexually touched in her private parts' by an older girl dressed in a Princess Leia costume'

The parents allege the toddler, pictured, was 'excessively groped and sexually touched in her private parts' by an older girl dressed in a Princess Leia costume'

The family was enjoying a week-long cruise on the flagship Disney Fantasy (pictured at Port Canaveral, Florida in 2012) when the '20-minute attack' took place, according to the filing

The family was enjoying a week-long cruise on the flagship Disney Fantasy (pictured at Port Canaveral, Florida in 2012) when the '20-minute attack' took place, according to the filing 

'This is a parent's worst nightmare,' Michael Winkleman, a maritime law attorney representing the Vermont-based couple, told DailyMail.com.

Winkleman said the January 2020 incident was captured on onboard CCTV which shows the attacker, a girl aged around ten years in a Princess Leia costume, pinning the smaller child to the ground.

He said two crewmembers were seen walking in and out of the facility during the 20-minute attack but neither spotted what was happening.

'Any parent would reasonably think it was safe to leave their child in the care of Disney workers, but for an assault like this to occur when Disney crewmembers are supposed to be taking care of the child is unthinkable,' Winkleman added.

'The victim's parents filed this case in order to seek justice and accountability and to raise awareness about the hidden dangers of sexual assaults on cruise ships.'

According to the federal complaint filed in Orlando, the family left Port Canaveral on January 4 for a seven-day cruise on board Disney's largest ship, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy. 

The $940million vessel is geared toward families and described as a 'masterpiece of design and engineering', with Disney-themed restaurants and activities spread across 14 decks. 

The little girl, identified only by her initials, RV, was left in the supervision of staff at the Oceaneer Club daycare facility where she played with children between the ages of three and 12
Family photo of the alleged victim

The little girl, identified only by her initials, RV, was left in the supervision of staff at the Oceaneer Club daycare facility where she played with children between the ages of three and 12

The parents allege their daughter's ordeal lasted for an 'extended period of time' and was in 'plain view' of one or more counselors

 The parents allege their daughter's ordeal lasted for an 'extended period of time' and was in 'plain view' of one or more counselors

Kids can also enjoy a Star Wars Day at Sea where they dress up as their favorite characters for movie screenings and fireworks and take part in a ship-wide scavenger hunt.

The suit says the little girl, identified by her initials, RV, was left in the supervision of staff at the Oceaneer Club daycare facility where she mingled and played with children aged between three and 12.

'On or about January 9, 2020, while enrolled and entrusted to the care of Disney in the Youth Club, R.V. was in a small room known as the Lab Media Lounge for a period of time with several other children,' the complaint reads.

'While in the Lab Media Lounge of the Youth Club, the Minor was physically restrained and sexually assaulted by a significantly older child, who was also a passenger on the cruise.

'The Minor was excessively groped and sexually touched in her private parts by the older child and did not have the physical capability to break through the physical restraint and thereby end the sexual assault.

'The Minor was physically restrained and or sexually assaulted and or physically battered while several Disney counselors and crewmembers entered the Lab Media Lounge but failed to recognize and or appreciate the ongoing sexual assault.

'The assault occurred in what was the plain view of one or more Disney counselors/crewmembers. 

The Defendant's Youth Club personnel failed to recognize the sexual assault and, therefore, allowed the ongoing abuse suffered by the Minor at the hands of another passenger for an extended period of time.' 

The couple are suing for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and current and future medical expenses under US maritime laws

The couple are suing for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and current and future medical expenses under US maritime laws


The suit says the child suffered extreme emotional and mental anguish and trauma during the assault but staff didn't notice that anything was amiss, nor warn her parents. 

They claim Disney failed to provide adequate staffing, failed to regulate the behavior of other passengers and failed to protect minors from sexual assaults and battery.

The couple are suing for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and current and future medical expenses under US maritime laws.

'Instances of sexual assaults occur aboard vessels at an alarming rate. Yet Disney fails to take adequate steps or provide adequate supervision to prevent such occurrences, and fails to warn its passengers of the growing epidemic of sexual assaults at sea,' the suit alleges.

'Defendant's motive for failing to warn its passengers is financial in nature; that is, Defendant willfully chooses not to warn its passengers about sexual assaults aboard its ships so as not to scare any prospective passengers away.'

Disney Cruise Lines, also known as Magical Cruise Company, operates four ships out of its Port Canaveral base, and is poised to add three more to its expanding fleet as the industry recovers from the pandemic. 

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