Complaint Review: Busch Gardens Tampa Florida

I am a disabled veteran.  I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, depression and a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). I have a service dog that helps me with these issues.  On 8 January 2022 approximately 410 pm I tried to enter Busch Gardens with my family and service dog.  I was told to wait for a supervisor before I could enter.  A supervisor came and he said he did not know the policy on service dogs so he would have to get someone else. 

I waited 15 minutes for someone else to come.  When she came she said she would not talk to me because I was yelling at her which I wasn't.  I suffer from hearing loss so I talk loudly as I told her.  I waited another 15 to 20 minutes for someone else to come.  His name was Danny.  He asked me if my dog was a service dog, I said yes which it was clearly displayed on my dog's vest that she was in fact a service dog. 

He asked me what service the dog provides for me and I said she is a PTSD service dog and calms me if I have an anxiety attack.  He than told me that "that was not a good enough answer".  I was shocked and appalled.  He said if I could not tell him the service the dog provided me that I could not enter the park.  I immediately called the organization that trained my service dog Train a dog Save a Warrior (TADSAW).  I told the director that I was being denied access to Busch Gardens and he directed me to ask for the park manager. 

I did and Danny told me he was the park manager.  The director of TADSAW than asked to speak to him and I put him on speaker phone.  He told Danny that he was in violation of the ADA federal law and Danny said he did not care I could not enter the park.  I was given a card that had a number for risk management.  I gave that number to the director of TADSAW and he called and left a message.  I was told to leave the park with my family as I did.  I called my trainer to let her know and she said that they would follow up with me.