Man Trapped on 'Small World' Ride Wins Payout

A disabled California man who spent a hellish half-hour stuck on Disneyland's "It's a Small World" ride as the theme song blared over and over again has been awarded $8,000 in damages. The man, who is in his early 50s and is paralyzed from a spinal cord injury, was left in the "Goodbye Room" when the ride broke down and other riders were evacuated from the boat, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The man's lawyer says his client suffers from panic attacks and high blood pressure—and a full bladder made the situation even worse. The judge awarded the man $4,000 for "pain and suffering" and another $4,000 for a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. "I find a breach of the common-law duty to provide safe premises," the judge said in his ruling, saying Disney has a duty to warn disabled visitors that they could be trapped for an extended period of time when rides break down, CBS reports. (More Disneyland stories.)