With the Universal Orlando Resort expanding at an… epic rate, we’ve also noticed an increase in the number of guests engaging in certain “illegal” activities, and they need to knock it off.
I’ve been going to Universal parks for nearly 30 years, and over that time, I’ve seen the resort evolve from a single theme park to the massive complex that exists today. However, these behaviors from certain guests need to be curbed, as they are detrimental to the overall experience for everyone.
Trying to Get “Free” Soda from the Freestyle Machines
As anyone who has visited Universal in recent years knows, one of the resort’s calling card offerings is the freestyle mug. For one purchase prices, these mugs can be used for unlimited drinks at Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines located throughout each park.
However, we’ve noticed guests trying all sorts of ways to use the machines without purchasing the mug, including putting the nozzles of their water bottles directly up to the Freestyle fountainhead in an attempt to activate it (? ). Please don’t do this. It’s unsanitary and could potentially damage the machines.
Trying to Take Alcoholic Beverages Outside of CityWalk
Speaking of beverages, let’s talk about the adult variety. Universal’s CityWalk area features an all-encompassing liquor license, which allows guests to purchase boozy drinks from restaurants or outdoor kiosks and guzzle them while walking the area.
However, guests can NOT take these drinks outside of CityWalk. Universal doesn’t hide this fact, yet every time we leave, we see a stream of guests needing to empty souvenir cups from Fat Tuesday’s before getting on the moving walkways to the parking lot and bus stops. This has a tendency to crowd the CityWalk exit area, especially late at night.
Trying to Ride the Hogwarts Express Without a Two-Park Ticket
Moving into the parks themselves, we have the Harry Potter Express. This unique attraction connects The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, acting as both a themed ride (which is different in both directions) and a transportation method between the two parks.
However, to ride the attraction, guests need a valid two-park ticket that allows entry to both parks. Without it, you can’t ride. Though that doesn’t stop people from trying, seemingly every time we visit Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. This leads to backups of the queue lines at both parks’ respective Hogwarts Express entrances.
If you’re heading to Universal any time soon, please DON’T do these things anymore. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on visiting the Universal Orlando Resort.
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What guest behaviors at Universal really grind your gears? Let us know in the comments below.
These “soda” machines also dispense ice and water. I use these machines for that purpose with my own cup that I have brought from home. It’s not going to cause anymore “unsanitariness” than you using your cup that you just bought and reuse.
I have been to universal and islands for years the problem is nobody is keeping up on refilling the ice and soda supply you get to park and you would think all would be filled but no before noon they are empty and it just keeps going like that all day management needs to step up on all the drinks and ice florida is to hot not to be. able to get drinks refilled without stress
What does anything you said have to do with the 2 illegal things that go on? I agree with what you said, but people trying to get free drinks and bending the rules so they scam the parks for everything they can get isn’t righf.