No water bottles?

[Welcome Home]

A Facebook site is stating that US is changing their policy and not allowing any beverages including bottled water to be brought into the park. The stated reason is adults trying to sneak alcohol into Mardi Gras parties. Has anyone heard anymore about this?

 

[Welcome Home]

The point has since been removed. An anti-US person trying to stir up trouble?

 

[macraven]

when bag checked for the park, unopened water bottles are not an issue.
bottles with the cap seal broke, will be checked.

for special events, unopened bottles are checked and sometimes not allowed in the park.
UO knows it is a way for sneaking in alcohol.

 

[Nayan]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-universal-orlando-citywalk-liquids-20150216-story.html

 

[noreastangler]

when bag checked for the park, unopened water bottles are not an issue.
bottles with the cap seal broke, will be checked.

for special events, unopened bottles are checked and sometimes not allowed in the park.
UO knows it is a way for sneaking in alcohol.

I know this is my first post, but I have been reading the forum for years. We experienced this issue first hand last night and again this morning. We have been staying at the RPR since Thursday. Water bottles, soda cans, open coffee were fine until last night. Security confiscated all of our water bottles and the cup of coffee I was drinking at the checkpoint by Margaritaville. Ok, I understand that. It was Mardi Gras night. The security guard explained it. A little heads up would have been nice though.

Then this morning at 7:30 am on our way to EE at IOA, security confiscated three unopened water bottles from my wife's backpack, the large coffee that I was drinking and had just bought at the RPR and the iced coffee that my older daughter was drinking. What gives? The security guard said it came down last night and he does not know why. Don't shoot the messenger he said. Nice. He also made a mother in front of us dump her premixed baby formula out since she wanted to keep the baby bottles. Lucky my kids are grown now, but where does one find baby formula in the park?

We just got back to RPR by boat for a break to use the pool and there is now a sign at the boat dock stating insubstance that liquids are banned until further notice, please dispose of them before boarding. I was not thinking at the time, but will try to take a picture of the sign later to show the exact language.

Does anyone know what is going on?

 

[Planogirl]

A mother had to dump baby formula? What?

 

[mgpan]

Still on Universal.com stating the following:

Acceptable items:

• Bottled water
• Small snacks that do not require heating
• Any food required for medical purposes and medically–indicated nutritional supplements
• Any food required for special dietary needs
• Baby food/baby formula
• Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep

Prohibited items:

• Picnic lunches
• Food that requires heating or refrigeration
• Alcohol and glass containers
• Hard-sided coolers
• Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep
• Coolers, suitcases, and bags with wheels
• Folding chairs
• Clothing with offensive language or content
• Clothing that represents someone as emergency personnel

Please be advised that all bags and personal items are subject to inspection.

 

[AustinTink]

A mother had to dump baby formula? What?

Wow. That happened to us right after 9/11. It was before all the liquid rules were clearly defined, and I had 4 bottles for our son pre-made for the trip. Security made me drink out of each one to prove it was safe. I started buying those packets after that.

I feel sorry for any parents with babies traveling to Universal right now.

 

[cakebaker]

I can't imagine this is going to last- if they're dumping baby formula- yikes!

 

[Cindy_Rella]

I just read this on Yahoo, it also said it is not permanent.



http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-universal-orlando-citywalk-liquids-20150216-story.html

 

[macraven]

i have no idea what happened over the weekend that made this ban of liquid containors go into effect.
if it was something that happened at the festivals at the park on the weekend, i can understand that.

you would think that some official word will be released by universal soon.
(and a notification sign at the onsite hotels, not just at the boat dock or walking path to advise all guests of the new restriction.)

i was there in october, son was there this month.
neither of us had this restriction of those items brought into the parks or on the boat taxis.

i'm so sorry about the families that had to pour out their baby formula and the other poster that lost their coffee and beverages!

 

[kelleybean]

They were confiscating all liquids on Saturday night when I was there ... I too assumed that it was tied to people trying to sneak alcohol in for the Mardi Gras stuff. But read an article on the Orlando Sentinel and it sounds like it's during the day too. If they tried to take my baby's formula from me, I'd be furious. Even though I think it's completely overboard, I actually kind of get being strict on the concert nights. But I see no reason why they would do this on a regular day!

Maybe it's a security issue of some kind?

 

[Cindy_Rella]

They were confiscating all liquids on Saturday night when I was there ... I too assumed that it was tied to people trying to sneak alcohol in for the Mardi Gras stuff. But read an article on the Orlando Sentinel and it sounds like it's during the day too. If they tried to take my baby's formula from me, I'd be furious. Even though I think it's completely overboard, I actually kind of get being strict on the concert nights. But I see no reason why they would do this on a regular day!

Maybe it's a security issue of some kind?

I'm wondering if it is a security issue but they don't want to announce the reason because of the crowds there this week. My friend is there I'll have to ask her if she's heard anything.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why on earth are they *confiscating* things, though? Just turn around and take it back to your room/car. Don't let them take it.

They wouldn't be getting a thing from me by not letting me bring water in. Orlando water makes my family ill; we would just go back to the resort much MUCH ealier, and probably go offsite to eat instead of dining there. And I'd stop in at Guest Services to let them know what we were doing, on the way. I'm fun like that.

 

[ObiWan]

A Facebook site is stating that US is changing their policy and not allowing any beverages including bottled water to be brought into the park. The stated reason is adults trying to sneak alcohol into Mardi Gras parties. Has anyone heard anymore about this?

Apparently this is true and may or may not be long-lived. There is no security related reason for prohibiting sealed water bottles. Any concerns can always be addressed via a sniff test. In the meantime, or maybe for the long haul, we will have the privilege of paying $2.75 for a .30c bottle of water while visiting Universal Orlando theme parks... I'm sure that has nothing to do with it! Even Disney has a more liberal policy on this... until they figure out that people will pay for the water they use to bring in for free.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Apparently this is true and may or may not be long-lived. There is no security related reason for prohibiting sealed water bottles. Any concerns can always be addressed via a sniff test. In the meantime, or maybe for the long haul, we will have the privilege of paying $2.75 for a .30c bottle of water while visiting Universal Orlando theme parks... I'm sure that has nothing to do with it! Even Disney has a more liberal policy on this... until they figure out that people will pay for the water they use to bring in for free.

There's an easy way to protest - every Universal patron should enter CS lines and ask for a cup and water every hour and order nothing. It would completely overwhelm their personnel while simultaneously earning them $0 revenue. The policy would end in a day, or at least by the end of the week.

 

[atricks]

I must have missed it yesterday, I went in with a water bottle for mardi gras and wasn't stopped. It was in my pocket, so they may have missed it. Either way we usually take one and and then use the freestyle coke machines around the parks to refill it with cold water.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I just hope the ban is lifted by our May trip. Like others I don't like the taste of Orlando water.

 

[macraven]

i read the article in the orlando paper and it stated this is a temporary ban on the bottles.

click on the link nayan posted.

 

[Bluer101]

The freestyle machines are filtered water if that helps some people. It tastes nothing like the tap Orlando water.