Taking drinks into Universal

[OrlandoMagic]

I have never had an issue taking bottles of water into Universal before but I was watching one of Tim Trackers youtube vlogs a few days ago and he took a refillable bottle which was full of water but was told to empty it by the security at bag check!

Is this a new thing they are enforcing, is it because it was a refillable bottle and not sealed? This could be a bit of a pain as we like to take a couple of bottle of water with us, one normally frozen and sometimes a bottle of Gatorade.

Anyone had any issues with this?

 

[chmurf]

Universal has put a temporary ban on water bottle a couple of months ago for Mardi Gras in order to prevent guests from bringing alcohol inside the parks
Chances are the vlog you saw was shot at tbat time
It only lasted a few days

There is no permanent ban on beverages, as long as they're non alcoholic and not in glass containers (as always, policies are subject to change without notice)

 

[peajay18]

Universal has put a temporary ban on water bottle a couple of months ago for Mardi Gras in order to prevent guests from bringing alcohol inside the parks
Chances are the vlog you saw was shot at tbat time
It only lasted a few days

There is no permanent ban on beverages, as long as they're non alcoholic and not in glass containers (as always, policies are subject to change without notice)

The vlog the OP refers to is only a few days old (they vlog daily) and he definitely had to empty his water bottle at bag check.
I get why Uni do it, but they seem to do it at random times.

 

[wayneg]

Not been in for a few years but the last time I did I was told to either drink or dispose of water. I had just bought it from Publix so sealed.
It was late afternoon/early evening as we were going in to see Sheryl Crow perform.
That was the only time I have had an issue with drinks into a park.

 

[dogdangling]

I saw that vlog but I was also at universal in May. I had no issue taking water into the park.

 

[scoobydooby]

That's ridiculous and dangerous in summer when people really need to hydrate.

 

[peajay18]

That's ridiculous and dangerous in summer when people really need to hydrate.

I get that they need to stop people sneaking clear alcohol in, but it does seem a bit heavy-handed.
Having said that, you can get free ice-water at all the Coke Freestyle machines and anywhere else that serves drinks at Universal.

 

[scoobydooby]

I guess. I have a kidney problem. I'm touchy about water issues. I need it.

 

[1andrea]

I was there in February which was during Mardi Gras and there was a ban on drink and i think food too from being taken into the parks on the day we visited. The bag check was absolutely crazy, I would guess it was about an hour long and in no kind of queue or order all. We had to battle our way through the no bag line and that took a while.

I was really surprised as we arrived at about half 10 in the morning and it was absolutely manic.

x

 

[Jon84]

I was there in February which was during Mardi Gras and there was a ban on drink and i think food too from being taken into the parks on the day we visited.

I think Grad Nights were an issue too. All gone now though!

 

[saintrob]

There was nothing at Easter.

 

[Kath2003]

Nothing ever at Easter, even during Mardi Gras. We always take water.

 

[wayneg]

Nothing ever at Easter, even during Mardi Gras. We always take water.

It was a Mardi Gras evening 2010 when we couldn't take water in but as I said we did go in late afternoon early evening so maybe not a problem if you go in earlier in the day.

 

[Kath2003]

We went earlier in the day this year, but have been to evenings in 2012 & 2013 (plus a couple of times before that - maybe even in 2010???) without any issues with water. That said, chilled water is readily available at the Coke Freestyle machines which are everywhere so just bring an empty bottle to fill if they make a fuss. You can also ask for ice water at all drinks stations and there are water fountains at every restroom and some in between.