Over the past several years, major parks like Universal Studios have become increasingly familiar with a different kind of spectacle—one less choreographed than parades and more chaotic than stunt shows. Fights between guests, once rare, have started to feel unsettlingly routine. And while each incident may differ in cause or outcome, the underlying tensions often reveal deeper, cross-cultural disconnects.
This week, another such incident reignited the conversation—this time thousands of miles from Florida or California.
A Misunderstanding Goes Viral at Universal
At Universal Studios Beijing, a dispute erupted in the queue for an unspecified attraction. According to local news reports, two female guests accused another visitor of secretly filming them while using her phone. The accusation quickly escalated, with video of the scene spreading online.
In the footage, the accused guest—also female, though reportedly mistaken as male by the others due to her short hair—became visibly distressed. She denied the allegation and attempted to show proof that she hadn’t been recording. The situation spiraled when one of the accusers remarked, “I’m sorry, we misunderstood! You look like a man…”
A Universal team member eventually stepped in to mediate the confrontation, and the parties were separated. No arrests were made, and the incident was reportedly resolved without further escalation.
Escalating Tensions and Global Expectations
Theme parks may sell magic, but they still operate in the real world. And in that world, fights are becoming a troubling part of the theme park experience.
In the U.S., Universal Orlando has seen its fair share of guest violence. A July 2022 fight among teenagers at CityWalk’s parking garage led to mass panic, with guests fleeing under the mistaken belief there was an active shooter. In March 2025, a Volcano Bay visitor was arrested after allegedly throwing a rock at a team member. And on multiple occasions, altercations have broken out in ride queues—including during the resort’s holiday season and Halloween Horror Nights.
The Beijing incident differs in tone and cause—but not in intensity. At the heart of it lies a cultural fault line: what is considered acceptable in public spaces varies widely by country.
Filming strangers at theme parks might be frowned upon in the U.S., but it’s often treated more seriously in countries like China or Japan. In those regions, social etiquette typically places greater emphasis on personal privacy and boundaries—particularly in crowded public settings. A simple phone gesture in a line can be enough to spark suspicion.
The scrutiny only intensifies in countries with stricter media and privacy laws. In the United Arab Emirates, for instance—home to the upcoming Disneyland Abu Dhabi—filming someone without consent in public can carry legal consequences.
The situation in Beijing may have been resolved on-site, but online reactions have proven longer-lasting. For Universal, it’s another reminder that as its brand expands globally, the expectations of its guests—and the stakes of misunderstandings—do too.
Have you ever witnessed a fight at a theme park?
