Theme parks are designed for controlled chaos — roller coasters, costumed characters, and crowds numbering in the thousands. What they are not designed for is a parent gone rogue, creating the kind of disruption that pulls focus from the attractions to the guest themselves.
Universal Orlando Resort, home to three theme parks and a sprawling nightlife district, is no stranger to such incidents. Alcohol flows freely across CityWalk and inside the parks.
Still, the rules are clear. Disorderly intoxication is prohibited, whether at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, or the under-construction Epic Universe. Guests who ignore those rules risk removal — or worse.
Incident at Islands of Adventure
In May 2024, the Orlando Police Department was called to Islands of Adventure after reports of a disruptive school chaperone. The park, home to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, VelociCoaster, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster, was hosting a student group when the woman was filmed inebriated on property.
Footage, later shared on YouTube by Cop Action on Cam, shows a police officer describing her behavior as “very touchy.” According to the video, she had already been trespassed from the resort for one year when emotions escalated.
The woman attempted to order an Uber from Orlando to Miami, then became upset when told her son would remain with the student group. She complained about missing every ride during her visit and argued with officers about transportation.
“I ain’t doing that s**t,” she declared after being advised to book a Mears shuttle. “Are you out of your mind?”
The situation only deteriorated from there. Police said they did not feel comfortable releasing her son into her custody. When she refused to leave, officers warned that she would be arrested if she remained. She refused, and the arrest followed.
Another member of the group alleged that she had vaped on the bus and in front of children earlier in the day, behavior that added context to her disruptive presence. Ultimately, she pleaded no contest at her first appearance and was found guilty of trespass after warning. She received credit for time served in jail but was ordered to pay a fine.
A Pattern Across Orlando Parks
The incident reflects a broader trend of alcohol-related arrests at Orlando’s theme parks. Universal itself has seen multiple cases. In 2022, a woman escorted from Hard Rock Live Orlando exposed herself in a parking garage, leading to trespass charges.
Walt Disney World Resort has faced similar issues. On New Year’s Day this year, a man stripped to his “undergarments” at a Disney park, damaged a sales kiosk, and was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges.
Disney Springs has also been a hotspot. In 2024, one woman begged officers to arrest her not long after falling into a planter, while another man at House of Blues spat on police before being restrained with a spit mask. Both were charged with disorderly intoxication.
These high-profile incidents underscore how alcohol and theme park environments can collide in disruptive ways. Universal and Disney both maintain policies against disorderly conduct, yet viral videos and arrest reports continue to surface.
What’s the worst drunken behavior you’ve ever spotted at Universal Orlando Resort?
