Epic Universe isn’t even officially open yet, but guests are already being begged to press pause on inappropriate behavior.
Just over one month out from the opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s third theme park, it feels like a huge portion of the theme park community has already set foot inside Epic Universe. The park has hosted a string of previews, allowing the likes of team members and passholders to visit ahead of the rest of the world.
Guests visiting the park have had early access to the park’s new lands: Celestial Park, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic.
All have been met with positive reviews from guests, but it seems that some guests are a bit too enthusiastic about one feature.
Guests Get Too Friendly With Hiccup at Epic Universe
As part of How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, guests can meet the star of the animated series: Hiccup.
Despite the fact that the character is very much supposed to be a teenager – and, you know, is a meet-and-greet character in a theme park – guests have reportedly been acting inappropriately while interacting with Hiccup alongside Toothless.
someone who works at the park said this about the Hiccup actors in isle of berk
PLEASE be respectful and i’m begging yall, do NOT do this. they’re still real people under those costumes, and they don’t get paid enough to deal with harassment from obnoxious ppl like these…
someone who works at the park said this about the Hiccup actors in isle of berk
PLEASE be respectful and i’m begging yall, do NOT do this. they’re still real people under those costumes, and they don’t get paid enough to deal with harassment from obnoxious ppl like these… pic.twitter.com/jyKyIWVCIO
— mics (@MicsHaddock) April 16, 2025
The good news is that the vast majority of guests seem – rightfully – horrified by those behaving inappropriately towards the character. As one X, formerly known as Twitter, user wrote, “I always worry for the actors of these characters, they get put through so much, their jobs must be tough. People are so disgusting.”
Another noted, “I’ve been seeing some really concerning behavior from a few people, and it really bothers me. And the people posting ‘Daddy’s home’ edits on tt are just as bad, doesn’t matter if it’s a joke.”
This wouldn’t be the first time that theme park guests have grown inappropriate with theme park characters. Anyone who’s spent a lot of time in the Disney circles of social media will be able to tell you about the saga of guests harassing certain Peter Pan performers. In December 2024, it was also reported that fans were acting increasingly inappropriately with Tally the Elf during the festive period.
In 2019, it was reported that several Disney character performers – including those behind the likes of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck – had been forced to file police reports after being inappropriately touched by guests.
Do you think theme parks could do more to protect character performers?
