For most families, a trip to Universal Orlando Resort is a chance to step away from everyday life. Guests come to fly with dragons on the Isle of Berk, explore a land built around Universal’s Classic Monsters, and wander the newly expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Since opening in May 2025, Epic Universe has taken its place alongside Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk as one of the most talked-about vacation destinations in the country.
News out of the park this week, however, is a sobering reminder that the risks children face online don’t stop at the front gate.
On Tuesday, Orange County deputies entered Epic Universe to arrest a park employee following an undercover operation. Click Orlando laid out the allegations: “Orange County deputies arrested a Universal theme park employee they say tried to meet a 14-year-old for sex after contacting the “teen” online — but investigators say the child was actually an undercover deputy.”
The outlet identified the man and outlined the charges he faces. “Deputies arrested 30-year-old Tyler Exline Tuesday at his place of employment, Universal’s Epic Universe,” the report said. “He now faces two counts of solicitation of a minor, according to an arrest affidavit. He faces another count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device, also a third-degree felony.”
Exline held a supervisory position at the park. “Deputies said Exline was arrested Tuesday afternoon at Universal’s Epic Universe while he was working as a team leader in the attractions department,” Click Orlando explained.
The profile Exline allegedly used online did not include his name. To identify him, deputies followed a “chain of digital warrants” that ultimately produced a photograph of him wearing a Universal Orlando name badge, connecting the account to the resort. Universal has confirmed that Exline no longer works for the company.
Deputies kept the details of the sting to themselves, but their guidance for families was direct. “Know what they’re viewing, who they are interacting with, and where they are spending time online,” they said. “Remember, parents are the first and strongest line of defense.”
The point is simple: the people children talk to online are not always who they claim to be, and staying engaged with a child’s digital life remains one of the most effective protections a family has.
Central Florida’s theme parks employ an enormous workforce, and sadly, this is not the first time an undercover operation has led to the arrest of one of its members. Over the years, similar investigations have resulted in charges against workers throughout the region, including cast members at Walt Disney World, for illegal activities.
How do you approach online safety with the kids in your life? Let us know in the comments.
